Bright pink stems and clusters of deep purple berries make American pokeweed one of the Upstate’s most eye-catching native plants. Learn how to recognize this colorful woodland species on your next hike around Table Rock State Park.
Bright red berries tucked beneath the forest canopy make partridgeberry one of the Upstate’s most overlooked native plants. Learn how to identify this evergreen groundcover and where you’re most likely to find it on trails around Table Rock State Park.
A quiet trail camera in a wooded neighborhood just outside Table Rock State Park captured an unexpected visitor—a wild bobcat. Meet “Bob” and discover why these elusive cats are more common in the Upstate than most people realize, where they live, and what to do if you’re lucky enough to spot one.
With its glossy black body and impressive size, the Great Black Wasp may look intimidating, but it’s one of the Upstate’s most beneficial insects. Discover how this gentle giant controls grasshoppers, pollinates wildflowers, and quietly builds underground nests throughout South Carolina.
The Eastern Box Turtle is one of the Upstate’s most remarkable forest residents. Learn how to identify this iconic South Carolina species, where to find it around Pumpkintown, what it eats, how long it lives, and why protecting its habitat is essential for future generations.
Millipedes may look unusual, but they’re among the most beneficial creatures in Upstate forests. Learn how to identify them, why they aren’t dangerous, and the vital role they play in keeping our mountain ecosystems healthy.
Wolf spiders are common throughout Pumpkintown and the Upstate of South Carolina. Learn how to identify them, whether they’re dangerous, why they come inside, and why these giant hunters are actually beneficial.
Bumble bees may look intimidating, but they’re among South Carolina’s most important pollinators. Discover why these gentle giants are essential to our wildflowers, gardens, and mountain ecosystems.
When pear trees burst into bloom each spring, they become one of the busiest destinations for honey bees. Discover why these brilliant white blossoms play such an important role in supporting pollinators across the Upstate.
Have you ever walked into a giant spider web while hiking in South Carolina? Meet the Golden Silk Orb-weaver, one of the Southeast’s largest spiders, and learn why this gentle giant is more friend than foe.