Rankin County Master Gardeners

Certain plants earn a permanent place in gardens not just for their beauty, but for the way they show up year after year without fuss.

Echinacea coneflowers fall squarely into that category for me. They bring a dependable splash of color, attract pollinators by the dozens and carry an easygoing charm that fits right in with a Southern landscape.

I’ve grown coneflowers for years, and they’ve never let me down. They stand tall and bloom with enthusiasm through heat, humidity and the occasional dry spell. Watching their blooms sway gently while pollinators move from flower to flower is a simple pleasure that never gets old.

Among the many varieties available today, one that has truly impressed me is the Cheyenne Spirit coneflower. If you’ve never grown it, you’re missing out on a real showstopper.

This variety produces a vibrant mix of colors ranging from rich reds, warm oranges, sunny yellows, soft pinks to creamy whites. Growing Cheyenne Spirit coneflower is like having an entire bouquet living out in the garden.

Take a closer look at those colors, and you’ll see just how much personality each bloom brings.

The deep reds are bold and velvety, often with dark, prominent cones at the center that seem to anchor the flower with a bit of drama. The oranges range from glowing tangerine to a deeper, burnt copper tone, catching the sunlight in a way that makes them appear to shimmer in the heat.

The yellows are bright and cheerful. Some have a clear golden hue while others are softened with hints of amber. Then there are the pinks, which can shift from a soft, blush to a richer rose color, sometimes with subtle gradients that fade toward the petal tips. These blooms feel delicate, adding a gentle contrast to the bolder shades.

The creamy whites offer a clean, refreshing look, often surrounding a golden or greenish cone that gives them a classic, daisy-like appeal.

When all these colors grow together, the effect is dynamic, with no two clusters looking the same.

Another thing I appreciate about Cheyenne Spirit is its toughness.

This coneflower handles our summers with ease and keeps right on blooming when other plants begin to fade. The flowers rise on sturdy stems, creating a natural, slightly wild look that feels right at home in both formal beds and more relaxed, cottage-style plantings.

Last year, I had the pleasure of watching a new generation of gardeners get their hands in the soil when the Pearl River County 4-H Junior Master Gardeners created a pollinator garden at my office. It was a special project full of enthusiasm and learning, and I was especially glad to see them include Cheyenne Spirit coneflowers in their design.

I’m happy to report that those coneflowers didn’t just survive, they thrived.

Right now, they’re putting on a beautiful display in the pollinator garden with bright, cheerful blooms that seem to glow in the sunlight. Even better, they’re doing exactly what they were meant to do -- draw in bees, butterflies and other pollinators that bring the whole garden to life.

Coneflowers like Cheyenne Spirit remind me why I garden in the first place.

They’re reliable, colorful and full of life, and when you see them thriving in a space created by young hands, it makes them even more special. If you’re looking to add something dependable and colorful to your landscape, this plant is well worth the space.

There’s something special about a garden that tells a story. I recently found one in the most unexpected place.

My visit to the Greenwood Cemetery in Jackson offered a reminder that beauty can thrive anywhere, even among headstones and quiet paths.

I had the pleasure of touring the cemetery with Master Gardeners and cemetery volunteers Cecile Wardlaw and Shay Lipe. These ladies shared historical insights and horticultural highlights on my tour. Throughout the grounds, Master Gardener interns and volunteers were hard at work caring for grave sites, adding dignity and renewing the beauty of this sacred space.

One of the most striking features is two arbors draped in blooming wisteria that stretch gracefully over the road right at the entrance to the cemetery. The long, pendulous clusters of lavender-purple blooms form a dreamy canopy overhead as the vines themselves twist around the metal structures with natural elegance.

As we continued, I admired the plantings of Bridal Wreath Spirea scattered throughout. These shrubs were covered in arching sprays of tiny white blossoms, so densely packed that the branches nearly disappeared beneath the blooms.

Each stem of the spirea curved outward in a fountain-like shape, giving the plant a cascading form that softened the surrounding landscape. When a breeze moved through, the flowers seemed to ripple like gentle waves.

Another cemetery standout was the vibrant display from an Eastern redbud tree in full bloom.

The branches were lined with clusters of small, pea-shaped flowers in rich shades of pinkish purple that emerged directly from the bark before the leaves had fully developed. This trait gives the tree an almost sculptural appearance in early spring. The vivid blooms contrasted with the gray-brown limbs to make a true focal point in the landscape.

Tucked throughout the grounds were clusters of elegant white iris, their blooms a refined shape rising above sword-like foliage.

Each flower features intricately formed petals that opened outward and upright, which added height and structure. The crisp white color of the iris blooms glowed against the background greens with timeless beauty.

Greenwood Cemetery is known for its rose bushes, of which more than 300 have been established across the property over the years. These create pockets of color, fragrance and tradition.

Depending on the variety, some roses form tightly layered blooms with dozens of velvety petals, while others open loosely to reveal golden centers that attract pollinators.

Rose colors range from classic reds and soft pinks to creamy whites and warm yellows. Even when they’re not in full bloom, their glossy green foliage and thorny canes hint at the show still to come. When peak season arrives at the end of April to early May, the combination of color and fragrance is spectacular.

What stood out most to me wasn’t just the plants, it was the care. The combination of knowledgeable guides, hardworking volunteers and thoughtfully chosen plantings transforms Greenwood Cemetery into more than a resting place. It’s a living landscape, one that blends horticulture, history and heart.

If you ever find yourself in Jackson, I encourage you to take a quiet walk through Greenwood Cemetery. At the Summer House, you can pick up tour brochures that tell historical insights of the cemetery. If you’re like me, you’ll leave inspired by the beauty growing all around.

Looking forward to doing this workshop on Container Gardening on June 9th at 6:00 PM. If you are in the Macon, MS area, I hope to see you there. Call the Noxubee County Extension Office and RSVP by June 5th!

Thanks to these diligent Master Gardeners who show up to do those necessary garden chores at our beloved Hill Garden.