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They’re vines, they’re evergreen, they have fragrant and showy flowers, and their names sound alike. If you have something in your garden you want covered fast, they just might be the ticket – Carolina jessamine and Confederate jasmine. Carolina Jessamine Native to the South and the state flower of South Carolina, Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is commonly seen trained over doorways, bay windows, on walls and fences, and up lamp posts and mailboxes....

The North Carolina Zoo is celebrating the successful release of four of their cutest residents. A group of four orphaned North American river otters were released back into the wild this month, after receiving care at the zoo’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. All four otter pups were rescued this spring. Three were found near the North Carolina coast, while the fourth otter was later taken in from the state’s mountains. They were estimated to be 12 to 18 weeks old at the time and in good physical condition....

The Yellowstone universe just keeps getting bigger! Paramount+ has reportedly ordered 1932, the next chapter in the sweeping Western drama and its star-studded prequel series, 1883. According to Entertainment Weekly, 1932 will follow a new generation of Duttons “against the desolate backdrop of the Western expansion, Prohibition, and Great Depression.” Consider us hooked already. “The incredible storytelling and stellar performances behind 1883 have fueled phenomenal new records for Paramount+,” Tanya Giles, chief programming officer at ViacomCBS Streaming, said in a statement....

Even if you don’t recognize this shrub’s singsong name, you’ve likely encountered this gorgeous hydrangea in a Southern garden or two. Peegee hydrangea is a popular selection of Hydrangea paniculata, which takes the form of a shrub or a small tree. It is one of the most popular and widely grown of the panicle hydrangeas, and it is also known as ‘Grandiflora.’ Peegee hydrangea is often grown as an upright tree; it can be trained to heights of up to 25 feet tall, but it is most often found growing at heights of 10 to 15 feet tall and 8 feet wide....

A cheesecake is one of the most elegant and beautiful desserts to serve when you want to impress your guests. Unfortunately, it is also a temperamental treat and will develop ugly cracks on the surface if it is not prepared and handled properly. To serve a velvety smooth, stunning cheesecake, here are five tips to prevent cracks in your dessert. Start with Room Temperature Ingredients Cheesecakes such as this citrus topped Grapefruit Cheesecake are very sensitive to extreme temperature differentials....

Do you remember what you were doing on September 17, 1977? Maybe not? Well, that date is seared into the memory of Reba McEntire, because it was the day that she first saw the one and only Dolly Parton in real life. Turns out, however, that the first time these two icons of country music were in the same place, the universe was not making it easy for them to be friends....

‘Tis the season for spills, stains, and smudges. We asked Laura Goodman, P&G Senior Scientist and Fabric Care Expert to share her best-kept secrets on the biggest laundry blunders we’ll face this season. She sounded off on everything from how to remove the most stubborn grease stains to how to get rid of those pesky pills that seem to plague our favorite holiday sweaters. Just be sure to keep your garments out of the dryer until the stains are removed, as that’s a surefire way to set a stain....

Over the decades, the city of Memphis gained its reputation through many channels. Barbecue and blues are two of its major claims to fame, but historic hotels are a close third. And those overnight options just keep getting better. A new property, Central Station Hotel, has reimagined a historic Memphis train depot to create a one-of-a-kind experience that evokes the excitement of rail travel cloaked in midcentury style. According to the hotel’s website, “The Central Station has stood watch over South Main Street in downtown Memphis for more than 100 years, a direct reflection of the success, struggle, and spirit of the city that grew up around it....

Fried Catfish Recipes Classic Fried Catfish Spicy “Fried” Catfish with Lemon Cream Fried Lemon Rosemary Catfish Members of our Food staff have a tough time arriving at a consensus when it comes to the Southern delicacy of fried catfish. We tried a variety of techniques, from soaking catfish overnight to combining the best ingredients from several different recipes. We found 4- to 6-ounce, thin-cut, farm-raised fillets easy to manage in the skillet, and they curl up when cooked, giving great eye appeal....

With the same sugar-white sand and thoughtfully planned layout as its due-west counterparts on Highway 30A on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Rosemary Beach makes a play for the distinction of most charming. The town’s iconic architecture draws influences from St. Augustine, New Orleans, and Charleston, with deep eaves, broad porches, and tucked-away gardens. Nothing is more than a five-minute walk from the town square, which is centered on a green space frequented by vacationers as they bike to and from the beach, play bocce ball, or just chill in the middle of it all with a good book....

Flowering dogwood trees are hallmarks of Southern landscaping. These year-round growers are known to produce dazzling blooms in spring and summer, along with showy foliage in the fall. The state of Virginia loved dogwoods so much that they named it their official tree. Flowering dogwoods (or Cornus florida), are the most widely recognized type of this classic tree, but the genus offers a diverse array of selections with unique characteristics....

I grab my Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven for everything, including soups, stews, casseroles, and yes, desserts, too. I even find myself grabbing it over most of my nonstick frying pans because it’s sturdier and produces better heat retention. Even though it’s a one-pot weeknight meal staple, it’s also a great tool for sauteing vegetables and searing meat for appetizers and side dishes. BUY IT: $79.90 (orig. $119.85); amazon.com...

Southern cooks know that if you’re sent home from a dinner party with leftovers, you must return the container you were sent with—full, of course, with something homemade from your own kitchen. Recently, I not only had an empty container to give back to a friend, but I had a separate household to thank for dog sitting. A day-making dessert was clearly needed in both cases. I wanted to make a homemade sweet with an ingredient list that wouldn’t require too big of a grocery bill....

Cereal is an everyday pantry staple no household can run without, be it the adult varieties of bran and wheaties or the more sugary, brightly colored boxes the kids love. It’s easy, crowd-pleasing, and quicker than almost any other weekday breakfast—which is why our pantries are always littered with at least a few open boxes going more stale by the minute. It’s a conundrum: We want all the options without having to throw them out in a week....

Tell a Southerner, “to make a long story short” and they’ll likely reply “well, why would you want to do that?” Coincidentally, the same principal applies to eggs. Put an egg white omelet on the menu and we will likely think, “well, why would you want to order that?” Why would you take out the best part? If you’re going to tell a story, tell a story. If you’re going to eat eggs, order a real omelet....

Pizza is the culinary definition of versatility—you can personalize it as much or as little as you’d like, and still, whatever you choose is what you choose. But there’s an ingredient that you’ve been missing on your pizza that will take it to the next level. Eggs. Not only do eggs on your pizza justify pizza for breakfast, but they add a creamy, rich layer to the cheese that is working to offset the tangy acidic bite of pizza sauce—not to mention that perfect chewy-runny combo that comes from bread eaten with a runny egg....

Lately it seems the internet is full of articles beating you over the head about things you are doing wrong in your life: cutting watermelons all wrong, wearing bobby pins all wrong, and, get this–you’ve been cutting your layer cakes all wrong. Sorry, but I need to add one more item to that list, and it is possibly the most important one of all: you may be venting your pies all wrong....

Best Early Home Deals With the change of seasons, it’s time to give your home a refresh—not just with plaid throw pillows and pumpkin scented candles, but also with fresh bed sheets, updated cleaning tools, and new storage solutions. If vacuuming is your least favorite chore (and we don’t blame you), check out the Shark Ion Robot Vacuum that does the hard work for you thanks to its smart navigation system and three brushes for 29 percent off....

It happens all the time. You find an amazing recipe that you can’t wait to cook, but it has a few spices you’ve never heard of and have to go searching for in the store. While browsing the aisles of your local grocery store, you’re likely to be taken back by the prices of spices. Why are those tiny bottles so expensive? Here are five reasons why you pay more for spices....

Andie MacDowell is headed back to Hallmark Channel! The South Carolina native is set to star in The Way Home, the network’s new, original primetime series first announced last month. According to the show’s official synopsis, MacDowell plays Del, matriarch of the Landry family and a “pillar of the close-knit community of her small, Canadian farm town.” Del and her daughter Kat have been estranged since tragic events prompted Kat to move away from home....