The Mississippi Gulf Coast and Unexpected Pleasures

May 18, 2026 by LB

To be honest, I wasn’t really sure how much I would like visiting Biloxi and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but I came away a fan! Biloxi is known for it’s casinos and gambling, but we enjoyed so much more! The food, the history, the resilience of the people who have survived the devastation of Hurricanes Camille and Katrina, and of course the Gulf Islands and wildlife. You may not have seen my post about the Hurricane Katrina Sculptures, so please take a look if you have a moment.

Within minutes of landing at the airport, I asked my friend Tim to pull over so I could see and smell the Gulf of Mexico. I knew right away that a long weekend in this part of the country would allow me to just skim the surface of the richness of this place.

One of the best places that we visited was the Gulf Islands National Seashore where we learned so much about this National Park entity that runs 160 miles across two states and encompasses five barrier islands and one mainland. (I do hate that the website does not use the correct name of the Gulf, but in 979 days, it will get it’s name back).

We were all relieved that this turtle got away before the alligator ate him for lunch!

I wish I’d had a lens to capture the Osprey in flight, but I loved hearing them call. If I were a more tech savvy gal, I’d have figured out how to insert the audio here, but alas, no luck!

I got up early one morning and watched the pelicans diving for food behind this fishing boat (quite the name for that boat, eh?).

This Great Blue Heron was not at all bothered by me as he was much more interested in whatever was being pulled out of the water by the men, women, and children fishing.

The trees and flowers were vibrant with color.

We enjoyed the local flavors at many places including White Pillars,

were surprised by an Elvis sighting,

and enjoyed the Triple-A Baseball Team, the Biloxi Shuckers.

I already look forward to going back and plan to spend more time at the National Seashore, and hopefully get out on the Gulf of Mexico. What a delightful surprise the Gulf Coast was!

Biloxi Live Oak

May 5, 2026 by LB

A few weeks ago, we visited the Gulf Coast, Biloxi in particular. I have yet to find time to share photos and stories from the trip, so this Live Oak image will serve as my placeholder until I find that time. In the meantime, if you haven’t already seen my previous post about the Hurricane Katrina Sculptures, please take a look. You can also take a look at the alligator that I saw in the Gulf Islands National Seashore. I’ll be back soon!

Hurricane Katrina Live Oak Sculptures

April 18, 2026 by LB

Recently, Greg and I spent a weekend in Biloxi, MS with our friend Tim, and prior to arriving, as I always do when trip planning, I researched things to see and do (oh my gosh, so much! More on that later). What immediately captured my interest were the sculptures made from the remains of Live Oaks.

Hurrcane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in August of 2005 and caused over 1800 fatalities, billions in dollars of damage, and is considered to be one of the five deadliest hurricanes to have hit the United States. The Gulf Coast’s natural spaces and places were also impacted, including dozens of Live Oaks, victims of the saltwater storm surge.

Biloxi’s Katrina sculpture project began in January 2007 when Mayor A.J. Holloway and Public Affairs Manager Vincent Creel spoke with Mississippi “chainsaw artist” Dayton Scoggins about sculpting marine-related figures from the dozens of standing dead trees in the median of Beach Boulevard in Biloxi.

“Scoggins’s initial five sculputres — a $7,000 investment for the city — inspired Fort Walton Beach, Fla, sculptor and frequent Biloxi visitor Marlin Miller to approach the city about donating his time and talent to sculpting more standing dead trees in the center medians in Biloxi”.

There are approximately 50 tree-sculptures along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, including the world’s largest eagle sculpture, standing at 17-feet-tall, located on Highway 90 in Pass Christian.

My friend Tim was kind (and patient) enough to drive along Highway 90 / Beach Boulevard, dropping me off at various places, and then coming back to get me. Imagine this: me dodging cars to cross the road and then standing amongst biting ants to capture these images. It was high noon so the photographic timing wasn’t the best, but I was in awe none the less. I captured some of the images up close, but others from afar so you’d be able to see the remains of the base of the trees.