Gardenig in state South Carolina. Tips & Guides

National Bat Week is October 24th-31st! Installing a bat house is one way to encourage bats on your property.

Hurricane Helene cast tropical storm forced winds over most of South Carolina Friday as she tore through Florida and Georgia. The western part of the state took the brunt of the damage and large areas there remain without power as of this morning (9/30). Rivers also continue to rise as floodwaters from western North Carolina make their way to the coast.

South Carolina is home to three big, yellow spiders, and as summer heats up, they get more and more noticeable. One of these spiders is the Joro spider, a non-native species first found in northern Georgia in 2014. The Joro spider is now present in the Upstate and parts of the Midlands in South Carolina. These spiders can be nearly 3” across with their legs spread.

For years, right around back to school time—and sometimes, even earlier—supermarkets, coffee shops, and some seriously unexpected places start deluging Americans with all things pumpkin spice. Ever since Starbucks debuted its pumpkin spice latte in 2003, countless copycats and pumpkin spice products have made this trend as much of a mascot of fall as leaf piles, football, and apple orchards.

Friday, October 4 2:00 PM-6:00 PM Friends of the Garden members Become a member today!

Of course, your area’s climate plays a major role in how your garden will turn out. However, that does not mean the heat can prevent you from having a beautiful one. All you need are tough and durable plants to thrive in the full sun and extreme heat. So, here are the plants to grow if you get a lot of sunny days and extreme heat.

What kind of snake is this and is it poisonous?

Venus fly traps (also called Venus flytraps or just a flytrap) are among the coolest plants you can grow. In their native habitat, Venus fly traps live for years. Unfortunately, they are often short-lived plants in cultivation, but this is only because most people don’t care for them properly. In this article, you’ll learn all the essential basics of Venus fly trap care. Varieties of Venus fly traps There is only one species of Venus fly trap, Dionaea muscipula, and it is native to a small

What is this critter found on a rose of Sharon leaf?

This time of year, many caterpillars are actively feeding on trees throughout the state. These spikey little caterpillars will turn into the IO moth, a species common throughout South Carolina.

When tapped to design a series of planters for our2024 Idea House in the Kiawah River community on Johns Island, South Carolina, plant pro Steph Green of Contained Creations in Richmond, Virginia, knew exactly what the waterfront property needed. “We wanted to create the most beautiful and biggest statement container gardens, but they needed to be durable and last a long time with minimal upkeep,” says Green. “That’s why picking evergreens or really tough perennials from the Southern Living Plant Collection was kind of the launching point for each individual design.”

Fall armyworms are being reported in lawns and pastures across South Carolina. If you notice caterpillars feeding or moving in large numbers during the early morning or late evening hours, you may have an infestation.

For our 2024 Idea House in the Kiawah River community on Johns Island, South Carolina, the natural surroundings proved a generous source of inspiration. This was especially true of the landscape design, notes Scott Parker, the project’s landscape architect and co-founder of Charleston-based DesignWorks. “One of the things that we wanted to do with the landscape and the garden design was really to ground it in the DNA of the Lowcountry,” he says. That meant tailoring their plant selections to mimic the maritime forest that covers parts of the property, as well as choosing more formal ones to reflect Charleston’s long-standing garden traditions.

Fortunately, Hurricane Debby blew through South Carolina, but she left behind standing water, damaged trees, and other landscape issues. After the storm, homeowners can be left with a real mess to clean up in their yards. The Clemson Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC) has compiled some answers to the most commonly asked questions we receive regarding saltwater intrusion and storm damage to landscapes affected.

Growing up in the Lowcountry, Drew English, High Hampton’s head gardener, was a hobbyist gardener well-versed in the plants that thrive in South Carolina's long and humid summers. But, as many hot weather residents do, English began to spend more time escaping to the cooler temperatures of the mountains.

How to Grow and Care for Heavenly Bamboo Nandina domestica

Correctly identifying grasses is no easy task, but it is crucial when it comes to maintaining a lawn. Incorrect identification can lead to improper management practices, resulting in a poor quality stand or even plant death. Two warm-season turfgrasses commonly used in South Carolina lawns but often misidentified are centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) and St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum). Both types of grass produce stolons, commonly called runners, and inflorescence (seedheads or flowers) that, at first glance, can appear similar.

All Natives!

What are these insects on pole butterbeans?

Meet Addison Sapp, also known as DesignsByAdds: a biology major with a serious passion for dorm design, who transformed her Wofford College dorm room into an adorable space inspired by her South Carolina surroundings and the French Riviera, drenched in bright blue hues.

What is this flower that was found growing on a rock in the middle of a river?

What is wrong with these blueberries?

If you’re looking for a beautiful native plant that attracts a variety of pollinators, Stokes’ Aster (Stokesia laevis) is a good choice. I spent an hour in the Perennial border in the South Carolina Botanical Garden on the last Thursday in May observing this plant.

Watching birds sip and splash around in your bird bath is enjoyable, and it’s also a great way to support a healthy bird population year-round. “During hot summer months and drought, there aren’t many water sources, and a bird bath can become quite popular amongst the local birds,” says Jennifer McCarthy Tyrrell, engagement manager, Audubon South Carolina. “During the winter when water is locked up in the form of ice, providing fresh water with a bird bath heater can bring in many birds for a drink.”

Planting annuals in your garden provides continuous blooms throughout the season. Grow them directly in the ground, in raised beds, in pots, or even in hanging baskets to use vertical space. Annuals, unlike perennials, need to be planted each year. Growing annuals allows plenty of opportunity to experiment with what flowers you like and thrive in your geographical area and which blooms you want to have in your landscape year after year.

The South Carolina Association of County Agricultural Agents (SCACAA) recently held its annual meeting in the beautiful town of Beaufort, SC.

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I do not know about you all, but I look forward to spring and summer to have more options for fruits and vegetables after a cold, dead winter! During the spring, most farmers markets and local stands open back up and offer fresher options for us to eat and enjoy through the summer!

How to Plant and Grow Parris Island Cos Lettuce Lactuca sativa ‘Parris Island Cos’

What is this red-eyed creature found crawling up a pine tree?

Rachel Marek. Prop Styling: Addelyn Evans

Cicada Brood XIX has arrived in Greenwood County. Enjoy the amazing photos taken by HGIC Agent, Ginger Long. Brood XIX is one of the largest broods in the country, covering the greatest geographic area. In South Carolina, the emergence is projected to be in many upstate counties and counties along the Savannah River basin down to Aiken County. The adults live only for a few weeks, and after about a month, they will disappear as mysteriously as their arrival.

Bluestars are in the genus Amsonia. There are at least twenty-two known species, and most are native to the Eastern United States. All are in the Apocynaceae (Dogbane) family, so named because the milky sap is slightly toxic to dogs. Due to the unpleasant taste of the sap, Bluestars are deer- and rabbit-resistant. There are no known serious insect or disease problems.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds: “Glittering fragments of a rainbow” John J. Audubon

Ambrosia beetles are common, tiny (only about 1/16” long), and can infest hundreds of different woody plant species. In South Carolina, these little beetles typically infest stressed trees, vines, or shrubs. Females will bore into stems and branches, creating a gallery. Beetles carry fungi on their bodies, and this fungus then grows inside the galleries, often appearing as white, gray, or black. The beetles feed on the fungus that grows inside the galleries.

This Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia) was found on my grill cover as I went to cook some dinner one night last week. This is by far my favorite moth due to its striking appearance. These moths are common across South Carolina and have at least two generations per year. The larval form of this moth is commonly referred to as the giant wooly bear due to its black wooly appearance. They feed on a wide range of plants and should not be considered a pest for a grower or homeowner.