Iraqi Kurdistan, a region in northern Mesopotamia, is home to mountains, steppes, and pastures that were part of the Fertile Crescent: the birthplace of agriculture—and, indeed, civilization. There, ancient farmers nurtured a wealth of crops that would become staples throughout the world. Today, after years of wars and sanctions, Kurdistan is reengaging its land. As it negotiates the challenges of a new era, native plants and crops remain a defining feature of the landscape and people—how long can the agricultural heritage last?
Arizona artist Kathy Klein gathers natural materials to design circular arrangements in situ. After photographing her work, she walks away. The colorful medallions are now ephemeral gifts for whoever comes along.
Traditional materials used for jazzing up the season have a long history, but floral designer David Winston offers his own take on these popular holiday plants.
W. Atlee Burpee & Co. launches I Can Grow, a national program to support a new, popular interest in home vegetable gardening among younger and novice gardeners.
Despite its efforts to keep a low profile—lurking, as it tends to do, deep in Southeast Asia's undisturbed rainforests—the Rafflesia arnoldii has international notoriety. Its detractors might call it a hulking, smelly parasite, and they would not be wrong. It's the world's largest flower, and it smells like rotting meat.
There are many ways to see the rhododendron in its full splendor, including botanical gardens and specialty nurseries. Here are five great gardens to see the flowers in bloom.
In our new column, we cook local bounty that's in season. Today, Katie Mendelson writes about Mark Diacono's The Food Lover's Garden, where he argues that "Life is too short to grow ordinary food," and shares the recipe for Diacono's Strawberry Scones.
Maps to the stars! No, wait, maps to...fruit trees? The Los Angeles-based group Fallen Fruit created maps of the city's fruit trees, a reminder that Los Angeles was once organized by boulevards of orchards, not Hollywood and Sunset. It's little locavore, a little urban farmer, and it's a new way to understand a city.
Katrina Sullivan, of Chic Little House, writes about what made her decide to start blogging about her home renovations and how she adds personal touches to make her house a home.
