The Mississippi School of the Arts recently dedicated its newly planted gardens and arboretums.

In a ceremony hosted on MSA’s campus, the staff dedicated the new landscaping done. The beautification took place due to a grant the arts school applied for last year.

“We went from having no gardens to having gardens around nearly each area,” Executive Director Suzanne Hirsch said.

Hirsch said a community member approached her last year with knowledge about the grant and encouraged the school to apply.

MSA applied for the grant and met with the Mississippi Urban Forest Council. MSUFC helped MSA write the grant and the application took nearly six months to complete.

Once the school was approved for the grant, the landscaping work began. When everything was finished, volunteers affiliated with the school came and helped plant.

“We all came together and put them in the ground in May and June,” Hirsch said.

The monies for the grant were provided by Canadian National Railroad and America in Bloom. Along with trees being planted, the majority of the beautification involved flower beds being built around buildings on campus.

Hirsch said the new landscaping has given the school a better feeling visually.

“Of course it helps the environment to have more plants to produce all the gases for our breathing,” Hirsch said. “But it also a more homey feel to the campus, it makes the buildings feel warmer.”

She said it’s been a positive addition to the art school’s campus.

“While it is all new, it feels like it’s always been here,” Hirsch said. “It really does make a huge difference.”

She hopes students and faculty alike will enjoy seeing everything bloom when spring comes.

“I’m really excited for the impact it’s made,” Hirsch said. “I can’t wait for spring to see it all bloom again.”