Bug Hotel
We recently created a “bug hotel” in the South Carolina Botanical Garden. This is a fun project you can do too! But why? The short answer is that insects and other arthropods are under intense...
Category: In the Garden
Garden Sanitation
Diseases happen in the garden. Pathogens find a susceptible host plant in a favorable environment and invade. The unfortunate plant may just show reduced health or may end up completely dead. When...
Papier Mâché Powerhouses
Indications of fall are all around. Goldenrod is blooming, leaves are falling, pumpkin spice lattes are being served at your favorite coffee shop, and stinging insects seem to be everywhere. Just...
Question of the Week – Southern Purple Mint Moth
Where did all the webbing and frass on this rosemary come from? This is from the Southern purple mint moth caterpillar (Pyrausta laticlavia). This caterpillar has been seen on rosemary throughout...
Clemson’s Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Garden
Clemson’s Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Garden is a multidisciplinary effort to create something that is both beautiful and beneficial. The garden consists of almost entirely native plants,...
SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report – October 7, 2024
Parts of the state continue to clean up damage from Hurricane Helene. Apples are being harvested in the Upstate, and strawberry planting is just beginning. Disease is becoming more prevalent from...
Chainsaw Safety: Always Use Your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Operating a chainsaw is inherently dangerous. The chain moves at 55-60 miles per hour, or about 88 feet per second. The teeth on the chain are designed not to cut but to remove material. Accidental...
This October, Go Batty for Bats!
National Bat Week is October 24th-31st! Installing a bat house is one way to encourage bats on your property. Bat houses can come in various shapes and sizes, from thin boxes mounted on homes or...
SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report – September 30, 2024
Hurricane Helene cast tropical storm forced winds over most of South Carolina Friday as she tore through Florida and Georgia. The western part of the state took the brunt of the damage and large...
This Month In Your Garden – October 2024
Coastal Region- Brad Fowler Irrigation should be turned off or significantly reduced going into the fall to avoid overwatering. It is always important to water based on the plant’s needs....
Joro Spider
South Carolina is home to three big, yellow spiders, and as summer heats up, they get more and more noticeable. One of these spiders is the Joro spider, a non-native species first found in northern...
Nodding Ladies’ Tresses
Nodding Ladies’ Tresses (Spiranthes cernua) is a beautiful terrestrial orchid native to the Eastern United States and Canada in USDA planting zones 5a to 9b. In Greek, Spiranthes is derived...