JACKSON — The Mississippi Magnolia Gardens at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum is seeking donations to expand its memorial tribute space, giving Mississippians a way to honor loved ones while preserving a decades-old state tradition.
Donations begin at $75 and help fund landscaping, plantings and long-term improvements to the garden, which includes magnolia trees, walkways and gathering areas designed for reflection and remembrance, foundation officials said. The current Magnolia Gardens opened in 2021, about 60 years after the original “Avenue of Magnolias” program began, the foundation said.
Foundation leaders said more than $100,000 in donations helped complete the initial phase of the gardens, but another $150,000 is needed to fully complete the planned vision for the site.
“The Mississippi Magnolia Gardens is more than a garden; it is a storybook of Mississippi families, memories, and milestones,” Foundation Board Chair Dr. Bill Herndon said. “Every donation helps ensure this tradition continues for generations to come.”
Each donation is acknowledged with a letter, and honorees or family members designated by donors receive notification of the tribute, the foundation said. The gardens are open year-round during regular museum hours. Additional information and donation opportunities are available through the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum Foundation.
