Contact: Vanessa Beeson      

STARKVILLE, Miss.—The public is invited to ring in the holiday cheer at the upcoming University Florist open house at Mississippi State. Centrally located at 100 Lee Blvd., the shop will host the special event Friday [Nov. 22] from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Saturday [Nov. 23] from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Bulldogs can stop in to enjoy coffee and cookies, find MSU gifts, and see everything the 85-year-old MSU floral institution has to offer. Along with all MSU ornaments being discounted 20 percent, the flower shop features Mississippi-made wares including McCarty pottery and Wolfe Studio’s ceramic birds. Each day features a McCarty holiday arrangement giveaway.

“We are excited to begin celebrating the holiday season with some great ornaments, home décor, and special gift selections. We look forward to seeing our faculty, staff and fellow Bulldogs for some refreshments, holiday deals and door prizes,” said Taylor Bowden, florist manager.

A retail shop operated by the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences in MSU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the University Florist serves as a practicum for student employees who are horticulture majors enrolled in the floral management concentration.

Mississippi State is one of only a few universities in the nation offering retail training for students pursuing a degree in floral management. For more, visit florist.msstate.edu.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.