July 7 Week 1 Garden Photos
Amy Dabbs, Clemson Master Extension Associate and Statewide School and Community Garden Coordinator recently had the opportunity to visit the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in England. The Flower Show...
Author: Barbara H. Smith
June 30 Week 5 Garden Photos
“I like gardening-it’s a place where I find myself when I need to lose myself.” ~Alice Sebold~ Pink Mulla Mulla (Ptilotus exaltatus) Barbara H. Smith, ©2025 HGIC, Clemson Extension...
May 23 Week 4 Garden Photos
The North Carolina Arboretum near Asheville has over 100 bonsai specimens in the collection. The Bonsai Exhibition Center was completed and opened in 2005. About 50 bonsai specimens are on display...
June 6 Week 3 Garden Photos
Plan a visit to the beautiful North Carolina Arboretum. It is located just south of Asheville in the heart of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. It was established in stages in the late 1980s and...
Understanding Plant Identity: Varieties, Cultivars, Hybrids, and Legal Protections Explained
Confused by terms like variety, cultivar, hybrid, or PVP? This blog breaks down how plants are identified and named, and what legal protections like patents and trademarks really mean for growers, breeders, and gardeners.
June 9 Week 2 Garden Photos
“And then, one fairy night, May became June.” ~F. Scott Fitzgerald~ Giant Coneflower (Rudbeckia maxima) Barbara H. Smith, ©2025 HGIC, Clemson Extension White Pixels Asiatic Lily (Lilium...
June 2 Week 1 Garden Photos
“Hydrangeas are like people. They come in all different shapes and sizes, and each one is beautiful in its own way.” ~Unknown~ Hi™ Fire Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Hi™ Fire') Barbara H. Smith,...
Why Botanical Names Matter: Understanding Plant Nomenclature, Naming Systems, and Classifications
Explore the significance of botanical names in plant classification and taxonomy. Learn why scientific names are essential for accurate identification and how they reflect global plant relationships.
May 26 Week 4 Garden Photos
“The Month of May is the gateway to summer.” ~Jean Hersey~ Rio Red Dipladenia (Dipladenia 'Rio Red'), Batface Cuphea (Cuphea llavea) and Silver Falls Dichondra (Dichondra argentea...
May 19 Week 3 Garden Photos
“May is the perfect time to take a breath of fresh air and enjoy the beauty of spring.” ~Debasish Mridha~ Chatty Cat under Blue Hawaii Hosta (Hosta 'Blue Hawaii') Ginger Long, ©2025...
Asparagus
Grow perennial asparagus with these tips for planting, care, and harvesting tender spears year after year.
May 12 Week 2 Garden Photos
“May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day. May songbirds serenade you every step along the way.” ~ Old Irish Blessing~ Rocket Yellow Snapdragon (Anthirrhinum majus...