Browsing: Environment

As a child, I was intrigued when I found perfectly round balls under the trees in the woods that I wandered through. Sometimes they were smooth and red-speckled. Other times they were brown and wrinkled. They looked like what I imagined a brain might appear to be without a skull, so brain balls they became. I had no clue how they came to be. But these galls are only part of a larger story about the insects that cause them to form on oaks.

The University of Southern Mississippi’s (USM) Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center (TCMAC) has launched the Marine Aquaculture Demonstration Initiative for Economic Development. The project is funded by Gov. Tate Reeves through the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA).

Tucked away in the rolling hills of North Mississippi, Grenada Lake stands as one of the true crown jewels of the Magnolia State’s outdoor destinations. Spanning an impressive 35,000 acres, this flood-control reservoir is not just the largest freshwater lake in Mississippi — it’s also one of the most beloved stops on the Mississippi Crappie Trail.

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Center for Fisheries and Research Development (CFRD) and the Mississippi Aquarium are gearing up for Shark Weekend, set for Saturday July 26, and Sunday, July 27. CFRD has collaborated with the Aquarium on this fin-tastic event since the Aquarium opened five years ago.

Apparently, human teenagers are not the only critters that like to beg and whine to their parents. Young fledgling birds are adept whiners, especially after leaving the nest. Of course, this is a bit of anthropomorphism on my part, but if the “shoe fits”.

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) and the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center (TCMAC)…

Yellow Passionflower may not have as large and obvious a blossom as its purple flowered relative, but it has its own way of standing out in our landscape. For me, the smaller flowers and leaves of this common vine are far less overwhelming than many other vines, adding a bit of elegance.

Just outside the serene town of Flora, Mississippi, lies one of the state’s most captivating natural wonders—the Mississippi Petrified Forest. This rare geological site, nestled among the undulating hills of Madison County, is more than just an unusual roadside attraction. It’s a living museum, a tangible link to Earth’s deep past, and a striking testament to the fact that Mississippi’s narrative began long before humans ever set foot on its soil.

Dr. Jessica Pruett, a researcher at The University of Southern Mississippi, who has spotlighted the importance of Mississippi Oyster Research and its past, present and future impacts on the Blue Economy, has received the BioOne Ambassador Award. The award is given to five early-career researchers who display great communication skills and public understanding and awareness of scientific topics.

Galls that form on plants often stick out and draw our attention. For Red Bay, the bright green galls stand out against the dark green leaves and are part of a natural relationship between a tiny insect and its host plant. Rarely seen, the galls are the only obvious evidence that these insects exist. Here is their story.

Cicadas Ring in Summer

Now is a great time to look for one of the most colorful songbirds in North America: the Painted Bunting.  This small passerine bird, related to cardinals, is a familiar sight in some portions of the southern United States during the spring and summer.  The adult male has a blue-violet head, a grass-green back, green wings, and red underparts, and the adult females and immature birds are distinctive in being an overall leaf-green shade.  Male Painted Buntings display delayed plumage maturation, which means that they molt into full adult plumage in their second year.  In their first year, they are often indistinguishable from females.  

As a child of the sixties, I listened intently as Smoky the Bear shared the message that “only you can prevent forest fires”. It made perfect sense. But not all fires are bad as we have learned over the past half century, especially in the fire-adapted, pine forests of the southeastern U.S. It turns out that small, periodic fires help keep the forest healthy and safe from destruction that we often see in western forests. Here is the story.

had never seen a Limpkin prior to 2022.  One turned up in the winter, on Columbus Lake, and stayed for several months, much to the delight of local birders.  Although I knew this was a rare species for Mississippi, I didn’t think too much about it until another one showed up at Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge.  By this time, observers were reporting Limpkins—including nesting pairs—in many locations across the eastern and central United States, far from where they normally occurred in Florida.  Birds were spotted even in southern Canada.  What was going on?

Southern Magnolias help define the deep south landscape. Their large, prominent white flowers are hard to miss and are a favorite subject for artists and photographers. Southern Magnolia is the state tree and flower for Mississippi, the Magnolia State, and the state flower of Louisiana. And although the flowers are the main attraction, the plant offers other equally prominent features.

I am not a fan of mowing grass. I cut more than my share of lawns in my youth. Mary and I live on a wooded lot, so I have been liberated, at least at home. But, for those of you that still maintain a lawn, there is hope for your liberation as well. Bear with me as I proposed reducing lawn care through “no mow” and “less mow” options.