June 12, 2023
The Charleston County Public Libraries John’s Island branch seed library promotes vegetable and herb gardening as well as native plants for pollinators.
August 25, 2022
School is back in session, but it’s not too late to catch up on the 2022 School Gardening Summer Series. Our first speaker Dilafruz Williams, Ph. D., shared some of the promising practical pedagogical tools embedded within the acronym G.A.R.D.E.N.S. Her presentation focused on engaging all students in garden-based learning. Using photos and stories, she shared […]
June 16, 2021
I usually grow the same staple vegetables in my garden year after year. Tomatoes. Cucumbers. Zucchini. Peppers. Don’t get me wrong – I love growing them, and they are delicious! But this year, I decided to mix things up a bit and grow some less traditional vegetables – fennel and pineapple tomatillo. I started my […]
July 27, 2020
Cleaning up a school garden after a prolonged absence or period of neglect can seem like an overwhelming task, particularly now as schools are working out how to reopen safely. Although it seems the world has changed in many ways, school gardens still offer students hands-on, experiential learning opportunities that cannot be found inside four […]
May 1, 2020
Lavender (Lavandula sp.) is a beautiful perennial herb grown for its purple flowers, calming scent, and medicinal qualities. It is a perennial herb that develops woody branches and grows up to 3 feet tall over the years. The bright purple flowers bloom on the end of spikes and release a lovely fragrance. Not all lavender […]
April 30, 2020
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)is an herb garden staple in our household. A popular ingredient in cooking and so easy to grow, many varieties are also so beautiful they can be used as ornamental plants in the landscape! Basil is a warm-season, annual herb that is easy to start from seed indoors. In the coastal region, we […]
April 29, 2020
Thyme is a low-growing, perennial herb from the Mediterranean with small, oval leaves that produce a strong aroma when crushed. Thyme features clusters of lilac flowers that attract bees and butterflies. While used for cooking primarily, it also works well as an edging or groundcover because of its low height, mounding nature, and attractive flowers. […]
April 28, 2020
Dill (Anethum graveolens) is a feathery herb great for cooking and attracting pollinating insects. It tops out at around 3 feet tall with yellow umbel shaped flowers. Swallowtail butterflies use dill and other members of the carrot family (Apiaceae) to feed their young. So if you are trying to attract more butterflies to your landscape, […]
April 27, 2020
Herbs make useful and versatile additions to any garden. Culinary herbs such as mint, rosemary, and thyme are perfect for snipping into recipes and are easy to grow, thriving in patio pots and kitchen gardens. Fragrant foliage and flowers are useful in creating herbal teas and adding fragrance to potpourri, lotion, and soap. Many herbs […]
April 9, 2020
Many warm-season vegetable crops will need support as they grow. Sprawling plants such as vining cucumbers, zucchini, and tomatoes will quickly overrun our 4’x8′ raised bed if they are not corralled. To save space, I decided to build a trellis for my garden, which will allow the cucumbers and zucchini to grow vertically. Here’s how […]
