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When the flatbed trailer hauling the 55-foot Norway Spruce used to decorate the Biltmore Estate’s front lawn for Christmas pulls up, Greg Andrews is behind the wheel. Delivering a three-ton tree 65 miles to Asheville isn’t easy, but Andrews is used to it: His family’s Newland, North Carolina farm has raised evergreens for Biltmore since the 1970s. Andrews grew up among Avery County’s native rhododendron, mountain laurel, white pines, and hemlocks....

This Veterans Day we may not be having the traditional parades and in-person events honoring our nation’s armed forces, but that doesn’t mean we’re celebrating them any less. If anything, we’re feeling especially grateful for their dedication to serve and protect our country in the midst of a global pandemic. To help honor these heroes during this tough year, nonprofit organization Musicians on Call has stepped up to do something very special to recognize the sacrifices of these brave men and women....

My Lodge cast iron skillet occupies some valuable real estate in my kitchen. It lives on the back burner of my stovetop. Sometimes it moves to another burner or the oven, depending on what I am cooking, but this pan rarely sees the inside of a kitchen cabinet, or is ever tucked away on a high shelf. It’s just too dang useful. Every time I put the thing away, I inevitably pull it right back out again....

A unique baby opossum is in need of a wardrobe. When the unusual animal was dropped off at South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (SPWRC) in Lubbock, Texas, last week, executive director Gail Barnes told Southern Living that she initially believed the opossum to be a hairless cat. “This hairless arm comes out of the box and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s a hairless kitten,’” Barnes said. “I opened it up, and it was a possum....

Taking on a kitchen or bath renovation is exciting, but it’s also time-consuming and requires you to make a lot of decisions. Do you want open shelving or upper and lower cabinets? Do you prefer more drawers or cabinets? What style backsplash do you want? You get the idea. Even if you’ve found your exact dream kitchen on Pinterest and are basing all of your decisions on that photo, there will still be some unexpected details you haven’t thought about....

These nine household spots are hidden sources of dust, grime, and—worse—harmful germs. Here’s where you need to roll up your sleeves and get to work. Under the Fridge Though you may clean the inside of your fridge on a regular basis, many people overlook the area under the fridge, where dusty coils can cause a refrigerator to run inefficiently or stop working altogether. To address this issue, first invest in an inexpensive refrigerator-coil brush (available at most hardware stores for less than $10)....

So you’ve booked your flight, found a hotel, and have an itinerary filled with plans for your next vacation. Now comes the tricky part: fitting all of your clothes and toiletries into a suitcase. While some may advise you simply cut down on outfit options and beauty products for your trip, might we suggest buying a set of expandable compression packing cubes to help you find room for all of the belongings you simply can’t travel without?...

Picking out a child’s name is one of the most exciting things to do once you find out you’re going to become a parent. You can find inspiration for baby names all over the place, whether you look back on the family tree, fondly remember friends and loved ones, take a cue from your favorite books and movies, or turn to the Bible. Biblical names have long been popular. Some biblical baby boy names from the Old Testament, like Noah and Elijah, have been repeated favorites on the list of most popular baby names in recent years....

Even without a pandemic going on, selling your home can be a stressful endeavor. Amidst the coronavirus crisis, trying to sell your home can certainly create even more challenges. That’s why we were thrilled to stumble upon this article from Realtor.com titled “When the Outside Matters More Than Ever: 6 Curb Appeal Tricks To Attract Buyers During Coronavirus,” reminding us that it’s especially important right now to give the area in front of your house some TLC....

Draper James, the Nashville-based apparel line founded by Reese Witherspoon in 2015, just expanded into activewear—and we want the entire collection. The brand is already known for its classic silhouettes and timeless patterns, and as of January 8, you can shop Draper James Sport: a comfortable 20-piece collection including leggings, sports bras, tanks, jackets, hoodies, and more. Prices range from $19 (for an adorably striped stainless steel water bottle) to $150 (for a quality warm-up jacket), with most items in the collection clocking in below $100....

Forgetting to clean your walls doesn’t reveal too much evidence of your cleaning absence. It’s unlikely that the average houseguest will notice you haven’t cleaned your walls unless they’re covered from floor to ceiling with chocolate-smudged fingerprints. Even if you haven’t cleaned them since moving into your house, cleaning walls is not a top priority on people’s spring cleaning lists—unless you have white walls. Everyone warned me that white walls with children were a no-go, but with each warning, my resolve grew....

The air is turning colder, which means it’s time to unpack your long-hibernating winter clothes, break out your best slow-cooker recipes, and—most importantly—get your plants ready for the first frost. While some of the South’s hardier plants can make it through the season unscathed, most need our help to survive until springtime. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, you should keep your eye on the temperature and pay attention to the moisture in the air as well—the first frost will usually happen on a clear, night....

Each Saturday morning after football season ends, legions of bored men armed with saws and loppers emerge from their garages to commit “crepe murder.” They needlessly reduce majestic crepe myrtles to ugly stumps–in many cases, ruining them forever. If you live in the South, chances are you’ve seen these eyesores on every block in your neighborhood—and maybe you’re even guilty of committing an act of murder yourself. I’m always taken aback at people’s obsession with pruning these plants since it should only happen on rare occasions....

You bought a pear. You’d love to eat it right about now. Or mix some sweet wedges in a stiff drink. Or perhaps, you’d like to gingerly slice off a few pieces and scatter them on top of your cinnamon-dusted bowl of oatmeal. Or maybe you have loftier plans of making a pear tart and topping your creation off with a gorgeous fan of fresh pears. But is your pear ripe?...

As we all hunker down at home as much as possible amid the coronavirus crisis, we’re all looking forward to the day when we can return to our favorite restaurants. Across the country, these beacons of hospitality and sustenance are doing what they can to stay afloat. Sometimes, that means getting creative and providing customers with new options to meet changing needs in the current climate. For Chef John Currence’s City Grocery Restaurant Group in Oxford, Mississippi, that means expanding their menus to offer essentials like toilet paper and hand sanitizer and grocery staples like rice, black eyes peas, and grits, all via curbside pickup....

Lamere Johnson, a first-grade student at Johnston Elementary, in Johnston, South Carolina, already had three open heart surgeries by the time he was three years old. His mother Contessa Culbreath, explained to Good Morning America that Lamere has a birth defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which inhibits blood flow through the heart and causes an underdevelopment of left side. Now seven years old, doctors say that Lamere is in need of a new heart....

Cooking competition shows are a dime a dozen. A new series, produced by discovery+ and OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, aims to add depth to the genre by spotlighting an important part of our country’s food history. The Great Soul Food Cook-Off highlights the rich traditions of Black chefs and Black food, as well as the contributions soul food has had on American cuisine in a new series. The six-episode show, which premiered on discovery+ on Nov....

Year-round warm weather is one of the best parts of living in the South. But on extra-toasty days, sometimes you can’t help but wish for a nice, cool breeze. The good news: You can stay comfortable under covered porches and patios regardless of the heat thanks to outdoor ceiling fans, like this one from Hunter Fan Company. Buy It: Starting at $109; amazon.com The outdoor ceiling fan has a strong airflow with adjustable speeds and a simple-yet-sleek design to complement most outdoor spaces....

Painted brick is having a major moment, and rightfully so: It can instantly refresh an exterior without having to undergo an extensive (and expensive) renovation. Magazine pages and Instagram feeds are dripping with jaw-dropping before and afters, from creamy white cottages with a new lease on life to handsome charcoal Craftsmans with “New number, who’s this?” energy. But on the flip side, the vocal unpainted brick contingency clutches their pearls when beautiful brick homes, often historic, are permanently covered with an of-the-moment hue....

During these unsettling times amidst the coronavirus pandemic, we’re all really craving the comfort and inspiration of art. But with museums and cultural institutions shuttered as we remain at home, what’s a Southern arts enthusiast to do? Thankfully, many have pivoted to carry on their mission of enriching people’s lives through art from afar. From botanical gardens below the Mason-Dixon Line to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City so many of these Southern strongholds have worked hard to bring their enlightening experiences directly to your home....