Author: Sue Watts

Lichens may look like simple splotches on bark or rock, but these remarkable partnerships create a miniature world of color, form, and environmental clues.

Explore fall 2026 South Carolina Native Plant Certificate classes in Clemson, Charleston and Myrtle Beach. Learn about native plants, botany, sustainable landscaping, plant communities and more through core classes and electives offered by the South Carolina Botanical Garden and South Carolina Native Plant Society.

Discover how the fraternal potter wasp builds tiny clay nests, protects its young, and naturally controls caterpillars, making it a beneficial garden insect.

Explore bird migration mysteries, from early myths to modern science, and learn how to track migrating birds today.

A tiny clubmoss plant sparked a lifelong journey into natural history, storytelling, and the wonder of plant–people connections.

Celebrating 10 years of the South Carolina Native Plant Certificate Program and its impact on native plant education, conservation, and stewardship.

From winter seed balls to towering trunks, explore the beauty, history, and wildlife value of the American sycamore tree.

Meet the dew drop spider—tiny, silver, and full of surprises. Learn how to identify it and explore its unique behavior in larger spider webs.

Learn why you should never touch the Southern Flannel Caterpillar and what to do if you’re stung by this deceptively furry insect.

Support native bees by leaving stems, bare soil, and planting native flowers. Simple gardening choices can create safe backyard habitats for these essential pollinators.

Learn how two-spotted scoliid wasps help control Japanese beetles while pollinating flowers—valuable, gentle allies in your lawn and garden.