Smart, nocturnal, and quick to reproduce, rats are common in South Carolina's Lowcountry.
It’s been a year since we started beekeeping again. One recent sunny afternoon, we noticed the bees were more active than usual. They were swarming. Or, in other words, they were preparing to leave us.
The use of chemicals to kill nasty insects like mosquitoes and cockroaches that infest our yards have unintended consequences, as well as health risks to pets and people.
With Charleston's weather gaining perfection, there are plenty of ways throughout the area to take in this idyllic time of year.
Gardeners who prefer not to spray any fungicides on their plants can use other strategies to manage plant diseases.
The pandemic has prompted many in the Charleston area to safely venture out in recreational vehicles.
There is a plethora of native plants that are worth looking into which thrive in the adverse conditions of the Lowcountry garden, many of which have often been overlooked for other plants that are often harder to grow and just seem out of place in a typical Charleston garden.
Laura Lewis' home garden has been certified by the National Wildlife Federation as a wildlife habitat. That designation not only comes with a special plaque but also the opportunity to commit to giving back to nature.
Succulents do best in full sun and well-drained soil. They don’t like it wet and, by and large, don’t care for shade. They’re adapted to hot and dry climate. That spells low maintenance.
From plants to candles to new gadgets, here's what works and what doesn't for natural mosquito control.
The festival features an online plant sale and a series of events throughout the month.
Yesterday-today-and-tomorrow is a lesser-known, spring-blooming perennial that thrives in the Lowcountry. The flowers’ unique ability to change color from violet to white in a few days gives this plant its common name.
As homeowners look for ease and convenience, electric or battery-powered lawn tools have grown in popularity.
Natural conditions and human activities can cause the decline of Lowcountry salt marshes. Here are some suggestions and guidelines on how to assist in appropriate marsh management solutions.
Home modifications could be essential for seniors who choose to age at home.
When it comes to plants, good health starts in soil, and one of the best preventatives is compost. Here are some tips for composting at home.
A once-imposing Gothic Revival church in Georgetown County named after a prince of England never achieved the greatness it could have. The Civil War interrupted its completion, and though it was finished by 1877, the desolation that followed eventually relegated it to ruins.
We live in a land of plenty. There are more cultivars of annuals than even the largest garden center can stock. Fortunately, a few reliable cultivars have stood the test of time.
More and more homebuyers are taking their pets into account when they purchase a new home.
Tomatoes can produce some of the most wonderful fruit in the garden, but they do have attributes that make them difficult to grow. The challenge makes growing them much more fun.
The average student loan borrower in South Carolina now owes more than $36,000. Meanwhile, the median home price in the Charleston area is now over $300,000, making it more difficult for many people with student loan debt to obtain a mortgage.
Channel your inner Michelangelo and make your own hypertufa garden pots and sculptures with cement and a little peat moss.
Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim recently completed $1 million in renovations at its 180-year-old synagogue in an effort to preserve the historic building and modernize it for future use.
Soon it will be time to seed summer-blooming annual flowers to transplant later into the garden or yard. With COVID-19 cases still present in South Carolina, growing flowers at home is an enjoyable way to stay safe.
A long-vacant former movie theater is for sale on Sullivan's Island, for nearly $1.8 million.
After 14 years at the helm of Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, the Johnsons are back in Georgia.
The idea of pruning woody plants can bring with it some trepidation, but with a little forethought and basic understanding of plant growth, pruning can be simple and even exciting.
Honeybees face a number of challenges, but a growing number of beekeepers in the Lowcountry are determined to nurture hives and fill up those glass jars with the sweet stuff of life.
Pitcher plants need more love. These wonderfully unique plants are brightly colored and, when planted correctly, very low maintenance.
Charleston's Cannonborough-Elliottborough preserves its historic past as an urban neighborhood.
The objectives of the experiment were to see how well All-America Selections peppers yielded in Charleston and what diseases showed up on them.
Gearing up for its 23rd season, History Channel’s "American Pickers" is eyeing South Carolina residents again for the chance to rummage through their collectibles.
During the cold winter months, there may seem like there is little to do in the garden, but that is not the case. Many problems in the garden can be avoided by proper preparation even before plants go into the ground.
A unique Lowcountry home that's been called the "Hobbit House" is up for sale, ending years of work by an owner who designed it himself and did most of the construction work, too.
Tips for keeping your bees warm in winter and keeping pests out of your beehive in this week's gardening column.
A new program, spearheaded by Kiawah Island Club & Real Estate, helped one Johns Island school create more open air learning spaces to aid learning during the pandemic.
Garden peas, also called green peas or English peas to distinguish them from Southern peas, are my favorite spring vegetable crop. Peas must be planted early to get the best yield and quality.
With the start of a new year, it can be a time to start something new in the garden. And one way to do so is through propagation.
MRA Design and Build, a local design and build firm, captured the AIA South Carolina Virtual Design and Robert Mills Residential Merit awards.
Tis the season to get tidy. As the chaotic, stress-filled 2020 comes to an end, and holiday boxes need to be repacked and put away, you may want to channel your inner Marie Kondo or re-watch The Home Edit for some inspiration. Or, if you're feeling the drain, consider calling a professional.
I would say one of the most important tools in the shed, if not the most important, is knowledge. Especially when it comes to pesticides.
There are just under 700 book-sharing boxes in South Carolina, according to the nonprofit's online world map, and 44 in Charleston.
Here's a wrap-up of gardening highs and lows in 2020.
When toilet paper shortages developed during the pandemic, interest in bidets soared, and that was just the start.
When it comes to decorating for the holidays, few plants come to mind in the same way the holly does with its bright red berries and dark, lustrous leaves.
The tea plant has small flowers that attract zebra longwing butterflies and other pollinators.
Nothing says Charleston like a decked-out holiday hearth. Here are ways to heighten your decor.
The once-unassuming space is now filled with dozens of colorful herbs and flowers that stand out against the concrete landscape of the strip mall.
The flora of the young shoreside woods provides more than protection from storms. It's a veritable pharmacy of natural cures.
One of my annual topics is questions from readers. This year, I received several follow-up questions for more information about specific gardening situations.
Jeff and Krystal Judy are the owners of Rustic Oaks Farm, a small family farm in Cottageville. They also sell custom handcrafted knives, soy candles, goat's milk soap and hand towels.
In Summerville, I’ve found turmeric emerges from the ground rather late, but that’s not why I’m growing it for the ornamental appeal. That’s just a bonus. I want the roots.
Luxury home sales have surged in the Charleston region in recent months, mirroring a national trend that has seen high-end parts of the housing market unhampered, and even accelerated, by the coronavirus pandemic.