When I was a child, there were three facts I knew about cacti. One was that the plural of cactus is cacti. The others were that they grew in the desert, and they were covered in thorns. For that reason, I had little interest in the prickly plants. I also recall, as a child traveling from Jackson to my grandparents’ home in Monroe, Louisiana, passing a huge sign that said “Cactus Plantation,” which piqued my curiosity.
Time, age, and knowledge gave me a new appreciation for the plant’s many varieties and shapes. They add character to landscapes as well as the interior of homes and offices. I mostly bought them in places like Lowe’s and Home Depot, and they were usually a spur-of-the-moment purchase. And sadly, I never kept one for long. It seems I’m very good at killing cacti.
For some reason, the Mississippi Cactus Plantation sign has been popping into my head lately, and it made me wonder if it was still open. Thanks to Google, I’ve learned that the once thriving and unique business (or should I say, attraction?) is now closed and for sale.
The plantation was started by John Thomas in Edwards, Mississippi. Located a few miles off I-20, curiosity seekers and cactus lovers alike took the Edwards exit to visit Thomas’s greenhouses and to add to their collections. At one time, he had several large greenhouses filled with over 3,500 varieties of cacti along with succulents, daylilies, tropical foliage, colorful bromeliads, and seasonal plants. It was recognized as the World’s First Cactus Plantation by the World Record Academy…