Water Conservation at Home
Earlier this summer, the lack of rain, sweltering summer sun, and our thirsty gardens were a reminder to all of us that water is a vital part of our day-to-day life. Hot, dry conditions can stress...
Category: In the Garden
Joro Spider
Big, yellow spiders, anyone? South Carolina has them, 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...
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...
SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report – July 11, 2022
Coastal Region Zack Snipes reports, “The recent rains have yet again made fields sloppy and hard to harvest. Most of our tomato crop is about finished, as are zucchini and cukes. We have had an...
Weed of the Month- Rustweed
Rustweed (Polypremum procumbens) Rustweed or juniper leaf is a native plant that earns its name from orange coloring in the fall. It is a drought-tolerant summer annual or short-lived perennial...
Pollinator Week – Bee Discoveries
During pollinator week (June 20 -24), I spent time hunting for native bees in the South Carolina Botanical Garden. Native bees are powerhouse pollinators and of critical importance to plant life and...
Eastern Eyed Click Beetle
The eastern eyed click beetle (Alaus oculatus) is found throughout South Carolina. Also known as the eyed elater, this is one of the larger click beetles in the region, with adults sometimes...
SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report- July 5, 2022
Coastal Region Rob Last reports, “Disease pressure is likely to continue to increase given the recent welcome rainfall. Gummy stem blight can be found in cucurbit fields along with downy mildew in...
This Month in Your Garden- July 2022
Coastal – Laura Lee Rose Check rain gauges and run sprinklers as needed to keep grass healthy and green. One inch of irrigation can be added weekly if there isn’t sufficient rainfall. Look for any...
National Ice Cream Day
I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream! July is National Ice Cream Month, including National Ice Cream Day, which is always on the third Sunday of July. This year we’re celebrating on...
The Spotted Lanternfly Moves Closer To South Carolina
The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) (SLF) is the latest non-native species to take hold in the U.S. This planthopper is large (about a half-inch long) and originally from several countries...
Lightning and Trees
Did you know that Lightning Safety Awareness Week was June 19 – 25, 2022? When you hear statements from the National Weather Service like this one: “Continuous cloud to ground lightning...