After participating in a Zoom session, attendees can apply for the 2025 Master Gardener training class to be held from February to April 2025. The deadline to apply for that class is Oct. 14. 

Norfolk’s more than 160 Master Gardeners are volunteer horticulture educators working on projects throughout the city. Norfolk’s Extension Master Gardeners are affiliated with Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University.

For more info, visit nmgv.org.

One of the most familiar such fruits is the common fig (Ficus carica), native to the Mediterranean basin. Gardeners in coastal Virginia are fortunate that we can grow this without dragging pots in and out for the winter, as many people farther north must do. Not only does this fig provide abundant delicious fruit, but its bold, attractive leaves will add an unusual touch to the landscape. While figs can typically grow to 20 or 30 feet tall, there are a number of smaller selections that might be more suitable for smaller gardens.

Gardeners who like bold color should grow pomegranates (Punica granatum). The flowers are an intense red-orange and bloom through much of the late spring into early summer. The orange fruits, showy and attractive in their own right, ripen in late summer to early fall. The fleshy seeds produce a lot of juice and are high in vitamin C, antioxidants and potassium. Originally native to western Asia, they are now grown around the world in warmer climates, where their smaller size (6 to 20 feet tall) makes them easy to fit into many landscapes. Good-looking and good for you.

Loquats (Eriobotrya japonica) are grown primarily for their evergreen, tropical-looking foliage and their clusters of ivory flowers, which typically bloom between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The flowers are also sweetly scented, enough to perfume an entire garden. Native to China and Japan, the 10- to 15-foot-tall plant is sometimes called Japanese plum, though it is not actually a plum. However, the spring-ripening, golden orange fruit has a similar delicious sweet-tart flavor. Local gardeners should consider the fruit a bonus, since loquats will produce fruit here only in mild winters, even though the plant is hardy.

Also evergreen, pineapple guava (Acca sellowiana) can be grown as an attractive screening plant and an alternative to some of the more common hedges. It’s native from southern Brazil to northern Argentina; in our climate it typically grows about 6 to 8 feet tall, has attractive silvery foliage and, being salt tolerant, is a good choice for coastal conditions. The flowers are unusual and showy, with bright red stamens over white petals. The fruit ripens in late summer to early fall with a flavor reminiscent of Juicy Fruit gum, and you know it is ripe when it falls off the shrub: no guesswork.

Although we have our own native persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), if you want something a little different, consider the easy-to-grow Asian persimmon (Diospyros kaki). Although the flowers are not very showy, the fruit certainly is. It ripens in the fall, covering the tree with 3- to 4-inch berries that are a bright orange. About the same time, the foliage turns shades of yellow, red, orange and burgundy before dropping. The fruit will persist after the foliage, like so many mini-pumpkins hanging on bare branches. There are two types of Asian persimmons. Those with astringent fruit are like our native ones in that they need a good cold spell to be edible. Then the gelatinous flesh becomes incredibly sweet and can be eaten with a spoon or used in desserts. The nonastringent varieties have fruit that is crunchy and can be eaten fresh like an apple or cut and added to salads. Asian persimmons vary in size, but most will grow in the 10- to 30-foot range.

With fall being the best time to plant and just around the corner, now is a good time to consider something that will add unusual edible beauty to your landscape.

Wild Green Yonder is a monthly feature from the staff of the Norfolk Botanical Garden, where Les Parks is the director of horticulture. Send gardening questions to askaplantquestion@nbgs.org.

European fan palm (Chamaerops humilis) is one of only two palms native to Europe, its native range extending from southern Spain down into North Africa and over to Italy. It is very drought tolerant once established and can take temperatures briefly as low as 10 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a shrub like, clumping palm, but it can be trained to a single trunk by removing any suckers that arise from its base. It is slow growing and rarely gets above 10 feet tall. It is considered hardy to USDA zone 8, which includes most of coastal Virginia, but some protection is recommended the farther north and west you garden.

Needle palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix) is one of the most cold-tolerant palms, able to withstand temperatures as low as zero for short periods. Native to the coastal margins of the southeastern United States, it is considered hardy all the way to USDA 6b, but some intrepid gardeners have successfully grown it in zone 5b. It gets its common name from the 6-inch, needle-like spines produced at the base of its leaf stalks. This is a trunkless palm with a mature size of 3 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 8 feet wide, functioning more as an evergreen shrub in the landscape. Its bold foliage makes it a great foundation plant or textural accent in part shade, especially in winter.

Dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor) comes closest to being native for us, growing from northeastern North Carolina to Texas. It is also very cold tolerant, down to zero. Although it is shrubby, its large, bold foliage clearly lets you know that this plant is indeed a palm. It typically reaches about 6 feet tall and wide (or more), and its tough constitution makes it easy to grow in sun to part shade, wet or dry soil.

Cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto) is the state tree of South Carolina and Florida. The taller sibling to the dwarf palmetto, it gets 20 to 30 feet high (or more) with a well-defined trunk. Sabal palmetto is native to the United States from southern North Carolina to Florida. Although it is considered hardy to zone 8a and can take temperatures as low as 15, many cabbage palms have not survived our colder winters, frustrating many palm enthusiasts.

Windmill palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) is one of the most common hardy palms, capable of withstanding winters in USDA zone 7 or higher, making it a great choice for coastal Virginia. Its exact native range is unknown because it has been cultivated for centuries in China and Japan for its coarse and strong leaf fiber, but it is believed to be native to central and eastern China and southern Japan. Windmill palm has a compact crown, fitting for smaller gardens, and a mature height of 20 to 40 feet. It has a well-defined trunk, good for gardeners who want a more treelike palm.

Even in the colder climate of coastal Virginia, gardeners can enjoy the tropical flair that hardy palms can bring to the landscape. A warm breeze rustling through bold foliage might just transport you to someplace more exotic.

Wild Green Yonder is a monthly feature from the staff at Norfolk Botanical Garden, where Michelle Baudanza is the Perry Conservatory curator. Gardening questions can be sent to askaplantquestion@nbgs.org.

Sometimes, even the right soil mix and amount of water, plenty of sunshine and lots of tender loving care isn’t enough to keep it alive.

That’s exactly where things stand for the beloved nursery and garden center that has maintained 56.1 acres of property and a business that included 20 acres of climate-controlled commercial greenhouses in Deep Creek for 68 years.

After an extremely challenging operating year in 2023, with reduced customer demand and rising interest rates, the business was negatively impacted beyond repair. The business announced the decision to close earlier in June.

“The business of flowers is different from the enjoyment and serenity that the garden center brought to people,” said Tal White, son of the founder, 91-year-old Norm White.

After they learned the lender no longer wanted to back the business, Tal White said they tried to downsize by keeping the garden center along with its e-commerce shipping and an acre of greenhouses in operation, but it was not meant to be.

They had four to five meetings with a publicly traded company that showed interest in investing in the business, but cold feet prevailed, he said.

Now the family-owned and -operated business is busy auctioning off items for commercial growers, including the greenhouses, numerous plant carts and hanging basket display racks, pallets, industrial storage tanks and other equipment through SecondBloomAuctions.com. The online auction ends on July 1.

“It’s not the direction we wanted to take,” Tal White said. “But we’re trying to take care of all of our obligations.”

Coke bottles — close to 2,000 used for drip irrigation — are a hot commodity that locals are requesting as White’s Old Mill mementos.

As for the future of the property, Tal White said the family is taking it one step at a time.

“This is literally our life and our work in our backyard,” he said.

Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@pilotonline.com

From June 1 through September, local artwork of all kinds, from lifelike to playful and imaginative, will be featured in a display throughout the Baker Hall Visitor Center and the adjoining Education Hallway. Outside in the Enchanted Forest, we’re featuring dozens of larger-than-life-sized mushroom sculptures ranging from the realistic to the whimsical, all created by local artists and our staff. Throughout the outdoor exhibit is signage highlighting all sorts of fascinating mushroom facts.

Wondering why we chose mushrooms for our summer exhibit? Well, mushrooms are really cool.  They spark curiosity with their incredible array of sizes, shapes and colors. There’s also an air of mystery to them — what are they really up to? One day your lawn is pristine, and the next, it’s hosting a mushroom festival.

So what exactly is a mushroom? Let’s delve into a little science to unravel the mystery. A mushroom is the fruiting body or reproductive structure of a fungus that’s growing in soil or other substrates (like wood or compost). When the weather is just right, a fungus will produce a mushroom above ground to spread its microscopic spores (analogous to seeds) and start the next generation. Not all fungi, however, produce mushrooms.

Though it’s mushrooms that grab our attention, the real action is happening underground in the soil or inside that old stump at the edge of the woods. That’s where the mycelium — a massive network of filaments — is working its magic, decomposing organic matter and absorbing nutrients. This intricate web also connects to trees and plants, enabling each to share nutrients and information. This symbiotic exchange, called a mycorrhizal relationship, helps maintain a healthy ecosystem.

Some mushrooms have an incredible superpower: They can clean up the environment. Through a process called myco-remediation, certain fungi can break down and neutralize contaminants like petroleum, heavy metals and even certain types of plastics. In some cases, the mushrooms emerge free of contaminants. This cleanup method holds great promise for our future.

Mushrooms also shine in the kitchen. They’re packed with nutrients and umami flavor, making them a favorite in many dishes. Cooking mushrooms breaks down their tough cell walls, making their nutrients easier to absorb. But remember: “Never munch on a hunch!” Always thoroughly identify any wild mushrooms before you eat them.

In medicine, mushrooms are remarkable. Various species contain compounds like polysaccharides and triterpenoids, which are known for their antioxidant, antibacterial and neuroprotective properties. Certain species of mushrooms are even being studied for their therapeutic potential in cancer treatments.

Curious to learn more? Visit our “Funky Fungi” exhibit, a fun and educational dive into one of nature’s curious creations. Plus, save the date for our first Mushroom Festival, on Sept. 8.

Wild Green Yonder is a regular feature of Norfolk Botanical Garden, where Theresa Augustin is vice president of education. Send any gardening questions you may have to askaplantquestion@nbgs.org.

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IF YOU GO

What: “Funky Fungi: Nature’s Curious Creations”

When: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through September

Where: 6700 Azalea Garden Road, Norfolk

Tickets: Included with admission

Details: norfolkbotanicalgarden.org/funky-fungi/

LOOKING AHEAD

Sept. 8: The first mushroom festival at Norfolk Botanical Garden

But Teresa Robinson wanted to help. In 2019 the Norfolk woman had bought a 1912 Craftsman in such bad shape that she had to gut it to the studs. As Parker started on the termite damage and dry rot, she asked how he made repairs and started buying tools. As a first-time homeowner, she said, she needed to know how to take care of her property.

“Normally people say, ‘Can you do this for me?’ They never say, ‘Show me how to do it,’ ” said Parker, of Virginia Beach. “It got to the point that if I were in Home Depot, I was bumping into Teresa at Home Depot.”

The two, now friends, will compete as one of three teams in the fourth season of HGTV’s “Battle on the Beach,” which premieres at 9 p.m. Monday. The show rotates locations and was filmed in Oak Island, North Carolina, this year.

Each team gets a $100,000 budget to turn a dilapidated waterfront property into an enviable gem. The homes are similar four-bedroom, two-bathroom structures, and each team is paired with an HGTV celebrity designer/builder: Taniya Nayak of “Build it Forward”; Ty Pennington of “Rock the Block”; or Alison Victoria of “Windy City Rehab.”  

Robinson and Parker were paired with Victoria; they will go nail head to nail head with couples from Richmond and Dallas. The team that adds the most value to their home wins $50,000 and the celebrity partner gets to brag. Each of the seven episodes contains challenges, including a relay race on a historic battleship, that can net a team $3,000. Bryan and Sarah Baeumler from HGTV’s “Renovation Island” are the judges.

Robinson loves building and dreaming up creative projects and considers Parker a mentor; he started learning the trade as a teen. She started an Instagram account a couple of years ago to share photos and updates. She runs her company, Tools and Transformations, whenever she gets a moment; she works for a nonprofit during the day. She offers advice on building furniture, tools and safety gear, and the payoff of teaching yourself new skills. Her account clocked 100,000 followers a year ago, catching the attention of HGTV. A representative sent her a message about the show.

After she verified that the person was legit, Robinson pulled Parker into their next adventure. They can’t say much about the show except that the panic and nailbiting are real. So is Victoria, who has helmed several HGTV programs.

“She’s a tough cookie just like I am,” Parker said. “She’s every bit of what you see on TV.”

Robinson is still working on her home though Parker says she could have finished by now. She knows too much to stay still and is constantly retooling. Robinson laughs at her first attempt at nailing plywood and batting together for a headboard years before she discovered her skills.

“It was so janky,” she said, laughing at the memory. “Compared to what I can do now. Wow!”

Denise M. Watson, 757-446-2504, denise.watson@pilotonline.com

The mix clumps together and hardens, reducing flow through the pipes that carry wastewater to treatment plants. Without intervention, it can turn into a rock-hard, gigantic fatberg, bringing services to a standstill.

Think it couldn’t happen here? This photo was taken in Norfolk, at HRSD’s Virginia Initiative Wastewater Treatment Plant. This globby mix includes paper towels, baby wipes, cotton swabs, sanitary products, fabric softener sheets, and possibly the most common offender of all: disposable wipes, said Lacie Wever, community education and outreach specialist for the Hampton Roads Sanitation District.

These so-called “flushable” wipes, made of fibrous materials, do not break down the way toilet paper does. Flushing them is like flushing a handkerchief down the toilet.

Other household items that should never be flushed include cat litter, cigarette butts, diapers and diaper liners, dryer sheets, facial tissues, family planning products, feminine hygiene products, paper towels, toilet bowl scrubbing pads, dental floss (which can wrap around other items, creating monster-sized clogs), and kitchen food scraps and fats, oils and grease — “FOG.”

When a pipe clogs or equipment breaks down, untreated sewage can back up inside a home and outside into streets — where it can enter storm drains and waterways. A dangerous pollutant, untreated sewage can cause sudden increases in nitrogen and bacteria in a body of water, killing aquatic life (plants, fish, crabs and more), closing beaches and leading to health warnings on local seafood consumption.

“What you flush can impact our daily lives,” Wever said. “We often don’t think about what happens after water leaves our drains or toilets, but it’s important to understand that wastewater sanitation has an impact on public health and the health of our waterways.”

Clogged pipes and backups can also be expensive. If a clog occurs in the home’s plumbing, the responsibility and cost of repairs falls on the homeowner or resident. If a backup occurs in the municipal sanitary sewer line, we all bear the cost of repairs in the form of the utility fees we pay. We’re all responsible for protecting this system.

Something as simple as not flushing trash can have a significant impact. Wever said it best: “Only your personal business and toilet paper should be flushed down the toilet.”

Don’t flush

• Cat litter
• Cigarette butts
• Cotton swabs
• Dental floss
• Diapers and diaper liners
• Dryer sheets
• Facial tissues
• Fats, oils, grease and food scraps from the kitchen
• Family planning products
• Feminine hygiene products
• Paper towels
• Toilet bowl scrubbing pads
• Wipes (even if labeled flushable) — including baby wipes, personal hygiene wipes and all-purpose cleaning wipes

Katie Cullipher and Rebekah Eastep are team leaders of the askHRgreen.org public awareness and education campaign for the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission. For more ways to make an environmental difference in Hampton Roads, visit askHRgreen.org.

The first infested case in the United States was confirmed in the Rocky Mountains in the 1940s. It was later discovered that the virus infects primarily the multiflora rose, which was brought to North America from Japan with the disease present, according to researchers at Oklahoma State University. As well as being a vector for disease, the multiflora rose is widely considered to be invasive.

Rose rosette disease has spread to rose populations across the continent. The disease is a serious issue in the rose growing industry. In fact, faculty affiliated with the Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension recently declared it one of the most concerning diseases, with most cultivars vulnerable to it. There is no known treatment.

Rose rosette disease (Emaravirus sp.) is spread primarily by two eriophyid mite species, but it can also be spread through grafting. The mites are invisible to the human eye and move from rose to rose mainly by the wind. Once they land on a host, they infect the rose while feeding.

It can take up to four weeks for symptoms to show, usually around the middle of the growing season.

Many of the symptoms are odd. The most common is masses of new growth, predominantly red or sometimes yellow. Rose rosette will also cause unusually long shoots, soft thorns that are more numerous, distorted foliage, swollen stems and dense clusters of congested foliage. Many of these symptoms are mistaken for normal new growth or herbicide damage.

Infected roses will decline until they eventually die. Miticides may be sprayed to slow the outbreak, but most treatments are of limited help because of the size of the mites.

Infected roses should be removed entirely, bagged and disposed of in the trash. This means all parts of the plant — from blossoms to roots and everything in between.

Without a host plant, the mites will die. Since they need the wind to spread, avoid using leaf blowers around roses. Giving roses proper spacing to avoid crowding will help control the mites and mitigate the disease.

When replacing an infected rose, wait at least one or two months, and watch for any root suckers that might pop up. Remove any multiflora rose near other roses, since it is the primary host for the mites.

Only a handful of rose species are believed to be resistant to the disease. Rose breeders are working to create more.

Roses are beautiful and have been a staple in gardening and landscaping for centuries. Despite the threat that rose rosette disease poses, roses can and should continue to be garden mainstays with proper prevention and control.

Wild Green Yonder is a monthly feature from the staff of the Norfolk Botanical Garden, where Tensaie Fesshaye is a rosarian. Send gardening questions to askaplantquestion@nbgs.org.

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Correction. A correction was made on June 11, 2024. Because of incorrect information provided to The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press, an earlier version of this article carried an incorrect byline. The writer was Tensaie Fesshaye, a rosarian at the garden, not horticulturist Jake Litchfield. 

Why not host a get-together that’s easier on the planet? It’s easy with items you have on hand — and a plan for dining and cleanup.

A good first step is to avoid single-use plastic. Plastic plates, cups, cutlery and straws are “one and done” and not recyclable. They end up in the garbage, then the landfill. They can be pricey, too.

Think about going “retro chic” instead.

An outdoor party is a good excuse to pull out dinnerware you already have. With dishes, a vase of cut flowers and other decor treasures arranged on a fabric tablecloth, the effect is one of style and good sense. Or, for a small investment, buy less-fragile bamboo plates that can be washed and reused.

For serving drinks, party cups can easily tip and are not recyclable. Paper cups get soggy and have a waxy coating that also bars recycling. The best bet is short, sturdy glass tumblers with an ample base. Off-price home décor stores and thrift stores keep such items well stocked and at a fair price. You can also consider going BYOC, asking guests to bring their preferred cup.

As for Styrofoam cups, plates, takeout containers and coolers, just say no. The polystyrene is slow to degrade. If disposed of improperly, it can leach chemicals, harming water and soil. Instead, stow ice and drinks in aluminum tubs that you can use again for other parties. Or use pitchers or a dispenser with a spout. This way, you can mix drinks in large batches rather than buying individual cans or plastic bottles.

For the menu, avoid food waste by planning realistic portions.

If you plan burgers or other greasy, oily foods, take care with the cleanup. Scrape leftovers into the trash (not the sink) to keep fats, oils and grease from entering the drain. When this “FOG” cools, it solidifies and can back up in pipes — or the neighborhood, if communal sewage lines get blocked. Dispose of standing grease in dishes and grill trays by pouring it into a sealable container, then toss that into the trash.

Designate separate, marked containers for trash and recyclables, and if pets are part of your party, leave no “business” unattended. Use a bag to pick up their waste and dispose of it in the trash.

After all the fun, and when the last guest leaves, pull up a lawn chair and take a breather. You’ve just thrown a party that was low in waste and high in style.

Katie Cullipher and Rebekah Eastep are team leaders of the askHRgreen.org public awareness and education campaign for the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission. For more ways to make an environmental difference in Hampton Roads, visit askHRgreen.org.

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Quick tips for picnics, pool parties and cookouts

• Minimize food waste: Plan a realistic menu.
• Mix beverages in large batches and serve them from pitchers and dispensers, not in single-use cans and bottles.
• Avoid single-use plastic and Styrofoam partyware. Get creative with your own dishes and serving pieces.
• Place clearly marked bins to collect recyclables and trash separately.
• For cleanup, pour grease into a sealable container, let it solidify and toss that in the trash.

The house stood as a testament to the prosperity that had flowed before the Civil War in Southern cities like Columbus, just over the border from Alabama, as fertile soil and the labor of enslaved workers built fortunes.

It was also a highlight of the longstanding tradition known as Pilgrimage. Every spring, the city’s finest antebellum homes are opened to the public for a few weeks, inviting people in to marvel at the craftsmanship and the opulence.

The event took its name from the belief among its organizers that Pilgrimage was just that — a journey to houses whose grandeur, scale and history represent something sacred for Mississippi and the South. Homeowners and docents often dress in period clothing to facilitate the time travel.

“We have a culture here that is something to be admired and respected,” said Dick Leike, owner of Riverview. “This is a prime example of it.”

But these days, some in Columbus are finding it difficult to justify a trip to a gauzy version of the city’s past without accounting for the suffering, injustice and violence associated with the slave labor that built and ran these homes. That has led to competing ideas about the scope of Pilgrimage and the story it is supposed to tell.

A theatrical production staged by a local high school every year during the weekslong event now depicts the plights of enslaved African Americans and 19th-century immigrants who lived in Columbus. The local synagogue has been added to a church tour. Other events feature the region’s Choctaw and Chickasaw history.

“It seems like Pilgrimage only told one story and that traditionally attracted a certain demographic — an older demographic, a more white demographic,” said Jace Ferraez, a 34-year-old lawyer who left Columbus after growing up there, moved back and is buying a historic home with his fiance.

He and other like-minded residents, he said, “want to tell a fuller story.” The aim is to relay history with more breadth but also showcase the city as it is now, encompassing its struggles, strengths and sense of possibility.

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No interstate runs through Columbus, whose population of 23,000 is roughly one-third white and two-thirds Black. Poverty has been a persistent issue, as has persuading young people to stay.

Still, parts of the city are lively. Friendly City Books, an independent bookseller, opened downtown a few years ago and became a haven for its regulars. An arts center up the block displays the works of local artists such as Ralph Null, a celebrated floral designer turned painter. Newcomers can easily get recruited to a perpetual circuit of cocktail gatherings.

“There’s a lot of things that can divide a community — economic status, race, the list goes on,” Ferraez said. But, he added, Pilgrimage could be more inclusive and reflect Columbus’ diversity and its aspirations. “It helps bring people together.”

The diverging ideas about Pilgrimage are just another variation of a familiar tension in the Deep South, where the past so rarely stays in the past. For some, the enduring consequences of systemic oppression are what keep them in history’s grip. For others, it is an abiding desire to hold onto what they consider a glorious legacy.

Four years ago, Mississippi abandoned the state flag that for 126 years flew with a Confederate battle emblem embedded in it, and the Confederate monument that had been perched for a century on the lawn of the Lowndes County Courthouse in Columbus was moved to a secluded cemetery in 2021.

But in April, Gov. Tate Reeves signed a proclamation designating April as Confederate Heritage Month, as he and his predecessors have done almost every year since 1993. Many residents of the state still insist that reasons other than slavery drove the Civil War.

As Leike pointed out marble flooring on the porch, ornate molding in the parlors and stained glass made by Italian artists, he said that outsiders clung to stereotypes of the South as impoverished — financially, culturally and intellectually. That was why he opened up Riverview for Pilgrimage. The house was an irrefutable rebuttal.

“You want the people to know we’re not just down here in shanties,” said Leike, a prominent figure in the real estate industry in the region.

The fact that Columbus still has scores of antebellum homes is a direct result of history. Few Southern cities can count that many, as most of theirs were destroyed in the war. But many in Columbus were spared because the city was a hospital town treating Confederate and Union soldiers, residents said.

Pilgrimage began in Columbus around 1940 to display and safeguard these homes. Over the years, the event has drawn tourists to Columbus and ticket sales have supported nonprofits behind the programs. The city, like others with their take on Pilgrimage, followed Natchez, a city on the Mississippi River with an even larger roster of houses.

On a recent morning, Joe Beckett, a contractor who specializes in renovating antebellum homes, walked visitors through one he worked on called Snowdoun, built in 1854. He pointed out that Jefferson Davis once delivered a speech from the front balcony — just one of the many prominent figures who had passed through, he said.

His face lit up, though, as he explained the surprises and challenges that he stumbled across in his work: the intricate setup of wooden pieces engineered to undergird a curved staircase, the painstaking process of mixing 19th-century compounds by hand to match an original paint color or the lamp that he was converting back to being powered by gas.

“Pretty cool, pretty cool,” Beckett said.

He wanted to share that passion with others.

No one involved in Pilgrimage had any interest in papering over the sins of slavery, he said, or overlooking the contributions of enslaved people, either.

“We don’t get into a lot of the detail,” Beckett said, referring to mentions of slavery during Pilgrimage. “But we do recognize their input, their value and the services they provided to build these homes, to build our culture.”

Still, some of those trying to maintain the tradition are attempting a delicate balance, celebrating the houses — their splendor, their sophistication — without explicitly examining the injustices they also represent.

An impossible balance, others argue.

“The problem is that it is also a celebration and endorsement of slaveholding,” said Chuck Yarborough, a history teacher at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, a public boarding school in Columbus that draws high-achieving students from across the state.

The answer, in his mind, is not to selectively ignore parts of the past. Instead, Yarborough said, Pilgrimage is an opportunity to lay it all out, recognizing “the completeness and the complexity.”

“I think it’s important for a community to have an honest view of itself,” he said.

“Tales From the Crypt,” a performance staged in a cemetery by students at Yarborough’s school for more than 30 years, is trying to do that. Yarborough’s students use historical documents, such as newspaper articles or immigration records, to write and perform vignettes that flesh out people from the past, and shade in the context of the world they inhabited.

As dusk faded into night during one performance, the audience was guided from one torch-lit scene to another.

One student, Antanae Shelton, portrayed a free woman of color who explained how her status was a misnomer; her freedom was saddled with so many restrictions that it was not freedom at all.

Drew Dowdy played a Greek immigrant named Victor Corfeates who opened a confectionary in Columbus and, according to Dowdy, sought and found acceptance from his neighbors. “Sweetness ignores the borders between men,” he said.

The specter of a woman who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, named Frances Saunders Billups Westmoreland, embodied the city’s dilemma in determining how to regard its past, according to Brooke Anderson’s interpretation.

Her family was a powerful one. She grew up in one of those grand estates. Her grandfather had enslaved more than 200 people.

Once, those details were markers of status and success. But pride curdled into shame. Westmoreland, as channeled by Anderson, confessed that she had “overlooked the suffering and hardship my family contributed to.”

“I suppose I have an eternity to think about that,” the ghost said as she retreated into the darkness, her face buried in her hands.