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09.09.2024 - 13:44 / hgic.clemson.edu
Do you have childhood memories of catching lizards in the backyard? Maybe you or your kids kept a few as temporary pets.
Carolina anoles, also known as green anoles, are a common sight in a garden or yard, and for me, they are a welcomed addition!
Some even refer to Carolina anoles as “chameleons” due to their ability to change from green to brown based on their surroundings. However, they are not true chameleons. Regardless, their ability to match their surroundings is still impressive. It is so remarkable that I have to check my wreaths on the front door of my house from time to time coming in and out of the house due to a few resident anoles taking a liking to it (I guess my wreath makes an excellent habitat)!
Anoles change colors for various reasons, typically due to their external environment. Temperature, competition, excitement, or even increased activity can cause them to change their body color. You may have noticed anoles in the wintertime that are brown or almost black due to cold temperatures and other stresses.
Another characteristic of these diurnal lizards is their pink dewlap and head bobbing, both territorial displays and communication mechanisms. Males often display their dewlaps during the breeding season to signal to females and to settle territory disputes between other males! Both males and females perform head bobbing as another method of communication.
Green anoles are considered insectivores and eat mainly insects. They do an excellent job keeping insect populations in check, especially around your homes. Although not great for the anoles, they also play a critical role in the food chain. Many wildlife species, like birds and even snakes, will eat them!
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.
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!
Hi GPODers—it’s your editor, Joseph, here.
Today we’re visiting Gail Bromer’s beautiful garden at the top of the continental divide in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina:
Explore the fiery world of Carolina Reaper, the hottest pepper on Earth. Learn the art of cultivating this intense chili with our expert guide, from sowing seeds to reaping the heat. Discover the secrets to successful growth and harness the power of this ultimate spicy experience.
North Carolina State Extension wrote an excellent publication on terrestrial flatworms, with common species around yards and gardens in the Carolinas called land planarians or hammerhead worms: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/terrestrial-flatwormshammerhead-worms.
The Upstate is one of the few places in South Carolina with the right climate and soil conditions to grow productive apples trees. While the actual trees can be grown in most any part of the state, higher temperatures and humidity in the midlands and coastal plains make disease pressure hard to manage.