Author: Sue Watts

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.

Design a moon garden filled with night-blooming native plants, glowing blooms, and habitat for evening pollinators and fireflies.

South Carolina’s landscapes host two very different mulberries. Discover how to spot the native red mulberry versus the introduced white mulberry, why colonists planted the latter for silk, how Indigenous communities and wildlife rely on these trees, and what you can do to protect native genetics.

Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica) is a vibrant, hummingbird-friendly perennial with historical medicinal uses. This plant, known for its striking red and yellow flowers, was once used by Native Americans to treat intestinal worms. Learn how to grow it in your garden and explore its fascinating past.

A quiet spring afternoon led to a surprising backyard encounter with a yellow-bellied sapsucker. Follow along as Sue Watts shares observations of its unique feeding habits, its seasonal migration, and the minor impact these woodpeckers have on trees in the South Carolina Botanical Garden.

Native oaks support wildlife, control erosion, and help landscapes recover after storms. Learn how replanting these trees can restore our environment.

The South Carolina Botanical Garden on Clemson’s campus offers diverse educational experiences for all ages. Discover programs like the Native Plant Certificate, classes on native bees and spring wildflowers, and nature journaling. Families can enjoy Tot Tales, Junior Naturalists, and more. Embrace growth and learning this year with the SCBG!

The camellias are blooming at the South Carolina Botanical Garden, showcasing a tapestry of color from fall to late spring. Discover the fascinating history of camellias, their care requirements, and their enduring legacy in Southern gardens.

American pokeweed is a striking, yet toxic, native plant found in gardens, fields, and roadsides. Despite its potential dangers, it has been valued for its berries, which provide food for birds and its historical use in dye and medicine. While pokeweed’s young shoots are consumed in southern dishes like poke sallet, caution is required due to its toxicity. Learn more about this fascinating plant’s role in nature and culture.