Author: Barbara H. Smith

July 20 Week 3 Garden Photos

Jul 20, 2026 | Photo Blog

“A garden is a love song, a duet between a human being and Mother Nature.” ~Jeff Cox~ Rabbiteye Blueberries (Vaccinium virgatum) Julia Nichols, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension Tree frog in a Hosta...

July 06 Week 1 Garden Photos

Jul 6, 2026 | Photo Blog, Photo Worthy Plants

“In joy or sadness, flowers are our constant friends.” ~ Okakura Kakuzu “The Book of Life” ~ Eastern Beebalm (Monarda bradburiana) Julia Nichols, ©HGIC 2026, Clemson...

June 29 Week 5 Garden Photos

Jun 29, 2026 | Photo Blog, Photo Worthy Plants

This collection features some of Barbara’s favorite photos from the HGIC Photo Blog over the years and serves as her final photo blog before retirement. From vibrant blooms and thriving gardens to...

June 22 Week 4 Garden Photos

Jun 22, 2026 | Photo Blog, Photo Worthy Plants

“What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the promise of earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever...

June 15 Week 3 Garden Photos

Jun 15, 2026 | Photo Blog, Photo Worthy Plants

“In early June, the world of leaf and blade and flowers explodes, and every sunset is different.” ~John Steinback~ Jacob Cline Bee Balm (Monarda didyma 'Jacob Cline') Barbara H. Smith,...

June 08 Week 2 Garden Photos

Jun 8, 2026 | Photo Blog, Photo Worthy Plants

The William H. Williamson III Conservatory was opened to the public in 2008 at the Daniel Stowe Conservancy in Belmont, NC. The conservatory spans 8,000 square feet and is filled with tropical...

June 1 Week 1 Garden Photos

Jun 1, 2026 | Photo Blog, Photo Worthy Plants

The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden near Belmont, NC, was started in 1991 and opened to the public in 1999. It was founded by retired textile magnate Daniel I. Stowe, who donated the 380 acres and...

The Evolution of A Garden Space Update

May 28, 2026 | In the Garden

See how a former swimming pool became a thriving Celtic garden filled with pollinators, hummingbirds, flowers, and wildlife.

May 25 Week 4 Garden Photos

May 25, 2026 | Photo Blog, Photo Worthy Plants

This Memorial Day, thankful for those who gave their lives protecting this country and the freedoms we cherish, and remembered here among the quiet beauty of red poppies and May blooms. Red Poppy...

May 18 Week 3 Garden Photos

May 18, 2026 | Photo Blog, Photo Worthy Plants

May arrived quietly, and the garden answered in bloom–flowers unfolding in the softened light, petals trembling beneath the morning breeze, and every path carrying the faint perfume of...

May 11 Week 2 Garden Photos

May 11, 2026 | Photo Blog, Photo Worthy Plants

Summer annual color is a celebration without restraint—bright, fearless, and full of life. Each bloom stands as its own small masterpiece, yet together they create something even more powerful: a...

May 04 Week 1 Garden Photos

May 4, 2026 | Photo Blog, Photo Worthy Insects and Animals, Photo Worthy Plants

Summer annual color doesn’t just fill a garden—it transforms it. It spills across beds and borders, weaving together warmth, light, and movement into something you can almost feel. These blooms...