For more than thirty years, The Garden Club of Jackson has supported our community through hands-on projects, educational opportunities, and numerous fundraisers. We are grateful for you and the many others who have partnered with us over the years. We feel now more than ever that it is incumbent upon us to serve as leaders in pursuit of a healthy, flourishing, stable environment for our families, neighbors, and future generations. Our community needs collaborative, impactful, and sustainable practices to promote healthy landscapes and water in our local private and public spaces. 

This year we are focusing on conservation education and asking for your help as we launch our Mississippi Native Plant Initiative. Because native plants are critical to the health of our local environment and essential components of vital habitats, the native plant initiative is a natural first step in conservation education.  

We are asking for your financial support for this campaign to raise funds to produce native plant educational signage in Jackson's most visited public spaces and raise public awareness about the importance of native plants in our state. We are working to pass legislation designating the month of April as "Mississippi Native Plant Month." These activities are focused on promoting the benefits of native plants Much more communication, education, and promotion are needed, but we believe there is tremendous positive energy toward this campaign. 

Your partnership is vital as we work to create a healthier environment for all Mississippians. We are excited about this opportunity and hope that you will join us in our efforts.

Support our Mississippi Native Plant Initiative here.

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE APRIL MISSISSIPPI NATIVE PLANT MONTH

• A native plant is one that grows naturally in a particular region, ecosystem or habitat without human introduction.

• Native plants are essential for healthy and diverse ecosystems and are critical for clean air, water, and soil stability.

• Native plants are well-adapted to Mississippi's soils, wetlands, temperatures, precipitation, and environmental conditions; and, consequently, are the best at conserving and protecting our environment and adapting to its changes.

• Native plants preserve our rich biological heritage and provide shelter, as well as nectar, pollen, and seeds that serve as food for native butterflies, insects, birds, and other wildlife in ways that non-native plants cannot provide. They provide diversity in form, texture, and color to fit any landscape style and are hardy and easy to grow once established.

• Non-native plants do thrive in our area; however, incorporating too many of them into our landscapes has caused a sharp decline in pollinators and wildlife species, as native plants provide unique food at specific times for native wildlife.

• Native plants are critical in preventing flooding and erosion through their deep root systems filtering groundwater.

• Mississippi is home to more than 2,700 native plant species, which include trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and wildflowers, but it is difficult to buy many of these native plant species in our Mississippi nurseries.

• Hopefully, raising awareness of the importance of native plants will increase access to purchasing native plants from local nurseries, resulting in residents planting more native plants.

Therefore, it is essential to recognize the value of Mississippi's native plants and encourage public awareness of the many benefits they provide to Mississippi's economy and pollinators and the health of Mississippi's environment.

Download this Sample Native Plant Support Letter to State Legislators and edit to make it your own and send to your Mississippi state legislators.

Who are My State Legislators?

To find your state senator and representative, go to the Mississippi Economic Council website:
https://msmec.com/find-your-legislator/
Scroll down to Find Officials and put in your zip code and street address, then punch the arrow.
It will list your state elected officials. You can check the boxes for your state senator and representative and send a message from this site.

OR:

Once you know your representative's name:
go to: http://www.legislature.ms.gov/legislators/representatives/
Find your representative, click on their name and you will find their listing with contact information. 

Once you know your senator's name, go to: http://www.legislature.ms.gov/legislators/senators/ 
Find your senator, click on their name and you will find their listing with contact information. 

For mailed letters, you can send a letter to the attention of your senator or representative at the State Capitol Building:

Mississippi State Capitol Building
Post Office Box 1018
Jackson, MS 38215-1018