President's Message

We are moving ahead in leaps and bounds. We are in the process of signing a lease for our land in Hillar Park. We now have an architect, Frank Ginzer, and a landscape architect, Ted Roland of Live Oak Landscape Group.

We are finalizing our plans for the Marine Sculpture Garden on Hwy 90 in Biloxi. Our Bring Back the Beauty campaign is moving along nicely and is bringing us and the businesses honored very good publicity.

The initiation of all of these projects calls for volunteer help. I hope that each of you will soon find the right niche for yourself. We count on our volunteers to make the objectives of the MRG become a reality.

Lynn McLean, MRG Board President

Biloxi Sculpture Garden

Plans for the landscaping of the Marine Sculpture Garden on Hwy 90 in Biloxi are finally well underway. We are collaborating with Harrison County Beautification and Biloxi Chamber of Commerce. The Design Committee met with our Landscape Architect, Ted Roland, Friday, September 14th to discuss plants and design. We are still working with funding issues but remain optimistic. We plan to plant on October 23, 24 & 25. Green Team Volunteers, please mark your calendars.

Hillar Park

We are currently in the process of finalizing our lease with the City of Biloxi for the land in Hillar Park. WE now have an architect, Frank Ginzer, who is going to work on a plan for our building. This has been a long time in coming and brings us one step closer to seeing our goal for an MRG Model Mini Garden become a reality.

MRG "Bringing Back the Beauty"

Since the initial kickoff of our Bringing Back the Beauty Awards in June in which ten sites were honored, we have continued to spotlight two places of business per month. Large, opulently landscaped areas as well as several small storefronts have been chosen for different reasons. I wanted to make sure that Coastal citizens have examples of how landscaping can be planned that is excellent in preserving trees and landscaping around parking as well as what small stores that have no grassy areas at all can do to improve their appearance and make their businesses inviting.

In July, Majestic Oaks RV Park in Biloxi and the Verrett Dental Clinic were given awards. In August, The Liquor Store in Biloxi and 15th Place in Gulfport were spotlighted. In September, two small storefronts in Ocean Springs were selected in order to set examples for planters and container plants in front of stores with sidewalks and no grassy areas - Hillyer House and Phoenicia Gourmet Cuisine.

Businesses who have received the awards have gotten good recognition. Actually, they have gotten a good deal of free publicity from the spots on WLOX and the photos in the newspapers. I send press releases to a number of media outlets, and this month picked up a new supporter, a new TV station in Pascagoula. Gulf Coast Observer, a monthly magazine that tells what is going on along the Coast has offered me a monthly column where they print my article word for word along with the photos. The Sun Herald started off with huge spreads, but the articles have decreased in length each month, resulting in no photographs with their September coverage.

While the awards are becoming known, we still have a lot of work to do. The litter and landscaping situation may be getting a little better, but I don't see any overall improvement in outstanding landscaping or litter control between the large coast-wide cleanups. We may have to move to Phase II, which would mean further involvement with campaigns involving local civic organizations.

We may not be able to expect huge coverage every month by every news source, but rest assured that I continue to send a good, informative press release (including quotes from owners) along with two photos of each award site. I will continue to send these releases to multiple sources hoping for good coverage.

One thing I have been disappointed in is the lack of nominations from the public. Thus far, I've only received one nomination packet, although in every press release I encourage the public to nominate a site they think worthy. We are going strong, but still have a long way to go. I believe that our biggest hurdle is still in educating owners about how pleasing appearance can make a big difference in the success of their businesses. Our focus may have to shift when we start building the garden, but when our Horticultural Center is open, we will be able to do much more in the areas of education and outreach. Meanwhile, the Bringing Back the Beauty Awards are doing what they were designed to do - recognize businesses that are setting examples of excellence in appearances and cleanliness. They are also making the MRG Foundation better known to the public. We are still in the infant stage, so just imagine what we will be doing in a few years. The best is yet to come.

Linda Nix, Board Vice President and Chairperson Bringing Back the Beauty

Volunteer Opportunities

Special Invitation to All Readers:
The following press release has appearing in the media.

MRG Calls for Mississippi Coast, State and Nationwide Artist Participation

The Mississippi Renaissance Garden Foundation is offering opportunities for artists to participate in the promotional development of The Mississippi Renaissance Garden on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The MRG Foundation is seeking graphic designers and landscape designers to volunteer their talents to illustrate the proposed themed gardens for the Mississippi Renaissance Garden. Illustrations will be used on our web site, in printed materials, on promotional advertising and possibly displayed in the Garden or Horticultural Center.

Musical recording artists and authors are being sought to offer their talents and publishers are needed to produce the artists' work that will help in the MRG's "Horticulture for Humanity" environmental recovery movement. Creative credit will be given to the selected artwork, musical and literary contributions. Each contributor whose selection is chosen will receive recognition in the media, in garden literature and permanent recognition within the Gardens or Horticultural Center.

Artists are invited to meet with MRG's Promotion Department to review design plans and ideas for the Garden's promotion. They will then submit their ideas which will be selected for use in presentations, marketing materials and displays within the Gardens or Horticultural Center. Illustrations, musical, and literary contributions submitted should reflect the beauty of historical, cultural and inspirational themes and landscapes of our proposed Garden. A variety of media will be considered. For more information on the non profit Mississippi Renaissance Garden Foundation's mission, go to the web site: www.msrengarden .org.

In the future, there will be other opportunities for artists to participate in other MRG's "Horticulture for Humanity" programs through art and photography exhibitions, theater and concerts. Art, photography and other fine art classes will be offered in the Center, and experienced artists will be needed to assist with outreach in the coastal communities and public schools. Interested persons are asked to call Martha Boyce at 228-388-2622 or e-mail: mboyce@msrengarden.org

All readers wishing to become active in any opportunities available through The Mississippi Renaissance Garden Foundation may contact:

Martha S. Boyce
(228) 388-2622
E-mail: msbkt@aol.com

Executive Director's Message

First, let me welcome our new MRG board members, Arlene Canaan, Jackie and Lee Slater and our new MRG advisory board member, Kim Kriner. They have been active in community efforts for a long time and we are fortunate to have them bring their talents, experience and creative ideas to the MRG.

As the second anniversary of Katrina passed, all of us involved with the MRG are grateful for the many accomplishments that our mission has achieved. We are now recognized as a major force in the recovery effort of Mississippi. We have board members serving as advisors on the Replant South MS Program sponsored by the Land Trust and The Sun Herald. Our involvement in the MS Gulf Coast Beach Summit Committee allows us to have input in the restoration of the HWY 90 green space throughout Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties. Our environmental programs such as our Hiller Park Model Garden, Diamondhead MS Renaissance Garden, Biloxi Marine Sculpture Garden and Bring Back the Beauty, have brought attention to our efforts.

The common thread in all these accomplishments is that they are being achieved because people like you have dedicated your time, energy and resources to make this happen for our coast people and their environment. Please continue to be Ambassadors of Beauty on our MS Gulf Coast. Please e-mail our newsletter to others you think would wish to join our efforts.

Martha Boyce, Executive Director

Newsletter prepared by: Gerry Carroll

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you may e-mail Gerry Carroll, Newspaper Editor. to be put on the mailing list.