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March
CONTENTS 2017 • VOLUME 14 • NO. 3
features 46 After the Flood When the river recedes, then what?
60 Bees The health of the hives
54 Kudzu The South’s silent invader
departments 14 Living Well Taking care of the kids
42 On the Road Again Birmingham, Alabama
18 Notables Memphis Botanic Garden’s Michael Allen
44 Greater Goods
22 Exploring Art Creative flower power
70 Southern Gentleman Gone grilling
26 Exploring Books Rowan Oak’s natural world
74 Southern Harmony Listening to the Eisenhauer Band
30 Into the Wild Healing waters
76 In Good Spirits The Grasshopper
34 Table Talk Indianola’s The Crown
78 Exploring Events
38 Exploring Destinations Let’s see St. Simon’s
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66 Homegrown R.P’s for the birds
80 Reflections Free Range Kids
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editor’s note } march Be Free Range A f t e r I re a d C at h ey ’s Reflections essay this month, I couldn’t help but think about all the similar times I had as a child. Outdoors, roaming and endless time filled our summers. In fact, parents seemed quite content to encourage us to head outdoors---and not return for some time! As Cathey surmised, we did indeed survive. As I write, it’s a sunny day near 70 and I relish the sea of farm daffodils. I could lament about winter but then...what winter? Our transition to Spring and longer days seems rather uneventful given this non-existent winter. Perhaps our green and growing issue this year should have been in February? No worries, we’ve still got you covered. Jill will introduce you to Michael Allen, new director of the Memphis Botanic Garden. A selfproclaimed calculated risk taker, Allen is busy making short-term and long-term plans for this beloved green space. Charlene will surprise you with her kudzu story. Did you know that people actually planted kudzu? Hard to believe given its devilish reach. Read more about this relentless vine on page 54. Like many others, I love to slip off to quiet spots when the world is busy. Over in Oxford, William Faulkner’s Rowan Oak remains unchanged and mystical. But while the house may take center stage, the flora and fauna are
MARCH 2017 • Vol. 14 No.3
PUBLISHER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Adam Mitchell PUBLISHER & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Paula Mitchell EDITOR-AT-LARGE Karen Ott Mayer ASSISTANT EDITOR Andrea Brown Ross equally important. Photographer and botanist, Ed Croom takes readers on a visual sabbatical with his new book, “The Land of Rowan Oak”. With the flooding in California happening, one article in this issue has ironic timing. Robin explores what happens after the floods. From the Carolinas to Louisiana, countless families and businesses have been ravaged by water. Read more on page 46. Our thoughts are with all of our California friends who are in the midst of torrential rains and floods. What’s your green preference? We hope this issue of DeSoto gets you thinking about all things green and growing as Spring has arrived. Happy planting!
Karen
CONTRIBUTORS Charlene Oldham Robin Gallaher Branch Andrea Brown Ross Jill Gleeson James Richardson Jim Beaugez Kathryn Winter J. Eric Eckard Debra Pamplin Chere Coen Cathey Frei PUBLISHED BY DeSoto Media 2375 Memphis St. Ste 205 Hernando, MS 38632 662.429.4617 Fax 662.449.5813 ADVERTISING INFO: Paula Mitchell 901-262-9887 Paula@DeSotoMag.com DeSotoMagazine.com Get social with us!
on the cover Love it, or hate it… It grows on you! There’s so much of this fast-growing vine in the Southeastern U.S., you might think it was a native plant. Actually, it took a lot of hard work to help kudzu spread so widely. Now that it covers over seven million acres of the deep South, there are a lot of people working hard to get rid of it! But kudzu is used in ways which might surprise you. Read more on page 54.
©2017 DeSoto Media Co. DeSoto Magazine must give permission for any material contained herein to be reproduced in any manner. 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 i n t e re s t e d i n a d v e r t i s i n g s h o u l d email paula@desotomag.com or call 901-262-9887. Visit us online at desotomagazine.com.
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living well }
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desoto pediatric extended care
Special Kids, Extra Special Care By Robin Gallaher Branch. Photography courtesy of DeSoto Pediatric Extended Care
Audrey Leonard, 14 months old, has spina bifida. This winsome, greeneyed baby with a smile to warm all hearts attends DeSoto Pediatric Extended Care, a day-care facility in Southaven, Mississippi, that provides skilled nursing care and multidisciplinary therapy to medically-fragile children. “She needs a little extra work and attention,” said her mother, Barbara Leonard. And Audrey gets it at DPEC, one of approximately 10 facilities in Mississippi and part of a relatively new program. Started by legislative decree and funded by Medicaid and Mississippi CAN (Magnolia and United Health Care), Mississippi is one of only a few states with a combination day care/medical care for technology-dependent children and children with special needs; others are Florida, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Kentucky, Georgia, Louisiana, and most recently Texas. Medical conditions include seizure disorders and cerebral palsy. The children may require tube feeding; they definitely need constant care. “Mississippi is not known for many things that are good, but this is one of them,” said Dr. Trey Warrington, medical director.
DPEC children need the same things typical children do—exercise, food, clean clothes, friends, and plenty of love. “This is a good program. It provides a safe place for medically-fragile kids. They have trained medical professionals. All the services are in one place. The kids see the same faces over and over,” said Warrington, a pediatrician who is part of Oxford Pediatric Group in Oxford, Mississippi. Open since April 2016, the center has had an average attendance of between 13 and 15 children, said Linsey Jenkins, administrator and RN. The medical definition of child is from birth to age 21. Each child has an individualized treatment plan that seeks to promote learning through play and socialization; the plan accommodates the needs of the child and the family. Mississippi’s mandated ratio of staff-to-patient is one-to-three. “A child can stay as long as the insurance continues to authorize it,” Jenkins said. “There are no out-of-pocket costs for parents DeSoto 17
or caregivers.” Once referred by a pediatrician and the insurance forms are complete, a child is assigned to a nurse. Some children are bed bound; some are walking. The center with its cheery green walls and many toys and books encourages socialization among the patients. According to their diagnoses, the children work with physical, occupational, and speech therapists. If the child goes to school, after-school care and transportation are provided. Meanwhile during the day, parents work or take a break. “It can be overwhelming to have a special needs child,” Jenkins said. Jenkins described the work as more rewarding than hard. “We get to know the children really well. It’s not like a hospital situation. We can watch them master a new skill, and there’s nothing more rewarding than that!” Audrey has progressed. When she first came in September, she was not sitting up. Nurses and physical and occupational therapists worked with their tiny patient and unabashedly showered love on her. Gradually Audrey learned to sit up and then progressed to pulling herself up “and even to crawling and dancing in her crib!” her mother exclaimed. “That’s huge for her,” Jenkins said. Another boy with a shunt in his brain suddenly had trouble. The shunt was malfunctioning. His caregiver recognized a change in his condition and intervened; her action helped saved his life. “Our nurses have really big hearts and really love these children,” Jenkins said. 18 DeSoto
DPEC has changed the lives of Barbara and her husband Arnie. “It’s great to know our child is safe. I don’t have to get off work to take her twice a week to therapy,” Barbara said. Audrey also has scoliosis, curvature of the spine. She sleeps in a little brace at night. Audrey has two older siblings. “When I heard she had spina bifida when I was pregnant, it was really, really hard at first. But now after her birth, I don’t even feel she is disabled. I don’t define her that way. Yes, it’s extra work, like it’s extra doctor’s appointments. But she is a blessing,” Barbara said. Jenkins loves her work and comes to it with her own history. About four years ago her husband and son were on their way to a ball practice on a Saturday afternoon. A drunk driver crossed the road and hit their car. Her husband was killed and Ryan, their six-year-old son, suffered a traumatic brain injury. He survived but had to re-learn everything—how to walk, eat, dress himself, and talk. With heart aching, Jenkins watched him struggle. She was working full time as an RN; her mother quit her job to help with Ryan. Over time, Ryan healed. “He’s doing really well now,” his mother beamed. “He plays baseball and loves to do anything outside.” When Jenkins heard about DPEC and its mission, she applied for a job and got it. “I wanted to be an advocate for these kids and their families. I know firsthand the struggle parents go through. I wanted to let them know they’re not alone.” To learn more, visit DPEC on Facebook.
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notables } michael allen
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Michael Allen Grows Dreams By Jill Gleeson. Photography courtesy of Michael Allen and Live at the Garden
Michael Allen, the Memphis Botanic Garden’s newly minted director, is the first to admit he’s no constant gardener, or even an inconstant one. But he’s long been a fan of the space, subscribing for years with wife Christa to the wildly popular Live at the Garden concert series. Allen also brings more than a half-decade of experience helming a big non-profit to the job; his last gig before assuming his new role on January 1, 2017 was president and CEO of Catholic Charities of West Tennessee. Allen’s got the creds, though his clear and growing admiration for what is arguably the Mid-South’s loveliest 96 acres may prove just as crucial to his – and the MBG’s – long-term success. DeSoto 21
In fact, when asked his favorite aspect of the Garden, Allen replied, “I suppose that is a little bit like having a favorite child – not a good thing! But I think the part of our Garden where I seem to find the most peace and serenity is the Japanese Garden. I am very taken with the ‘red bridge’ which is such an iconic image of our Garden and – I believe – our city. The koi are fun to watch and feed and the new(ish) zig zag bridge is practical, whimsical and culturally accurate. I miss the swans that used to inhabit the pond and perhaps we’ll get some back!” Allen grew up in suburban Chicago, more specifically Evergreen Park, a village of about 25,000. The Windy City, he detailed, has long “vigorously protected” its green spaces, although Allen called his appreciation of such places less innate than “something that has grown as I’ve gotten older.”After earning his MBA from Loyola University, Allen went to work as a business manager for International Paper. There he would eventually meet Christa, who still works for the company in communications. For the next 25 years his job would take the Allens around the country, including not only two stints in Memphis, but also moves to Appleton, Wisconsin and North Granby, Connecticut. The well-heeled Connecticut countryside, rich with horse farms, provided plenty of bucolic pleasures, but Allen noted that the Memphis Botanic Garden offers more than just a chance to commune with nature. “We have over 40,000 students per year who come on our grounds and learn about botany, environmental issues, animals and more. We have adults who touch up their horticultural skills or take art lessons. Families gather here for important occasions, like weddings, where nature can seamlessly be integrated into a ceremony or reception. Our new Live Stage offers the opportunity for guests of all ages and income levels to be entertained and experience cultural events in a natural environment. In one sense you are only two or three football fields away from Poplar Avenue, and in another you are transported a million miles away.” On their way to becoming empty nesters – son Dillon, 21, attends Mississippi State University and daughter Caroline, 17, will head to Auburn University in the fall – Allen and Christa have recently been spending a bit more time enjoying downtown Memphis. Allen said he wouldn’t mind moving there from their home in Germantown, but so far his wife hasn’t jumped on the idea. It might be just as well. Allen’s got some plans, big and small, for the MBG that are going to require his undivided attention in 2017. They include creating not only a five-year strategic plan with the Garden’s board of directors but perhaps also a long-term master plan. This year will see the event space Hardin Hall refurbished, as well as a restoration of the pathways that wind throughout MBG’s 28 specialty gardens. Allen will also be looking to “increase awareness of the Garden and membership” through what he teases will be “a select few higher profile events.” As for what else could be ahead for the Memphis Botanic Garden under Allen’s stewardship, only time will tell. Chances are good, however, that it won’t be dull. After all, Allen is a man who walked away from a successful career at International Paper to found his own e-based distribution business, Strategic Alternatives, LLC. Inside of three years the company was posting sales in excess of a million dollars; after six Allen sold out to a Fortune 100 company. “I am a calculated risk taker,” said Allen. “While I don’t like to fail, of course, I’m not afraid to try new things with the understanding that not everything you try works out. The key is to manage your risk by not taking on more risk than you can handle. I am a firm believer in the adage that if you are not trying new things and risking failure once in a while you are not trying hard enough. One of my favorite quotes is from Daniel Burnham, one of the very first urban planners and who in many respects is the visionary founder of Chicago. He said, “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood...” Look out Memphis, the Botanic Garden is about to get a lot more interesting.
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exploring art } floral design
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Moments in bloom By Kathryn Winter. Photography courtesy of Garden District
Florals and flower arrangements symbolically mark the most emotional and beautiful moments of our lives: weddings, births, holidays, funerals, prom, debutante balls, dinner parties, and anniversaries. Flowers not only remind us of the spring season (growth and rebirth), but they are also connections to the memories we create. Florists have the ability to magically design the décor, which conveys the mood of an event. One Memphis native in particular, Greg Campbell, owner of Garden District Memphis, has been designing and creating for 21 years. Lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, Campbell was working part time in deliveries at a small shop called John Hoover flowers located in Midtown Memphis. At the time there were only around three employees. When one wasn’t able to make it into work one day, Campbell was pressed to make an old-timey floral spray. John Hoover became a major influence in Campbell’s life and started to train him while his knack for floral design and making arrangements grew everyday. “I worked in a wholesale house for a year and it was a wonderful experience because it gave me a great idea about what the industry is like. After Hoover passed away, I bought the
business and changed the name to Garden District,” Campbell said. “Even though Hoover had a client base already, we were pretty much starting from scratch. It has taken it this long for Garden District to evolve to what it is now, we’re an excellent group of people and we all love what we do very much.” Today, the shop is located in East Memphis on Sanderlin. One of Campbell’s most memorable events he designed was the Wilson-Pelly wedding where Prince Harry was in attendance. He also decorated the Continental ballroom for a dinner at the Peabody Hotel, as well as numerous beautiful weddings. “We’re fortunate to have great clients who are very trusting and allow us to think outside the box. That’s what makes it fun.” Garden District’s current showroom is a mix of contemporary and traditional displays of flowers, plants, antiques and containers. Campbell is no stranger to dinner DeSoto 25
parties in Oxford, either. This past summer he teamed up with the debutante farmer, Elizabeth Heiskell, to create a farm to table dinner party at Woodson Ridge Farms. The event featured an evening of dining and fresh air, along with a celebration of local produce and flowers straight from the farm. “We’ve done parties where everything we use has to come from the land. We show up to the farm with just our snips and just make it work. I’ve used pecans from a pecan farm as décor, along with cotton from a cotton field on an Arkansas farm.” In April, Campbell is traveling to Holland to photograph a tulip and daffodil farm. He is also gearing up to visit independently owned flower farms in Oregon and California. “Covey Rise, a young lady, was growing flowers to sell in Oxford and August is a slow time in general for retail. She was flushed with flowers, so I approached her about mocking up a barn to photograph it and put it on social media. We wanted to decorate it as a mock up summer dinner party, and then a publisher heard about it and now we’re working on a book, all while running a business. We are excited to be a part of the farm to table movement on the floral end,” Campbell said. Campbell’s favorite flower is the muscari, a grape hyacinth, a small flower that is also the palest color of blue. Muscari is one of the first flowers to pop up in spring, and Campbell loves it because it’s a “for the moment flower” 26 DeSoto
meaning it’s not long lasting. “There’s some flowers that just don’t last and there’s just something about how they’re beautiful for a day or two and then they’re gone. That’s really attractive to me.” After the busy holiday season with rich colors of red and whites, everyone’s mind begins to welcome spring with a pastel palette of color. “In January we can begin to start using yellow again, along with peach and pinks. Spring flowers like hyacinths and daffodils become very popular, Easter is on the mind and everyone loves rabbits and bunnies. A trend for this spring is we’re seeing a lot more environmentally-friendly products as far as containers and how things are produced, along with earth-friendly methods of growing that aren’t harmful to the environment,” Campbell said. “Lilies are traditionally a summer flower, but smells of spring include distinctive fragrances from lilies. Some of the best attributes of flowers are their own unique scents. I always check with my clients before doing a dinner party if they want fragrant flowers, because sometimes they might intermix with the taste or smell of food,” he shared. International Floral Distributors (IFD) forecasted that colors for 2017 are more muted. Blush, maroon, pacific blue and champagne are some of the most popular and trendy. “Soft blue colors and muted patterns contrasted with aged metallic vases work together and can create a calming presentation. Bright oranges with muted purples and earth
tones create an affectionate and welcoming atmosphere. Hints of warm gold are offset by powerful shades of greyed blues and copper. Serene shades of blue and green mingle with bright white, while bundles of hydrangea and cornflower come housed in frosted and clear glass with nigella and scabiosa. Calla lilies and bird of paradise clustered together in woven baskets and cork covered vases creates brilliant muted tones of tropical hues. Heliconia, pincushion protea, and bromeliads look exotic when paired with moss, vine and bamboo,” according to IFD. IFD continued, “Flowers create intimate connections and immediately impact happiness. Attitudes, values and emotions are unique to each of us, and using the right flowers provides a unique way of connecting people on an emotional level. Flowers create memories that last forever.” Wi t h M o t h e r N a t u r e a s a muse, designers like Campbell are only limited by their imaginations.
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exploring books} rowan oak
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The Land of Rowan Oak Story and Photography by James Richardson
“Walking the grounds, often in the early mornings, I find Rowan Oak a place of quiet contemplation, and yet it is much else. It is a place to witness the seasonal beauty of the plants, a living museum and repository of historical garden plants, and a reflection of a writer’s relationship to his personal land.” These words come from the introduction to “The Land of Rowan Oak, An Exploration of Faulkner’s Natural World” by Ed Croom, a retired botanist from the University of Mississippi.
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Ed Croom
Rowan Oak is William Faulkner’s former residence in Oxford, Mississippi. The writer of short stories, novels, and screen plays for Hollywood movies, lived in the Greek Revival house from 1930 until 1962, the year of his death. The house was built in 1848 and had several owners. When Faulkner purchased the house in 1930 for $6,000, it was in need of repairs, many of which the new owner did himself. He added to the house and constructed out buildings and purchased an adjoining 30-acre woods (called Bailey’s Woods) in 1938. That comprises the present-day Rowan Oak. Faulkner renamed the home Rowan Oak in 1931 after the rowan tree, a symbol of security and peace. That is what it became to Faulkner: a sanctuary. In Donald M. Kartiganer’s afterword in the book, he wrote, “Ironically, the first novel that Faulkner brought to completion at Rowan Oak was, “Sanctuary”. The author and photographer for the book “The Land of Rowan Oak” is Ed Croom. By profession, he was a botanist for the University of Mississippi, not a professional photographer. But his images capture the feeling and beauty of the place, just as Croom wanted. “I’m a retired botanist from University of Mississippi, to keep it simple. I spent my career researching medicinal plants here. So, what does my career as a botanist have to do with why 30 DeSoto
I wrote and photographed this book? This is a beautiful place and visitors are walking by and don’t see the beauty.” He felt compelled to conserve it and the book is the result. “That’s why I did it. I thought Rowan Oak was one of the jewels of Oxford. And the actual land of Rowan Oak most people can’t see what a jewel it is. Therefore, I photographed it as really its own place just like a botanist would. It’s not a mountain cove. It’s not a beautiful beach front with an old growth forest. This is a botanical jewel.” Croom added “Notes on the Photographs” at the end of the book to explain each photograph, the common and scientific names of the plants. As an example, for his photograph of Bridal Wreath Spirea on page 104, he added, “From Faulkner’s fictional landscape in “Sartoris” he writes, ‘About this half-moon of lawn and without the arc of the drive were the bridal wreath and crape myrtle bushes old as time and as huge as age would make them. Big as trees they were...’” Croom took the photographs over a period of 13 years, from 2003 to 2013. Taking the photographs became a sort of meditation for him. Most of the photographs in the book were taken in the early hours after daybreak each morning that he visited Rowan Oak. He approached his photography of the plants as if taking their portraits. It shows.
“I don’t know how many thousands of photographs that I have taken here, but the are about 130 in the book.” One of Croom’s favorite places is at the knarled Osage orange, or Bodock tree. This tree is located behind the main house. “Its wood was used for fence posts. In more recent times, people make knife handles and gun stocks. It is so hard. The original name, the reason it was called bodock, is it was kind of a corruption of the French ‘Bois d’arc.’” The approach to Rowan Oak is through a cedar tree lined drive. “The cedar trees were probably planted in the 1850s at the start of the house. The cedars lined the drive, and, as we know, there would have been carriages on it. Basically, there are native standard, hearty horticultural plants, like the red cedar. If you had looked at a traditional Southern landscape back in Faulkner’s lifetime, these spirea, gardenia, and magnolia trees were hearty. I call them historical landscape plants for that era. That’s what we have here.” Each page has a full-size photograph. People view the book in different ways. As Croom observed, “Some use it as a coffee table book. Others look at the pictures and become nostalgic about some of the plants. The University Press had published Faulkner for years and I thought it appropriate for them to publish it.” The book published this past August. “It ended up taking 13 years for it to be published. I think readers can look at the book and get a sense of the spirit of the place and the plants here. So, it is really a celebration of the place.”
The Land of Rowan Oak: An Exploration of Faulkner’s Natural World By Ed Croom Afterword by Donald M. Kartiganer Available through University Press of Mississippi www.upress.state.ms.us See Ed Croom images on Instagram at #landofrowanoak.
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into the wild } project healing waters
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Healing Veterans’ Hidden Wounds
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing helps disabled veterans and active-duty military By Jim Beaugez. Photography courtesy of Healing Waters
For a military veteran dealing with a disability, the barriers to an active, healthy lifestyle can be significant. But recreational activities can be therapeutic, restoring their confidence and abilities. Therapeutic recreation uses treatment, education and recreation services to help people with disabilities to develop and use their leisure in ways that enhance their health, functional abilities, independence and quality of life. A non-profit group called Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing has helped thousands of active-duty military service personnel and veterans who have disabilities find therapy
through fly fishing—more than 7,400 in 2015 alone—since 2005. The Project Healing Waters program first served wounded military service members at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., who were returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. The organization has since expanded to establish programs in Department of Defense DeSoto 33
hospitals, Warrior Transition Units and Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and clinics. This nationwide program brings fly fishing to disabled military service personnel across the Veterans Affairs health care system through more than 200 local programs, such as the Mid-South Fly Fishers, a 300-member, Memphis-based organization dedicated to the sport. “The veterans that go through Project Healing Waters are struggling with post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury and physical limitations,” said Frank Sospenzi, president of the Mid-South Fly Fishers. “It has been well known that the relaxing, restorative 34 DeSoto
activities of fly fishing and fly tying help with the rehab of the veterans. In addition, these activities provide participants with the opportunity of fellowship with fellow veterans, who understand what they are going through.” Mid-South Fly Fishers provide veterans and activeservice personnel with free membership to its club, which allows them to attend introductory classes on fly fishing, held twice a year to teach fly fishing safety, etiquette and casting instruction, as well as warm-water lake fishing and moving cold water, or trout stream, fishing techniques. Learning how to tie flies opens an entirely new and creative world, one that puts the fly fisherman in control of the
outcome. They determine the size, length and design, and they can tie for hours on end while benefiting from concentrating on an immersive creative outlet that can then be used in outdoor recreation. Another key benefit to fly fishing provided through these clubs is the stability of a group and the ongoing support through classes and outings. The Mid-South Fly Fishers has four club outings each year on top of monthly meetings, during which veterans can fish alongside experienced fly fishermen. According to Sospenzi, these opportunities extend and expand upon the camaraderie they experience from the initial class at the VA, and continue their education in fly fishing. The club normally hosts 1015 veterans in its Intro to Fly Fishing class, while half a dozen veterans continue to attend monthly meetings on a regular basis. For many participants, the socialization and camaraderie of the classes are every bit as important as the fishing outings. For the Mid-South Fly Fishers, participating in the Project Healing Waters program was an easy decision. It’s their way of giving back to those who have given so much for their country. Still, one particular story stands out to Sospenzi. “I was told about a veteran who went through the program, then some time later got to the point where he called the suicide hot line at the VA,” he said. “While talking with the veteran, the person on the other end of the phone was able to look up and find out that this vet went through the Project Healing Waters program. That led to a conversation about fly tying, which led to the vet starting to tie flies, which then led to the vet tying flies for hours and the restorative effects of that activity helped get the vet through the crisis.” All activities and equipment—from rods and line to single-day and multi-day fishing trips—are provided free of charge through Project Healing Waters. Veterans and active-duty military personnel who have disabilities can find help through Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing at www.projecthealingwaters.org, and the Mid-South Fly Fishers at www.msff.org.
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table talk } the crown of indianola
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Catfish Allison
Chicken Allison
Culinary Crown By Cheré Coen. Photography courtesy of The Crown
The Crown Restaurant, a jewel of Indianola, Miss. celebrates 41 years this month. The occasion marks not only an anniversary for the multi-faceted establishment, but a benchmark of a long-running journey. Tony and Evelyn Roughton opened the business after returning home from the Air Force. At first, they opened an antique shop on Delta property once belonging to Evelyn Roughton’s grandparents, filled with items imported from the couple’s days overseas. After four years in the antique business, they imagined serving food might bring in new customers. “We thought this would be the perfect thing for an antique stop,” Evelyn Roughton said, adding that they served one entrée and a salad bar. “My husband and I loved cooking and eating out and we always dreamed of owning a restaurant.” The Crown Restaurant’s specialty became Mississippi-raised
catfish cooked in innovative ways. In 1990, for instance, they served up their smoked catfish paté at the International Fancy Food Show in New York and took home the top award for best hors d’oeuvre. In 1992, the couple published their first cookbook, “Classic Catfish,” which also included local shrimp, crab and redfish recipes. The Southern favorites attracted national TV attention as well, including Bobby Flay and his “Food Nation” and Turner South’s “Blue Ribbon” show, and the couple was highlighted in publications such as Southern Living and Saveur, to name only a few. Understandably, the restaurant and menu expanded DeSoto 37
Fudge Pie
since opening in 1976 and The Crown moved into a larger space in downtown Indianola. The antique shop, located in the countryside outside of town, became the processing plant for the couple’s Taste of Gourmet, a variety of Southern food products such as sauces and salad dressings served in the restaurant, breads, soups and Mississippi Delta fudge pie, among many others. But the Roughtons never quit the antique business. “The restaurant’s full of antiques,” Roughton said with a laugh. “You’re eating on antique tables for the most part.” Today’s Crown seats 70 to 80 easily, Roughton explained, and serves six to seven entrees and a variety of salads, soups and desserts from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. The accompanying gift shop that sells Taste of Gourmet food products, artwork and other items is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The restaurant is popular with local businessmen, Roughton pointed out, insisting that The Crown is not a tea parlor. “We are not really lady food,” Roughton explained. “Many people think that because we’re only open for lunch.” Last year, Roughton published a new cookbook, “The Crown of Southern Cooking: Recipes from the Birthplace of the Blues,” published by Quail Ridge Press of Mississippi. Her daughter, Jennifer Schaumburg, shot most of the cookbook’s photos (she also runs the restaurant). “We sold the book on QVC (online shopping network) and sold 8,000 books in five minutes,” Roughton said. 38 DeSoto
Last summer, Roughton demonstrated her popular Catfish Allison dish — poached fillet of U.S. Farm-raised catfish fillet gratineed with a Parmesan cheese, butter and green onion sauce — at the Southern Food & Beverage Museum in New Orleans. “I felt like a celebrity,” Roughton said. “We had a really good time.” Roughton was born on the Mississippi Delta but grew up in Alabama. Her Air Force years took her around the world but when it was time to open a business, Mississippi was on the couple’s mind. “ We a l w a y s c a m e h o m e t o m y M i s s i s s i p p i grandmother,” she said. “I always felt like this was home. When we got out of the Air Force it seemed like the place to come home to.” Roughton served as founding board member of the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, which opened in 2008 and brings in tourists from around the world to Indianola. Roughton continues to visit the restaurant for lunch to greet those visitors and share the beauty of the Mississippi Delta. “We’ve had a real good time with our business,” she said of the past 40 years. “We’ve had fun. All of the things I love are part of the restaurant — food and antiques!” For more information and to purchase Taste of Gourmet food items, visit www.thecrownrestaurant.com or call (800) 833-7731 or (662) 887-4522.
Recipe Years ago, Evelyn Roughton and Claudia Ainsworth entered a catfish cooking contest. Neither won but Roughton took Ainsworth’s recipe for Catfish Allison, named for Ainsworth’s daughter, tweaked it and served it at The Crown. Catfish Allison remains one of the restaurant’s most popular dishes. Catfish Allison From “The Crown of Southern Cooking: Recipes from the Birthplace of the Blues,” 6-8 U.S. Farm-raised catfish fillets 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 lemon, sliced For the Allison butter: 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 stick butter softened 6 tablespoons mayonnaise 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco 6 green onions, chopped very fine Directions: Poach catfish fillets in a large skillet in lightly simmering water (enough to cover fish) with salt, black pepper, and lemon slices 4-5 minutes. Gently lift fillets from water, and set aside to drain. (Fillets can be refrigerated overnight before serving.) For Allison Butter, place cheese, butter, mayonnaise, Worcestershire, and Tabasco in a mixing bowl, and blend thoroughly. Gently stir in green onions by hand. (Can be made two weeks ahead and kept refrigerated. Soften a little before using.) For individual servings, place fillets in au gratin dishes; cover with two tablespoons Allison Butter. Place dishes under hot broiler, and brown deeply for more flavor. Otherwise, place fillets on lightly buttered cookie sheet with sides. Cover each with butter; brown deeply under hot broiler. Carefully lift each fillet onto a bed of rice on each individual plate, and spoon juice overfillets.
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exploring destinations } st. simon’s island
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Pier Village
Living in Island Time By Debra Pamplin. Photography courtesy of goldenisles.com, ssirentals.com and luxuryportfolio.com
Just a short distance past the entry bridges of St. Simon’s Island in Southeast Georgia, it becomes clear that this isn’t just any ordinary island. Surrounded by blue fluffy clouds above, and crystalblue waters below, the end of the journey has turned into a welcome to the start of ‘island time’. No stress, no time restrictions, just breeze-filled days and nights. A turtle crossing sign on the side of the road doubles as a reminder that island life is to be taken at a slower pace. Guests are welcomed by centuries-old live oaks that canopy the roadways. Spanish moss hangs from their branches, previewing the romantic vibe that can be felt throughout this island that was voted as one of the Top 10 islands in the U.S. There are plenty of activities available throughout the island, allowing each guest to have their own unique itinerary. Choices for lodging are plentiful as well, with options ranging from a beachfront resort, to condos and vacation homes, to suites and standard hotel rooms.
Pier Village Pier Village is near the entrance of the island, and provides many choices for dining, shopping and lodging. Take a room at the St.Simon’s Inn By the Lighthouse and have everything within walking distance. The Lighthouse museum is directly across the street from the hotel, and tours to the top of the lighthouse are available Monday-Saturday. Climb the 100+ stairs and be rewarded with panoramic views of the ocean, including the Sidney Lanier Bridge. After visiting the museum, Neptune Park is just a few steps away. Ocean views, sea breezes and plenty of shade from the live oaks provide the perfect picnic location. Also included in Neptune Park is an 18-hole mini golf course and a small water park. Be sure to stop in at the visitor’s center and ask for a DeSoto 41
King and Prince Golf Course Hole #12
map of the ‘tree spirits’. The tree spirits are face carvings in seven trees throughout the island. The first one can be found just steps from the side of the welcome center’s building. A fulllength mermaid was carved into a tree, and is one of the seven works of a local artist. Take the scavenger hunt to see if all seven can be found. Mallery Street runs the full length of the village and many unique shops are housed here. Go Fish is in the middle of Mallery Street and is set apart by its merchandise. Many items for sale are handmade items and range from earrings and rings, shirts and shoes, vases and other home décor items. Art sculptures by local artists are also available for purchase here. (Just look for the large horse statue made from driftwood that stands proudly in the store’s window.) Surf shops and bait and tackle stores can also be found on this street in Pier Village. Rent some fishing or crabbing gear and try your hand at gathering your own dinner. Or have someone else prepare your dinner at one of the many dining options within Pier Village. Dining options range from Argentinian entrees at Del Sur, southern comforts at Barbara Jean’s and a breakfast buffet and lunch specials at Sandcastle Café. For a treat in the evenings, a Dairy Queen is one block outside of the village. At the farthest point of Mallery Street lives the 325foot pier. Fishermen and painters can be seen during the day, while street musicians can sometimes be heard in the evenings. It’s an ideal time to chat with local artists and browse their fresh 42 DeSoto
supply of paintings. Purchasing a local’s work not only supports them, but allows you to take home a piece of the island. Walking ghost tours leave from the pier most evenings and include stories of the ghosts of Mallery Street and the Lighthouse, to just name a few. The hour-long tour will explain the links between historic events and modern-day life on the island. During the day, there are three options for trolley tours. The three competitors highlight several points of interests throughout the island, giving a fun and easy way to learn about the island’s past and present. St.Simon’s Trolley Tour is the original tour company, and has been in business since 1993. The tour covers 36 points of interest and is the only wooden trolley on the island. Miss Bunny provides an entertaining and interesting tour that highlights prime locations such as Christ Church and Fort Frederica. Bike Rentals are available within the Pier Village, and the island provides many miles of paved bike paths allowing for easy travels from one of the island to the other. King & Prince Beachfront Resort The only beachfront resort on the island, the upscale King & Prince Resort allows for an all-inclusive vacation. Park the car upon arrival and give it a rest during the duration of your stay. Enjoy fine dining at the property’s Echo Restaurant, or opt for room service. Choose two-bedroom condos, a
beachfront room or a bungalow. Plenty of options for lodging exist within the resort. Amenities are just as plentiful, ranging from tennis and basketball courts, bike rentals and beach rental items such as boogie boards, surf boards, beach chairs and umbrellas. Spend some relaxing time at the spa, or just unwind at one of the outdoor pools. RedFern Village Another section of the island, RedFern Village, also features favorite eateries such as Bubba’s, Gnat’s and The Blackwater Grill. Browse through the specialty stores that line both sides of the street or spend some time at the Tabby House Spa. Whether you are looking for a romantic getaway, a family destination or just some alone time, St. Simon’s Island offers something for everyone. Historical reviews, romantic beach sunsets and family fun await you at the island hailed as America’s Favorite Beach Town.
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on the road again } birmingham, al
m a h g n i Birm a Alabam
9:00 Bogue’s Diner is a Birmingham institution and a great place to start your day. Opened in 1938 and still a local favorite for omelettes stuffed with cheese, meat and veggies, blueberry pancakes or build your own breakfast plate. 10:00 Head downtown to the Birmingham Museum of Art located on the north side of Linn Park. The museum houses an extensive collection of paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and more. 12:00 After a stop at the museum store enjoy lunch at Oscar’s. Located inside the museum Oscar’s serves soups, salads and sandwiches like the Georgia O’Keeffe chicken salad melt or fried calamari Po’boy. 1:00 After lunch take a stroll around Linn Park, which is the site of many festivals and special events. The park also contains a variety of statues, monuments and markings showing the history of the city. Downtown also offers unusual shopping like Jim Reed Books and Museum of Fond Memories. Rare books, movie posters, old newspapers and other memorabilia line the store’s shelves. 3:00 Visit the Civil Rights Institute located near downtown. The detailed exhibits reveal pieces of black and white life from the late 1800s to the present. A series of galleries tells the stories of daily life for AfricanAmericans in Alabama and the nation. 4:30 Head to the Five Points South district for food and fun. This historic neighborhood filled with old buildings and churches is now home to nearly 40 restaurants and 30 retail shops. Dinner at Highlands Bar and Grill. This award-winning French-inspired restaurant changes their menu daily depending on what is fresh and in season. Menu items might include oysters, salads with local greens, baked grits, grouper and venison. Be sure to make a reservation. Dinner is served Tuesday - Saturday 5:30p.m. - 10:00p.m. After dinner enjoy live entertainment at Zydeco, one Birmingham’s oldest music venues.
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birminghamal.org boguesdiner.com artsbma.org bcri.org highlandsbarandgrill.com zydecobirmingham.com
Birmingham is a great place to enjoy the outdoors. Oak Mountain State Park, which is the largest public park in the state, has over 50 miles of separate hiking and biking trails. The Red Trail is included in the International Mountain Biking Association’s list of epic rides, making it one of 52 “must ride” trails in the world. Red Mountain Park not only offers biking and hiking but the Red Ore Zip Tour. The aerial adventure is a thrilling ride with beautiful views of the mountain’s natural landscape, historical mining sites and the surrounding valleys. For a more laid back outdoor adventure play one of Birmingham’s two beautiful golf courses along the Robert Trent Jone’s Golf Trail or stroll through Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens.
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greater goods } spring break
Spring Break
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1. Southern Marsh swim trunks, The Red Door, 346 W Oxford Street Pontotoc, MS 2. Scout Bags, Paisley Pineapple, 6542 Goodman Rd #115, Olive Branch, MS 3. Fruity Beach Towels, Cynthia’s Boutique, 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS 4.Coozies, The Bunker, 2631 McIngvale Rd #106, Hernando, MS 5. Sunglasses, The Bunker, 2631 McIngvale Rd #106, Hernando, MS 6. Drink and Phone Beach Caddy, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 7. Swell Bottles, Ultimate Gifts, 3075 Goodman Road E, Southaven, MS 8. Big Mouth Inc. Mermaid Tail pool float, Ultimate Gifts, 3075 Goodman Road E, Southaven, MS 46 DeSoto
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1. Slant Collections Double Wall Tumblers, Paisley Pineapple, 6542 Goodman Rd #115, Olive Branch, MS 2. Tidewater Sandles, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 3. Two Pack Coozies, Paisley Pineapple, 6542 Goodman Rd #115, Olive Branch, MS 4. Cinda B luggage and totes, Paisley Pineapple, 6542 Goodman Rd #115, Olive Branch, MS 5. Remi & Reid Depature Tote, The Pink Zinnia, 134 West Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 6. Bella Canvas T-Shirts, Ultimate Gifts, 3075 Goodman Road E, Southaven, MS
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When the River Recedes
By Robin Gallaher Branch. Photography by Trip Farris
Some people call it a flood fight. Water comes, recedes...and then the fight to reclaim begins. When the rains come and keep coming and the Mississippi River and tributaries overflow their banks, a lot happens quickly. Individuals hurriedly leave their homes. Agencies step in to aid and direct. Communities soon face dreary, heartbreaking recovery efforts. Reclamation begins. Listen to flood fight voices. They know to prepare for the next one, for it surely will come. DeSoto 49
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True Story Gail McQuade and her family have experienced five Louisiana floods in over 25 years. Three were in Monroe and the others were in Mandeville and Hammond. In the first, “we lost everything,” McQuade said. The water—knee deep in the house and half way up the hubcaps—rose so quickly that she and her husband packed their car, woke up their four-year-old twins, and drove to higher ground. They had no flood insurance for that flood in the late 80s but immediately learned their lesson. McQuade estimates the family budgets about $800 yearly for flood insurance. “It’s worth it,” she said. Throughout the years they have replaced appliances, furniture, and of course clothes. For their first flood, they were eligible for a low-cost, home improvements loan. After a second flood in the early 90s, FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, offered a buy-out program. The McQuades applied, and FEMA bought their house. “The government was good to us,” she said. In 2005, Katrina’s year, they were in Mandeville. “We were on the wind side of the hurricane, not the water side,” McQuade said. “Four trees crashed on our house; three came through.” Again, insurance carried them. The Hammond flood of 2016 did not damage their home, although their long front yard squished with water with no place to go. Aid When water damage from a flood or hurricane strikes, people need help. Americans rally immediately. In August 2016, the Mississippi’s high waters moved from Hammond to Baton Rouge bringing devastation. Some 300 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Memphis area responded. Leaving midday Friday, August 26, they motored to Baton Rouge, making good time and even working that night. They worked all day Saturday and returned home Sunday. “We took our own tools and supplies. We loaded up things like paper towels, toilet paper, and diapers,” said Willie Smith, Director of Public Affairs for the Memphis, Tennessee, LDS congregations. “We did not look for reimbursement for the funds spent.” Saturday was heavy labor. Assigned to homes with floor-to-ceiling water damage, the volunteers “ripped out everything to the studs and carried it to the curb,” Smith said. The volunteers found the residents dazed, exhausted, and grateful; their possessions, covered in mud, were worthless. Often the volunteers simply gave the residents “skin”—hard hugs conveying empathy and sympathy and strength.
“We gave them some order in their lives,” Smith said. “We were boots on the ground.” Bringing a sense of hope and order is the first step. Rebuilding Getting a structure ready for repair or rebuilding begins first with a damage assessment, said Jeff Hobbs, sales manager at SERVPRO of Bartlett/Cordova. SERVPRO is a nation-wide specialist in fire, water, mold, and other cleanups. When water damage happens, timing is crucial. Mold can start within 48 hours. “The faster you get to it the better,” Hobbs said. Safety comes first and knowing how to shut off valves for electricity, gas, and water is essential. “It’s always good to have plumbers’ and electricians’ numbers on hand,” Hobbs advised. Hobbs recommended a cleanup technician with an Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). That certification qualifies a technician to assess water damage. Broadly speaking, categories are as follows: 1. One inch deep. Water can come from a supply line like a washer hose and is fairly easy to clean up. 2. One to two feet deep. There probably is gray water, indicating that water could have dripped from the ceiling. 3. Wet walls and ceilings. The water is black, indicating a possible mixture of soil, sewage, and chemicals. Generally this category means that everything down to the studs has to go. A flood’s environmental impact James Moore, associate professor of biology at Christian Brothers University, gave what some may consider an uncomfortable fact about Mother Nature. From a biological perspective, flooding is an integral part of an ecosystem’s health. Surprisingly, the greater flooding damage in the area from Memphis to Baton Rouge most often comes from tributaries and not from the Mississippi itself, Moore said. “Tributaries have been channelized. They are straight. The idea is to get the water away from communities,” Moore explained. Here’s some background. The U.S. Government started managing the Mississippi after the 1927 flood in which approximately 27,000 square miles were inundated with water up to 30 feet deep, sources said. Afterward, policy formed to diminish damage to humans and metropolitan areas. The results, Moore and environmentalists say, are mixed. Prior to almost a century of river management and channeling, there was usually an event every five years, Moore
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said. An event was when the Mississippi flooded its banks. However, over the last 90 years, the Mississippi has been managed with levees, spillways, and wing dams. One result is that sand bars form behind wing dams, preventing sediment from moving downstream, Moore said. Moore studied Katrina’s effects. He took soil and water samples in the Gulfport, Mississippi, area. He found that the ecosystem bounced back quickly. “Within roughly a year after Katrina, the soil and water salinity levels were back to their pre-hurricane levels,” Moore said. US Army Corps of Engineers knows the Mississippi After Katrina hit in 2005, Congress directed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build a system to defend New Orleans against a hurricane that had a one percent chance of occurring in a year, said Ricky Boyett, chief, public affairs, USACE, New Orleans. “It took $14.5 billion to construct a hurricane risk-reduction system,” Boyett said. The corps designed levees, flood walls, and pump stations. The results and other existing measures were tested about six years later via another form of water damage. “During the 2011 Louisiana floods, it’s estimated that the management of the Mississippi River system saved $170 billion dollars in Louisiana and $230 billion in damage prevention overall to all the states,” Boyett said. In layman’s terms, that means that physical damages to homes and farmland structures were reduced, he added. More on the environment Katrina also brought federal dollars for innovative, environmentallyfriendly projects. Here’s a bit of history about the Delta supplied by Chuck Perrodin, public information director, Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, a Louisiana agency. “We’re the state agency in charge of fixing up the losses to the coastline,” he explained. Before 1930 and the levee system in the Mississippi River, Louisiana was gaining three-quarters of a square mile of land each year because of sediment. “With the levee system, we are now 1,900 square miles smaller than we were before 1930,” DeSoto 53
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Perrodin said. T he good news is this: A reclamation process is in the works. Perrodin mentioned three islands: Scofield Island, Pelican Island and Shell Island that have been rebuilt since Katrina. Sand from the river was used to build them. The process is fascinating. It involves sucking up river bottom sand and feeding it into a pipeline. The pipeline’s route goes under roads and eventually settles on the sea floor and then goes upward to an island. “It’s a huge project,” Perrodin said. Perrodin called it an amazing sight to see an island that was not there gradually be there. The islands are Louisiana’s first line of defense, so to speak. They’re the ones in place to break the force of another hurricane. And the last word? As a flood fight veteran, does McQuade have suggestions? “Yes. Get flood insurance, even if you’re not on the flood plain,” she said. “You just never know.”
About the Photographer:
Trip Farris -
Landscape, Historic Structures, Photojournalism and Portraiture photography based in Oxford, Mississippi. Contact info tripfarris@gmail.com tripfarris.zenfolio.com Photographs were taken at the Rodney Baptist Church in Rodney, Mississippi.
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Vine or Villian? By Charlene Oldham. Photography by Shutterstock
Steven Callen’s interest in kudzu grew from his experience as a Teach For America corps member and high school biology teacher in Helena, Ark., where verdant blankets of the invasive Asian vine seem to cover just about every acre not occupied by cotton and soybeans.
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His interest led him to research habits and habitats of the plant when he came to Saint Louis University as a doctoral student. Kudzu was introduced at the 1876 World’s Fair Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia and touted as a cover crop for the country’s warmer climes. Although it’s not as ubiquitous in other parts of the country, kudzu has spread well beyond the Southern states. As for how and why it’s spread so far so fast in the decades since migrating from its native Asia, Callen offers one explanation that seems unimaginable. “The short answer is because people are planting it there. There seems to be this really human - plant dynamic that goes on with kudzu in its invasion of the U.S. but also in its distribution within its native range. Wherever it’s planted it grows.” While it might be difficult for farmers and backyard gardeners in the South to believe, much of that planting was initiated by the federal government, which started paying farmers to plant it in the years before the Dust Bowl in an effort to stop soil erosion. Although that effort ended long ago, Callen believes some people are still purposely planting kudzu. He even had someone approach him while he was doing field work along a roadside near Imperial, Mo. The curious passerby liked the look of the kudzu as well as the grape Kool Aidlike fragrance from its flowers and wanted a specimen to put in along his fenceline. He took one, despite Callen’s cautions about the plant’s persistent reach. “I think, in most cases, when people are planting it, they may not know what it actually is,” said Callen, now a postdoctoral associate at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis. “In other cases, they may know what it is but think they can control it.” If so, they’d most likely be wrong. Kudzu is not only invasive, it’s fast-spreading, growing up to a foot a day under certain conditions. It’s also persistent, rooting itself deep into the ground with tubers that can grow six or eight feet long, experts say. In Mississippi alone, kudzu has invaded more than 546,000 acres of privately-owned forest land, costing landowners $54 million annually in lost timber sales, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Initiatives like the North Mississippi Kudzu Control Project offers government funds from sources including the USDA’s Natural DeSoto 59
Resources Conservation Service to help private landowners cover the cost of eradicating the pesky plant. To be sure, getting rid of the plant can be pricey. “Burning it won’t likely reach the roots, and even attacking it with herbicides requires aggressiveness and vigilance over several years to truly wipe out a well-established patch,” said Andrew Ezell, a professor and head of the department of forestry at Mississippi State University. Ezell conducted a study in 2011 comparing different herbicide-centered strategies for controlling kudzu. The research showed a Dupont-branded herbicide with the active ingredient of metsulfuron methyl to be most effective, but even that was far from a one-and-done solution. “Rarely are we going to eradicate a well-established patch of kudzu with a single application,” said Ezell, who said metsulfuron methyl-based formulas are likely still the most costeffective herbicides to deal with kudzu. During the study, he cautioned cooperating landowners to be watchful when it came monitoring kudzu, which the USDA banned as a cover crop in the 1950s after encouraging farmers to plant it in earlier times. Ezell likened the vine to fastspreading disease that’s also tricky because it lulls people into complacency. It may lie dormant before sprouting up again a few years after landowners think they’ve wiped it out for good. “As soon as you see it, attack it, hit it hard and never 60 DeSoto
stop going back to look to make sure you got it all,” he advised. “Because, if you leave a little bit, it will just come back.” Those who don’t want to use herbicides could dig out kudzu the old-fashioned way, but should also be prepared to keep an eagle eye out for any signs of reinfestation. Others have used goats or other grazing animals to take a bite out of the problem, often pairing them with a second round of treatment that includes herbicides or other measures to keep kudzu roots from resprouting. Then, there is the approach being implemented by the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Its kudzu-infested area included young trees and vine-blanketed shrubs it hoped to save. After investigating different options, campus managers enlisted sheep to control the campus kudzu problem. “We researched a non-chemical method for controlling kudzu and learned that sheep are more discriminatory in plant selection and prefer the green leaves and vines of kudzu over small shrubs or leaves of young trees. Goats will eat almost anything and will reach higher to completely remove small branches and leaves on trees, shrubs, groundcover and vines,” said Anne Boykin-Smith, master planner at Georgia Tech. “I talked to Trees Atlanta, and they endorsed using sheep. Also, the University of Georgia cleared the vegetation along a stream that ran through campus and used sheep to accomplish this work.”
T he shee p have made two successful campus visits of about seven to 10 days each to eat the young kudzu leaves and shoots. But Boykin-Smith said sheep are only the first line of defense against the invasive vine. “The second stage is to cut the vines that are covering the trees and shrubs and remove the vines.” she said. “If the site is not sloped, you can till the ground to disturb the roots and kill more kudzu vines.” It can be a time and labor-intensive method to clear kudzu, but the sheep solution pays off in more ways than one. “An added bonus is just the awareness of the sheep on our campus and the work they are doing as a more environmentally friendly approach to kudzu removal and control,” she said.
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The Health of the Hive By Andrea Brown Ross. Photography by staffsenate.uncg.edu and ucarecdn.com
Being a buzzkill is the furthest thing from research apiculturist, Dr. Jeff Harris’, mind. In fact, most of his professional career at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology at Mississippi State University, has been studying bee disease and breeding bees resistant to parasitic mites. DeSoto 63
The honeybee is the Mississippi state insect. But Harris doesn’t mind being a buzzkill when it comes to dispelling and clarifying mass media myths about bees. In fact, the health of the hive and its colony members has been an interest of Harris’ since he began keeping bees at the age of eight, more than four decades ago. Courtesy of Harris, here are a few buzzworthy facts for “newbees” or people not acquainted with bees. There are about 30,000 species of bees with about 3,000 in the United States. There are about 12 species of honeybees with most being in Asia. Honeybees are not native to America; they were brought over by English settlers. In the United States, there are about 250,000 beekeepers. About five percent of those beekeepers own 90 percent of the hives. In Mississippi, about 630 people consider themselves beekeepers, with 25 to 30 of them making most, or all, of their income from honey. So, the majority of them are considered hobby beekeepers. 64 DeSoto
Perhaps surprisingly, some of the largest commercial beekeepers hail from the colder parts of the country such as South Dakota, Michigan, and Minnesota. Routinely, they bring 8,000 to10,000 colonies of bees to southern Mississippi to fatten on spring flowers. Typically, they stay between the I-10 and I-20 corridor. Then, they return to their home state to make honey, according to Harris. And if you thought the biggest moneymaker for beekeepers was just the honey, guess again. Beekeepers actually make money from not only the honey, but from pollination and selling bees. The largest beekeeping family in America is based out of South Dakota. They use a migratory bee keeping process for commercial purposes. Loading tens of thousands of bee hives, they travel by tractor trailer to the almond fields of California, where approximately 85 percent of the world’s almonds are grown. Perfecting their productivity with the help of the pollination process, they have mastered a method of
splitting the hives and making new queens. Ultimately, they are producing about eight million pounds of honey a year. For beekeepers in Mississippi, they make most of their income through honey, selling bees, and up to 8,000 colonies are used for commercial pollination. Harris emphasized the integral role bees play in pollinating particular crops. “Some of the crops which most heavily use managed honey bees include apples, melons, avocados, blueberries, cranberries, cucumbers, and pears. Honeybees pollinate about 23 percent or 19 billion dollars worth of crops in the United State.” So, what’s the buzz about bees disappearing? “Beekeeping as a way of life is disappearing. With health threats such as the viral diseases carried by mites, fungal diseases and beetle pests, beekeepers are suffering more losses, increased costs, and generally having to work harder to keep hives up. Hence, more beekeepers are choosing to leave the business,” he said. Despite the challenges, some beekeeping families such as the makers of Broke-T Honey do find success. For the Thompson family in Philadelphia, Miss., their journey to commercial beekeeping alongside their other established agricultural DeSoto 65
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pursuits has been a slow and steady process. Utilizing knowledge and lessons learned from their poultry and cattle business, this third-generation farming family has been diligent in protecting their hives from predators like the dreaded varroa mite. “We realized early on that the mites would be our biggest issue. After doing some research, we felt the treatment might be as bad as the mites. So, we decided to try bees that had been bred to be resistant to mites,” shared Johnny Thompson. Going into this winter, they had about 600 hives. Their goal for next winter is 1,000 hives. The Thompson family now sells their queens all over the country, as well as nucs for customers to make new hives. Their honey is sold in a few retail locations in Philadelphia, the farmer’s market in Meridian, and the Whole Foods in Jackson. Thompson added his favorite item to eat with their honey is a popular favorite, biscuits and honey. And for those wanting to learn more about beekeeping, Thompson is currently the president of the Mississippi Beekeepers Association. “Our association is comprised of several regional beekeeping organizations from around the state. They typically meet monthly. On the state level, we have our annual convention in the fall. Our convention holds a school for beginning beekeepers, keynote speakers, and a tradeshow. We also have a newsletter and we recently set up a facebook page,” elaborated Thompson. Harris also shared that while pesticides and insecticides are stressors to bee colonies, no data supports the claim they are killing bees. Research has shown that the often chemically-treated row crops grown in Mississippi such as cotton, soybean, and corn pose little, to no risk, for the bees. “Corn pollen scored a little higher out of the three crops, but it’s still not a huge risk as it is not a preference or favorite of bees,” he said. Beekeepers are also known to take their bees to the Mississippi Delta when the row crops start to first bloom, usually around May. These commercial beekeepers depend on both soybeans and cotton for their honey crops. Of course, beekeepers have their “honey holes” where they believe their colonies will produce in abundance. “Reducing stress to the colonies can be as simple as placing them under a tree to avoid exposure to any chemicals which may be sprayed at some point,” suggested Harris. “Beekeepers know they are going to lose some of the colony, but lots of beekeeping families have generational secrets that minimize loss. Plus, bees are resilient. They have learned to compensate. For example, if a colony loses some of its foragers, younger foragers will actually go through a precocious hormonal process that will allow them to mature faster,” said Harris. What about the bees placed on the endangered list recently? Harris elaborated. “Honeybees have always been agricultural pollinators, but they don’t do well in greenhouses. In Europe, where the tulip and tomato industries utilize greenhouses, they use an Eastern bumblebee to pollinate. When Eastern bumblebees were brought to the United States in an effort to replicate the success they found in Europe, some of them escaped the greenhouses. The Western bumblebee was then exposed to new diseases, ultimately causing a severe decline. In response, there is now a ban on the sale of Eastern bumblebees in the western states.” A question that circles many minds may be another myth. If bees were to become extinct, would humans starve because crops won’t be pollinated? Not so, according to Harris. “No, it’s unlikely that the human race would starve. Yes, there would be a decline in particular foods requiring pollination such as apples and almonds. As production lowered, the price would likely increase,” he shared. Although bees play a vital role in agriculture, the top ten foods consumed worldwide are mainly self-pollinated or pollinated by wind. Examples include corn, wheat, rice, potatoes, yams, and plantains. To learn more buzzworthy facts and about the busyness of bees, please visit www.mshoneybee.org.
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homegrown } r. p. funderburk birdhouses
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The Birdhouse Artisan By Robin Gallaher Branch. Photography by Adam Mitchell
Emily Adams Keplinger, a freelance editor and journalist, has six R. P. Funderburk birdhouses inside and three outside. “They’re definitely collectible,” she said. At least two of the ones outside regularly domicile small birds. As one who appreciates sustainability, Keplinger describes Funderburk, 73 and a native of Olive Branch, Mississippi, as one of her favorite local artisans. “He uses recycled wood and materials to create his fabulous, one-of-akind birdhouses,” she said. Her whimsical choices include Huey’s Blues-BrewsBurgers, WEVL Radio, Muddy Rd. Deer Camp, and Wren Inn. “They’re rough hewn, which, I believe, adds to their charm,” Keplinger said. “I call them happy,” Funderburk said, describing the structures for wrens, chickadees, bluebirds, and titmice.
Sometimes birds actually nest in them. But mainly the birdhouses appeal to their human buyers and end up as decorations on front porches and gardens and even indoors, he said. Funderburk’s craft resembles his speech— straightforward and with distinctively Mississippian twinkles and turns. Wrens are his most faithful lodgers. He laughs that it’s in their nature.”Wrens, they’ll nest anywhere—in a baseball cap, a five-gallon bucket, wreaths, and hanging ferns.” Funderburk graduated from the University of DeSoto 69
Mississippi, took over his father’s general store on Main Street, sold it, and then followed his skillset as a handyman for most of his life. He and his wife, Liz Bass, a potter, have a home and two studios on three acres about three miles from where he was raised. “I’ve always been good with my hands,” he said. The esteemed Craftsmen Guild of Mississippi agreed, recognized Funderburk’s artistic work, and made him a member. “They gave me a boost,” he said, as did the Blues Hall of Fame on Main Street in Memphis. “They hung my work on permanent display behind glass along with sheet music, guitars, and posters and all that stuff from the greats like B. B. King and Dr. John,” he said. His handyman jobs involved a lot of old, weathered lumber. “I hated to throw it out, to see it go to waste. Most of it had seen 75 to 80 years,” he said. Yes, it needed to be re-used, but re-made and recycled into what? “Birdhouses!” Funderbunk exclaimed, remembering his decision. “I could see the art in them! I could see how my birdhouse could be a little more than a Cub Scout birdhouse.” Howard Malone, a fellow artisan in Hernando, Mississippi, appreciates Funderburk and his work on several levels. “He’s a master craftsman. R. P. has a knack. He’ll take an idea like a ball game that’s coming to town and make a little birdhouse for a team. He’ll have little sayings burned on it.” Malone, who is himself a well-known wood turner and makes beautiful bowls on a lathe, described Funderburk, his friend for 20 years, as “the nicest fellow you’ll ever want to meet.” Funderburk’s interest in birds started long ago. “A cousin of mine went into birdin’,” he began. “She and her husband would go to Mexico and track birds at night. It was always so fascinating to me. I always paid attention to them.” Funderburk takes much pride in his work. “All the wood’s recycled from things like old barn fences. I only buy hinges and nails. I never paint ‘em.” Any existing paint shows the pummeling of wind, rain, freezing sleet, and searing sun. Phrases and names and places are burned on the houses; his lopsided printing adds to each birdhouse’s individual charm. “People buy what talks to them,” he said. He works in a workshop he describes as “cluttered with all sorts of stuff.” People drop off boards or tell him where to find them and donate old license plates and tin. He uses poplar, pine, and cypress. He doesn’t like oak because “it’s hard to nail; it’s not a good board for birdhouses.” His birdhouses sell for $25 to $50. “That’s all I can get for ‘em,” he said. Before the Great Recession, “I used to get $75 to $100. No trouble getting that. Them days are gone, long gone,” he said. Sizes vary. In general, boards range from 4½ inches to 8 inches wide; that size determines the width of the birdhouse. Funderburk himself favors the smaller birdhouses. Height goes from 5 ½ inches to 12 inches. The roof is either recycled tin or an old license plate bent and halved in the middle. How classy is that! A discriminating bird family is sheltered from the elements and can even enjoy the sound of a rainstorm while staying warm and dry. “ Ever y th in g is ac c ord in g to what the board is like,” Funderburk said. Consequently, each birdhouse is custom made, individualized, personalized, unique. Blues lovers and Elvis fans dominate his clientele. For the last 10 years he’s been a regular at blues festivals like the North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic in Waterford, and the Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale. He sells in Memphis at Miss Cordelia’s, the Trolley Stop, and Whole Foods. Judy Peiser, executive director of the Center for Southern Folklore, loves the work of both Funderburk and his wife. “They’re great artists,” she said. “To me, his work is creative; it’s wonderful. He adds a little bit of our region and culture to it.” For more information: R. P. Funderburk at papa1944rp@yahoo.com
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southern gentleman } grilling
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The Grate Debate By J. Eric Eckard. Photography courtesy of Southern Foods
Some scientists say nearly a million years ago, a caveman skewered a piece of wooly mammoth meat on a stick and shoved it over a fire – and outdoor grilling was born. Today, we do things a little differently, but our fascination with cooking over an open flame hasn’t diminished. According to a Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association 2015 study, 75 percent of American households own a grill. That study also revealed that 71 percent of those households use their grills because they get a better meat flavor than they do cooking indoors. And that brings us to the so-called “grate debate” – gas or charcoal? Like other deliberations – Mac or PC, Marvel or DC and Lennon or McCartney – both sides have their followers. And in many cases, the debate can become heated. For the purist, charcoal always will be king. Grill a steak or burgers over charcoal, and you come away with a smoky flavor that – if done correctly – many say is worth the extra cleanup and extra time it takes.
For those looking for a quicker, cleaner and easier method of grilling, gas will win every time. And with liquid smoke products or even wood chips, many gas grillers can recreate that smoky flavor without charcoal. Backyard chefs looking for that perfect barbecue set up have a nearly endless list from which to choose. Elaborate cookers like ceramic kamado smokers, pellet smokers, infrared gas grills and electric grills all have their followers. There even are gas/charcoal/electric hybrid grills out there for those who can’t decide. Today, however, we’re going to stick to the basics. So let’s look at how gas grills and charcoal grilling stack up head to head. DeSoto 73
Cost You can find portable grills that run on gas or use charcoal for less than $30. Both are perfect for a small picnic in the park or a mini-tailgating party at the game. Nonetheless, If you opt for the least expensive grill, you usually get what you pay for. A decent gas grill will cost anywhere from $200-$300. For the big spender, a top-of-the-line, state-of-the-art, big daddy gas grill can run up to $12,000. That will get you a grill with a firebox for convection cooking and halogen lights for nighttime cooking. A good kettle-style charcoal grill starts about $100. Like the gas variety, some charcoal grills price out at about $2,000 and includes a gas-ignition system, ash catcher and built-in thermometer. Start-up/preheat Clearly, it takes much less time to start a gas grill. With ignition switches, gas grills start immediately and take about 10 minutes to preheat. Most gas grills can reach up to about 500 degrees, and some have a sear burner that can generate about 900 degrees over a small portion of the cooking surface. To get a charcoal grill ready for cooking, you should empty any ashes from your previous outing and stack the new charcoal in a pyramid. Self-starting charcoal has become popular for its easy lighting, but also because lighter fluid can affect the flavor of the meat. It still takes about 30 minutes to preheat. Using briquettes or lump charcoal can affect the cooking temperature. Typically, charcoal can produce 900 degrees over a larger cooking area, making it easier to cook more meat at one time. For experienced grillers, cooking over direct or indirect heat can enhance your grilling experience. 74 DeSoto
For either the gas grill or the charcoal grill though, it’s important to prepare the cooking grates before laying the meat down. Use a wire brush to clean the grates before starting the fire, and use a tong to rub a paper towel soaked in cooking oil along the grates during the preheat process. Flavor It all starts with a good piece of meat. Less fatty selections will cook better on either grill. Regardless, there will be drippings that cause flare-ups. Keep a water spray bottle handy to control them. If you’re cooking delicate foods like fish, vegetables or chicken breasts, gas grills will keep those foods from getting overwhelmed by smoke. With steaks, burgers and ribs, the charcoal will add a rich, smoky flavor to the meat. Like any activity, grilling does take practice. Getting the charcoal temperature just right to sear a steak takes experience. On a gas grill, with temperature gauges, it is a little easier, yet not foolproof. Smoke boxes can add a smoky flavor to meat cooked on gas grills, but many still believe that to get that true outdoor cooked flavor, charcoal is the way to go. More and more Americans are opting for gas grills, which have outsold charcoal grills for the past several years. There still are plenty of charcoal purists out there. But with advancements in technology and little tricks to recreate that smoky flavor without all the mess, the appeal of gas grills continue to shine in this nearly billion-dollar a year industry. So as spring turns the temperatures warmer, don’t be surprised to see would-be grillmasters drag their grills from their winter hibernations and light up the “grate debate” all over again.
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southern harmony } amelia eisenhauer band
Tender Talent By Debra Pamplin. Photography courtesy of Amelia Eisenhauer
While there are some young musicians who gain fame by sheer luck, or from being ‘internet famous’, one musician Amelia Eisenhauer is getting noticed the old-fashioned way-with hard work and lots of practice.
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With a strong work ethic, natural talent and a strong support system from her family, this fiddling sensation Eisenhauer has absolutely been paying her dues long before her American Idol appearance. At the young age at 17, Eisenhauer has already spent the majority of her life learning and developing her craft. Within the current family band, Amelia not only provides main vocals, but plays the fiddle, bass and mandolin, piano and guitar. As if that wasn’t enough, she is also a songwriter. The majority of people don’t know exactly what they want as a career until early adulthood; with Amelia, however, she was certainty set apart from the majority. At the tender age of four, she began asking her mom for a violin, but her request was denied. Amelia was persistent in her dream of learning the violin, and after two years of waiting, she received her first violin. “It was considered odd in the area where we lived because everything revolved around sports and nobody in my family played music.” Growing up in the town of DuQuoin, Illinois, while most of the kids were playing sports, Amelia started taking violin lessons at the age of 6. Her lessons were at SIU Suzuki Strings, which was a part of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Just a few months into the lessons, the instructor saw something special in Amelia’s playing and pulled her mom to the side with a message that would reinforce Amelia’s desire-that Amelia was “very gifted” when it came to the violin. With this revelation, her family began encouraging and nurturing her talent. Amelia would go on to have different teachers through her adolescent years, and shared that once she started playing in bands, she knew it was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. She has also trained with several different vocal coaches through the years and says that all of them have helped me in different ways. “I believe it’s important to have this kind of training because singing incorrectly can have major consequences, such as losing all form of pitch control in your voice or just completely blowing it out”, she shared.
Amelia’s first original album, “Fortune Cookie”, was released this past January. The 13-track album features work from a three-year process. “I did write and co-write on many of the singles, but co-writing is our main process because we are big on collaboration within the band.” And when it came time to choose which songs went on the album, she shared there was definitely more songs than space, and that the selection process was a difficult one. “In the end, we tried to make sure the record represented everyone in the band, not just me.” The band, consisting of Amelia, her mom and dad (Rhonda and Andy Eisenhauer) and Bryan Ward, has been together for four years. Between the four of them, they play six different instruments, including the ukulele. “Fortune Cookie” not only features her writing and singing abilities, but also highlights her talents on the violin, mandolin, guitar, bass, and piano. While music has always been a steady part of her life, young Amelia has also found time for some modeling. When asked which one she prefers as a career, she didn’t hesitate “Definitely music. It is what I enjoy the most. Modeling is a season in your life, music lasts forever.” With all her goals already in sight, Amelia has no plans of slowing down, and has new goals for the next few years as well. “I would love to see my record break out! In 2020, I would love to have a second album finished and be on world tours!” she said. As young as she is, Amelia even has started her own bucket list. Stating that you can never be too young for a bucket list, she shared one of her life goals from her list. “One major goal that I have on my list is to have a number one single at the top of the charts for months. I know this is an extravagant goal, but it would be phenomenal to have a number one hit.” She also shared that out of all her musical accomplishments, completing her first all-original album has meant the most to her. At 17, this young and accomplished musician has reached more goals than some ever will, and her drive and perseverance is quite impressive. www.AmeliaEisenhauer.com DeSoto 77
in good spirits} grasshopper
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The Grasshopper By Charlene Oldham. Photo courtesy of Tujague’s Restaurant
Given the Grasshopper’s green hue, it’s obvious how the colorful cocktail got its name. And, while some other details of its origins have been disputed, one story holds it was invented some time before Prohibition by Philibert Guichet, whose family purchased the historic New Orleans Tujague’s Restaurant from founders Guillaume and Marie Tujague in the 1910s. Guichet created a concoction consisting of equal parts crème de menthe, crème de cacao and cream for a cocktail competition in New York City, where the minty drink took second prize. Guichet came home to New Orleans and started serving Grasshoppers at his restaurant which, a century later, still sells hundreds of the cocktail each week, according to owner Mark Latter. Twenty-somethings order one because they know Tujague’s is where the drink got its start while generations of older diners come in to share memories of meals -- and Grasshoppers -- gone by. “In the dining room, you get the 40- and 50-yearolds whose grandparents came, and their grandparents came,” Latter said. “We get a lot of great stories of third, fourth generations coming to Tujague’s, and the Grasshopper always comes up in that conversation.” The restaurant’s current Grasshopper features a brandy float. Other versions, including those served in some Midwestern supper clubs, modify the cocktail by substituting vanilla ice cream for the heavy cream. “It considerably brightens the drink and makes it that much more delicious,” said Joy Christensen, owner of the The Fountain On Locust in St. Louis, which features an ice creambased Grasshopper on its menu. “Ice cream makes everything better.” The Fountain on Locust sources its ice cream from a family dairy in Wisconsin that ages its products to enhance their flavor, and Christensen cautions against cutting corners at home, especially given the simplicity of the Grasshopper recipe itself.
“The quality of everything that goes in it obviously makes a difference in the end result, so don’t try to skimp on the ice cream.” Tujague’s Grasshopper Ingredients ¾ ounce green crème de menthe ¾ ounce white crème de cacao ¾ ounce white crème de menthe ½ ounce brandy ¾ ounce heavy cream ¾ ounce whole milk Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a champagne flute. Top with ½ teaspoon of brandy for a floater. The Fountain on Locust’s Grasshopper Ice Cream Martini Ingredients 1.5 ounces white crème de cacao 1.5 ounces green crème de menthe 2 scoops Vanilla Deluxe Ice Cream Blend until just smooth. (Do not overblend! If over blending occurs, start over because the mixture can not be salvaged by adding more ice cream.) Pour into a large, chilled martini glass decorated with chocolate sauce and garnish with chocolate curls.
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exploring events } march Wild Africa 3D Through March 3 CTI 3D Giant Theater Pink Palace Museum Memphis, TN Audiences will be plunged into fantastic places and meet amazing creatures while exploring the most dramatic continent on earth, “Africa! For more information, visit www.memphismuseums.org or call 901-636-2362.
Extreme Deep: Mission into the Abyss Through May 6 Bodine Exhibit Hall Pink Palace Museum Memphis, TN EXTREME DEEP: Mission to the Abyss offers opportunities for hands-on exploration of life at the bottom of the sea.. For more information, visit www.memphismuseums.org or call 901-636-2362.
DeSoto Family Theatre Presents “The Little Mermaid” Through March 5 Landers Center Southaven, MS For more information, call 662-470-2131 or visit dftonline.org.
Beautiful - The Carole King Musical Through March 5 Orpheum Theater Memphis, TN BEAUTIFUL – The Carole King Musical tells the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. For more information, call 901-525-3000 or visit orpheum-memphis.com.
Community Bank’s 3rd Annual 5K Glow Run & Kids Fun Run March 4 Snowden Grove Park Southaven, MS 7:00PM For additional information, visit www.communitybank.net/glow5k. 80 DeSoto
Dancing For Our Stars March 4 Landers Center Southaven, MS 6:00PM Modeled after the popular television show, Dancing With the Stars, the event pairs seasoned dancers with community leader “celebrities” for a competition to benefit The Baddour Center, a residential community for adults with intellectual disabilities. Dinner and drinks will be at 6 p.m. with the program beginning at 7 p.m. For more information call 662-366-6930 or visit www.dancingforourstars.com.
ZZ Top March 8 Orpheum Theater Memphis, TN 8:00PM For more information, call 901-525-3000 or visit orpheum-memphis.com.
Stevie Nicks & The Pretenders March 8 FedEx Forum Memphis, TN 7:00PM For tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com or call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000.
Kathleen Robbins: Into the Flatland March 9 - June 10 Museum of the Mississippi Delta Greenwood, MS Into the Flatland is a series of photographs documenting the land, people, and culture of the Mississippi Delta. For more information visit museumofthemississippidelta.com or call 662-453-0925.
Grand Opening: Home Place Pastures Retail Store and Butcher Shop March 10 Home Place Pastures Como, MS Noon - 3:00PM Come help cut the ribbon on the new retail store and butcher shop! Sample Home Place products and shop. For more information visit homeplacepastures.com.
Bon Jovi March 16 FedEx Forum Memphis, TN 7:30PM For tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com or call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000.
Memphis Music Festival with Keith Sweat March 18 Landers Center Southaven, MS 8:00PM Keith Sweat Love Forever with special guest Aries Spears. Purchase tickets at LANDERS Center box office 662-470-2131, www.ticketmaster.com or call Ticketmaster 1-800-745-3000. For more information, visit www.landerscenter.com.
Natchez Spring Pilgrimage March 18 - April 18 Natchez, MS If you love antebellum history, Greek revival architecture and the very essence of 19th-century Southern gentility, don’t miss this five-week celebration that includes theater performances, special presentations and live music, all focused around our stunning antebellum homes. For more information visit www.vistinatchez.org or call 800-647-6724.
6th Annual Viking Half Marathon and 5K March 25 Greenwood, MS Half Marathon at 8:00am and 5k at 8:30am. For more information visit vikinghalfmarathon.com or call the chamber at 662-453-4152.
Justin Moore March 25 BancorpSouth Arena Tupelo, MS 7:00PM American Made Tour with special guests Lee Brice and Brett Young. For tickets visit bcsarena.com, ticketmaster.com or call 662-841-6528.
77th Annual Columbus Spring Pilgrimage March 30 - April 8 Columbus, MS A 10-day celebration of Southern history, architecture, culture, food and fun. For more information on Spring Pilgrimage call 800-920-3533 or 662-329-1191 or visit www.visitcolumbusms.org.
42nd Street March 20 Bologna Performing Arts Center Cleveland, MS 7:30PM For more information, visit bolognapac.com or call 662-846-4625.
The Glass Menagerie March 24 - April 2 Panola Playhouse Sardis, MS For more information visit panolaplayhouse.com or call 662-292-1954.
Columbus Spring Pilgrimage
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reflections} free-range kids
Free-range Kids By Cathey Frei. Photography courtesy of womaninreallife.com
When I grew up near Graceland, my family had a dairy farm just over the state line in Horn Lake, Mississippi. Once my younger sister and I, both preteens, decided to ride our bikes to our farm. Proud of our independence, we zipped along I-55 South, still under construction with tamped-down dirt lanes, until a Tennessee Highway Patrolman stopped us. “Young ladies, where are you going? Do your parents know about this?” Our handlebars shook as we explained our destination and said our dad was meeting us there. He turned up the volume on his radio, called headquarters, and asked if bicycles were allowed on I-55. “Since it’s not officially open,” blasted the responder, “we don’t have rules on bicycles or any other vehicles yet.” With that, the officer let us go but cautioned us to be careful and never ride along the interstate again. After that brush with the law, there were some adventures that actually helped sharpen our problem-solving skills. Whenever we played hide-and-seek in the hay barn, we learned to stack bales of alfalfa strategically and build fortresses that wouldn’t cave in. Only our giggles gave us away. But it’s those fiascos of yesteryear that I laugh about today. Once we took our friend, Alice, to our farm. Right outside the milking barn was a long concrete trench filled with manure. Its sunbaked surface looked like a bumpy paved road, so Alice took a shortcut across it. She screamed, stuck knee-deep in cow manure. When we finally pulled her out, she cried, “Mama’s going to kill me!” One of her new loafers was missing. 82 DeSoto
It took us forever to retrieve it with a pitchfork. After we blasted both shoes with a heavy-duty hose, we dried them on the fence. No one could have guessed where they’d been. Back then, I had a 4-H Club Guernsey calf named Effie, pampered like a family pet so she grew up acting like one. A day prior to showing her at the Mid-South Fair, I was grooming, feeding, and watering Effie in the fairground’s cattle barn and turned around, facing her. Before I knew it, she was standing on her hind legs with her front hooves digging into my shoulders, like an over-zealous golden retriever. A passerby exclaimed to her husband, “Look what she taught her calf to do!” They stood there smiling as I struggled out from under my 500-pound Guernsey. Our Dad taught us to drive on our farm as soon as we could see through the steering wheel. By age ten, we were seasoned drivers, so he let us take the station wagon without him to a country store about a mile down Goodman Road to get lunch. One day as I approached it, a patrol car was parked out front. Gravel flew everywhere as I skidded to a stop. “Is that him?” My almost-partner-in-bicycle-crime said matter-of-factly, “No, that’s a Mississippi patrol car. Ours was from Tennessee.” Still, I made a U-turn and crept back to our farm, escaping yet another childhood arrest. Compared to today’s world and standards of raising children, it’s a wonder we ever survived. But we did, and I know my life is richer from having been a free-range kid, who learned from all the fiascos we were allowed to experience along the way.