Little Hover Flies are a Big Beneficial Insect
Hover flies, aka syrphid flies, are a common sight in the garden. Of the 900 or so species native to the United States, most are mistaken by many gardeners as being a bee or a wasp due to their...
Author: Paul Thompson
Hornworms on the Tomatoes
A few years ago, I had planted a tomato in my small, raised bed garden at my home. By early July, the tomato hornworms started showing up. The first batch was about five worms I found over the...
This Month in Your Garden- June 2022
Coastal – Brad Fowler Many vegetables like sweet potatoes, southern peas, summer squash, and okra can still be planted in June to be harvested throughout the summer and into the fall. Check...
Annual Vines for the Mailbox or Trellis
The pioneering American landscape architect Frank Lloyd Wright once said: “A doctor can bury his mistakes, but an architect can only advise his client to plant vines.” Aside from hiding things,...
Two Little-known Native Irises
Dwarf Crested Iris, Iris cristata, is a beautiful native iris that grows in the woods all over the Piedmont. The eight-inch, sword-shaped leaves arch towards the outside of the spreading clump....
A Native Groundcover for Areas with Part Shade
Green and Gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) is sometimes referred to as Goldenstar. It is a native groundcover that grows to four inches tall and does well in dappled shade or morning sun and afternoon...
Winter Jasmine
Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) is a seldom-used shrub/groundcover/vine that has some wonderful attributes. It is deer and pest resistant. It also tolerates our summer heat and is drought...
The World of Hellebores
There are approximately 15 species of hellebores that are perennial, and the majority are native to southern and eastern Europe. Other common names for this plant are Christmas rose, and Lenten...
A Re-acquaintance with Sunchokes aka Jerusalem Artichokes
Growing up, my father loved growing vegetables. He was proud of his produce, always sharing the harvest with friends and neighbors. He would even encourage compliments at the dinner table by saying,...
Native Trees for Fall Color
Some of my favorite natives for fall leaf color grow in abundance in the Piedmont, and when the weather cooperates, we are in for a spectacular show. Sugar maples occur naturally further north of...
Give Parthenocarpic Squash a Try Next Year
I don’t know about you, but summer squash and cucumbers are a necessity in my garden. Problem is, after a few years, the squash pests show up in greater abundance each year, and only a couple of...
Bagworms
Bagworms are the larva of a small, hairy, black male moth and a wingless gray female. Bagworms will hatch from eggs in late April or early May to begin several months of ravenous feeding. Their...