Forrest County Extension Office

09/30/2026

09/30/2026

Mississippi has quite an extensive list of native oak trees! With 34 different species found in the state, you may wonder how to tell which is which. Although there are many ways you can identify each oak, the trees’ acorns are a great indication of species.

By looking at the acorn’s shape, color, and size, you’ll be able to identify which oak species it came from.

Here are just a few examples...

Willow Oak: The yellowish-brown acorns are small, rounded and typically 1/2 inch long. The cap covers about 1/3 of the nut and is greenish brown in color. Willow Oak acorns take two seasons to mature and typically fall in the fall of the second season.

Chinquapin Oak: These acorns are small to medium in size, oval shaped, and dark brown in color. The cap is thin and bowl-shaped, covering about1/4 of the nut. Chinquapin Oak acorns drop every fall.

Overcup Oak: Overcup Oak acorns are medium in size and are nearly enclosed by the entire cap. They drop annually in the fall.

Post Oak: Post Oak acorns are oval shaped and between 1/2 and 3/4 of an inch long. Their cap is bowl shaped and typically covers 1/3 of the nut. They drop from trees each year during fall.

Turkey Oak: These acorns are round and about 1/2 of an inch long. Their cap covers about 1/3 of the nut. Acorns drop every two seasons, with them falling in the fall of the second season.

09/23/2026

09/18/2026

Great educational opportunity coming up through Lamar County SWCD, The Longleaf Alliance and partners. Visit https://forms.gle/uD1qDkZGNMDnxFgeA to register and reserve your seat today!

09/15/2026

Registration is now open for our fall session of Magnolia Moves!

Magnolia Moves is an Extension walking and activity program designed to show that physical activity comes in many forms: brisk hiking through the woods, tending your garden, jogging through your neighborhood or dancing to your favorite music.

There is no cost to join this 6-week activity program, you set the pace, and you choose the activities to participate in throughout the six weeks.

Just download the MoveSpring app and it will seamlessly sync with a wide range of wearable devices, including your iPhone, Apple Watch, Apple Health, Android, Google Health Connect, Fitbit, and more. Use organization code MSUEXT at signup.

If you have questions, email [email protected]

Learn more here: https://extension.msstate.edu/magnolia-moves



Sponsored by TrueCare

09/15/2026

Water shield, or dollar bonnet, is a floating-leaf plant. Its small, oval leaves are attached to long stalks that connect the plant to the roots on the pond bottom. Water shield leaves are smaller than similar species, never exceeding 4 inches long. The smooth, pale green leaves do not have a notch where the stalk attaches.

Water shield is a native plant, and its seeds are eaten by waterfowl. The leaves and stalks provide habitat for fish. In small quantities it is part of a healthy pond ecosystem, although it is highly invasive and usually takes over all but the deepest ponds. Water shield is not recommended for pond management and should be controlled at first appearance.

In this aquatic w**d factsheet, we explain more: https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/water-shield-brasenia-schreberi

09/09/2026

Deadline extended to this Friday 9/11. Please RSVP by then!
Here is the registration link: https://reg.extension.msstate.edu/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0081-0004-e3f4cf973405460e9b292d78e18cfd30

BQA Certification coming to Greene County September 17th! Registration closes September 11th
Here is the registration link: https://reg.extension.msstate.edu/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0081-0004-e3f4cf973405460e9b292d78e18cfd30

09/08/2026

Here's your veggie planting guide for September! Some of the vegetables you can plant in the garden this month include...

Leeks
Onions
Green onions
Mustard greens
Collards
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Brussel sprouts
Broccoli
Spinach
Lettuce
English peas
Beets
Carrots
Celery

Planting times will vary by area.

Read our Mississippi Vegetable Gardener's Guide for TONS of great info: https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/mississippi-vegetable-gardeners-guide

Contact your county's Extension agent for localized guidance: https://extension.msstate.edu/county-offices