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At her home in Aiken, Georgianna “Girl” Conger welcomed us into the world she has built around two of her greatest passions: art and animals. As we talked, foster puppies moved around us, offering a glimpse into the work that has become such a meaningful part of her life.

For nearly 16 years, Girl and her family have opened their home to dogs in need, working alongside FOTAS and the Aiken County Animal Shelter. Nearly 800 puppies and mother dogs have passed through their care. She is candid about the reality of the work: there is plenty of puppy breath and joy, but also sleepless nights, sick animals, and losses that stay with you. Still, she calls it a “labor of love,” and believes every dog should leave her home better prepared for whatever comes next.

That same attention to personality shapes Girl’s paintings. She isn’t interested in simply recreating an animal’s appearance; she wants the person who loved it to recognize its spirit. When painting a pet who has passed away, she often talks at length with the owner, listening for the quirks, expressions, and small habits that bring the animal back into focus.

Girl has watched Aiken’s animal welfare community change dramatically during her years of fostering, with local efforts helping shift the shelter from a community with a high euthanasia rate to one with a much higher save rate. In this video, join us at Girl’s home to meet some of her newest foster puppies and hear how art, animals, and a deep commitment to her community have shaped the life she leads. Her hope is that more people find a way to be part of that work. As she puts it, “Everyone always asks what they can do if they can’t foster. My answer is simple: foster, adopt, donate, or volunteer.”

On a quiet morning at historic Whitney Field, we met with Geoff Ellis, co-owner of The Willcox and a member of the Aiken Polo Club Board of Directors, to talk about a sport that has been woven into Aiken’s character for more than a century. Sitting in the pavilion overlooking the field, Geoff shared what first drew him to polo and why the sport continues to hold such a special place in Aiken.

Polo arrived in Aiken just six years after its introduction to the United States, making the sport part of the local story for roughly 134 years. Today, Aiken is home to 55 polo fields and nearly five clubs, a remarkable footprint for a sport that many people have never experienced firsthand. For Geoff, the appeal begins with the game itself— the speed, hand-eye coordination, and remarkable partnership between horse and rider.

But spend a Sunday at the field and it becomes clear that polo is as much a social tradition as it is a sport. The pavilion can draw 150 to 200 people in an afternoon, gathering over food, drinks, conversation, and the game unfolding below. The horses and players may command the field, but the sense of community around it is what gives polo its enduring place in Aiken.

As polo continues to grow, Geoff sees an exciting future ahead. As he puts it, “Our growth for polo and Aiken has been extraordinary over the years. What I’m really excited about, though, is that the Whitney Barns are becoming part of the Polo Club this year.” The club is also planning renovations to the historic stalls, creating new opportunities for players and visitors to experience the field. In this video, join Geoff at Whitney Field to hear how his own history with polo became part of Aiken’s larger story—and why he believes the sport has plenty of chapters left to write.

Autumn has arrived, and the garden is ready for its next chapter. Cooler temperatures, changing colors, and a new round of crops mark the beginning of a season with plenty more to grow.

This season, we’re exploring companion planting. By thoughtfully pairing certain plants together, we can encourage healthy growth while making the most of each garden bed. Winter squash, collards, and carrots will be among our next plantings, bringing new textures, colors, and flavors to the garden—and, in time, to the kitchen.

Some of those carrots will have another purpose, too. In a nod to Aiken’s equestrian spirit, we plan to have garden-fresh carrots available for those stopping by The Willcox with their horses—a simple treat grown right here in our garden.

There is something especially rewarding about planting with the seasons and watching the garden evolve throughout the year. Each new crop brings its own possibilities, from the first seedlings in the soil to the ingredients that eventually inspire a dish—or a special treat for a four-legged visitor.

As we continue to learn from the garden, we’re reminded that there is always something new to cultivate, nurture, and enjoy.

Fall is simply the next chapter.

East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Catch up on your classics just in time for the movie adaptation to come out! Set in California’s Salinas Valley, John Steinbeck’s family saga follows the Trask and Hamilton families, whose generations mirror the biblical story of Cain and Abel. Through twin brothers Cal and Aaron, Steinbeck explores identity, love, and its absence in this modern retelling of Genesis.

The Johnson Four by Christina Hammonds Reed
In 1960s Detroit, four brothers chase musical stardom while a ghost with a tragic past becomes part of their family. As fame, violence, and loss tear them apart, they must find their way back to one another.

Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen
After a tragic accident ends her equestrian career, Annemarie Zimmer returns to her childhood home in New Hampshire with her troubled teenage daughter, confronting painful memories and the possibility of new love. When she encounters a horse eerily reminiscent of the one she lost, her renewed obsession threatens to unravel her fragile world.

Lost in Curiosity: Field Notes from Scientists’ Adventures into the Unknown by Roberta Kwok
Roberta Kwok explores the messy, human side of scientific discovery through researchers’ struggles to uncover nature’s mysteries. From remote glaciers to rainforests, these stories reveal the curiosity and challenges behind the pursuit of knowledge.

In the Weeds: Around the World and Behind the Scenes with Anthony Bourdain by Tom Vitale
Tom Vitale, Anthony Bourdain’s longtime director and producer, reveals the chaos of filming in volatile places and the unfiltered reality of working with a legend. Through more than a decade of travels, he shares the adventures, disasters, and off-camera moments that made their work unforgettable.

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
A tea monk’s life changes when a robot arrives to fulfill an ancient promise and asks, “What do people need?” Together, they journey through a world where people have what they want, exploring whether having more truly matters.

The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook by Hampton Sides
From bestselling author Hampton Sides comes a gripping, thought- provoking tale of Captain James Cook’s final, fatal voyage—a high- stakes journey of discovery, ambition, and the tragic collision between cultures at the dawn of empire. Learn more.

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
A darkly funny and deeply moving saga of a family spiraling into chaos as the world unravels around them, asking whether one moment of bad luck can change everything—and if redemption is still possible when it does. Learn more.

The Phoenix Pencil Company by Allison King
In this luminous debut, a lonely college student discovers a magical family gift that revives memories through pencils, leading her on a journey across generations to uncover hidden histories, reunite lost relatives, and reclaim the stories that shape us. Learn more.

Slow Noodles: A Cambodian Memoir of Love, Loss, and Family Recipes by Chantha Nguon
In Slow Noodles, Cambodian refugee Chantha Nguon weaves a haunting memoir of loss, survival, and resilience—reclaiming her past and her mother’s kitchen through the healing power of Khmer recipes in the shadow of genocide. Learn more.

Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane
Acclaimed nature writer Robert Macfarlane takes us on a lyrical journey across threatened waterscapes—from Ecuador to India to Canada—exploring the ancient idea that rivers are living beings, and urging us to see their fate as inseparable from our own. Learn more.

The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry
From this beloved southern author comes a spellbinding tale of a daughter’s transatlantic quest to unravel the mystery of her vanished mother and a legendary lost language—blending literary intrigue, family legacy, and the enduring pull of untold stories. Learn more.