Making It Grow Minutes

How sycamores support wildlife 07.02.2026 1:00 ↓

The structural weakness of sycamores is a boon to a variety of animals.

Creative uses of sycamore hollows 06.02.2026 1:00 ↓

Sycamores not only tend to lose limbs, which makes nesting sites for bats, birds, and mammals, but they also tend to rot from the inside, leaving open spaces at their base.

Sycamores: not ideal for landscaping 05.02.2026 1:00 ↓

Most people wouldn’t, and shouldn’t, plant sycamore trees in their yards.

Buttonwood 04.02.2026 1:00 ↓

Sycamores have a complicated wood structure, but they have interesting properties that can be put to good use.

Sycamore trees, the contemporaries of dinosaurs 02.02.2026 1:00 ↓

Amanda McNulty marvels at the beauty and endurance of the mighty sycamore.

Heirloom Ornaments 27.12.2025 1:00 ↓

Amanda McNulty shares how Christmas tree ornaments gathered over the years can stir warm memories of loved ones, both near and far.

Candlelit Christmas trees 26.12.2025 1:00 ↓

Amanda McNulty reflects on the romance and beauty of Christmas trees once lit by candles.

Fun at the Christmas tree farm 25.12.2025 1:00 ↓

Amanda McNulty embraces the spirit of the season by sharing the joys of visiting your local Christmas tree farm.

A tasteful tabletop Christmas tree 24.12.2025 1:00 ↓

Amanda McNulty explains the origin of her passion for colorful Christmas tree lights

Putting up the Christmas tree 22.12.2025 1:00 ↓

Amanda McNulty reminisces about putting up her Christmas tree in her 19th century home.

Cedar apple rust 22.11.2025 1:00 ↓

Cedar apple rust is a fungus, but its brown cases become jelly-like blobs with protrusions that look like something from outer space.

Eastern red cedars and juniper berries 21.11.2025 1:00 ↓

Our eastern red cedar is one of the junipers whose berries are used to flavor gin.

Building with eastern red cedar 20.11.2025 1:00 ↓

Native Americans used eastern red cedar for canoes and ceremonial buildings.

An eastern red cedar for Christmas 19.11.2025 1:00 ↓

Before the ubiquitous Fraser firs that don’t grow well here, many people got an eastern red cedar.

The protective properties of eastern red cedar 17.11.2025 1:00 ↓

Eastern red cedar has long been used to line chests and closets to protect wool items.

Bat guano 18.10.2025 1:00 ↓

Bird and bat guano have both been used as valuable sources of fertilizer. The most valuable guano is found in caves protected from water.

Is that bottle of tequila bat-friendly? Check the label. 17.10.2025 1:00 ↓

Agave growers get higher yields of tequila precursors when the plants aren’t allowed to flower, imperiling bats that depend on the night-blooming flowers.

Bats as pollinators 16.10.2025 1:00 ↓

Do you enjoy tequila? Thank the bat community.

Bats in South Carolina 15.10.2025 1:00 ↓

Host Amanda McNulty explains how you can help protect our state's bat population.

October is Bat Month 13.10.2025 1:00 ↓

Host Amanda McNulty explains why bats are important mammals worldwide.

Storing chlorophyll 04.10.2025 1:00 ↓

Tree leaves aren't the only thing that contains chlorophyll; sometimes it's stored in the fruit.

Chlorophyll: an expensive molecule for plants to make 03.10.2025 1:00 ↓

Chlorophyll is the basis for life on Earth.

Tapping trees 02.10.2025 1:00 ↓

Tapping trees has a long history in the U.S.

Vermont: a leaf-peeper's paradise 01.10.2025 1:00 ↓

In the fall, Vermont's deciduous trees put on an eye-popping display of color.

Chasing Autumn: where and when to witness South Carolina's vibrant fall foliage 29.09.2025 1:00 ↓

If you want to see beautiful fall leaves in South Carolina, you should head up above Highway 11.