The Warren County Extension Service’s Homemaker Volunteers will host its annual flower show Tuesday beginning at 9 a.m. in the Extension Service office. In addition to their ornamental exhibition, they have invited the Extension Service’s state Master Gardener Coordinator Dr. Lelia Kelly to present Plants of the Bible. Kelly’s presentation begins at 10, and the public is invited. 

I’ve heard Dr. Kelly’s presentation, and it’s very interesting. Lilies of the field, figs, thistles, bitter herbs, grapes and hyssop — these and dozens more are mentioned in the Bible. They symbolize God’s mercy, bounty and judgment; they illustrate Jesus’ message.

Their products were used for physical healing in biblical times and can be used today for the same, plus spiritual healing. Kelly’s talk will gee-whiz you with lots of interesting historical as well as modern-day plant particulars and traits.

Dr. Kelly recently shared with me some information I have selected for this week’s column. It doesn’t have anything to do with plant references in the Bible, but provides some good tips about landscaping under trees.

An easy way to establish foreground interest in a yard is to make a feature out of existing trees. Rather than addressing each tree as a separate item, unify them into a large landscape mass by planting underneath a group of trees.

A large planting can be much more satisfying and appear less arbitrary than the “10 little Indians” effect of separate treatment around each tree.

For example, homeowners confronted with three or four lonely pine trees scattered across their lawn should key their design from nature. Instead of circling plants around the base of each tree, which is the visual equivalent of a tractor tire around the tree base, drift plants casually underneath the tree canopy.

The planting will be informal and not rigid or geometrical. Give some attention to color selection if a blooming plant is chosen. Drifting colors in groups of three or four looks more informal than alternating two colors throughout the entire bed.

In a large area with strong vertical elements (a bed that will comprise several tall, straight-trunked trees like pine trees), it may be necessary to introduce a plant material — a smaller tree for instance — that will create contrast between the strong upright forms of the trees and the shrub level. This is call understory planting.

The natural understory tree throughout much of the South is the flowering dogwood. In addition to the spectacular spring show of color, dogwoods grown as understory can be expected to develop their own relaxed shape as they stretch their branches in an effort to find light.

Many other suitable plants (redbud, sourwood) can be used for understory planting. But whatever materials are chosen, develop boldness in the planting pattern.

Don’t belittle your shrubs by forcing them to cower at the foot of a tree—develop the bed to be as imposing as the trunks they tie together.

John C. Coccaro is county Extension director. Write to him at 1100-C Grove St., Vicksburg, MS 39180 or call 601-636-5442. E-mail him at jcoccaro@ext.msstate.edu