By Myra Bean

The Sardis Lake Corps of Engineers will plant 6,000 bulbs of daffodils and crocuses. The varieties of daffodils are Dutch, fatissimo and yellow.

They will be planted at a scenic location at Sardis Lake that is visible to thru traffic on Highway 315 and at the Arty Tapp Overlook located on the top of the dam, according to organizer Corps Ranger Shea Staten.

The bulbs are expected to arrive this week.

Squirrels leave daffodil bulbs alone, according to Staten. He crossed his fingers that the squirrels will not find the crocuses at the top of the dam.

Staten is enlisting the help of 4-H and the Batesville Garden Club to help set out the bulbs. Last year, he enlisted the Batesville Garden Club and the Girl Scouts from Lafayette County to plant 1,200 bulbs.

“It went so well that I wanted to increase our number of bulbs to get planted, so this year we will have approximately 6,000 to plant,” Staten said. The bulbs last year were planted in those same areas.

“We will focus on them until we get the look we are hoping to achieve,” Staten said.

This year State reached out to the Panola County 4-H because he felt it was a perfect fit.

“We are super excited to help,” said 4-H organizer Ginger Rodgers. “This will help make the community pretty and help add back to the natural flora.  I knew this was a great opportunity to encourage our 4-H’ers in a new service activity.”

The bulbs will bloom in the spring. Staten said planting the bulbs has a three fold purpose in that it is a great way to learn about these specific flowers, build an appreciation of gardening and the planters will become invested in something that will benefit the lake and its visitors years from now.

“The volunteers who help will always know they played a vital role in creating a beautiful area for all to enjoy,” Staten said.

Rodgers is also excited about the opportunity to teach the 4-H children.

“With help from 4-H and others, we can hopefully make quick work of these bulbs and expand or match the numbers we plant this year next year,” Staten said.

Community service is definitely important to 4-H members. Rodgers reminds the public what the four H’s stand for: Head, Heart, Hands and Health.  “Our pledge states that we pledge our hands to larger service.  We try to instill in the youth, no matter their project or activity, that they find ways to give back either by teaching younger 4-H’ers the skills they have learned or by helping their communities any way they can,” she said.

The Corps will provide the planter sticks and teach the children how to use them.

The Panola County 4-H members do not have a set number of community service projects that they do each year.  “I hope this opportunity will help set a precedent to try new service activities in our community and make it a yearly focus,” Rodgers said.

There is no set requirement on fulfilling a certain number of community service hours for 4-H members.  The youth do have certain contests as well as scholarship opportunities where they are asked to describe the community service activities that they have participated in.  “It benefits our youth to have events they can share, but most of all it empowers them to see that they can help and make an impact on society even at a young age,” Rodgers said.

Van Bloem Gardens distribution center of Meridian assists by donating bulbs when they can.

“They have been great to work with,” Staten said. “It’s great to have such wonderful help from them and everyone who volunteers to help plant these bulbs.”