DeSoto Magazine March 2019

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March

CONTENTS 2019 • VOLUME 16 • NO. 3

features

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Azalea Watch At Callaway Gardens

Countdown to Spring Break Where to Go

Hattiesburg’s Happy Valley Mushroom Farm

departments 14 Living Well Hope for Infertility

42 On the Road Again Mobile, Alabama

18 Notables Margaret Stokes

44 Greater Goods 66 Homegrown PuckerButt Pepper Company

22 Exploring Art Oxford Treehouse Gallery

70 Southern Gentleman Man’s Best Friend

26 Exploring Books Gardening in the South

72 Southern Harmony Larkin Poe

30 Southern Roots Planting Fragrant Flowers

76 In Good Spirits Cocktails in Bloom

34 Table Talk King Chicken Fillin’ Station

38 Exploring Destinations Forest Gully Farms

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78 Exploring Events 80 Reflections The Monarch Miracle

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editor’s note | MARCH

Green & Growing

The azalea is known as the “thinking-of-home bush” in Chinese culture. That is certainly the case for me because my childhood home in Laurel, Mississippi, was surrounded with native azalea bushes. Whenever I see the vivid colors of azaleas, especially the hot pink ones, I remember how those flowering shrubs beautified not only my mother’s yard, but the entire neighborhood.

Azaleas truly are the South’s native flower, and you’ll read why in my feature story about Callaway Resort and Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia.

All those blooming azaleas signify one thing: spring is here! And it’s time to plan spring break getaways.

Karon Warren takes us to several family friendly destinations, both near and far, in her feature “Countdown to Spring Break.”

Growing edible mushrooms is a gardening venture that has blossomed into a business for the Happy Valley Mushroom Farm. Writer Verna Gates explores how a Mississippi biologist has cultivated high quality mushrooms and developed great recipes. Be sure to try Brian Mitchell’s recipe for Lion’s Mane Mushroom Pasta and let us know how you like it.

MARCH 2019 • Vol. 16 No.3

PUBLISHER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Adam Mitchell PUBLISHER & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Paula Mitchell MANAGING EDITOR Mary Ann DeSantis ASSISTANT EDITOR Andrea Brown Ross

Ideas bloomed easily this month for DeSoto Magazine. We have floral cocktails in our In Good Spirits department and a guide about gardening in the South in our Exploring Books section. There are also a few nongardening stories we think you’ll like as well.

We hope this issue dedicated to all things growing (and blooming) will inspire you to put on your gardening gloves and play in the dirt this month.

Happy reading!

Mary Ann

Mary Ann on the cover

Marci Lambert Photography of Memphis [marcilambert.com] provided the photo of Margaret Stokes garden in east Memphis. Stokes specializes in cutflower gardening. Read more about her in Notables on page 18.

CONTRIBUTORS Robin Gallaher Branch Deborah Burst Cheré Coen William DeJournett Mary Ann DeSantis Jason Frye Verna Gates Charlene Oldham Karen Ott Mayer P. Allen Smith Heather Gausline Tate Karon Warren Pam Windsor PUBLISHED BY DeSoto Media 2375 Memphis St. Ste 208 Hernando, MS 38632 662.429.4617 ADVERTISING INFO: Paula Mitchell 901-262-9887 Paula@DeSotoMag.com DeSotoMagazine.com

©2019 DeSoto Media Co. DeSoto Magazine must give permission for any material contained herein t o b e re p ro d u c e d i n a n y m a n n e r.

Any advertisements published in DeSoto Magazine do not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser’s services or products. DeSoto Magazine is published monthly by DeSoto Media Co. Parties interested in advertising should email paula@desotomag.com or call 901-262-9887. Visit us online at desotomagazine.com.

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living well | INFERTILITY

Dr. Paul Brezina and family

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Hope for Infertility

By Robin Gallaher Branch | Photography courtesy of Dr. Paul Brezina and LiveWell

Spring often signifies new life, but for some couples having a baby is not easy. Advances in reproductive health have given new hope to couples trying to conceive.

Infertility is a widespread problem that often causes marital heartache and despair. “It affects 10 percent of the population,” says Dr. Paul Brezina, Director of Reproductive Genetics and Partner at Fertility Associates of Memphis.

However, there’s hope for those couples who long for a child, yet experience month after month, their seeming inability to conceive. ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) has advanced greatly in the last two-plus decades. “The majority of the couples we see are helped and have children,” Brezina says.

Typical patients coming to Fertility Associates are often a tired and discouraged married couple. As the husband and wife sit

in the waiting room, they can’t help but see numerous baby pictures on the wall. “I’ve had couples say to me, ‘We want our baby on that wall’,” Brezina says.

That statement indicates their determination to go through the process, a process that can be long as well as emotionally and financially difficult. For many patients, insurance is adequate to identify and correct the underlying medical conditions of infertility. However, some plans do not cover in vitro fertilization (IVF), which is fertilization outside the body and is usually costly.

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Brezina listens intently throughout the first appointment. The man and woman take turns describing their marriage, efforts to conceive, and disappointments so far.

“I meet very strong and courageous people,” Brezina says.

Perhaps they’ve had multiple miscarriages. Perhaps they hear the increasingly loud ticks of the so-called “baby clock” of prime fertility years. Perhaps hopeful grandparents exert not-at-all-subtle pressure. Perhaps one half of the couple blames the other.

When that happens, Brezina quickly says, “There’s no fault. It’s 50-50.” He emphasizes hope and a team approach; he offers to be part of the team.

Brezina sometimes shares his own story. He and his wife struggled with fertility issues as well. They now have 10-year-old twins, a boy and a girl.

Their struggle is one reason Brezina switched from a career track in hospital administration to becoming board certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and in General Obstetrics and Gynecology.

After taking the medical history of the man and the woman, Brezina suggests tests, which will determine a treatment plan.

Brezina defines terms and procedures for the couple.

For example, with IVF, the egg and the sperm are outside the bodies. Fertilization takes place in the laboratory.

Sperm is retrieved from the man. A woman receives hormones that stimulate egg production. Eggs are retrieved under anesthesia using a needle.

In a laboratory, each egg is fertilized by sperm. Brezina favors a single embryo transferred at a time to the uterus and not multiple embryos for multiple births.

This method bypasses the fallopian tubes. “We get interaction between the egg and the sperm that isn’t possible in normal intercourse,” Brezina says. IVF sidesteps problems like poorly developed fallopian tubes, endometriosis, low sperm count, and/or poorly developed sperm, he says.

The goal is pregnancy. The success rates have more than doubled over several decades, giving hope to many couples, Brezina says.

At about 10 weeks of gestation, the couple transitions from the fertility clinic to an OBGYN who will walk the couple through the pregnancy and deliver the baby.

Brezina said a safe pregnancy follows these general guidelines: a healthy lifestyle, no smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight.

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The couple can choose to have the embryos frozen separately. The parents can return several years later if they decide to increase their family. It’s also possible to freeze the eggs and sperm separately and unfertilized.

“Roughly 1.5 percent of all live births in this country are thanks to conception through IVF,” he says.

Brezina outlined several other advances in the field of reproductive health:

Embryo Cryopreservation (the ability to freeze, cryopreserve, embryos). “It is now common for couples to have an IVF cycle which generates three-to-four embryos. These are cryopreserved and used one or two at a time for multiple pregnancies spaced out over the years,” Brezina says.

Egg Preservation. Advances in freezing time enable a woman to preserve her eggs. “Reproductive potential decreases with advancing maternal age,” Brezina says. “Fertility preservation is a strategy to mitigate the impact of maternal age on the ability to have a genetic child.”

Genetic Testing of Embryos. A condition called aneuploidy increases with advancing maternal age. It accounts for the majority of first trimester miscarriages. Down Syndrome is a form of aneuploidy. “Current technology allows for genetic testing of an embryo, before embryo transfer is performed, to determine if aneuploidy is likely,” Brezina says. “Genetic testing of embryos allows parents who harbor serious genetic diseases to identify these traits in IVF embryos and reduce the chances of having a child affected by a debilitating genetic disease.”

Vasectomy Issues. If a man had a vasectomy decades ago, reversal may prove unsuccessful and not result in a pregnancy. However, sperm retrieval is possible via a needle, Brezina says.

Brezina’s life and his practice are happy and satisfying.

One reason, he says, is because “two or three people drop by daily to show me their babies.” The happy parents often bring a framed picture of their baby for the office wall. fertilitymemphis.com Robin Gallaher Branch, a Fulbright scholar, teaches adjunct classes in the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Christian Brothers University in Memphis and writes for many news sources.

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notables | MARGARET STOKES

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The Business of Re-blooming Karen Ott Mayer | Photography courtesy of Marci Lambert

Since finding a new passion in cut-flower gardening, Margaret Stokes has become known on the local flower scene.

The Stokes residence in East Memphis appears like any other home with a neatly kept yard, fenced backyard and graceful architecture. Behind the fence, however, a growing ambition has taken root in Margaret Stokes who felt herself at life’s crossroads when her mother died in 2016.

“I was close to my mother, and we remained close friends until she died.” Now retired, Stokes spent 28 years as a speech and language pathologist, even once co-owning a monogram shop with her mother. With her mother gone, Stokes sought new inspiration and a path forward, which she eventually found in a place her mother loved: the garden.

“Mom had azaleas, planted narcissus and snowdrop bulbs, and grew perennials such as peonies, hydrangea, bleeding heart, and Lenten roses. She dried flowers and spent one year selling dried wreaths at the Germantown festival,” Stokes remembers.

Following Washington farmer-florist Erin Benzakein on Instagram for more than a year, Stokes became intrigued with her signature flower growing methods. Founded in 2008, Floret Farm has garnered significant awards including the Martha Stewart American-Made Award. Benzakein’s first book, “Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden: How to Grow, DeSoto 21

Harvest & Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms” won the American Horticulture Society’s 2018 Book Award.

“I followed her because of her beautiful pictures filled with armloads of flowers,” says Stokes. Intrigued by Floret’s small scale/high intensity farming methods and sustainable, organic methods, Stokes enrolled in Floret’s online course in early 2018 to learn how to grow specialty cut flowers. During her first season, Stokes experimented with growing dahlias, stock, zinnias, sweet peas and cosmos because of their long vase life.

“Erin’s methods are effective for the beginner as well as the seasoned gardener. Flower farming like this is a very unique growing method,” adds Stokes.

Today, her backyard boasts an organized plan including growing beds and caterpillar tunnels. Stokes gets excited when she talks about how to bend conduit, her latest attempt to grow tulips or how she salvaged a refrigerated cooler from the curb that houses her harvest. During her first year, Stokes continued to experiment with flower types, how to harvest, how to cool and transport. In a short 12 months, she’s carried bouquets to Miss Cordelia’s in downtown Memphis, created centerpieces for local luncheons, and grown stunning amaryllis as Christmas gifts. Like life, the garden has its ups and downs.

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persevered through bugs, limited sunlight and humidity. She is still experimenting but choosing seeds more carefully, especially those which can produce all season versus just one bloom period. “I love that so many flowers are categorized as “cut and come again” which means that the more you harvest them, the more they will bloom.”

In late 2018, she ventured into growing anemones and ranunculus under caterpillar tunnels set up in rows. Constructed of conduit pipe, plastic and baling twine, the unheated tunnels provide the ideal growing conditions for the cool season crops.

“The thing that has fascinated me the most is how many gorgeous, unique, and varied flowers I could grow this first year. It inspires me to try growing so many things here in humid zone 7b.”

Stokes learned how to extend the growing season through succession planting which allows for spacing out plantings so that everything does not bloom at one time. “I also bought narcissus, tulip bulbs and peony roots with early-, mid-, and late-bloom times so they would not all bloom at one time.”

With occasional help and the support of her husband Robert, Stokes has learned to pace herself. “Since I am the only one working the gardens (besides my sweet husband who helps with building caterpillar tunnels, putting out landscape fabric and staking dahlias,) I have learned to create manageable plans and goals, all of which are driven by the direction, focus,

and style of the business I envision.”

Stokes is a member of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers and has been designated as part of the Floret Collective, a group of select members committed to growing and buying local flowers.

“I learned so much from the flowers that did not make it last year.

But I tell myself, what is the worst that can happen? I lose some flowers, but I can plant new ones.”

With a renewed hope, blooms on the horizon, and a place on the local flower scene, Stokes knows her mother would have readily joined her new venture. “She would laugh and think this is so much fun.” flowerslocalmemphis.com Karen Ott Mayer is a freelance writer from Como, Mississippi.

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exploring art | OXFORD TREEHOUSE GALLERY Â

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Forging Art Story and Photography by Karen Ott Mayer

Creating a sculpture garden is the latest project for artists Walter and Vivian Neill of Oxford Treehouse Gallery.

Driving southeast of Oxford, Mississippi, the county road winds and dips more the farther away we get from town.

On this evening, we’re hunting a place – talked about by friends – but still unseen. I turn down one last road and spot the sign for Oxford Treehouse Gallery. The subtle rustic sign points us to a dirt and gravel driveway that leads through a short patch of woods. In the dusk, the art gallery shines bright and reminds me of an A-frame cottage.

The setting is as much a part of this story as Walter and Vivian Neill who have carved, or rather forged, an artful layered life on the 58-acre property. Like many artists, their

life here has been an evolution as they’ve built and established a new home, an art gallery, a guest Airbnb, and Walter’s 3,000-square-foot blacksmith shop.

“I call it the Lafayette County Boys Club,” says Vivian about the shop and with a good-natured laugh. Laugh or not, a first visit to Oxford Treehouse Gallery may be for any number of reasons; maybe it’s just to chat with Walter or shop for art or just wander the property.

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for many years. “I got disinterested because a dark room can be depressing,” he says.

Vivian spent years in the restaurant business. Both were located in Jackson, Mississippi. After a series of moves, they each landed in Oxford separately. “Oxford was supposed to be temporary until Walter began moving his shop up here,” she says.

It’s easy to see why the shop became a determining factor. Filled with forges, blacksmith equipment, tools, and more interesting salvage than one imagination can hold, the shop could be considered a gallery as well. “People drop in all the time, maybe to get Walter’s help or to get something repaired or just to visit,” Vivian adds as Walter stands nearby.

“He’s a good teacher.”

He’s also a salvager with an eye. What most people haul to the recycler, Walter is busy reclaiming. As we chat, he points to a stack of fire truck brake drums that he intercepted from a trip to the local salvage yard. “I was an early dumpster diver,” Walter says with a smile.

His creative path began 35 years ago when he worked in a tool and die shop for a couple of years. From there he joined the Mississippi Forge Council for artists and blacksmiths.

The line between plumbing and forging is fairly straight in Walter’s mind. “There’s welding in plumbing and working with copper. I first started working with different metals,” he says.

One of his earlier lines focused on culinary pieces such as cheese chisels, knives, and bottle openers and knives. Forged culinary knives may be on the more practical side but he’s also incorporated exotic elements like walnut or antler handles.

He’s also forged andirons, fire screens and even the bed in their Airbnb. While the art gallery has regularly scheduled events and hours, the shop hosts more sporadic events, including knife demonstrations.

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The couple’s current project involves building a sculpture trail throughout the property. The idea grew from the couple’s desire to share the land and property with visitors. “We want something you could see by walking on the grounds here,” says Vivian. Walter’s currently on the hunt for a metal ball for his latest idea.

“I have this long metal pole and I want to position it in the ground and hang a red and white ball…you know, a huge fishing pole,” he says laughing. Walter loves doing sculpture because each piece is different and requires a bit of conceptual mulling on the front end. “I like to do something different every time.”

The gallery opened in 2014 and represents up to 30 artists at any time. The rotating works include print media, wall art, pottery, jewelry and Walter’s works. “This is a destination gallery and our main intent is to share the space with other artists. It’s not like we had a grand business plan; it’s more of an evolutionary process,” says Vivian.

Since the couple lives on the property, Vivian points out that they are happy to open anytime. “The gallery phone rings to my cellphone so we’re almost always available. We really just want guests to come and see and experience the art.”

And that approach seems to fit the Neills. A creative life can’t necessarily be mapped out or measured as each moment or day brings another idea. Or in Walter’s case, another piece of salvage just waiting to be forged into art. oxfordtreehousegallery.com

Karen Ott Mayer is a freelance writer from Como, Mississippi.

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exploring books | GARDENING IN THE SOUTH

Gardening in the South: The Complete Homeowner’s Guide Author: Mark Weathington Paperback – 320 pages Timber Press (May 2017) List Price: $24.95

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Mark Weathington

Creating Your Gardening Style

By Charlene Oldham Photography Credits: Author Photo: Suzanne Edney Garden Photos: Courtesy of the JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University. Front Cover Photo: Jack Glisson

With more than 20 years of gardening experience, self-proclaimed “plant geek” Mark Weathington writes a gardening guide that encourages Southern homeowners to grow what makes them happy.

During a childhood spent in south-central Virginia, pulling weeds was a punishment for Mark Weathington. So, it wasn’t until – on a lark – he took a plant propagation class at Virginia Tech that he really noticed the mountainsides around Blacksburg, Virginia, bursting with redbuds and other flora the following spring.

“I was functionally blind to the plants that were there,” he says. “But the class opened my eyes to an entirely new world.”

Weathington went on to earn undergraduate degrees in sociology and horticulture and a master’s in horticulture from Virginia Tech. His background studying both people and plants proved the perfect preparation for a career in public

horticulture that led Weathington to roles as a horticulturalist for the Atlanta Botanical Garden and director of horticulture for the Norfolk Botanical Garden. Today, he serves as director of the JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University and has published a gardening guide to share some of what he’s learned over more than two decades as a professional “plant geek” in the South.

When representatives from Timber Press, publisher of Weathington’s “Gardening in the South: The Complete Homeowner’s Guide,” initially approached him about writing a book, he questioned the need for another Southern gardening guide. But digging into the stacks showed most of the books published in the last 10 or 20 years were more specialized, DeSoto 29

perhaps focusing on a single state or smaller slice of the region.

So Weathington set out to write a book that spanned Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, eastern Texas and northern Florida.

He then divided the territory into three geographical regions based on climate and topography: the Southeastern Coastal Plain, the Piedmont and the Eastern Highlands.

Weathington also included a fourth unofficial region – urban areas that often face unique issues including pollution and higher temperatures than the less-developed land around them, where plants must serve vital functions including reducing runoff.

“The book is really based on first-hand knowledge,” he says. “I wrote about my experiences, and I’d gotten to the point where I had enough knowledge to perhaps be useful to other people.”

But “Gardening in The South” isn’t filled with complex climatology or high-level horticultural terms. It is really written with the average Southern homeowner in mind, explains Weathington, who classifies himself as a “lazy gardener.”

“I have a garden because I love plants. I love being surrounded by plants. They make me happy,” he says. “But the gardening process isn’t where I get really jazzed.”

So Weathington’s own garden leans toward lowmaintenance plant grouping he enjoys, but aren’t necessarily conventional combinations.

“I have a garden that any good designer would turn their nose up at,” he says. “It’s somewhat eclectic rather than design-oriented.”

In the book, he encourages other gardeners to adopt the same approach by creating gardens that suit their preferences and lifestyles rather than picking plants according to oftenoutdated or unrealistic principles of landscape design. To help narrow down the almost infinite plant possibilities, Weathington suggest thinking of garden space three-dimensionally, as a room or series of rooms complete with furniture – the plants 30 DeSoto

that populate those rooms. Dividing a garden into rooms makes it easier to choose options for groundcover, trees, fences and other features that might make up the “floor” and “walls” of an outdoor area.

“Also, when you start thinking about plants as furniture, you’re more likely to move them, get rid of them, get new ones,” Weathington says. “People are really averse to getting rid of bad plants. I’ve never figured out why.”

Indeed, “Gardening in The South” encourages homeowners to embrace the inevitable dead plant or ugly garden grouping as a learning experience.

“Gardening, as any gardener will tell you, is trial and error. You kill plants. Some plants live. Some plants don’t act the way you expect them to act. It’s a process. Some people fail and think they’ve failed at gardening, but failure is part of gardening.”

Adding compost and otherwise improving the soil before putting the first plant in the ground is the most important thing any gardener can do to set themselves up for success, regardless of their geography, Weathington says. He also recommends starting small and starting slow so gardening grows into a pleasure rather than a punishment. After all, people can visit arboretums or botanical gardens if they want to stroll through formal landscapes without a weed in sight.

The purpose of a home garden, whether it’s a small collection of containers or a yard perfect for pets and play dates, is to give its owner a space of their own to connect with nature every day.

“We need plants. We need nature around us,” Weathington says. “It helps ground people. Plants are vitally important for environmental reasons, but they are also critically important just for our mental wellbeing.”

Charlene Oldham is a freelance writer based in St. Louis who grew up in the Arkansas Delta. Charlene has worked as a staff writer for newspapers including the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and the Dallas Morning News.

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southern roots | FRAGRANT PLANTS

Memories from my childhood come to mind with this beautiful flower.

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One critter I love hanging around my garden is the hummingbird.

Add Fragrant Plants to Your Garden

By P. Allen Smith | Photography courtesy of Hortus, Ltd and Mark Fonville

Blooms are great for adding visual interest to a landscape and attracting those all-important pollinators. Part of the allure of a flower garden also is its wonderful fragrance. Here are 15 of our favorite fragrant plants for adding beauty and lovely scents to your outdoor spaces.

English lavender – This aromatic herb looks beautiful planted in a large swath in the garden. It also grows well in containers. The dark, lavender-blue flower spikes are very attractive to butterflies as well. Lavender thrives in growing conditions similar to its native habitat along the Mediterranean coast. They prefer moist, cool winters and hot, dry summers.

Well-drained soil and a full day’s sun are also essential for robust plants and plentiful blooms.

Peonies – Prized for their form, stunning range of colors, and exceptional hardiness, few other plants bloom so

reliably year after year with such little care. Their large, glorious flowers add bright splashes of color to beds and borders and their intoxicating fragrance make them a wonderful cut flower.

And, as if there wasn’t enough to love already about peonies, they’re also deer resistant.

Lemon Balm – Part of the mint family, this herb has a lemon flavor and smells of lemon with a hint of mint. Lemon balm is great in teas, salads and even cut to use in bouquets.

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seeds. The best course of action to prevent lemon balm from taking over the garden is to remove its flowers as soon as you notice them.

Catmint – At the peak of spring, the 30-inch tall plants are lush with gray-green, scented foliage and literally covered in spires of soft purple blooms. If you struggle with growing the herb lavender, I suggest you try nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’ as an alternative. Catmint does best in full sun, planted in soil that is moist, but well-drained.

Lilac – This plant produces fragrant lavender-color blooms. Lilacs bloom best when planted in full sun and in welldrained, alkaline soil. Plants should be fertilized with a general fertilizer in early spring and then again after the bloom cycle.

To encourage blooms, substitute the general fertilizer with super phosphate, or a fertilizer high in phosphorus, for your early spring feeding.

Champneys’ Pink Cluster – We use these throughout the rose garden at Moss Mountain Farm. Champneys’ Pink Cluster is a Noisette rose, the first class of American roses. The clusters of pale pink blossoms have an intoxicating fragrance.

Champneys’ Pink Cluster can be trained to climb with the right support. Pruning will allow you to grow it as a shrub as well.

Oriental lilies – These fragrant flowers are late summer bloomers. They need to be planted in well-drained soil in full sun. Water moderately once they start to bloom. These lilies are so easy to care for, but a word of warning: deer will love your lilies as much as you do!

Mock orange – Adding mock orange to the garden is one of my favorite ways to get that wonderful citrus fragrance without having to care for fruit trees, which can be a real hassle.

While the name suggests something deceiving – especially with the absence of color on the petals – the scent is really lovely. For the best results, plant mock orange in full sun or partial shade and make sure the soil is moist and place in a well-drained area.

Hyacinths – With a little love and patience, you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous fragrant hyacinth blooms in the spring. Many people grow them indoors by forcing the bulbs.

To grow outdoors, plant the bulbs in early fall in rich, moist, well-drained soil. Growing hyacinths in containers is another option, and it gives you more control over the soil conditions.

Gardenia – Very few plants can top the sweet smell of gardenias. And those gorgeous white blooms pop against the glossy, deep green foliage. Grow gardenias in a protected area that gets full sun to part shade. The plant thrives in consistently moist, well-drained soil. Feed the plant in the spring before new growth starts using an all-purpose fertilizer.

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Wisteria – Oh, sweet wisteria! Those gorgeous violetblue blooms and their sweet smell that takes over the garden just scream “spring!” Wisteria is really easy to grow but has be controlled with regular pruning. Plant wisteria in rich, moist soil in a sunny spot for blooms. Once established, wisteria is drought tolerant and requires very little care aside from pruning.

Tuberose – With good drainage and ample mulching, these Mexican exotics are quite rewarding. They are prized for their tall sprays of pearly white, tubular, very fragrant flowers.

Plant them near a patio, walk, deck or other living space to enjoy the spicy-sweet fragrance. Grow tuberoses in organically rich, well-draining soil. Plant the rhizomes two inches deep and six inches apart in spring after the threat of frost is past. Provide consistent moisture throughout the growing season.

Pineapple Sage – A magnet for hummingbirds, butterflies and bees, pineapple sage is named for the pineapple scent of its foliage. The bold red blooms make an appearance in late summer and early fall. Grow pineapple sage in a sunny spot that has a bit of afternoon shade. Soil should be well drained, but the plant needs moisture to support it as it grows quickly.

Once established, pineapple sage is drought tolerant.

Honeysuckle – You can’t go wrong with honeysuckle!

It will thrive in most conditions and is a perfect choice for attracting wildlife to the garden. Honeysuckle grows best in full sun but can take a bit of shade. Plant in well-drained soil amended with organic matter for best results.

Trumpet vine/ Angel’s trumpet – Another plant that attracts hummingbirds, trumpet vine grows well in sun or partial shade and can handle most soil conditions. Trumpet vine is a rapid grower and, like wisteria, can quickly become out of control without regular pruning. You should consider a support structure when choosing where to plant trumpet vine.

A fence or trellis works well. Avoid using trees as support.

P. Allen Smith, an author, television host, and conservationist, is one of America’s most recognized gardening experts as the host of three national award-winning television shows. Smith uses his Arkansas home, Moss Mountain Farm, as an epicenter for promoting the local food movement, organic gardening, and the preservation of heritage poultry breeds. Tours of his farm may be booked at pallensmith.com/tours.

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table talk | KING CHICKEN FILLIN’ STATION

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Tupelo’s New King in Town

By Heather Gausline Tate | Photography courtesy of Blake McCollum

Tupelo has a new king in town thanks to renowned chef Mitchell McCamey, who has turned a former fillin’ station into one to the city’s most popular eateries.

For decades, Tupelo has been known as the birthplace of Elvis Presley, the king of rock ‘n’ roll. However, a new king came to town in March 2018 when King Chicken Fillin’ Station opened its doors. The restaurant is gaining distinction as nationally known chef and butcher Mitchell McCamey’s third restaurant in Tupelo.

Located in the old Belden Cash Grocer and gas station on the west side of town, King Chicken is a blend of restaurant and convenience store, selling gas, beer, and malt liquor. Built during WWII, this is “one of those archaic places you want to bring your friends to visit,” McCamey explains. Its quirkiness

adds to its charm, with its vintage structure, porch for outdoor seating, and sole-working gas pump. McCamey quips that it almost doesn’t know what it wants to be when it grows up and is constantly evolving.

When McCamey’s partner first found the business, the chef was not immediately sold on the idea of converting a 1944 service station into a restaurant. Its aged style, although rich in character, challenges McCamey’s more modern, minimalistic preference. Nevertheless, like its namesake and its town, King Chicken continues to make an impression.

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A City and Its Chef

Rising in recognition as a culinary destination, Tupelo is no longer just the mid-point between the larger Birmingham and Memphis metropolises. Restauranteur McCamey is without a doubt involved in the establishment of Tupelo as a “foodie” mecca. Originally from Okolona, located just 20 miles south of Elvis’s birthplace, McCamey returned to his home base after years working in restaurants in the West and in larger Southern cities. His first Tupelo projects –downtown Kermit’s Outlaw Kitchen and Neon Pig – have received national attention.

Even more recently, Tupelo made the list of The Daily Meal’s Top 50 Foodie Towns in the U.S., and McCamey’s first two restaurants were mentioned. Not to be overlooked by his forerunning projects, King Chicken was featured in Budget Travel’s November 2018 article, “5 Best Southern Food Cities You Haven’t Tasted Yet.” McCamey articulated that while 50 percent of his clientele at his first two restaurants are travelers, King Chicken continues to draw primarily a local base.

Although he thinks Tupelo has changed a lot in the last five years, he still considers the town to be a “last frontier” with its smart, no-nonsense residents.

“I care about this town so much. Tupelo has made me better,” McCamey explains. In turn, his slow-food background and determination to source locally is positively impacting his community. In January he taught a butchering class, one of his areas of expertise, to the Lee County community.

“I really care about people and feeding them,” McCamey says. Tupelo keeps inspiring McCamey to do more: “I enjoy the challenge of being progressive and giving the people what they want.”

Chicken and More

McCamey’s classic culinary background allows him to break a lot of the rules as he enjoys blurring concepts and having fun feeding his clientele. King Chicken naturally has classic Southern fried chicken on its menu, but it also has grilled and smoked chicken, salads, and smoked burgers. When asked to pick a favorite dish from his menu, McCamey selected the “Mitchwich,” a smoked chicken sandwich with a North Carolina barbecue twist, paired with bacon, cheese, slaw, and king pickles, making it what the chef calls a complete sandwich.

Fish Fridays, Saturday brunch, and Saturday Steak Nights also add to King Chicken’s uniqueness. And locals love the chicken and biscuits every morning, starting at 6 a.m.

McCamey’s vision was to diversify his clientele with this restaurant, and it has indeed evolved from solely chicken!

Once a little country store where customers could do everything from get gas to cash checks, King Chicken still appeals to a blue-collar community.

“At the end of the day, I feed people,” states the selfproclaimed blue-collar chef himself. Whether they are Elvis fans, factory workers, Natchez Trace travelers, locals, or foodies, they are all the same to McCamey who welcomes them all.

Not one to bask in the success of his established restaurants, McCamey is currently getting ready to launch his next eatery in Tupelo, a yet-to-be-named taqueria for the downtown district. Opening this spring, the concept for this restaurant, featuring California tacos with lots of healthy options, will be fresh and fun. kingchickentupelo.com Heather Gausline Tate is a freelance writer and travel planner. She lives in Guntown, Mississippi, with her husband Logan and two sons.

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exploring destinations | FOREST GULLY FARMS

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Kitchen Hut

Forest Gully Farms

By Pam Windsor Photography by Pam Windsor and Jon Giffin: waterfall photo

A Tennessee family’s decision to leave the fast pace of the big city for life in the country proved to be so rewarding they wanted others to enjoy it, too. They found an unusual way to rent out space: eco-friendly huts.

Tucked away in the Tennessee countryside, Forest Gully Farms offers a place for people to get close to nature and even live off the land a little bit.

Arriving guests will find Jon Giffin ready to offer a warm welcome and show them the lay of the land. They’ll see the sleeping huts, and the huts that serve as a kitchen, a bath house, and even a playhouse for kids. For those planning to forage for food, he’ll show them how to identify fruits, vegetables, edible plants and nuts, then take them to the nearby chicken coop where they’ll get their eggs.

“We’re doing much more than renting out the huts,”

Giffin explains. “When people come out here, they get to experience what it would be like to live on a homestead. They get to feed the chickens, harvest the eggs, gather vegetables and harvest fruit depending on the time of year and what’s available.”

One family or group rents the property at a time.

They have full access to two sleeping huts (each hut is equipped with two single beds and a queen bed that pulls down from the wall), and the huts for cooking and bathing. All have electricity, heat, and air conditioning.

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“People are surprised by how comfortable it is,” says Giffin. “A lot of people don’t like camping or roughing it but when they come here, they can be outside, experience nature, and enjoy it, where maybe they wouldn’t be able to somewhere else.”

The idea to create Forest Gully Farms evolved naturally. Giffin and his wife, Mandy, bought the property after deciding to leave the stress of running a busy wedding photo business in Nashville for a calmer, slower-paced life in rural Tennessee. They wanted to see if they could live off the land and provide for themselves and their children. They bought chickens, began planting fruits and vegetables and, as they grew into the lifestyle, saw the potential to share with others.

They decided to split their 30 acres in half, with their house on the first 15 acres, then huts for paying guests on the other half.

“We wanted to build something that would merge into the land,” says Giffin. “We didn’t want buildings that would block the view of nature. There are deer that walk around here and all sorts of stuff, so the huts have really become part of the land.”

The huts are covered with dirt which is a great insulator.

“I learned about the farm from a Facebook post,” notes Chris Lisle who lives in the Nashville area. “It said check out these cool hobbit huts where you can stay in the countryside of Tennessee. I clicked on the link, it took me to an Airbnb site, and at that time I think the best available weekend to book was probably 8 months away.”

He booked the date for a couples’ weekend with his girlfriend and another couple. By the time the date rolled around, only he and his girlfriend were able to make it so they had the entire place to themselves.

“It was nice because there was a fire pit and we were able to be still and quiet. There’s a beautiful hike down to the waterfalls and we just enjoyed nature and the solitude with no electronics, no television, no radio, no telephone, and no internet. We had a really nice weekend.”

They made plans to return later with their kids.

“It wasn’t as quiet,” Lisle says with a laugh. “At the time, the kids ranged in age from 11 to 16. Some got in there with the chickens, others threw the football, but we all went for hikes. We made campfires, cooked, and made s’mores, and everyone enjoyed the uniqueness of it.”

Anthony Robinson from St. Louis, Missouri, discovered the farm after seeing a YouTube video of a family that visited. Robinson came with a group of eight adults.

“I’m interested in gardening and permaculture which is probably why I stumbled upon it,” he recalls. “We had a fantastic time. We ate muscadine grapes, some other fruit, and he had some chickens there, so we ate all of their eggs.” He laughs. “You can’t beat fresh eggs.”

They were also struck by the incredible view of the sky.

“We sat out by the fire, and the nighttime sky was amazing. Nobody else in our party had ever seen anything like it before. By that, I mean you could see trillions and trillions of stars. You could actually see the Milky Way, because there’s no light pollution out there.”

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Robinson also has plans to return with children.

In addition to nighttime stays, Giffin gives daytime tours depending on availability. He shows the property for the first hour, then leaves guests to explore and forage for a second hour. He enjoys showing all that’s available in what he calls the “Food Forest.”

“We have stuff planted everywhere,” he says. “The goal is to make it where it doesn’t look like rows of crops, but blends in with the surroundings.”

His love of what he and his wife have created shines through in his excitement to share it with others.

“I think we’ve done a good job of providing something special for people when they come out here.”

For guests who want to venture off the property, there’s a nearby General Store, a place to go horseback riding, and an entrance to the Natchez Trace less than two miles away.

To find out more, check out Airbnb, GlampingHub. com or www.forestgullyfarms.com. The nightly rate is a flat fee for the entire property.

Sleeping Hut

Pam Windsor is a freelance feature and travel journalist based in Nashville, Tennessee.

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, e l i b o M Alabama

on the road again | MOBILE, ALABAMA

EXPLORING ALABAMA’S “AZALEA CITY”

8:30 Order breakfast at Bob’s Downtown Diner on the “Corner of Fat and Happy.” Enjoy a madefrom-scratch omelet, corned beef hash, French toast, or shrimp with smoked gouda cheese grits.

The atmosphere is fun and the staff is friendly.

9:30 Tour the Mobile Carnival Museum on Government Street. Although New Orleans is known for Mardi Gras, it actually started in Mobile in 1703. Learn about carnival history and traditions as well as the art of costume design and float construction. Intricate gowns and robes, historical photos, and videos of parades and balls are part of the experience.

11:00 Stroll around the beautiful squares and parks in downtown. Bienville Square, centered by an elaborate wrought iron fountain, is a great spot for lunch or just to watch squirrels play.

Cathedral Square bustles in spring with farmers markets and music concerts. Pop into the local shops for unique items, antiques, or handmade arts and crafts.

1:00 Spot of Tea is the perfect place for a delicious lunch and gorgeous outdoor dining experience by Cathedral Square. The extensive menu offers dozens of sandwiches, like the “Rajun Cajun” Po-Boy or Zesty Chicken Club. Lighter fare includes piled-high salads and soups; the signature Cayenne Crab Bisque is a can’t-miss.

2:30 After lunch visit one of several area museums and attractions. There is something for everyone: - GulfQuest/National Maritime Museum is a 90,000 square foot museum dedicated to the Gulf of Mexico’s maritime history, culture and economic significance. gulfquest.org - The Mobile Museum of Art is the largest art museum along the Gulf Coast. mobilemuseumofart.com - Historic Mobile Tours take guests to seven historic districts. Tours include public buildings, churches, homes, and other historic sites. lcraigroberts.com/tours - Battleship Memorial Park, dedicated to those who served in all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, gives guests a chance to explore America’s military past. ussalabama.com

5:00 Explore Dauphin Street as you work your way to dinner. Stop by one of the local pubs for a pre-dinner libation. LoDa Bier Garten has more than 72 beers on draft or enjoy a craft cocktail at The Haberdasher. Every second Friday from 6-to-9 p.m., enjoy ArtWalk where guests can stroll through galleries and pop up art shops.

6:00 Have dinner at the original Wintzell’s Oyster House at 605 Dauphin Street. This iconic establishment, known for fresh Gulf seafood, has been around since 1938. Besides fresh seafood, the large menu features steaks, salads, sandwiches, chicken, and regional favorites. Must-have menu items include the West Indies Salad, a combination of jumbo lump crabmeat, onion, and spices marinated in oil and vinegar (a favorite of Oprah). The Oyster Sampler is the perfect way to try several flavors like Oysters Monterey, Bienville, Rockefeller or Chargrilled. The awardwinning gumbo hits the spot on a cool March evening.

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To plan your visit:

mobile.org corneroffatandhappy.com mobilecarnivalmuseum.com spotoftea.com wintzellsoysterhouse.com

Take a Side Trip to Bellingrath Gardens:

Spring is the perfect season to visit historic Bellingrath Gardens and Home. Just a short 30-minute drive south of Mobile, this beautiful estate home sits on the scenic Fowl River in Theodore, Alabama. The home features original antique furnishings and a large collection of art, silver, china and crystal. Built in 1935, the 10,500-square-foot home was designed by architect George B. Rogers and opened to the public in 1956. Tours of the 15-room room home are available daily.

Surrounding the home is 65 acres of expansive gardens, and no matter what time of year there is always something blooming!

More than 400 varieties of camellias, Alabama’s State Flower, bloom in the winter.

Spring brings gorgeous azaleas. Summer is all about roses and hydrangeas. In the fall, cascading chrysanthemums emerge. The grounds include a cafe, gift shop, AsianAmerican Garden, River Front Pavilion, Chapel, Live Oak Plaza, Rose Garden, and more. To plan your tour, visit bellingrath.org or call 251-973-8420.

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greater goods | IN THE GARDEN

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in the garden 12 1. McCarty pottery wind chimes, Cynthia’s Boutique, 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS 2. Magnolia pots, Commerce Street Market, 74 W Commerce St, Hernando, MS 3. Humming bird feeders, Complete Home Center, 32 E Commerce St, Hernando, MS 4. Outdoor Flower Pot Decor, Ultimate Gifts, 3075 Goodman Road E, Southaven, MS 5. Garden stepping stones & statues, Southern Roots Garden Center, 2971 Holly Springs Rd, Hernando, MS 6. Outdoor benches, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 7. Giant plant pots, 4 Seasons Garden Center, 1745 Hwy 51 S, Hernando, MS 8. Organic Grow Kits, The Wooden Door, 6542 Goodman Road, Olive Branch, MS 9. Bird feeders, Complete Home Center, 32 E Commerce St, Hernando, MS 10. Wind Chimes, The Speckled Egg, 5100 Interstate 55, Marion, AR 11. Garden sculpture, Mimi’s on Main, 432 Main Street, Senatobia, MS 12. Bird seed bird houses, Mimi’s on Main, 432 Main Street, Senatobia, MS

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greater goods | SPRING BREAK

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1. T-shirts, SoCo Apparel, 300 W Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 2 Beach bags and towels, Paisley Pinapple, 6542 Goodman Road, Olive Branch, MS 3. Spring fashions, Center Stage Fashions, 324 W Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 4. Assorted earrings, Upstairs Closet, 136 Norfleet Drive, Senatobia, MS 5. Snake skin pattern sandles, Cynthia’s Boutique, 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS 6. Beach totes, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 7. Cinda B Luggage and travel accessories, Mimi’s on Main, 432 Main Street, Senatobia, MS 8. Viv & Lou carry-all, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 9. Vera Bradley beach towels, The Pink Zinnia, 134 West Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 10. Coozies, Merry Magnolia, 194 E Military Road, Marion, AR 11. Mary Square insulated tumblers, The Bunker, 2631 McIngvale Road #106, Hernando, MS 12. Beach tote, The Speckled Egg, 5100 Interstate 55, Marion, AR DeSoto 47

AZALEA WAT C H

By Mary Ann DeSantis | Photography courtesy of Callaway Gardens

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Azaleas bloom prolifically throughout the South in March, but few places can match the profusion of colors that encircle Callaway Resort and Gardens.

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The banks of hot pink, white, and red azaleas along the pathways and bicycle trails in Callaway Resort and Gardens are unforgettable. More than 20 years after my first of many visits to the 2,500-acre attraction in Pine Mountain, Georgia, I still remember weaving through those wooded trails that are lined with thousands of the flowering shrubs.

On that first trip to Callaway Gardens, I primarily wanted to ride my bicycle along the more-than 10 miles of trails that crisscross the property, but the azaleas took center stage – as they do with most springtime visitors. And there’s a good reason the azalea blooms are memorable – a stroke of geographical luck.

“Geographically speaking it’s because we sit on the fall line where the coastal plain and Appalachian foothills meet,” explains Pam Bauer, Callaway’s director of Brand Development and Marketing. “The overstory of trees provide just the right amount of sun and shade for the azaleas.”

More than 20,000 azalea bushes will explode this month with one of the world’s largest displays of native and cultivated azaleas. The “azalea watch” is a big deal for Callaway fans who plan their visits to catch the peak blooms, which often last for several weeks. In Georgia, peak season is historically mid-March through mid-April.

“Peak days var y within that timeframe each year, of course, based on the whims of Mother Nature,” says Bauer.

“For instance, rainy or warm winters can affect bloom times, but according to horticulturalists we’re on track for a traditional bloom season in 2019.”

Guests and garden buffs are advised to “stay tuned” to the online azalea watch on the website if visiting on a “peak” day is a priority. Interestingly, peak days can also vary slightly between Callaway’s two famous azalea gardens, the Overlook Azalea Garden & Trails and Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl because they were planted at different times.

“Overlook is our more established, original garden planted prior to Callaway Gardens opening to the public in 1952, whereas the 40-acre Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl was dedicated and opened in 1999,” says Bauer. “Our native azaleas continue to bloom through spring and into early summer which provide so much color throughout the woodland gardens.”

Summer visitors will enjoy the DeSoto 51

Plumleaf (Prunifolia) native azalea which blooms into July and is the pride and joy of the gardens.

“It’s the inspiration of our flower emblem in our logo and an important part of why Callaway Gardens exists in this very spot of Georgia,” Bauer says.

Across the state in Augusta, people will notice the azaleas at the Masters Golf Tournament in early April.

Bauer points out that Augusta and Callaway Gardens are on the same fall line and get peak blooms at the same time. One thing Augusta gets that Callaway Gardens doesn’t: television coverage during azalea season.

Not everyone can take a stroll or bike ride through Augusta National Golf Club, but they can in Callaway Gardens, which Bauer contends has the prettier blooms. In fact, more than 750,000 people visit the gardens annually to enjoy the natural landscape that became a public garden in May 1952. Founders Cason and Virginia Callaway wanted to create a place where humans and nature could abide together.

More than six decades later, their personal retreat continues to offer solace, inspiration, and discovery to those who visit. It’s also become a place where education takes place all year long with classes, workshops, lectures, demonstrations, guided hikes and many special events.

Special events this spring will include the day-long Callaway Gardening School on March 22. Expert gardeners will talk about home gardening and growing tips and tricks, particularly appropriate since Virginia Callaway was enamored with the native azaleas on her property.

“Callaway Gardens has been known for its fabulous spring azalea gardens for years,” says Patricia Collins, who served for 53 years as the director of gardens and has volunteered to coordinate the Gardening School event. “One 52 DeSoto

of the Gardening School speakers talk about native azaleas and offer tips on how home gardeners can have native azaleas blooming from March through August or September.”

Other special events include the annual “Sip & Savor Spring” wine tastings and celebrity chef dinner with three James Beard Foundation award winners on March 28-31; weekend photography workshops; and a Symphony on the Sand concert in April at the Robin Lake beach inside Callaway Gardens.

It’s best to check the events calendar on the Callaway Gardens website because something is always happening. The Birds of Prey shows have become one of the most popular attractions all year long. During the holidays, the Fantasy of Lights is a Southern tradition that has been named to National Geographic’s Top 10 Light Displays in the world. And any time of year, the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center is another must-see attraction inside the gardens.

Visitors who can’t make peak azalea season need not worry; they will find plenty to see and do. Amateur photographer Eileen Sklon visited in July on her way back to Florida from the Biltmore Gardens in Asheville, North Carolina. Callaway Gardens was a mid-way break during the long drive.

“I didn’t know anything about it [Callaway Gardens], but my husband, Ron, knew I loved gardens,” says Sklon. “We stopped and spent a couple of days there at the main lodge.”

Although the flowering plants were not as abundant as in spring, the Sklons enjoyed the wooded trails and the butterfly center.

“We stayed near the lake, and I got a lot of pictures in that area, some right from our balcony which overlooked one of the gardens” she says.

Staying onsite at the resort is a relaxing retreat where guests can enjoy a spa, a golf course, farm-to-table restaurants,

and access to bicycles and golf carts to explore the trails. Adventurers will find a zip-line course that offers options for everyone, including children. Several resort packages are available throughout the year.

Driving along the scenic road or trekking through the nature trails inside Callaway Gardens inspires visitors to appreciate the legacy of Virginia and Cason Callaway.

Their vision 66 years ago to connect both man and nature in a positive way became a reality and one of the South’s most treasured attractions. callawaygardens.com

Everything you wanted to know about Azaleas

Southeastern azaleas are often described as the most beautiful flowering shrubs. They are in the genus Rhododendron and bloom in the spring. Azaleas grow best in spots sheltered from harsh winds and particularly thrive at the edge of light pine woods where there is partial shade. Plant azaleas in dappled sunlight or in a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade.

Azaleas need moist, acidic (pH 5.5), well-drained soil with lots of organic matter, such as peat, compost, chopped leaves, or ground bark. They won’t grow in heavy clay, pure sand, or alkaline soil.

In Chinese culture, the azalea is known as the “thinkingof-home bush” and is immortalized in the poetry of Du Fu, a prominent Chinese poet of the Tang dynasty in the eighth century.

Azaleas and rhododendrons were once so infamous for their toxicity that to receive a bouquet of their flowers in a black vase was a well-known death threat.

Although one of nature’s most toxic plants, azaleas are prominently used in landscaping throughout the South.

A native of Laurel, Mississippi, Mary Ann DeSantis is the managing editor for DeSoto Magazine.

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Wild Chanterelle Mushrooms

A HAPPY HARVEST

A lifelong passion for mushrooms inspires Memphis native and now Hattiesburg biologist to pursue a different kind of farming.

By Verna Gates Photography courtesy of Brian Mitchell, Happy Valley Mushrooms

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When dawn crept across the sky, it sent a shaft of light onto a beautiful white ball. Using binoculars from his deer stand, Dr. Brian Mitchell spotted a hunter’s prey, a lion sitting just below him. No shots were fired as he climbed down to use his knife to scoop up the magnificent Lion’s Mane mushroom. For his 14-year-old son, the hunt was unsuccessful. For Mitchell, it was the start of a new and tasty product for Happy Valley Mushrooms, LLC.

“I wild harvested and cloned it, just like I have with most of our mushroom products. Many of our mushrooms grew within 100 feet of where we now produce them,” said Mitchell, age 46, founder and owner of the company.

Mitchell first came to Happy Valley Farm in 2000, when he started his forestrybased Ph.D. program at the University of Southern Mississippi. Rather than live in campus housing, the family of four moved into an old, vacant house on the farm, right outside of Hattiesburg.

The farm had been used since 1969 as a horse trial venue by his motherin-law, but no one had lived there in decades. When she retired and stopped the equine competitions, Mitchell spotted an opportunity to satisfy his lifelong passion for mushrooms. He began with a few logs seeded with shitake mushrooms. A forester by trade, logs were easy to come by for this woodsman of both experience and education.

His interest in mushrooms dated back to childhood when Mitchell’s mother would dip out a portion of spaghetti and toss in mushrooms just for him. Those little button mushrooms from the grocery store whetted his fungi appetite. On weekend hunting trips to Arkansas’ Cache River, Mitchell bagged wild mushrooms to complement the fish and venison captured by others.

“My father was an avid outdoorsman and we went hunting and fishing every weekend, whether we wanted to or not,” joked this Memphis native.

“When we were out in the swamp, I was paying attention to chanterelle and oyster mushrooms. I would collect them and my dad would cook them up.”

It was the flavor of the mushrooms that attracted him to growing them.

Healthy and nutritious, Mitchell points out that mushrooms must be cooked to release the nutrients. Their cell walls are made of DeSoto 57

Shiitake Mushrooms

Lions Mane Spotted From Deer Stand

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chitin, a material similar to a crab’s shell.

Cooking breaks down the chitin to release nutrients, and medicinal values. According to Mitchell, Lion’s Mane mushrooms contain some of the only natural compounds known to repair neurons, earning them a lot of attention in research seeking treatment of dementia, Alzheimer’s and traumatic brain injury.

Today, he grows seven varieties of mushrooms: Shiitake, Maitake, Grey oyster, Blue oyster, Common tree oyster, King trumpet and Lion’s Mane. All of them offer gourmet taste and most add in medicinal properties.

A career forest biologist, who works in a laboratory, not a forest, Mitchell is meticulous about the products he grows.

Understanding the life cycle of each mushroom is critical to his success. He works in a converted bedroom from the old farmhouse that is now a sterile laboratory.

First, he takes clean tissue samples from the inside of a mushroom. He grows the tissue samples out on a sterile growth medium in petri dishes. Once he’s sure the tissue samples are viable and not contaminated, he transfers mycelium (the vegetative portion of the mushroom similar to plant roots that are normally hidden from view underground) from the petri dishes to sterilized grain to create mushroom spawn. Once fully colonized, the spawn is transferred to sterilized bulk substrate blocks made from an organic blend of locally sourced sawdust enriched with soybean hulls and rice bran. When the substrate blocks are ready (different mushrooms have different indicators), they are moved into the fruiting chamber, a type of greenhouse mimicking the growing conditions of that particular mushroom. Sometimes a certain amount of stress is introduced to help stimulate fruiting.

“A lot of things reproduce when they think they are going to die. If a pecan tree is stuck by lightning, you get a lot of pecans,” he explains.

The results are a delicate fruit that he harvests by hand and delivers to local Hattiesburg restaurants. The mushrooms arrive in the chef ’s kitchen having been touched only once. At the Purple Parrot, the chef makes a faux crabmeat ravioli with Lion’s Mane mushrooms, which Mitchell says tastes like crab or lobster. Another restaurant, Pier 98, serves dishes with his mushrooms year-round. Over in Laurel, DeSoto 59

Bryce, Brian, Jess and Shannon Mitchell

Mississippi, Slowboat Brewing Company transforms Happy Valley blue oysters into a mushroom-infused beer named Psychic Channel Blues.

“It’s cool seeing my mushrooms served in my hometown. A big part of selling mushrooms in Mississippi’s Pine Belt is education. People in bigger cities seem to be more familiar with the flavor profile of mushrooms,” he said.

While he does not give farm tours, Mitchell has sold growing kits nationwide. He is considering starting a series of workshops at the farm. He enjoys helping people grow their own mushrooms in a sterile environment via log cultivation.

Meanwhile, he still works full time for the State of Mississippi as a forest biologist. It is his dream to grow mushrooms full time. However, a product that cannot be shipped makes it more difficult to be successful when serving a smaller market.

He continues to build his buyers with high quality mushrooms and great recipes he has developed on his own.

According to Mitchell, the work combines his two favorite activities: science and cooking, add in a few walks in the woods searching for new and tastier variety, and you have a Happy Valley farmer. happyvalleymushrooms.com

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Brian Mitchell

Eating Wild Mushrooms

“Don’t do it without absolute positive identification by an expert.

The risks are too great. You might end up with a delicious meal, you might experience the world from an entirely new perspective, or you might suffer complete renal failure and die.”

Brian Mitchell

Recipe for Lion’s Mane Mushroom Pasta 1 pound of fresh, organic lion’s mane mushrooms from Happy Valley Mushrooms.

One cup of heavy whipping cream A dash of black pepper One tablespoon of butter Slice the mushrooms into one-inch thick pieces. Very lightly coat an iron skillet with olive oil, or use a dry nonstick skillet. Brown the mushrooms over medium heat, approimately seven minutes on each side. Mushrooms absorb quickly, so use as little oil as possible to retain the natural flavor.

Roast until most of the water has cooked out. Add in the pepper and cream. Stir frequently until thickened.

Add butter and mix until creamy.

Serve over pasta or grilled chicken.

Photo courtesy of chowandchatter.com

Verna Gates is an award-winning writer and the author of “100 Things to Do in Birmingham Before You Die.” She has written for CNN, TIME, Reuters and the Guardian and recently received a national first place in Travel Writing from the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW). She has received a lifetime achievement award from NFPW

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Great Wolf Lodge

k a e r g B n i r p S Countdown to

By Karon Warren Photography Credits: Courtesy of [respective attractions]

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Warmer weather has arrived, flowers are beginning to bloom, and cabin fever is at record highs. That can mean only one thing: Spring break is only days away!

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Asbury Discovery , Hattiesburg Zoo

To help you plan your family getaway, we’ve compiled a list of some of the top spring break attractions around the South. Whether you make them a destination or a pit stop along the way, they are sure to make your spring getaway memorable.

Hattiesburg Zoo Hattiesburg, Mississippi hattiesburgzoo.com 297 miles from Memphis

Opened in 1950, the Hattiesburg Zoo has been a mainstay for families not only living in the Hub City, but also for travelers headed from points north to the Gulf Coast. Although it may not be as large as other city zoos, the Hattiesburg Zoo remains a favorite attraction with families. In fact, the Mississippi Tourism Association named it the Best Travel Attraction of the Year in 2017.

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monkeys and birds — plus many more. If that’s not enough to keep the kids entertained, the zoo also offers several attractions, including a ropes course, mining expedition, train and carousel rides, and a splash pad.

In addition, the Hattiesburg Zoo became Mississippi’s first visitor attraction to offer certified resources and accommodations for guests with sensory needs. For instance, guests can obtain special bags equipped with noise-cancelling headphones, fidget tools, verbal cue cards and weighted lap pads to help them navigate the zoo. There are also four designated quiet areas where guests can rest and recharge.

With these new offerings, all ages can enjoy the Hattiesburg Zoo.

Great Wolf Lodge Grapevine, Texas greatwolf.com/grapevine 474 miles from Memphis

Located minutes from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, this popular family attraction provides an ideal onestop spring break destination. Inside the 80,000-square-foot indoor water park, kids can splash the day away on the four-story tree house water fort, tackle nine water slides for all ages, float along the lazy river, or ride the waves in the wave pool.

Of course, when everyone is ready to dry off for a bit, the adventure park will keep them quite busy. From the ropes course and XD theater to the arcade and MagiQuest — Great Wolf Lodge’s interactive scavenger hunt game, kids will be on the go for hours. And, at the end of each day, one thing is certain: Everyone will sleep well.

Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine also is home to nine eateries, so there’s no reason to venture out at mealtime. From your daily coffee at Starbucks to pizza and hot dogs to a sweet treat or ice cream, there’s something to satisfy every palate. There’s even dining offerings more geared to adult appetites so mom and dad can enjoy a meal beyond burgers and fries.

Families will love the spacious accommodations at Great Wolf Lodge. Even the smallest rooms come in at approximately 360 square feet, so families can move around in comfort.

OWA Foley, Alabama visitowa.com 430 miles from Memphis

Opened in 2017 in Foley, Alabama, just 10 miles from Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, The Park at OWA contains 21 family-friendly amusement park rides. From the scream-inducing Rollin’ Thunder roller coaster and spinning Freedom Flyer to the hair-raising Twister and the diving Air Racer, there’s no shortage of thrills at this park.

Little guests can take a spin on the Happy Haulers truck ride or take flight in a biplane on Flying Aces. There’s even an interactive splash pad to keep you cool on hot spring days.

As part of the 520-acre property, Downtown OWA offers plenty of shopping DeSoto 65

Great Wolf Lodge

The Magic House

and dining options for families taking a break from the amusement park. For a bit more low-key entertainment, kids can challenge their parents at The Arcade.

And you don’t have to go far when you’re ready to retreat to your hotel room. Located on the property, the Marriott TownePlace Suites offers spacious guest rooms complete with full kitchens.

Whether you stop at OWA for the day before heading to the beach or you extend your stay a bit longer, you can bet your children will love this spring break attraction.

The Magic House St. Louis, Missouri magichouse.org 279 miles from Memphis

A spring break visit to St. Louis definitely has a lot to offer families: Touring the famous Gateway Arch, catching a game at Busch Stadium or checking out the Museum of Transportation. But a not-to-miss attraction has to be The Magic House, the city’s children’s museum.

History, science, nature, math, imaginative play — there’s no shortage to the learning youngsters will experience here while they play. That’s right. The kids will think they’re 66 DeSoto

OWA

just playing and having fun, but their parents will know the truth: A lot of learning is actually taking place.

For example, in the Children’s Village, they can live their future lives as doctors, car mechanics, restaurant servers, grocery store clerks and more. At the Star-Spangled Center, they will learn more about U.S. history by embarking on a national treasure hunt, signing the Declaration of Independence, and even sitting at the president’s desk in the Oval Office.

And in the Outside Play Garden, children will have a chance to drive a speedboat, splash in a stream and dig in the dirt. Who could ask for more?

Booth Western Art Museum Cartersville, Georgia boothmuseum.org 390 miles from Memphis

Located approximately 45 minutes northwest of Atlanta, the Booth Western Art Museum is one of the country’s premier museums showcasing contemporary Western artwork, Civil War art and a Presidential Gallery that contains a handsigned document from every U.S. president.

But this museum is not just for adults. At Sagebrush Ranch, an interactive children’s gallery, children ages 2-to-12 are

OWA

encouraged to explore this “working ranch” that contains a farmhouse, barn, bunkhouse and corral. Along the way, there are more than 30 interactive stations to keep kids engaged.

Whether dressing up in their favorite Western wear, saddling up a lifesized horse, or taking a ride in the rocking stagecoach, there’s no end to the fun found here. Visitors even can try their small hands at branding a cow.

The Booth Western Art Museum is an ideal day trip from either Atlanta or Chattanooga, but there’s certainly enough nearby – including the renowned Tellus Science Museum – to spend a couple of days during spring break if the kids want to stay and play for a while.

Karon Warren is a freelance writer based in Ellijay. Georgia. A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, Karon also writes for FamilyVacationCritic.com as well as her blog, ThisGirlTravels.com.

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homegrown | PUCKERBUTT PEPPER COMPANY

The Carolina Reaper pepper

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Smokin’ Ed Currie

Fearing the Reaper

By Jason Frye | Photography courtesy of Puckerbutt Pepper Company

Once again, the Carolina Reaper has broken the Guinness World Record for hottest pepper. How hot is it? Imagine a blast of pepper spray in your mouth.

Carolina Reaper. It’s a name that strikes fear in the heart of many, but what is it? An outlaw biker gang? A death metal band? The most brutal linebacker in Carolina Panthers’ history?

Nope, it’s a pepper.

The Carolina Reaper is not just any pepper; it’s the Guinness World Record Hottest Chilli [SIC] Pepper and it’s unreal hot.

“It’s like having a lit charcoal briquette in your mouth,”

says Smokin’ Ed Currie of Puckerbutt Pepper Company.

Currie would know: he’s the man who dreamt up and created the Carolina Reaper.

When a man named Smokin’ Ed tells you a pepper is hot, buckle up because it is HOT.

Take the humble jalapeno. We know it from cheesestuffed poppers, from spicy salsas, and from the toppings bar at our favorite taquerias; for many of us, this is as hot as we go with a pepper.

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It’s child’s play next to the Carolina Reaper.

“The Reaper’s 300-times hotter than the jalapeno,” says Currie. “The difference between the two peppers is like the difference between riding around on roller skates and driving a Ferrari.”

I’ve never driven a Ferrari and it’s been two-and-a-half decades since I wore roller skates, but I have eaten jalapenos and I have taken a bite of the Carolina Reaper. Currie is spot-on in his assessment. One bite of a Carolina Reaper had me sweating and swearing and wishing a meteor would crash into my mouth.

The crazy thing is, before the intense heat buckled my knees, I tasted the pepper and it was good. Really good. It’s fruity, a little sweet, and reminiscent of chocolate; it smells – and tastes – faintly of cinnamon, but it’s crushingly, impressively, immensely hot.

Back in 1981, Currie first declared his deep and abiding love when at a party with friends, he declared that he’d one day grow the world’s hottest pepper.

Now this idea didn’t spring into his mind fully formed; it had grown there, the seed planted by research he’d done into cultures with low indices of cancer and heart disease.

“I saw the same thing experts were seeing: few commonalities between these diverse groups. One thing I saw was their diets contained peppers, hot ones,” he says.

These peppers were among the hottest in the world at the time, but Currie wasn’t satisfied, so he started growing and cross-breeding peppers, developing one that was wholly his own.

“Creating a pepper – any fruit, really – is a long process,” says Currie. “You can graft pieces of one plant onto another, you can cross-pollinate – literally touch the pollen from this flower to that flower, it has to be done by hand and it’s laborintensive – and now you can go in and tinker with the genes. At the time I went with the most stable and reliable method: cross-pollination.”

He started with dozens of plants, then a score, then hundreds. Different colors, different intensities of flavor and heat. Soon hundreds became thousands and every inch of space on his patio, in his yard, and the patios and yards of friends and family were filled with peppers. He needed a farm.

He got one, and became even more serious about his pepper project. It’s paid off and today he has at least 40 acres of what he calls “super hots” and in total 70 DeSoto

more than 500,000 pepper plants of all varieties.

But the Carolina Reaper is his pride and joy.

The small pepper is bright red, shiny, almost a Candy Apple like you’d see on a prized classic car. It’s got a little green stem and cap, and a tail at the end. In truth, it’s a grenade of peppery heat.

That’s not much of an exaggeration. His website describes the normal uses – like sauces and cooking – but also combat. You know, as in pepper spray? It uses capsaicin, the hot part of peppers, to give it the sting and incapacitating ability it’s known for. Pepper spray measures between 2 million and 5.3 million Scoville Units (the measure of a pepper’s intensity). The Carolina Reaper’s low average is 1.641 million Scoville Units. On the high end the Reaper comes in at 2.28 million Scoville Units. Eating one is like letting someone shoot pepper spray in your mouth.

“Carolina Reapers keep climbing [the Scoville Scale] as the breed becomes more stable,” Currie says. “But it’s not the hottest pepper we’ve got, just the hottest pepper we sell.”

The hottest pepper, that’s Pepper X, weighing in around 3.18 million Scoville Units, and Currie supplies it solely to First We Feast’s internet show, Hot Ones.

That’s not to say you can’t get some fiery sauces from Puckerbutt Pepper Company, because you can. The website offers seeds, sauces, peppers and dried peppers, peanuts and beef jerky steeped in Carolina Reapers or Ghost Peppers.

You’ll also find peppers so beautiful and tempting you’ll want to eat them whole.

I advise you against it, unless you’re a serious pepper-head, though you owe it to yourself to get a few bottles of sauce to try the Carolina Reaper. puckerbuttpeppercompany.com

Jason Frye is a freelance writer from Wilmington, North Carolina. Jason has authored three travel guides for Moon Publications and written for Southern Living and the Dallas Morning News

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southern gentleman | CANINE COMPANIONS

Man’s (or Woman’s) Best Friend

By Bill DeJournett | Photography courtesy of wagwalking.com

Selecting the right canine companion takes research and careful consideration. The DeSoto Animal Rescue Society can guide you in choosing the right fur-ever pet.

One of my favorite Southern authors, Willie Morris, was a dog person all his life. That was until a white male cat “adopted” him, resulting in the book My Cat Spit McGee. My experience was the opposite. I’ve always had cats and never thought myself much of a dog person, until I fell in love with a friend’s boxer-chow-retriever mix. It didn’t work out with the friend, but I still miss the dog. My friend got him from a no-kill animal rescue, similar to rescues where I have gotten several of my pets.

Animal rescue organizations are a great place to begin when looking for a fur-ever pet. Volunteers can guide you 72 DeSoto

toward getting the right animal for your family or situation.

One such facility is the DeSoto Animal Rescue Society, which offers a wealth of information on its website and facilitates adoptions.

“Having a dog in your life can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life, so choosing the right dog for you and your family is important,” says Ruth Ann Hale, publicity chair for the DeSoto Animal Rescue Society. Hale recommends doing your research and asking a lot of questions.

Be sure the organization you are adopting from is reputable to create a loving bond between you and your new dog.

When adopting a new dog, you need to consider several factors. Do you or members of your family have any allergies that would be exacerbated by a new dog? What kind of lifestyle do you and your family lead that could potentially affect the time and attention you can give to the dog? Do you have children? Does your yard have a fence? Do you live in an apartment? All these should be taken into consideration when selecting a companion.

“Allergy sufferers might want to consider dog breeds that shed less, such as poodles, schnauzers, Bison Frise, and Maltese,” says Hale. “The length of the dog’s hair is not related to how much it sheds, so longer-haired dogs should not be dismissed. There are other breeds that may also work, so people with allergies should do their research before getting a pet.”

For lower-maintenance dogs, Hale recommends breeds that require less grooming and are less active, such as beagles, golden retrievers, dachshunds and greyhounds.

Many dog owners in Mississippi are also avid hunters.

Carefully consider what kind of dog would be best in the field.

“I live around a lot of people who have hunting dogs,” says Brett Arave, president of Desoto Animal Rescue. “You’d want to visit someone who has them. You want a breed that is proven from a breeder who is proven. Just like police dogs, you’d want a breed that is suited for that. It also depends on what type of hunting you want to do.”

At DeSoto Animal Rescue, the adoption process includes a trial period. “We copied this from Best Friends Animal Society in Utah,” Arave says. “They do what they call a ‘sleepover,’ which is basically a trial period. We do it for a week typically. That allows the dog (or cat) to get used to the situation and feel that ‘this is where I’m going to be’ so that the dog’s personality comes out and people get used to the way the dog is.

“A lot of times we can feel that ‘this dog is just not

warming up to [the family] or is not comfortable.’ That’s the best way to find if the fit is correct, just to give it a shot. With no expectations, if it doesn’t work out, we tell our adopters, ‘no harm, no foul, we’ll come get them.’ We just want to make sure it’s the right place.”

Arave offered tips for helping foster parents transition dogs into their new home. “There are several types of different foster situations. We have people who have one dog and that’s what they’re fostering. You’d want to ease them in, just like you’d ease them into a home. Bring them in and let them adjust to the situation and ease them into whatever valuables or people are in the house and see how they do. You have to give them their space.”

According to Hale, thousands of pets end up in shelters each year because potential pet parents fail to consider what type of pet or breed is the best fit when making their selections.

“Don’t choose a dog just because it’s a cute puppy, only to find a few months later it is knocking down your toddlers by accident in its playful state,” says Hale. “Is a puppy right for you or would a senior dog be more in line with your needs? Seniors are often overlooked but have much love to give without the new owner having to go through the puppy stage.”

With careful consideration, you can make a canine companionship that will last the dog’s lifetime. desotoanimalrescue.org Bill DeJournett is a freelance writer and musician based in Oxford. He has been a Mississippi resident for 17 years.

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southern harmony | LARKIN POE

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Larkin Poe

By Pam Windsor Photography courtesy of Robbie Klein and Pam Windsor

With champions like Keith Urban and Elvis Costello cheering them on, the sisters of Larkin Poe are seeing big results in their music and more sold-out concerts.

Their love of music came as young girls growing up in Georgia. Megan and Rebecca Lovell got their first introduction to learning to play an instrument by taking violin and piano lessons.

“The level of music just extended through the years until in our teens we got involved with bluegrass music,” Rebecca explains.

They discovered the genre at a bluegrass festival where they were struck by the spontaneity of the music, the joy of those playing it, and the emphasis on being proficient.

Megan began playing the slide guitar, and Rebecca picked up the mandolin and the banjo. They started a band called The Lovell Sisters with their older sister, Jessica, and began doing

small shows where they played and sang three-part harmony.

On a whim, they sent a demo tape to Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” for a teen talent competition. They were selected to play on the show.

“That was in 2005,” Rebecca recalls. “We won the competition and people just assumed we were a professional band.”

So, they started getting invitations to perform at venues all over the country. After a while, Jessica decided to leave the group, and Megan and Rebecca formed Larkin Poe.

“Larkin Poe is our great, great, great, great grandfather on our dad’s side,” notes Megan. “We heard so much about him growing up and we wanted to take a name that had some DeSoto 75

family significance. He’s also a cousin of Edgar Allan Poe.”

They took their early classical music influences, the sound of the many classic rock records they heard their father play over the years, their love of bluegrass, and a newfound appreciation for the blues to craft their unique sound. Rebecca describes the blues as “the cradle of all good music.”

“We really connect with bands like the Allman Brothers and kind of going back to who inspired the Allman Brothers. It was those traditional blues players like Son House and Skip James.”

“And Muddy Waters,” Megan adds. “All the Delta guys.”

One of the songs on their latest album “Venom & Faith” is called “Mississippi” and pays tribute to the history of the music and those who created it.

“We went on a little road trip to Mississippi, just Megan and I, in a small car. We did a couple of stops at some radio stations in Louisiana and Mississippi.”

While in Mississippi, they visited the GRAMMY Museum and Dockery Farms in Cleveland (home of the blues). They also visited some gravesites of some different blues musicians.

“Meg and I did etchings of the gravestones and just driving through those cotton fields and red dirt lanes, you can feel the energy in that place. So, reflecting on the trip was the inspiration for the song,” says Rebecca.

Their dedication to their music shines through in their live performances.

They’ve never signed a major record deal and release all of their music through their own Little Tricki-Woo record label, and yet, Larkin Poe has a lot of famous fans. It started early in their career.

“We were very fortunate to have champions like Elvis Costello and Christian Bush of Sugarland,” Rebecca says. “These guys would hire us to come on stage and perform with them as their back-up musicians.”

They recently opened at some shows with Bob Seger, and in the past toured with Keith Urban. Rebecca says those Keith Urban gigs are thanks to major fan Russell Crowe, who sent some of their CDs to Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman.

They also recently played a festival with Bob Weir, which came about after they 76 DeSoto

“jammed” with him at a benefit concert last year.

“We played our two songs with Bob Weir and then we skedaddled off and were downstairs in the green room,” Rebecca recalls. “Then people started yelling in the hallway, there was this big commotion, and they said, ‘Girls, get your instruments and go back upstairs. He wants to jam some more.’ So, we hustled back up onstage, I had my mandolin on stage and we played some more.”

They’ve worked hard over the years to master their craft and steadily build a fan base. They’re starting to see big results.

“It’s really exciting,” Megan says.

“This past year was definitely our biggest year, to actually be selling out shows, especially here in the U.S.”

She says they’re “lifers” when it comes to this business and are fine with a “slow build.” For Larkin Poe, it’s all about the love of the music, and being able to share it with others.

“We really connect with bands like the Allman Brothers and kind of going back to who inspired the Allman Brothers.

It was those traditional blues players like Son House and Skip James.”

Rebecca Lovell of Larkin Poe Pam Windsor is a Nashville-based journalist who writes about music, travel, food, culture, and extraordinary people.

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in good spirits | KEEP MOVING

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Cocktails in Bloom Story and photography by Cheré Coen

Edible flowers add a special touch of springtime to cocktails, especially this one from The Wilbur Bar in Ocean Springs.

Just before the turn of the 20th century, when Ocean Springs was a sleepy coastal community and Walter Anderson had yet to be born, a home was built beneath large oak trees on Porter Avenue. The property would have many uses over the years — including a brothel and a place of worship — but it wasn’t until the 1950s when Wilbur C. Wisnasky opened The Wilbur Hotel.

In 2016, the Roost Hotel reopened on the spot as a boutique hotel, with several lovely suites and a central outdoor space blanked by those massive oak trees. With its luxurious furnishings, reclaimed wood accents, decadent baths and balconies to enjoy morning coffee, it’s no wonder The Roost has been named one of the six most beautiful new hotels in the southern U.S. by Architectural Digest.

This past summer, The Roost opened a craft cocktail and wine bar that’s reminiscent of its colorful past. The Wilbur Bar, named for the owner of the property’s first hotel, serves up original cocktails, an extensive bourbon selection and small plates from the café next door. On first look, there’s a small but beautiful hand-crafted wooden bar with several bar stools and a couple of tables. Push on the bookshelf, however, and you’ll find a larger room behind with a large mural of Al Capone, who the owners claim once held residence in Ocean Springs.

André Cassagne mixes magic at The Wilbur, including a flowery drink titled “Keep Moving.” Cassagne worked as a mixologist on the Gulf Coast, including stints at Beau Rivage, but also spent time in Vegas, Miami and Nantucket. It was the latter that made Cassagne return to the coast.

“One summer in Nantucket it was 17 degrees as a high,” Cassagne related. “And I said, ‘André, what are you doing here?’”

Once back in town he visited a friend whose father had just passed away and was looking to sell his father’s boat with the name “Keep Moving.” Cassagne wasn’t interested, but the two spent time drinking gin on that boat.

“This cocktail was kind of like my tribute to him,” Cassagne said.

In addition to the alcohol, the “Keep Moving” cocktail calls for ginger simple syrup, which Cassagne creates from steeping fresh ginger into the mix to give the cocktail a nice ginger aroma. He tops off the drink with edible flowers, a nice touch for spring. There are numerous edible flowers that may be used in cocktails — pansies, hibiscus, lavender and roses, to name a few — and they create both a beautiful and romantic finish. You can find edible flowers at many farmers markets. roostoceansprings.com/the-wilbur

Keep Moving

1 1/2 ounces Bristol Dry Gin 1/2 ounces Dry Curacao 2 dashes orange bitters 1 bar spoon of ginger syrup Dash Montenegro Amaro Directions: Combine the first four ingredients in a shaker. Use the Montenegro to coat a martini glass.

Strain the cocktail and pour into the glass. Garnish with an edible flower on top.

Cheré Coen is a freelance food and travel writer living in Lafayette, Louisiana, but her Mississippi roots run deep. Read her quirky stories at WeirdSouth.blogspot.com.

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exploring events | MARCH Spirits of the Passage: The Story of the the Transatlantic Slave Trade Through August 11 Two Mississippi Museums Jackson, MS Explore rare, firsthand accounts of loss and resilience from the unlikely discovery of a sunken slave ship. For more information visit twomississippimuseums.com/spirits.

Southern Women’s Show March 1 - 3 Agricenter Memphis, TN The popular annual consumer show returns with three days of shopping, cooking classes, seminars and more all geared for Mid-South women. The lineup includes an appearance from Savannah Chrisley from “Chrisley Knows Best”. For group discount tickets and more information, call 704-494-7563 or visit SouthernWomensShow.com.

Mr. CL Woodson III Presents: If He Won’t Love You, I Will March 2 Landers Center Theater Southaven, MS 8:00pm Purchase tickets in person at the Landers Center Box Office, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, online through Ticketmaster.com, or through the Ticketmaster mobile app.

Author event with Greg Isles: “Cemetery Road” March 7 Turnrow Books Greenwood, MS 5:30pm Greg Iles returns to Turnrow for his first new thriller since the conclusion of the Natchez Burning Trilogy. “Cemetery Road” is an electrifying tale of friendship, betrayal, and shattering secrets that threaten to destroy a small Mississippi town. For more information visit turnrowbooks.com or call 662-453-5995.

Dancing For Our Stars: A Night on Broadway March 9 Landers Center Theatre Southaven, MS Benefitting The Baddour Center. For more information visit dancingforourstars.com or call 662-366-6930.

Natchez Spring Pilgrimage March 16 - April 19 Natchez, MS Natchez, established in 1716, has more than 600 examples of Antebellum Architecture. During Pilgrimage seasons more privately owned historic homes open their doors than any other time of the year. For more information or tickets visit Natchezpilgrimage.com or vitinatchez.org.

Price Is Right Live March 2 BancorpSouth Arena Tupelo, MS 7:30pm The Price Is Right Live™ is the hit interactive stage show that gives eligible individuals the chance to “Come On Down” and play classic games from television’s longest running and most popular game show. Contestants can win cash, appliances, vacations and possibly even a new car by playing favorites like Plinko™, Cliffhangers™, The Big Wheel™, and the fabulous Showcase! For more information visit arenatupelo.com or call 800-854-2196.

Winter Jam March 17 Landers Center Southaven Christian music’s largest annual tour. Lineup includes Grammy-nominated former “American Idol” finalist Danny Gokey; Grammy-winning recording artist and “Overcomer” hitmaker Mandisa; Northern Ireland’s “Count Every Blessing” worshippers Rend Collective; Skillet drummer and female solo rocker Ledger; Grammynominated tour creators and hosts NewSong; and Dove Award-nominated Gotee recording artist Hollyn. Purchase tickets in person at the Landers Center Box Office, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, online through Ticketmaster.com, or through the Ticketmaster mobile app.

Spring Movie Series featuring “Mary Poppins Returns” March 5 Bologna Performing Arts Center Cleveland, MS 6:30pm Mary Poppins returns during Michael’s most desperate hour to lend him a helping hand. With his house in danger of being repossessed, she whips up a little magic to remind him of the importance of family. Rated PG. Run time: 130 minutes.

For more information visit bolognapac.com or call 662-846-4625.

John Mellencamp March 17 Orpheum Theatre Memphis, TN Set to coincide with a highly anticipated new album release, John Mellencamp embarks on a 2019 tour of “The John Mellencamp Show,” featuring the rock icon’s classics plus some new material. For more information visit orpheum-memphis.com or call 901-525-3000.

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Fiddler on the Roof March 19 - 24 Orpheum Theatre Memphis, TN Featuring the Broadway classics “Tradition,” “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and “To Life,” Fiddler on the Roof will introduce a new generation to this uplifting celebration that raises its cup to joy! To love! To life! For more information visit orpheum-memphis.com or call 901-525-3000.

2019 Creative Aging Senior Arts Series featuring IRIS Orchestra String Trio March 20 Theatre Memphis Memphis, TN 1:30pm Tickets available online at creativeagingmidsouth.org or at the door ($5 cash or check). Reserve a wheelchair spot at 901-272-3434

Weezer and Pixies March 22 FedEx Forum Memphis, TN 7:00pm For more information visit forummemphis.com, ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000.

Viking Half Marathon/5K Race March 23 The Viking Half Marathon and 5K promises Southern charm, fast times, and an unbelievable race experience.

From the time you arrive in Greenwood, you can expect great local culture, an array of fabulous food, and warm Southern hospitality. The races will begin and end in the historic Cotton Row district of Greenwood and will take you through the flat, tree-lined streets of Greenwood. For more information call the Greenwood-Leflore Chamber of Commerce at 662-453.-152 or visit vikinghalfmarathon.racesonline.com.

Steve Miller Band March 24 BankPlus Amphitheater Southaven, MS 7:30pm For more information visit livenation.com for more info.

79th Annual Columbus Spring Pilgrimage March 28 - April 6 Columbus, MS This award-winning event is widely recognized as one of the best and most authentic home tours in the South.

The antebellum mansions of Columbus are impeccably maintained and as resplendent as ever. Many home tours feature recreated activities of the 1800s, complete with period costumes, which add excitement and even more authenticity to this historic event. It’s an experience visitors will long remember! For more information visit visitcolumbusms.org or call 800-920-3533.

Memphis Area Master Gardeners Presents Spring Fling March 29 - 30 Agricenter Memphis, TN 9:00am - 5:00pm Free and open to the public. Featured events include educational seminars with regional/local experts, hands-on demonstrations, 2,000+ plant sale, gardening photo exhibit and more. A Kid’s Corner offers fun children’s activities, plus a mini flea-market will sell gently used garden items.

For more information call 901-752-1207 or visit memphisareamastergardeners.org.

Zac Brown Band: Down the Rabbit Hole Live!

March 30 FedEx Forum Memphis, TN 7:00pm For more information visit forummemphis.com, ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000.

Monster Jam March 29 - 31 Landers Center Southaven, MS Monster Jam® is the world’s largest and most famous monster truck tour where world-class drivers compete in front of capacity crowds in racing and freestyle competitions. Purchase tickets at Landers Center box office at 662-470-2131, ticketmaster.com or call Ticketmaster 1-800-745-3000. For more information, visit landerscenter.com.

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reflections | THE MONARCH MIRACLE

The Monarch Miracle

By Deborah Burst

Many believe butterflies are messengers from the spiritual world, bringing love from someone whom has crossed over.

It all began when my mother, Helen Cunningham, joined the company of Juliet Carrigee at the dinner table of Our Lady of Wisdom in New Orleans. I often joined them and learned butterfly gardens were a huge part of Juliet’s life. Her first garden was planted more than 85 years ago in New Orleans on a sliver of land along her childhood home. Growing up, Juliet loved chasing butterflies and her most treasured butterfly was the monarch.

Her passion brought a special gift to Our Lady of Wisdom when Juliet donated the funds to turn a desolate piece of ground into a butterfly garden. Beaming with milkweed, ruby pentas and violet verbena, residents and their families gathered around the garden for visits and special events, eating watermelon and popsicles.

I realized Juliet’s story needed to be told, and added it to the Nature’s Mystique chapter of my book, “The Spirits of the Bayou.”

On the day of the photo shoot, Juliet dressed for the occasion in a beautiful white frock stamped with a stunning butterfly. The wings seemed to take flight with fiery colors of red, orange and yellow.

Clicking the camera, I remarked how special it would be if a monarch would come by for a visit. Many cultures believe butterflies are messengers from the spiritual world, bringing love from someone whom has crossed over. Not long after, a monarch appeared.

He was quite the card; the busy nymph darted all around Juliet, and she beckoned it to visit, to land on her finger.

But it was having too much fun playing its game of peek-a82 DeSoto

boo. Juliet smiled and insisted it was her late husband Henry.

She commented he was always the life of the party, and so she called out to Henry, the butterfly. It seemed to invigorate him even more as he had a message to deliver, a loving message for his Juliet.

Suddenly the church bells tolled, notice for the daily mass and time for Juliet to pray, perhaps a prayer of thanks for this fleeting miracle, a visit from a mischievous monarch.

The bells continued to ring and as if on queue, Henry bid his farewell.

An advance copy of the book came out just in time for Juliet’s birthday on September 1, 2016. She slowly unwrapped the tissue paper, opened the book and spied the full-page photo of the butterfly queen. She took off parading through the halls in her motorized wheelchair holding the book in the air proclaiming her new stardom.

Several days later I was doing a photo shoot inside the Biloxi cemetery. Suddenly a flutter of Gulf Fritillary butterflies began swarming around me. I waved my arms giggling, accusing them of being camera hams, when my phone beeped with a text message.

The message read, “Deb, I’m so sorry, Juliet just passed away quietly surrounded by her family.”

Tears welling up in my eyes, I replied, “Yes, she just told me goodbye. I do believe she is off to see Henry.”

Author, speaker and award-winning freelance writer/photographer, Deborah Burst is a New Orleans native who enjoys writing outdoors at her Mandeville home. She has written five books featuring travel throughout the South.