Decades after Lynette McDougald spent her childhood days making arrangements from flowers she found around her neighborhood, she continues to find arrangements to say just the right thing.
As manager of Mississippi State's Florist and instructor in the department of plant and soil sciences, McDougald finds creative ways to express how people feel about love, loss, anniversaries, and other important moments in life.
"Flowers say things in ways we can't," McDougald said.
A passion for expressing the right thoughts has taken the florist to Holland and other floral world centers to learn about the field's latest trends and allowed her to teach students all aspects of the industry. Speaking from inside the University Florist, McDougald said she can't imagine a world without flowers around her.
While McDougald said she loves the colors and forms of flowers, she has a hard time naming her absolute favorite.
"I like a variety of flowers for many reasons," she said. "Every event and occasion is so unique."