Need a little something free to brighten your day?
Check out the field of zinnias blooming along U.S. 51 near Ridgeland City Hall.
Keep Ridgeland Beautiful, the city of Ridgeland and the Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce partner to make the zinnia field, which has garnered awards for innovation and beautification, a reality.
“They turned out great this year because of all of the rain,” said Karen McKie, who with her husband, Maur, owns Green Oak garden center, florist and landscaping.
McKie got the project off in 2018 when she was president of the Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce
“Keep Ridgeland Beautiful buys the seed at cost from Green Oak,” she said. “We buy it by the pound so it’s less expensive (than in seed packets). California Giants is the variety.”
People are welcome to cut a few zinnias for a bouquet and to take photos at the field.
A lot of people don’t feel comfortable about going in and cutting them, but they’re free to cut,” she said. “The butterflies and hummingbirds attracted to the field are really beautiful.
Some wildlife photographers take professional pictures there.”
Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee said the parking lot of City Hall, which can be accessed off School Street, offers a convenient place for people, who would like to cut a few blooms to enjoy, to park.
“I saw some people out there this week cutting flowers,” he said.
