In 2016, Sarah Kountouris, the Executive Director of Keep Mississippi Beautiful, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, started a new project to beautify Mississippi named “Wildflower Trails of Mississippi”.  This new project has since been supported by the United States Department of Agriculture, the Mississippi Department of Agriculture, the Mississippi Association of Conservation Districts, Mississippi State University Extension Services, the Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission, the Mississippi Department of Transportation, and the Garden Clubs of Mississippi.

Many of the citizens I represent have seen by now that beautification of our city is one of my top priorities.  I have pride of ownership in Southaven and want our city to look our best for both our residents and visitors.  Not only does this improve our quality of life, but it makes our city more economically attractive which ultimately provides exponential financial benefits.  First impressions matter!

Because of our shared priority of beautification, the City of Southaven began participation in the wildflower trail program in 2018 and received assistance from Mississippi State University Extension Services in planting wildflowers in the median of I-55 between Goodman and Church Roads.  This is also a dual-purpose project to reduce costs of landscape maintenance.  The beautiful Black-Eyed Susans have bloomed for the first time this year.  We will continue to re-seed the median until the wildflowers maximize density and look their best.

I hope you like them as much as I do!