Midlands Chapter, South Carolina Native Plant Society

08/18/2026

🐝Come out and help count pollinators with us this weekend at The Great Southeast Pollinator Census. Counting is easy and everyone's invited!

Friday, Aug. 21, 6 - 7 pm
📍Saluda Riverwalk, 650 Candi Lane, Columbia
Saturday, Aug. 22, 10 am - Noon
📍Rosewood Park, 901 S Holly, Columbia

We'll provide a counting sheet (or download from gsepc.org) to mark insects in 8 categories: carpenter bee, bumblebee, honey bee, small bee, butterfly/moth, wasp, fly, other insects. Check out the insect guide on the site to get you started, or we can help show you what to look for.
👉Tip: count every time an insect visits a flower, even if it is the same insect many times.

This project from the University of Georgia is an easy way for almost anyone to be part of conserving and protecting pollinators. First, it gets us all thinking about native plant gardens. (Hmmm, maybe I need more blooming plants?) Second, people spend time getting acquainted with insect pollinators they might not have met before. Third, this data becomes available to researchers in the region.

Count as many times as you like over the weekend, wherever in the region there are blooming plants and pollinators, then submit your data through gsepc.org.

South Carolina Native Plant Society Gardener's Outpost South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Columbia Parks & Recreation Department Southeast Pollinator Census Community

08/17/2026

Hey Midlands! Have you registered for the SCNPS Symposium yet? It's a really special weekend of gathering with and learning from folks all over the state doing the always rewarding work of protecting, restoring, and educating about our state's native plants. Sign up! The deadline for booking one of the hotel blocks is Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Have you heard the news?! Online registration for the 2026 Statewide SCNPS Symposium is now OPEN! The Lowcountry Chapter has been busy crafting an activity-filled weekend for our members and we're so excited to host everyone September 18-20, 2026 in Charleston, SC.

Our theme this year is "Rooted in Resilience" as we look ahead to the next 30 years of fulfilling the Society's mission!

🗓️: September 18-20, 2026
📍: SCDNR Ft. Johnson campus, 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412
🌿Symposium Details👉https://scnps.org/symposiums/symposium-2026/
🌿Online Registration for Members👉https://scnps.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/scnps/event.jsp?event=2229
💲 Registration: $50 (base ticket; add-on social events, merchandise, etc.)

Have questions? We've got you covered - contact us at [email protected]!

Space is limited for this annual event as well as the field trips/workshops. So be sure to register early!

07/20/2026

Did y'all have fun last night? We sure did! Thanks, Joey!
Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't
W. Gordon Belser Arboretum
Midlands Nature and Bird Alliance
Gills Creek Watershed Association

07/19/2026

Today's the day, Columbia! We're going to have a full house for Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't with Joey Santore, so arrive early to find parking and get a good seat. Plus, Joey will be available BEFORE 7pm to sell merch and sign books. See you this evening!

Thanks to our partners, W. Gordon Belser Arboretum, Midlands Nature and Bird Alliance, and Gills Creek Watershed Association for helping to make this possible!

07/14/2026

Meet Joey Santore, the naturalist behind Crime Pays But Botany Doesn’t. He is joining us for a free public talk on July 19 at 7PM at Capstone Hall.

Presented with Midlands Nature and Bird Alliance, Gills Creek Watershed Association, and USC Belser Arboretum. Register using the link in the bio 🔗



On his show Kill Your Lawn, Joey helps homeowners swap turfgrass for native plants, turning lawns into real habitat. Hear more from him in person on July 19 at 7 PM, Capstone House, USC. Free and open to the public. Register using the link in the bio 🔗



Joey’s message: native plants belong everywhere, in yards, medians, and vacant lots. Every square foot counts. Join us July 19 at 7 PM at Capstone House, USC, to hear him in person. Free event.



Joey highlights what’s lost when land is bulldozed and replanted with nonnative ornamentals: flattened, lifeless landscapes. Hear his full talk July 19 at 7 PM, Capstone House, USC. Free and open to all. Register using the link in the bio 🔗



Want more before July 19? Check out Joey’s podcast, website, and socials linked in our bio. Then join us in person on July 19 at 7 PM, Capstone House, USC, for a free talk you won’t want to miss. Register using the link in the bio 🔗

07/10/2026

The Midlands Chapter of the South Carolina Native Plant Society is proud to sponsor a talk with Joey Santore, the voice behind Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't and Kill Your Lawn. It's a low-brow, no-nonsense take on plant ecology and why so much of our landscaping just doesn't work.

This event is made possible in partnership with UofSC's Belser Arboretum, Gills Creek Watershed Association, and Midlands Nature and Bird Alliance.

WHAT: Guest speaker Joey Santore
WHEN: Sunday, July 19 @ 7:00 PM
WHERE: Capstone House, UofSC Campus — 902 Barnwell St, Columbia (near the intersection with Pendleton St)
PARKING: Free on Sundays — street parking or the Pendleton St. garage several blocks west.

The event is free, but we're asking attendees to register in advance so we can plan for the crowd. Registration link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSerivFRAau8h37kw-FbT_M124EiFHqtLyhrrAofyA_wRAHwRQ/viewform

07/08/2026

Mark your calendars. Our July Member Meeting is TOMORROW, Thursday, July 9th at 7 PM! 🌿

Swipe to see what’s on deck: seed starting, soil testing, and propagation… pest control (friend or foe?)… and landscape basics like mulch, composting, and design principles... a much requested Ask a Master Gardener panel.

You’ve been asking for more accessible, informative events — so here it is! Come with your questions, leave with real answers.

📍 1605 Park Circle, Columbia, SC
🕖 7 PM

Free and open to all members

See you there!

05/15/2026

May is one of the best months to explore the Midlands - and we've got three incredible events lined up.

🌷May 16-17 - Columbia Green Festival of Gardens
Tour private gardens, meet local experts, and get inspired by the beauty of spring.
Event info: columbiagreen.org/2024fog-need-to-know-1

🚜May 16 - Ag + Art Tour (Calhoun County)
A free, self-guided farm + art tour celebrating local makers, growers, and rural heritage.
Event info: agandarttour.com/calhoun

🐢May 23 - Gopher Tortoise Field Trip
A rare chance to see South Carolina's only native tortoise in its habitat.
Event info: scnps.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/scnps/event.jsp?event-2007

Bring your curiosity, your camera, and a friend.

Let's celebrate the landscapes and species that make our region special.

05/14/2026