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Fig trees, plants in the family Moraceae and genus Ficus, are well known for their delicious fruits, which we bake into all manner of dishes. There’s one biological aspect of the plants’ lives, though, that surprised us when we learned about it. During their lifespans, figs undergo what Martine Hossaert-McKey and Judith L. Bronstein describe in The American Journal of Botany (2001) as “highly specialized pollination mutualism with agaonid wasps.” While many figs we now plant are self-pollinating, some figs still rely on wasps for pollination....

There are no commercial flights to Boca Grande, Florida, and there probably never will be. Arriving on Gasparilla Island by car offers the first lesson in how you will spend your time there—in low gear. Normally, moving at 35 miles per hour would feel like steering through molasses to me, but driving into the village, I actually wanted to dip below the speed limit. I felt a tingle in the air, something charged but relaxed at the same time, and it immediately seemed disrespectful to race onto the golf cart-laden streets....

Anti-aging products are notoriously pricey, with some cult favorites ringing in at well above $50. But imagine a world in which you did not have to set aside a portion of your paycheck to fund your skincare regimen. This may sound like a lofty dream, but one grocery store superhero is making it a reality. We’re not willing to sacrifice our meticulous, well-practiced anti-aging routine, but we shouldn’t have to spend top dollar on basic skincare necessities....

After several years of pandemic separations, this Thanksgiving promises to be epic for get-togethers. So you might be thinking about preparing now. But if you’ve ever cooked a Thanksgiving meal—and most of us have, of course—then you know how frustrating it can be to prepare ahead of time, given that supermarkets like to mostly showcase seasonal items. But there are some elements you can decide on now and then buy products accordingly....

The two best places in the world to enjoy sweet tea are: 1. your front porch; and 2. Summerville, South Carolina. Each year, the town known as the “Birthplace of Sweet Tea,” celebrates the beloved beverage with its very own festival, which is currently in full swing outside Charleston. The week-long Summerville Sweet Tea Festival transforms historic downtown Summerville into a massive street fair complete with food trucks, artisanal vendors, and live entertainment....

Some disagreements in life are better left unsettled. I, for instance, stand firmly in the camp of refrigerating peanut butter. My boyfriend, at any given time, has two opened jars of Skippy sitting in the pantry. We’ve been happily keeping our PB rations separate since 2011. But the Great Ketchup Debate over keeping the popular condiment in the pantry or refrigerator is one we’re both on the same page: Once it’s opened,to the fridge it goes....

Dolly Parton may not be the biological mother to a child of her own, but at this point, it’s clear she’s pretty much a surrogate mother to all of her country music fans. And while the beloved singer seems to have no regrets about not having any children and the utmost faith that she’s living her life exactly as she was meant to, like any decision in life, there’s always the “what if…” thoughts that pop into your head from time to time....

Singer, actor, songwriter, novelist, philanthropist, perfumer, businesswoman, legend… Dolly Parton is many things, including a bit of a risk-taker in the kitchen. In a February interview with Insider, the Tennessee songbird shared her love for mac and cheese along with her surprising (though decidedly Southern) trick for making it even more delicious. “That’s something else I like is mac and cheese,” Parton said. “And if you serve that with fried apples, that’s a great taste combination....

You know that friend you have that is always waxing poetic about how incredible Dyson vacuum cleaners are? Their unwavering allegiance to the Dyson brand knows no boundaries, whether it’s praising Dyson cordless stick vacuums or the Dyson Corrale hair straightener. Inspired by their devotion to the British technology company best known for their vacuums, you decide to peruse their site for yourself. After a quick glance, you may realize you’ll need to save a few more paychecks until you can become that friend, after all....

The internet is full of stories of Chick-fil-A employees going above and beyond for their customers, but parents of young children have been particularly moved by this latest tale out of north Alabama. Lauren Langley took to Facebook Saturday to share what she and her sons went through at a Chick-fil-A location in Guntersville earlier that day. In a now viral post (below), Langley, 33, said she was ordering lunch at the Chick-fil-A drive thru when she experienced the scariest moments of her life....

Be kind to your ticker—it does so much for you. One smart healthy step you can take? Cut back on sugary drinks, or nix them completely. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association last month, consuming more than 12 ounces of sugary drinks more than once per day is associated with lower levels of the so-called “good” cholesterol and higher levels of triglycerides for both middle aged and older adults....

Makeup sponges have the power to transform a ho-hum complexion to the kind of flawless-looking skin you might have thought was only possible for airbrushed cover stars or cousin Lorraine who’s on a sugar-free diet. We’re here to say that with a makeup-blending sponge you can have your cake and eat it too. This little tool of the trade comes with a caveat, though. It’s going to need a little care and maintenance to keep it in tip-top shape and to avoid fostering a bacteria breeding ground....

I’ve never seen anyone relish blueberry season quite like my mother-in-law. At the first sign of summer weather, she’s getting the 411 from her favorite U-pick farms like clockwork. Diving between the branches, she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty. Apparently there’s something about leaving with a few scratches on your arms that says you’re doing it right. It’s her summertime zen, and it rubs off on anyone she brings along....

When they’re puppies, they’re the stars of the show: Much like a new child, young pups captivate our attention, receiving plenty of cuddles and treats. But seasoned dog owners know that older dogs are just as loveable as young ones. Older dogs are often more mellow, and over time they learn your habits and become more equipped to respond to your needs. Many dog owners swear that their senior dogs can immediately tell when their humans are feeling sad and know exactly how to offer comfort, whether it’s a nuzzle or a paw-touch....

Whether you like your chili with beans or without, chock full of beef or strictly vegetarian, mild or spicy enough to make you sweat, we can all agree that a good bowl of chili should have a thick and chunky texture. After all, you want to pile your bowl full of delicious toppings, right? Many chili recipes, especially ones made with beans, will thicken up in the pot all by themselves as the cooking liquid simmers and reduces down....

Krispy Kreme is celebrating its 85th birthday in epic fashion. The North Carolina-based doughnut giant is marking 85 years of serving its iconic Original Glazed Doughnuts with a week of delicious deals for fans, including treating 8,500 people to a year of free Original Glazed dozens. Yes, really. Beginning Monday, July 11 through Thursday, July 14, every participating Krispy Kreme shop in the U.S. will randomly select multiple guests each day to receive a Krispy Kreme 85th birthday card....

Paul Janeway, frontman for St. Paul & the Broken Bones, grew up in Chelsea, Alabama, and first began singing in church at four. After non-stop touring pre-pandemic, he and his band have gone from the cramped stage of a small Tennessee pizza joint to opening for the Rolling Stones. Get to Know Paul Janeway Southerners value their relationships with their families, and Paul Janeway, frontman of the Birmingham-based band St. Paul and the Bones, is no exception....

Having wildflowers spontaneously spring up in your garden can be endearing at times. It’s like nature wanted to support you in your green thumb endeavors by adding its own flourish to your yard, until you learn that some wildflowers are deadly. Poison-hemlock (Conium maculatum) is a wildflower that grows throughout the United States, and although its flowers are strikingly like those of Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota), you do not want to add this wildflower to your arrangements....

We’re always on the lookout for great road trip stops, charming small towns, and driveable destinations for weekend getaways. That’s how we learned about Greer, South Carolina. If you don’t know about this place, you soon will. It has lots to recommend it: Located between Greenville (one of the South’s cities on the rise) and Spartanburg, it’s a destination for great shops and restaurants, plus there are green parks and tranquil lakes for relaxing on the weekends....

No one road trips quite like Southerners do. From our scenic drives, to our delectable gas station eats, to our always-be-prepared approach to seasoning and on-the-go dining. But when cruising through the South there are a few things you may want to keep in mind—the intense summer heat, the windy back roads, and the many, many places you’re probably going to want to stop and snack (that’s a lot of sweet teas to go)....