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...
Tag: Blogs
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...
July 18 Week 3 Garden Photos
“A garden is not a place. It’s a Journey.” ~Monty Don~ Prarie Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) Barbara H. Smith, ©2022 HGIC, Clemson University Sydney, the resident CTF rat snake, is...
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...
Refrigerator Spicy Pickled Quail Eggs
15 quail eggs 2 ¼ cups white vinegar (5%) 2 teaspoons chili pepper 1 teaspoon sugar in the raw ¼ teaspoon black pepper 2 ½ teaspoons sugar in the raw 3 teaspoons minced shallots ¼ teaspoon turmeric...
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...
July 11 Week 2 Garden Photos
“If you want to be happy for a lifetime, be a GARDENER.” Wild Bergamont (Monarda fistulosum) Barbara H. Smith, ©2022 HGIC, Clemson University Blanket Flower (Gaillardia pulchella)...
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...