Plant A Tree
December is the month we celebrate Arbor Day. So, consider planting a tree in honor of this day. Start by selecting the right plant for the site. First, analyze the chosen site by checking the soil...
Tag: Blogs
How to Make a Stunning Magnolia Wreath
Magnolias have long been a symbol of the South. Making a stunning magnolia leaf wreath for the holidays is both fun and easy. The leathery leaves hold up well without water. Choose magnolia leaves...
December Week 1 Garden Photos
The last gasp of fall color before winter arrives. Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) Dawn Redwood a deciduous conifer that is a living fossil. It was thought to be extinct until is was...
Holiday Houseplants
What better way to enjoy this time of year than use it as an excuse to buy more plants! Poinsettias, amaryllis, paper whites, cyclamen, Norfolk Island pines, Christmas cactus, kalanchoe, rosemary...
Holiday Cooking
Reflecting on Thanksgiving and getting ready for round two. Here’s the takeaway: Start your kids in the kitchen early. One day they may make beautiful pies! Befriend someone who lives on a farm and...
Forcing Amaryllis
It isn’t necessary to be a botanist to choose a good amaryllis bulb. A little botanical knowledge about amaryllis, however, ensures gardeners buy productive bulbs for a beautiful floral display....
November Week 4 Garden Photos
Take a quiet walk through the fall woods to discover many of nature’s wonders. Woolly Bear Caterpillar According to folklore, wooly bear caterpillars predict the coming winter forecast. The...
Growing Microgreens
Gardening is a great family activity but with today’s hectic schedules it’s hard to find time for a garden. Growing microgreens is a fast and tasty way to grow veggies with the entire family. The...
November Week 3 Garden Photos
“Nature’s beauty is a gift that cultivates appreciation and gratitude.” –Louie Schwartzberg- Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) Barbara H. Smith, ©2018 HGIC, Clemson Extension Upstate Fall Sunset...
Common Chickweed (Stellaria media)
Common chickweed is a low, spreading, winter annual weed that germinates when we receive lots of cool, wet weather. Its leaves are opposite each other, smooth and elliptical in shape. It is tolerant...
Cottony Plants Abound
My daily commute to Sumter is a joy. Although I’m wary of logging trucks during the daytime and deer and wild hogs at dusk, mostly I am free to enjoy the fields and woodlands I pass. Calhoun County,...
November Week 2 Garden Photos
“To walk with nature is to witness a thousand miracles.” -Mary Davis- Lion's Mane Mushroom Barbara H. Smith, ©2018 HGIC, Clemson Extension Floating mass of fire ants Did you know fire ants have the...