Ole Miss Beauty: A Chance to Learn from the Best

With over 10,000 colorful seasonal flowers and an array of magnificent trees spread across 1,000 acres, Ole Miss boasts an award-winning campus that brings people from far and wide to visit the town of Oxford. Landscaping director Jeff McManus and director of the camp and Rosie Vassallo are rolling out the green carpet to show you how to achieve the most beautiful yard in the neighborhood for less work.

The Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce is inviting you to join its spectacular two-day “Landscaping Camp” on Memorial Day weekend, May 24-25. Landscaping camp is for anyone interested in beautifying their home, condo or business.

The idea for Landscaping Camp derived from accolades received by the Ole Miss campus and how Americans love to spend time beautifying their yards seasonally and turning their lawn into another inviting space to welcome their family and friends. The unique event has already begun attracting interest all across the United States with previous attendees coming from Alabama, California, Louisiana, Georgia, Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Maryland.

The goal of the camp is to inspire and motivate its guests by teaching them valuable information and creating a sense of anticipation to return home and put their new ideas to work. Also, guests get the unforgettable opportunity to explore the city of Oxford and enjoy the local scenes. The camp also introduces visitors to the idea of Oxford as a top destination for retirement.

Jeff McManus, Ole Miss’s Director of Landscape Services, will serve as the keynote speaker. As an Ambassador for Ole Miss, his vision and understanding of how important it is to make a great first impression with landscaping is second to none.

An experienced line-up of speakers will join McManus. Katherine Sharp with Farmstead Florals, who grows fresh flowers for local and regional markets, will share her knowledge so you too can have beautiful fresh cut flowers on your kitchen table anytime. Greg Pinion, Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds for the City of Oxford, will focus on container gardening and share his secrets to success. Container gardening is a great option for a gardener who does not have a lot of space, or it can be used to add color and variety to a larger garden. Dr. Ed Croom, retired botanist from the University of Mississippi and author of The Land of Rowan Oak, An Exploration of Faulkner’s Natural World, will talk about how Faulkner lived during his time while letting you experience the beauty of the famous trees surrounding the property.

Excursions are included in addition to the educational component. Camp will begin with two Double Decker Bus tours past the magnificently landscaped homes of Bo and Jodie Marsalis, maintained by McManus, and throughout the beautiful historic city of Oxford.

The cost of attendance is $300, but there is an Early Bird Special of $250 through March 2019. For more information, visit the city of Oxford’s website. To register for the event, fill out and send in the registration form.