On the road to Natchez

Two MG’s and I loaded up and headed south this morning for an easy drive to Natchez, Mississippi.  We saw a lot of row crops as we drove through the Delta.  We stopped at a local diner in Louisiana and ate catfish, shrimp and alligator under huge old cypress trees.  Then we drove on in to Natchez and checked into our hotel which is right on the Mississippi river.  We face the downtown, but it is a quick walk across the street to a wonderful river walk.  Busses and carloads of Master Gardeners are converging on this town from all over the south.  We have visited with MG’s from Mississippi, Tennesee and of course Arkansas.  Gardeners are such friendly people.  Tonight we drove to Natchez under the hill for a wonderful dinner.  We shared an appetizer of fried green tomatoes topped with shrimp and crawfish.  I had the redfish and wonderful asparagus and grits, Jackie had etoufee and Billigene had broccoli cheese soup.  we came back to the hotel and walked the natchez trail for a while.  Crape myrtles are already beginning to bloom, and I saw a flower bed with pansies and snapdragons next to a full blown gardenia.  It is a crazy season.  It was pretty warm this afternoon, but it is nice outside right now. Tomorrow we register, set up a display for the 2013 IMGC and go on a garden tour.