Home and Garden

Midland residents and students experienced two consecutive hours of live outdoor education on the UofSC Horseshoe June 18 starting under McKissick Museum’s magnificent magnolias. At 11 a.m., Dr. John Nelson of A.C. Moore Herbarium conducted a botany walk targeting, identifying, and describing trees and herbaceous specimens. Nelson noted everything growing on the Horseshoe today, native and non-native, was planted there—magnolia, […]

Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers 1/2 cup cream cheese1/2 cup shredded sharpCheddar cheese12 jalapeno peppers,halved lengthwise,seeds andmembranes removed12 slices bacon Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Mix cream cheese and Cheddar cheese together in a bowl until evenly blended. Fill each jalapeno half with the cheese mixture. Put halves back together and wrap each stuffed pepper […]

No billboards, highway signs, destination arrows, or painted pathways announce this secret garden gem. When asking local residents for directions, answers are lyrics from Vague Directions— “head on down two stoplights, turn left…just keep going.” Moore Farms Botanical Garden (MFBG) in Lake City is a family homestead and a nonprofit organization. Financier, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and native resident Darla Moore founded […]

Easy Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream 4 cups half-and-half or light cream 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 2 Tbsp. vanilla extract In large bowl, combine ingredients; mix well. Pour into ice cream freezer container. Freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions. Freeze leftovers. Very Chocolate Ice Cream 3/4 cup sugar 1 cup milk 1/4 tsp. salt 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder […]

On routine rounds to check my pole-mounted bluebird nesting boxes and to monitor the growth of five nestlings, I knocked on the box to alert the parent bird of my visit. Out flew a silky fur ball with a long broad brown tail. My eyes must have looked as large, black, and bulging as those of the tiny southern flying […]

Sweet and Tart Strawberry Salad 1-1/2 pounds freshstrawberries, rinsedand sliced2-1/2 Tbsp. brown sugar1 Tbsp. balsamicvinegar1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper In a large bowl, toss berries with sugar and let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar and pepper. Pour over berries and toss to coat. Divide berries among 4 serving bowls and […]

Flowers play a major role in traditional weddings. Brides and bridesmaids carry bouquets, flower children strew rose petals down the aisle, groomsmen and groom sport boutonnieres, and parents of the couple wear corsages and boutonnieres. Church weddings include altar flowers and family pews marked with flowers. Reception tables are decorated in floral arrangements. Even wedding cakes are adorned in candied […]

White Bean Salad 2 (15 ounce) canscannellini beans,drained and rinsed1 (15 ounce) canquartered artichokehearts, drained1/2 cup green olives,sliced1 cup roasted redpeppers, drained andchopped1/2 English cucumber,diced6 plum tomatoes, cored,seeded and diced2 celery ribs, diced2 green onions, thinly sliced1/3 cup sherry vinegar1 tsp. Dijon mustard1/4 cup finely choppedfresh parsley1 Tbsp. fresh thyme2 tsp. finely choppedfresh rosemary1 tsp. garlic powder1 tsp. paprikaSalt and […]

The American Heart Association (AHA) has been promoting heart-healthy lifestyles for nearly a hundred years. The AHA Midlands chapter is your local affiliate working to provide residents with education and resources on heart health. Each fall for the past five years, the AHA hosts Kids HeART Challenge, a contest for elementary age children inviting them to illustrate an answer to […]