Grand Finale Landscaping Camp

Grand Finale- Don’t miss your chance! If you're already dreaming of warm weather and envisioning a vibrant, colorful yard this spring and summer, don't wait too long! Spots are filling up fast for the highly anticipated Landscaping Camp, scheduled for May 23-24, hosted by the Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation.

This year’s camp is extra special as Jeff McManus leads his final tour of the Ole Miss campus, making this a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience! Honoring Jeff McManus: 25 Years of Transforming Ole Miss This year marks a major milestone for Jeff McManus, who is celebrating 25 years of excellence and his retirement from Ole Miss before embarking on a new chapter at the University of Texas. Over his distinguished career, Jeff has transformed the Ole Miss campus into a nationally recognized masterpiece. Understanding that a campus’s beauty significantly impacts student enrollment, Jeff and his team developed an award-winning system of beautification and landscape management that has set Ole Miss apart on a national level.

Thanks to his leadership, Ole Miss has earned numerous prestigious accolades, including: 🌿Named "Most Beautiful Campus in the Nation" by The Princeton Review, Newsweek, and USA Today 🏆 Two Professional Grounds Maintenance Society Green Star Awards for Best Maintained University 🌳 Mississippi Urban Forest Council's Scenic Communities Award For the past six Landscaping Camps, Jeff has been the keynote speaker, drawing sold-out crowds year after year. His expertise, passion, and engaging teaching style have attracted participants from across the country, including Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, California, Kentucky, Florida, North Carolina, and beyond!

Meet Our Expert Speakers
This year’s Memorial Day Weekend camp will feature an incredible lineup of landscaping professionals, each offering valuable insights and hands-on expertise:
Jeff McManus: "Prune Like a Pro" Learn directly from the master behind the Ole Miss campus’s breathtaking beauty as Jeff shares his expert pruning techniques and professional landscaping insights.

Matt Nielson, Consulting Arborist, Green Groves: "If These Ole Trees Could Talk" Matt, a horticulture graduate from Auburn University, specializes in tree health & tree risk assessments, tree care specifications, pruning prescriptions and soil and root care. He will share stories and lessons from the trees in the Grove, Circle and other campus spaces, discussing best practices for healthy root systems and vibrant, structurally sound canopies that translate to healthy landscape trees and the urban forest. With extensive experience as a consulting arborist, Matt works closely with nurseries, engineers, landscape architects, contractors, and academics to promote long-term tree health.

Dr. Scott S. Knight, University of Mississippi: "For Goodness Snakes" A wildlife and fisheries expert, Dr. Knight will introduce attendees to the good and bad snakes found in the region. He holds degrees in Zoology (Ole Miss), Wildlife Management (Mississippi State), and Fisheries Management (Auburn University) and currently serves as the Director of the University of Mississippi Field Station.

Martha Hill, Hardscapes Designer: "Hardscapes in Outdoor Living Spaces" Transform your yard into a seamless extension of your home! Martha, a Mississippi State University graduate and General Manager of Earth Scape Supply, will showcase beautiful and cost-effective hardscaping options that combine the appearance of natural stone with the durability of engineered products. Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Tour! As a special highlight, participants will enjoy a private tour of four stunning landscapes on South Lamar, each meticulously maintained by none other than Jeff McManus himself! This rare behind-the-scenes experience offers a firsthand look at Jeff’s extraordinary landscaping techniques and breathtaking designs.

Secure Your Spot Today! Whether you're an Ole Miss fan, a gardening enthusiast, or someone who simply appreciates exceptional landscaping, this bucket-list event is not to be missed! Spaces are limited, and with Jeff McManus leading his final campus tour, spots are filling up quickly. Cost for the camp is $350 (does not include hotel accommodations). For more information, contact Rosie Vassallo at 662.234.4651 or rosie@oxfordms.com . The Inn at Ole Miss, host hotel for the event, is offering a discounted nightly rate $129 per night for a Standard Accommodation or $159 for a One Bedroom Suites per night. These rates listed are for single/double occupancy and the offer expires April 27. There will be a $10 per person fee for additional adults.

Presenting sponsors include The University of Mississippi, Dabney Nursery, The Inn at Ole Miss, Grace Realty Group, Stages MS Magazine, Mississippi Federal Credit Union, Campbell Clinic, RiverLand Roofing Contractor, Window Hero, Stroll Mississippi and At Home Memphis & Mid South Magazine.

Hospitality Sponsors include B&B Concrete, mTrade, Stout’s Carpet, Action Pest Control, Clean Air Solutions, Shaw Ace Hardware, RKA Construction, McKenzie Little PLLC, Jim Stephens, North East MS Electric Power Association and Oxford Eye Clinic & Optical. 

Bloom Sponsors: Buzz 94.7, State Farm Will Poole Agent, Oxford Plumbing, Mississippi Alarm, Shell Plastic, SeniorKare