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Trees are a significant part of bringing height, structure, and shade to any garden space, and crepe myrtles can bring genteel beauty to your outdoor living area. Plus, crepe myrtles can thrive in a planter, so you can transform any difficult growing areas in your landscape with these graceful beauties too. With planters as an option, even those outside the growing zones for crepe myrtles can grow them in planters during the warm season and bring them indoors during winter....

There are very few things on earth as satisfying as a perfectly preserved pickle. Whether it’s adorning a burger or your favorite sandwich or enjoying it all on its own, pickles really are one of man’s greatest inventions. But, after you’ve polished off that jar of dills, gherkins, or bread and butters you’re usually left with a jar full of pickle juice. What to do with it? Before you throw out that vinegary substance read on because there’s plenty of things to do with leftover pickle juice....

When Alabama couple Kelsey and Michael Kulick got married last November, the groom was in for more than just the usual surprise of seeing his bride’s wedding gown for the first time. While Kelsey said her vows aloud, she did a little something extra that meant the world to her groom and his family. She translated her wedding vows into American Sign Language. Both of Michael’s parents are deaf, so he grew up communicating with his parents through ASL....

Fans of HGTV’s Home Town have long been aware of what a caring and good soul Ben Napier is. In his latest Instagram post, however, we see the woodworker’s kindheartedness leap to life as he rushes to help in the face of horrible car accident. “PSA: Pay better attention when driving. My daddy, a truck driver and preacher, taught my brothers and me to be aware of the other automobiles on the road....

While this Chicken ’n’ Spinach Pasta Bake is quick enough for the busiest of weeknights, and it is delicious enough for weekend entertaining. You are going to want to double it if you’re serving a crowd. Actually, go ahead and double it regardless—thse leftovers are too good to pass up. To prepare, start by cooking the rigatoni according to the direction on the package. While the past cooks, cook the finely chopped onion in a baking dish at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes....

How have we gotten through the past few months? A whole lot of Dolly Parton, baking, phone calls with friends, and Sweet Magnolias streaming. Did we mention Dolly Parton? Recently, we were excited to learn that Dolly Parton’s first holiday album in 30 years, A Holly Dolly Christmas, will debut on October 2. The album includes classic songs like “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “All I want for Christmas Is You,” and “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” along with special guest spots from brother Randy Parton, Miley Cyrus (Parton’s goddaughter), Billy Ray Cyrus, Michael Bublé, Willie Nelson, and Jimmy Fallon....

Few sandwiches are surrounded by as much folklore and mystique as the Masters’ pimento cheese sandwich. It’s hard to imagine a $1.50 sandwich being the source of fierce adoration and controversy, but this is Augusta National we’re talking about. The place that cajoles 40,000 golf fans into three days without cellphones. The modest meal has had a hold on Masters patrons for 20 years, and not just because its price has managed to stay so comically low....

Southern cooks have always had a deft touch with eggs. We are, after all, experts with the deviled kind, knowing just how to make them extraordinary. It pays to use those same strategies for egg salad: Start with perfectly hard-cooked eggs, season them generously, and finish with a dab of your favorite mayo. Beyond that, it’s much easier than making deviled eggs because you don’t have to fret over ragged yolks or runny filling....

My mom always told me, “It’s best to leave the party while everyone is still having fun.” As with her fine, straight hair and penchant for binging Lifetime movies on a Sunday afternoon, this mantra of hers has also become mine. And it’s often how I justify scooting out of a party or exiting a conversation on the early side. She also taught me, though, that how you leave is just as important as when you leave....

Just because you’re Southern doesn’t mean you have a spot in your refrigerator reserved exclusively for a jar of Duke’s. Some people, bless their hearts, are not mayonnaise people. If you happen to be one of those people, I have good news: you can still enjoy deviled eggs. Yes, you heard right. That classic Southern delicacy can be made without mayonnaise! You’ll still need a creamy binder to make the egg yolk filling, but there are several options beyond the usual mayonnaise:...

Fall is notoriously the season for all things pumpkin, but it’s also apple season. While we can find apples year-round at major supermarkets thanks to global supply chains, they are most sublime in the autumn months with deep flavors and vivid colors that will make the most delicious crisps, pies, muffins, and afternoon snacks. One of the best things about apples is how hardy they are compared to many other fruits, which means you don’t have to be afraid to buy in bulk....

Want to make the world a better, greener place? Well, it starts at home. With a laser-focused eye on sustainability, it’s easy to bring an environmental approach to every facet of your home. But while you might’ve jumped at the opportunity to buy organic produce or eco-friendly furniture, it’s possible you’ve been hesitant to give non-toxic cleaning supplies a try. It’s no secret that the harsh chemicals in conventional cleaning supplies are not great for the environment, but they do leave our spaces spick and span....

I came late to Kwanzaa, celebrating it first in the 1980s. I remember the effect it had on the starry-eyed children present, who watched the ceremony with rapt interest. In 1995, I wrote a book about the holiday, A Kwanzaa Keepsake, which presented it in the context of the African diaspora. Most people are astonished to learn that Kwanzaa was established only recently, in 1966, by African American activist and professor Maulana Karenga....

To complement the renovation executed by architects Spitzmiller and Norris at the Atlanta home of empty nesters John and Sue McKinley, designer Suzanne Kasler applied soft and subtle updates. “White is a signature for me,” says Suzanne. “I’m all about creating the architectural envelope of a space, and white just brings everything into focus. The eye shouldn’t pause for any single object.” She offers this advice for achieving her luxe neutral look....

Erin Vogelpohl was a 4th grade teacher from Prosper, Texas, before marrying her high school sweetheart and having children. As a stay-at-home mom, she discovered her love and talent for interior design by designing homes for her own family. This love blossomed into a successful blog, My Texas House, a sizable social media following, and now, the Texas mom of three is launching a line of home décor items exclusively available on Walmart....

As we’ve all adapted to the new normal of remaining safely at home amidst the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve been amazed by all the digital experiences to travel near and far without stepping foot outside. We’ve taken virtual museum tours around the world, hiked around national parks from our screens, and watched Andrea Bocelli sing from the Duomo of Milan. (We’ve also watched more TV than we typically do in a year....

It’s no secret Nordic Ware is a favorite bakeware brand among Southern Living editors. One food editor says the brand makes the best sheet pans, and even more writers have been paying attention to its best-selling bundt pans. Now, we’d like to introduce you to our newest Nordic Ware find: a wildflower loaf pan that makes average cakes and breads look store-bought from the bakery. The aluminum toffee-colored pan measures 10-by-10-by-1....

CMT and Sandbox Productions, in partnership with Loretta Lynn’s family, announced Thursday the plans for a public memorial to honor the extraordinary life of the country music icon. Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Loretta Lynn will air live and commercial free straight from the Grand Ole Opry House to our televisions exclusively on CMT on October 30, at 7:00 p.m./ 6:00 p.m. CST. Jenna Bush Hager will serve as host for the evening that will include never-before-seen performances and collaborations by a wide array of musical talents including Brandi Carlile, Crystal Gayle, Darius Rucker, Emmy Russell & Lukas Nelson, George Strait, The Highwomen with Brittney Spencer, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Margo Price, Tanya Tucker, Wynonna, Barbara Mandrell, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Sheryl Crow and Tim McGraw....

Today the United States Mint officially announced the designs for the George H.W. Bush Presidential $1 Coin and the Barbara Bush First Spouse Gold Coin. According to a news release from the Mint, the First Spouse Gold Coin honoring former first lady Barbara Bush will be minted first. Mrs. Bush, who served as first lady from 1989 to 1993, died in April 2018 at the age of 92. The front of the collectible coin features a portrait of the beloved Bush family matriarch wearing her signature three-strand pearl necklace, while the reverse pays homage to her passionate advocacy for family literacy....

A reader recently asked why I don’t promote native plants that don’t destroy the habitat. I responded that I write about many such plants I admire—like native wisteria, a much tamer version than its non-native relatives, and bottlebrush buckeye, an easy-to-grow shrub that’s showy summer through fall. However, implicit in this reader’s question, it seemed to me, was the notion that natives are inherently nicer and never take a toll on the land where they grow....