Ridgeland Wildflower Field and Art Park - Wildflower Trails of Mississippi

Take a close look at this goldenrod plant to see nature at work. This lady beetle showed up right on time to enjoy a buffet of aphids! Nature has its own built-in pest control if we give it the chance. Holding back on pesticides allows beneficial insects to do what they do best—keeping harmful pests in check naturally. 🐞

The season is just beginning. These are some of the flowers we found in the Wildflower Field and Art Park yesterday.

FYI!

DO NOT use fire ant mound treatments containing the active ingredient acephate in the vegetable garden! Acephate is commonly used to treat fire ant mounds in home lawns but must not be used around edible plants. Acephate is a systemic insecticide that is readily absorbed by plant roots and translocated to leaves and fruit of vegetables.

Some fire ant baits can be used in the garden and lawn. These include baits containing the active ingredients methoprene or spinosad. Baits containing spinosad are relatively fast-acting and this makes them a good choice for controlling mounds that occur in the garden itself, but it will still take a two or three weeks to see results.

Don’t wait until you have big mounds, go ahead and apply one of these baits as soon as you see fire ants moving into the garden. But don’t forget to treat the lawn area around the outside of the garden as well. Workers from mounds located just outside the garden will readily forage into the garden area.

Here's a great resource if you want to learn more about safely keeping fire ants out of your vegetable garden: https://extension.msstate.edu/insects/fire-ants/control-fire-ants-and-around-home-vegetable-gardens

Spring Peak: 7 of the South's Best Parks and Gardens - Modern South Featured Image: Courtesy Cheekwood Estate & Gardens

What an honor to be included in this list! Keep America Beautiful Keep Mississippi Beautiful

While most of our wildflowers are just starting to grow, we have spots of color already. Every day is a good day to explore. At the beginning of the season, it is easy to study the varieties of flowers that are blooming. Some phones will identify plants with its photo app. Or go old school, and bring along a field guide.

Spring Peak: 7 of the South's Best Parks and Gardens - Modern South Featured Image: Courtesy Cheekwood Estate & Gardens

Thank you, Explore Ridgeland, for celebrating this special day with us!

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/12/us/death-valley-superbloom.html?unlocked_article_code=1.TFA.BiDV.zJtyly8eTF2l&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Flowers Are Blooming in California’s Death Valley (Gift Article) Visitors are flocking to see a bonanza of wildflowers that has transformed this barren desert.

Many thanks to our Scarecrow Trail participants! Your creativity and festive displays enhanced our park during October and November.

To our participants: please collect displays early this week as we transition to the Christmas and Holiday Season. Thank you so much for making the fall season so much fun.

Scarecrows are arriving!
If your business, family/individual, faith org.,, school, non-profit, etc. wants to join the scarecrow trail, contact Explore Ridgeland, Ridgeland’s tourism office to fill out a form.

It's time to get creative and join the Explore Ridgeland Scarecrow Trail! All are invited to participate. For example, individuals, clubs, businesses, schools, faith organizations, and families have participated in the past. (Remember, you can start with a store-bought scarecrow as your base if needed).

Extra! Extra! Read all about the 2025 Ridgeland Scarecrow Trail.

We are excited to see former and new participants take part this year. Sign up through Explore Ridgeland!