Striking views of nature’s wonders:  John Rottet, whose work has been featured in the 'Scapes column in Home & Garden since April 2004, is retiring after 30 years as a photojournalist for The News & Observer. The photo column was to "explore the beauty of nature, the elegance of architecture and the details of the surroundings that make our community unique." Here are a couple of his memorable photos of nature. Above, a Cope's gray tree frog (Hyla chrysoscelis) clings to ornamental grass in a small backyard pond in northern Durham County. These frogs produce a lovely flute-like trill, particularly on summer nights after a thunderstorm.

I am a recent transplant from Minnesota, and not only am I happy that you have hockey - go Hurricanes! - but I am really looking forward to growing camellias.

While wood and brick are obvious choices for a fence, certain evergreen shrubs also do this work very well, with the bonus of creating a softer, more natural barrier.

Don't look now, but your home is under assault. Simple fixes can help prevent home invasion by pollen, mold and dust.

Class on caring for houseplants. Create your own bonsai. Of interest on Pinterest. Save that wrapper. Freezing ginger.

Whether you're looking to add an unexpected punch of color to a kitchen chair or to strike a bold note in a powder room, the "it" color of 2012 is not for the faint of heart.

Asheville gardener Nan Chase writes about her passion - edibles you grow and eat.

In this page-turner, entomologist and first-rate raconteur Marlene Zuk draws swarms of six-legged subjects under the microscope and enlightens all along the way.

Q: We have a terrible problem with squirrels getting in our attic. I don't have access to the attic. Can you help? - M. Dunlap

U.S. agriculture officials confirmed last week what plants have been telling us for years: Winters aren't as cold as they used to be. The temperature difference over the past two decades has caused a shift in this state's winter-hardiness planting zones.

What it is: "Slow Gardening: A No-Stress Philosophy for All Senses and Seasons" is iconoclast gardener-author Felder Rushing's slow-paced, all-purpose guide to living the slow life in the garden.

The gazania has to rank near the top of those daisy-like flowers so beautiful that everyone longs to have them in the garden. Remember the name Sunbathers, a colorful, relatively new series that is easy to grow.

Singer Sewing Co. is marking the brand's 160th anniversary with a sewing machine that's reminiscent of machines from years past.

Q: Several years ago we had new aluminum rain gutters and downspouts installed on our house. During heavy rains, there is so much noise in the downspouts that it keeps people awake in some of the bedrooms. What can we do about this?

This is what happens when you're a health reporter with a weakness for home design. I go to this party, which is to raise awareness (and money) for women who have heart disease. Like many parties for worthy causes, it's held in a very worthy home.

Who and ware:  When Megan Clark headed to art school, she didn't intend to become a jewelry designer, much less a self-employed one by the age of 26, but she's grateful for the twists and turns in her path.

Garden catalogs are more than pages and pages of pretty pictures for casual enjoyment.

I have always wondered why summer squash isn't more popular with gardeners.

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