Attala County Soil & Water Conservation District

07/31/2026

06/26/2026

You saw a big orange-and-black butterfly drift through the garden and called it a monarch. Maybe. But there's a near-perfect copy flying the same gardens this month, and one line on its wing gives it away.

Meet the viceroy — the monarch's most famous look-alike.

From a few feet away they're almost identical: the same burnt-orange wings, the same black veins, the same white-dotted black borders. For generations this fooled people, and it fools predators too, which is the whole point — looking like a monarch is a survival strategy.

But you can tell them apart in one second, once you know where to look. Find the hindwing — the lower wing — and look for a black line that arcs across it, cutting straight through the orange veins. The viceroy has that line. The monarch does not. One extra black stripe across the lower wing, and the ID is done.

A couple of other tells back it up. The viceroy is noticeably smaller, with a quicker, more flapping flight, while the monarch sails on long glides. And the monarch lays eggs only on milkweed; the viceroy's caterpillars grow up on willow and poplar leaves instead.

Why does it matter which is which? Because they tell you two different stories about your yard. Monarchs mean your milkweed is doing its job. Viceroys mean your willows and wet edges are. Both are native, both worth having, and both caught in the same long decline thinning butterflies everywhere — so the more host plants you leave standing, the more of each you'll see.

So next time the orange butterfly passes, check the lower wing.

One black line across the hindwing. That's the whole test.

06/26/2026

Here’s how to pick out the best sweet and juicy watermelon:

The best way to find a ripe watermelon is by looking at its field spot. The field spot should be yellow- or cream-colored. It may even appear orangish in color! The bigger the spot, the better! This means the watermelon was ripe when it was harvested. If the spot is white or pale green, that means it was harvested too early.

The best watermelons are dull in color and heavy. If the exterior is shiny, that’s a good indicator the interior is not ripe yet. Remember, watermelons are made mostly of water! If you pick up a melon and it’s not heavy, put it back. The heavier the watermelon, the more water it’s made of. The more water, the juicer it will be!

You can also tap the underbelly and listen for a deep sound. Deep sounds indicate a ripe watermelon, while a hollow sound means it’s not ripe yet. This is not always a reliable indicator, as it’s more important to rely on its appearance.

Thanks to our friends at Texas A&M AgriLife for these tips!

06/25/2026

I will be there from 12:00 - 3:00. Hope to see you there!!

06/24/2026

🌿 Got a Kudzu Problem? Don't let invasive kudzu choke out your property. MFC offers two cost-share programs to help private landowners in Mississippi offset herbicide costs.

The FRDP Program: Best for site-prep before planting new trees. (Requires 10+ contiguous forested acres). https://bit.ly/2Nbia0I

The Kudzu Treatment Program: Best for mid-rotation forestry or non-forested areas. https://bit.ly/4gHym8O

Funding is limited! Apply today to get on the list.

06/18/2026

Cogongrass is one of the most invasive plants in the world. It is an aggressive, fast-growing grass species that has established throughout the state but is most dense in southern Mississippi.

Though cogongrass was introduced for soil stabilization and forage, animals tend to lose weight rather than gain weight when consuming it. It is a threat to timber stands and protected and endangered wildlife. Its litter is highly flammable, which can lead to wildfires in pastures, rights-of-way, forest stands, and other disturbed areas where it readily establishes and spreads.

How do I identify cogongrass?

Bright green leaves in spring and summer; straw-colored or silvery-tan leaves in late fall and winter.

Leaves are up to 6 feet long and 1 inch wide with serrated margins and off-center midribs, which can vary significantly.

Leaves arise from underground horizontal stems (rhizomes) that are white, segmented, and covered with reddish-brown scales. Rhizomes are very sharp, so be careful when handling cogongrass specimens.

Flowers are light maroon before opening, then whitish-silver, fluffy, and 2 to 8 inches long; seeds disperse long and short distances in fluffy, white clumps in the wind from late March to mid-June.

Leaf collar (ligule) may be hairy with overlapping leaf sheaths, giving a round appearance.

Plants do not arise from a dense clump, though there may be some thatch around the base.

How do I prevent or control cogongrass?

It is very difficult to prevent and control cogongrass since it's one of the most invasive plants in the world.

To prevent establishment, avoid soil disturbance, maintain native ground cover, clean equipment before it enters the site, and prevent the spread of contaminated soil.

Control may be achieved through a two-step process using glyphosate and imazapyr over several years. Since cogongrass likes fire, prescribed burning can stimulate its growth and spread.

What should I do if I find cogongrass?

Contact the Mississippi Forestry Commission (MFC) area forester in the county you found the cogongrass to report the location. Website: https://www.mfc.ms.gov/cogongrass-control-program/cogongrass-control-program-application/

06/11/2026

Mississippi is home to numerous butterflies! Butterflies are pollinators, meaning they move pollen from one flower to another, fertilizing plants so they can reproduce. They’re both beautiful AND beneficial!

BUTTERFLY LIFE CYCLE
A butterfly’s life begins as an egg laid on a host plant. Usually, the eggs are laid on the bottoms of the leaves and can vary widely in shape, form, size, and color. Within 2 weeks, the tiny eggs hatch and tiny caterpillars emerge. The larva consumes the host plant’s leaves and will shed its skin as it grows. In about a month, the larva is ready to form a chrysalis (pupa). After a few weeks, the magical transformation takes place and an adult butterfly emerges. Most adult butterflies live for only a short time. Some species mate and live for just a few days; others are known to live over a year.

FOOD
Generally, there are two types of plants that you must have in your garden for butterflies. One type is a nectar plant; adult butterflies feed on these nectar plants. The second plant is a larval host plant; the immature stage (larva) feeds on this plant. When you plan a butterfly garden, you should plan for both types of plants. You can view our list of recommended nectar and larval plants on our website.

SHELTER
Butterflies need shelter from wind and rain, and a roosting place for the night. Shrub foliage is often used for protection and sleeping quarters. Create a butterfly shelter area by constructing a simple log pile in a corner of the back yard. Simply stack cut logs anywhere from 3 to 5 feet high. Be careful—this provides butterfly shelter but will also provide shelter for other wildlife.