CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Lou Lesesne has spent years cultivating a naturalistic garden in his front yard.

He uses only native species of plants and allows them to grow tall, flower and seed without regular mowing. It’s an approach that has gained in popularity as cities adopt friendlier laws recognizing potential environmental benefits of creating ...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Debby, Fiona, and Chloe were so happy to be around Kiara Tuggle, she could hardly get anything done.

They frolicked, rolled around, pounded on toys and jumped up Tuggle’s small frame. So, of course, she had to stop cleaning out kennels and tell them how beautiful they were.

The three 6-month-old, mixed-breed puppies had ...Read more

Four years ago, an ornamental sweet potato shook up the green industry. It was named after Medusa, a figure from Greek mythology. If you remember from junior high, this lady had snakes for hair.

My take on this is that whenever the green industry names a new plant after Medusa, it turns out to be special. Now four years and 29 awards later, ...Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- After years of always being the perpetual bridesmaid, Lisa Catalano of San Mateo, California, laid down her soft-pink bouquet, hung up her strappy blue satin Maid of Honor dress and drafted a text to her friends:

“I’m officially announcing my retirement from being a bridesmaid,” she wrote. “The next wedding I’m ...Read more

Dear Anna,

I'm in a polyamorous relationship with my girlfriend of two years, and we see each other once a week due to other partners and our demanding work schedules. I completely understand that she's often exhausted when we finally get together, and I'm fine with low-key dates like ordering takeout and watching TV. The problem is that even ...Read more

On Sunday afternoon in downtown Chicago, as couples strolled along sidewalks and kids ran around Maggie Daley Park and diners filled outdoor cafes and the Joffrey Ballet wrapped its final performance of “Carmen” at the Lyric Opera House, U.S. Border Patrol agents wearing tactical gear and carrying long guns patrolled the city’s streets.

...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Though Gabriel Dominic-Dunlap didn't grow up with cassettes, he's now a collector who can be seen sporting a personal tape player.

The 20-year-old Duquesne University student only discovered an enthusiasm for the format, which hit peak popularity in the 1980s, within the past few months. He carries tapes from his small collection...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Western canon of art history is dominated by white men. The canon itself is the product of centuries of scholarship also conducted by white men. But the Getty, and many other art institutions across the country, are determined to change that. They're working to expand the canon to include women and artists of color who have ...Read more

This week, we have three very relatable dating questions:

Question: I really like Gerry and don’t feel like sifting through other profiles. But is that wise? Should I still go through the motions as backup options until my three-month Match subscription ends, in case Gerry and I fizzle? I know he likes me.

-- Jane, 62, Orlando, Florida

...Read more

Q. This is sort of an ethical question. My ex-wife remarried two years ago and even though this sounds a little weird, I find I like him, poor unsuspecting sap. I can tell he cares about my kids and he’s actually a good influence.

Here’s the deal. My ex has always liked her wine, and I suspect it’s causing some problems over there. Her ...Read more

Dear Kid Whisperer,

I feel very alone in my friend group. We are all mothers of young children, and we all send our kids to the same school. The problem is that in social situations, a few of the moms will talk about their very touchy-feely parenting methods, like the mom who goes on and on about how she listens to her son about his feelings ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS -- One young man gave away free menstrual products. One unfurled a banner with a demand to “end period cramps.” Another did a card trick and turned the king of spades into the queen of hearts.

“It turns into a woman, because women can solve all problems!” he shouted to cheers.

That’s how the 38 contestants tried to woo an...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The preschoolers were fascinated, looking at their classroom through the lens of an iPad camera, watching animated images pop up as a cheerful voice told them: Feed apples to a pig behind a haystack. Select the carnival ride located between two sets of balloons.

While the game delighted these 3- and 4-year-olds, they were ...Read more

I am an accidental gardener. If anything I plant grows to maturity, and by some fluke of nature becomes edible, it is sheer accident.

If we had to survive on what I grow, we would both be very, very thin. Spaghetti thin. We are not spaghetti thin; we are more like rigatoni.

Several years ago, I dreamed of growing potatoes. I threw some ...Read more

CHICAGO — On a recent Sunday, I stood in the kitchen with my brother Daniel, watching as he cracked the fifth and final egg into a bowl — the blue bowl, his favorite for making scrambled eggs. He reached for the fork to whisk them, humming, clicking his tongue and smiling widely. At 49 years old, Daniel has enjoyed eggs for a while — ever ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — In an overstuffed workshop in East L.A., Chris Francis reached out a heavily tattooed arm and pulled a single shoe box from one of the floor-to-ceiling shelves lining the walls.

"Anjelica Huston," the shoemaker and artist said. "Let's see what's in here."

Removing the top of the box, he revealed two carved wooden forms known as...Read more

Because I’m a guy who likes to be clean and fresh — my wife would raise a stink if I weren’t — I get burned up by showers that leave me cold.

That’s what happened one morning when I took a shower in water so absolutely freezing that it could have sent a polar bear into cardiac arrest.

So we called the heating company to send somebody...Read more

ST. LOUIS — It’s lunch time at Kirkwood High School, and students are filtering out of the building.

Two boys make their way to a soccer field and toss a Frisbee. A small group of friends sit in the grass outside the auditorium. A picnic table near the school’s main entrance is full of students working on homework.

Something is ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- Chris Rose fondly remembers the days when he worked at the independent video store We Luv Video in Austin, Texas.

He was in his early 20s and finishing film school at the University of Texas at Austin before heading to New York, where he eventually worked as a producer on "The Daily Show."

Now an L.A.-based writer, director and ...Read more

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A recipe is much more than ingredients and instructions. It can impart a hidden history, provide tethers to forgotten tables, ignite curiosity and the thrill of creating something so delicious it must be shared.

There are the titans of recipe writing, and then there are the quiet names of those (mostly women) who used ...Read more