By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
September 11,2004
East Mississippi State Hospital is seeking volunteers to help revitalize the grove on the hospital's main campus.
According to Betty Moffett, public information director of the hospital, selective cutting of some of the old trees in the grove began this week. Plans also include planting new trees, the development of flower gardens and other landscape features.
According to a written history of the hospital, three native magnolia trees and three Japanese magnolia trees were planted in front of the hospital's Administration Building in 1893 and 1894.
Those trees are still in place, as well as native azaleas and honeysuckle, wisteria, pink and white dogwood trees, a monkey puzzle tree, a buckeye tree, one of the largest southern yellow pine trees in the state, and more than 100 magnolia trees representing five different species.
One southern magnolia on the hospital's campus is said to be one of the largest magnolia trees in Mississippi and the southeastern United States.
A steering committee of hospital staff and individuals in the community was formed to create plans for the revitalization of the grove.
Moffett said plans also are in place to create a meditation garden near the hospital chapel for patients.
Here are a few brief facts about the grove at East Mississippi State Hospital:
East Mississippi State Hospital's grove is about 10 acres in size
The grove has about 40 different species of hundreds of trees
Some of the Native and Japanese magnolias in the grove were planted in the late 1800s.
One southern magnolia tree in the grove is designated one of the largest in Mississippi and the southeastern United States
The grove is a natural habitat for wildlife and it includes a walking trail