Home & Garden Information Center Ideas, Tips & Guides

Which common bird made its nest underneath this cucumber plant?

Cucurbit downy mildew was found in the state this past week on cucumbers in Charleston. All commercial cucurbit growers need to be on the lookout and start preventative fungicide applications, if not already started.

“Gardening is learning, learning, learning. That’s the fun of them. You’re always learning.”

This week, May 12-18, we observe National Women’s Health. This awareness strives to emphasize the significance of women’s health concerns and encourage all women to make their health a top priority. Come along with us as we explore the importance of prevention, care, and well-being in the field of women’s health.

Beetles were already pollinating the first flowers before bees evolved. Many of the flowers with an ancient lineage, including magnolia and spicebush, are beetle-pollinated, but so are many other flowers. Pawpaw, our largest native fruit, is beetle-pollinated. Beetle-pollinated flowers are often pale or dull in color, cup-shaped, and have a spicy or musky odor. Beetles are usually considered messy pollinators since they eat through flower parts as they pollinate. They are also regarded as inefficient pollinators. They feed on pollen, and as they feed, it sticks to their bodies, but since they are less hairy than other pollinators, the amount of pollen they move is less. However, astoundingly, beetles make up 40% of all known animals; by sheer numbers, they make up for this inefficiency.

May is National Hypertension Awareness Month and American Stroke Month, two conditions that are intricately linked to cardiovascular health. While many fad diets tend to come and go, one dietary pattern has stood the test of time and remains one of our world’s healthiest.

What is this red-eyed creature found crawling up a pine tree?

Check out the latestepisode of the SC Grower Exchange Podcast.

The old saying about clematis growth is, “The first year they sleep, the second year they creep, and the third year they leap.” Growth may seem slow as the plant builds its root system, but once established, clematis are strong growers. Clematis likes to be planted where it has cool roots and a sunny top.

For years, Foxglove (Digitalis species) has been a quintessential cottage garden flower. It is native to Europe and is a member of the plantain (Plantaginaceae) family. Foxglove adds height and color to the garden. Grow foxglove with other perennials along a fence or in front of large evergreen shrubs. Plant a large group for an eye-catching display.

What is this critter that was found resting on the wall inside of a garage?

Many of you may be familiar with our native fringetree, Chionanthus virginicus, often called Grancy graybeard, granddaddy graybeard or old man’s beard. It is a wonderful small tree that grows throughout the state but is certainly not a common site. It begins blooming in late March with airy, off-white flowers.

Cicada Brood XIX has arrived in Greenwood County. Enjoy the amazing photos taken by HGIC Agent, Ginger Long. Brood XIX is one of the largest broods in the country, covering the greatest geographic area. In South Carolina, the emergence is projected to be in many upstate counties and counties along the Savannah River basin down to Aiken County. The adults live only for a few weeks, and after about a month, they will disappear as mysteriously as their arrival.

We are all familiar with stress coping mechanisms like deep breathing, exercise, and quality sleep. But did you know that eating habits can have an impact on stress and anxiety as well? Research shows that there are some foods that can help lower cortisol levels, which is the hormone in our bodies that is predominantly responsible for feelings of stress. Below, we’ll go over some foods that can help us manage stress and anxiety in a healthy way when consumed as part of a varied diet.

Bluestars are in the genus Amsonia. There are at least twenty-two known species, and most are native to the Eastern United States. All are in the Apocynaceae (Dogbane) family, so named because the milky sap is slightly toxic to dogs. Due to the unpleasant taste of the sap, Bluestars are deer- and rabbit-resistant. There are no known serious insect or disease problems.

What is this maggot-looking insect on the bottom of this strawberry leaf?

Check out the latestepisode of the SC Grower Exchange Podcast below.

Anybody who has spent time in the woods or other wild surroundings is familiar with ticks, those blood-sucking arachnids that seek out creatures, including we humans, on which to feed. Most of us also know that ticks are carriers of numerous diseases, the most known being Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. However, many people are unaware of a recently recognized syndrome related to tick bites that can cause serious health conditions, including anaphylaxis and death. This condition is called alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), also known as red meat allergy or tick bite meat allergy. People who develop this condition show symptoms typically 3-4 hours after eating meat from mammals (beef, pork, venison, mutton, etc.). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms can include:

“April is the Kindest Month. April gets you out of your head and out working in the garden.” ~Marty Rubin~

It is the season for landscape weeds. That means people will be pulling and spraying weeds to keep the yard pretty and neat. Please remember to clean your sprayer after each use to keep it working effectively and efficiently. Failure to clean your sprayer can cause harm to unintended targets. Plus, leaving chemicals in your sprayer for long periods of time can cause deterioration, cracks, and grime to build up. Pesticides and chemicals that are not compatible together can cause a sludge to form. Prevent this by taking a few minutes to clean your sprayer correctly. Triple rinsing is a great way to accomplish this.

What caused this small, toothpick-like mass of sawdust to protrude from the trunk of this stressed peach tree?

Check out Extension Vegetable Pathologist Tony Keinath’s latest article in Growing Produce: Choose Cover Crops that Suppress Pathogens in Your Vegetable Plantings. Also, check out the latestepisode of the SC Grower Exchange Podcast below. Don’t forget to look at our Resources.

The HGIC Visit to Riverbanks Botanical Garden in Columbia ~Part 2~ This is a beautiful place to bring the whole family. There’s a 3-acre interactive Children’s Garden that features a dino dig, giant tree houses, splash zones, and more. Plant a visit soon!

Ruby-throated hummingbirds: “Glittering fragments of a rainbow” John J. Audubon

So many readers have expressed interest in creating floral arrangements using flowers and foliage from their gardens. The items listed below are must-haves for your floral arranging toolbox. Start by purchasing a craft storage box with a handle to make organizing your supplies a breeze. Then, fill it with my favorite floral arranging supplies.

What is the bloated tan thing found on the underside of this strawberry leaf?

When you stroll down the aisles of your local grocery store, you’re bombarded with various food products, each fighting for your attention. Amidst the colorful packaging and enticing claims, it can be challenging to make healthy choices. That’s where understanding food labels or the nutrition facts label comes in handy. This guide will show you how to decode food labels and make informed decisions that align with your nutritional goals.

Check out Extension Vegetable Pathologist Tony Keinath’s latest article in Growing Produce, Choose Cover Crops that Suppress Pathogens in Your Vegetable Plantings.

The HGIC Staff recently visited the beautiful Riverbanks Botanical Gardens in Columbia. Plan a visit soon! ~Part 1~

Ambrosia beetles are common, tiny (only about 1/16” long), and can infest hundreds of different woody plant species. In South Carolina, these little beetles typically infest stressed trees, vines, or shrubs. Females will bore into stems and branches, creating a gallery. Beetles carry fungi on their bodies, and this fungus then grows inside the galleries, often appearing as white, gray, or black. The beetles feed on the fungus that grows inside the galleries.

In 2023, the Clemson Home and Garden Center (HGIC) staff answered 11,182 Calls and 6,701 Emails. These questions were answered by four full-time agents and one part-time information specialist. In addition, the HGIC website hosts more than 900 fact sheets on garden and food topics and averages 6 million pageviews a year.

Blooming in spring, woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata), a native wildflower, attracts pollinators to the shade garden. Butterflies, bees, and moths visit it for nectar and pollen. It blooms as other shade perennials like hostas, astilbe, and ferns are starting to grow.

This Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia) was found on my grill cover as I went to cook some dinner one night last week. This is by far my favorite moth due to its striking appearance. These moths are common across South Carolina and have at least two generations per year. The larval form of this moth is commonly referred to as the giant wooly bear due to its black wooly appearance. They feed on a wide range of plants and should not be considered a pest for a grower or homeowner.

South Carolina is blessed with year-round fresh green vegetables, and winter is for collard greens. They grow best in cool weather, and a brisk cold freeze makes them sweet. Collard greens are rich in vitamins and minerals, especially calcium. Just last week, I was fortunate to find a large bag with three healthy just-picked heads for just $3.00 at the farmer’s market and started planning my first-ever attempt at canning greens.

Our Spring meeting season is starting to wind down, but keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t miss anything. Coming up this week is the Upstate Vegetable Production Meeting in Spartanburg.

The Clemson Extension Horticulture Team recently visited the Greenwood City Greenhouse to see a behind the scenes tour of the Festival of Flowers topiaries. Plan a visit to Greenwood, SC to see these amazing topiaries that will displayed  around downtown Greenwood. The Festival of Flowers Celebration is June 6th through the 9th. The topiaries will be on display the entire month of June.