Author: Julia Nichols

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 Extension...

Beat the Heat: Summer Garden Survival Tips for South Carolina Gardeners

Jun 18, 2026 | In the Garden

Keep your South Carolina garden thriving through summer with smart watering, mulching, fertilizing, and heat-tolerant plant choices.

Planting an Herbal Tea Garden in South Carolina

May 18, 2026 | In the Garden

Grow your own herbal tea garden in South Carolina with easy-to-grow herbs for fresh or dried homemade tea blends.

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...

April 27 Week 4 Garden Photos

Apr 27, 2026 | Photo Blog, Photo Worthy Plants, Uncategorized

“Flowers are the music of the ground from Earth’s lips spoken without sound.” ~Edwin Curran~ St. Joseph's Lily (Hippeastrum x johnsonii)Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson...

March 20 Week 3 Garden Photos

Apr 20, 2026 | Photo Blog, Photo Worthy Plants

By late April, the Southern garden is no longer waking–it’s singing, full-throated in blooms; color spilling faster than the eye can behold. Maid in the Shade® 'Darlin's Dream' Azalea (...

April 13 Week 2 Garden Photos

Apr 13, 2026 | Photo Blog, Photo Worthy Plants

Spring in the South is a gentle spilling of green, a chorus of birdsong, flowers bursting into bloom, and the slow return of warmth to every corner of the garden. Clematis BouquetGinger Long, ©2026...

Native Perennial Wildflowers to Improve Soil Health

Apr 13, 2026 | In the Garden

Learn how native perennial wildflowers improve soil health while supporting pollinators and resilient landscapes.

April 06 Week 1 Garden Photos

Apr 6, 2026 | Photo Blog, Photo Worthy Plants

It’s spring in South Carolina—the kind of season that makes you look twice at everything just in case it bloomed overnight. Bashful Wakerobin (Trillium catesbaei)Julia Nichols, ©2026...

March 30 Week 5 Garden Photos

Mar 30, 2026 | Photo Blog, Photo Worthy Plants

For just a few short weeks, the forest floor comes alive with spring ephemerals in bloom. They remind us how beauty doesn’t have to last long to leave an impression. Nodding Trillium (Trillium...

Spring Garden Preparation: How to Prepare Garden Beds for Spring Planting

Mar 9, 2026 | In the Garden

Learn how to prepare garden beds for spring planting using soil improvement, compost, and mulching techniques for healthier plants.

February Week 4 Garden Photos

Feb 23, 2026 | Photo Blog, Photo Worthy Plants

“Spring is on the way, and the garden begins to speak in color.” Whitewell Purple Crocus (Crocus tommasinianus 'Whitewell Purple')Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension Cast Iron Plant...