When designers Kevin McElroy and Matthew Wolpe unveiled their mod Chick-in-a-Box chicken coop at a 2010 Bay Area Maker Faire for inventors and indie designers, they thought they were onto something. Chickens had moved from the farm to the backyard, after all, and coops had become popular projects for architects and artisans alike.

"We call it Craig's house, in fact," says David Henderson, stay-at-home dad, first-time general contractor and, more to the point, ace hunter-gatherer.

Mary "Mimi" Sandmann has been watching the birds come and go from her Lafayette Township, Ohio, backyard for more than 30 years.

Wild, weird and wonderful, exotic plants from faraway places hold the promise of delicate beauty, sensuality and mystery.

With Valentine's Day and maybe a few days of springlike weather around the corner, it's a good time to revamp your trusty old picnic basket so you are ready for picnic season and poised to prepare a charming, mobile lunch.

On Gardening:  The tropical look is so popular, gardeners across the country are looking for palms, bananas and any plants that will call to mind that steel drum atmosphere of the islands. If you find yourself in that group, remember the needle palm.

Top Drawer Joyce Clark Hicks finds the best for your home and garden:  The best of everything for your home and garden

DIY Q&A:  Q: How important is wall insulation? I live in a house built before the World War II and a contractor who did some work on it told me there is no insulation in the walls. What should I do? –L. Lyle

Ask the Gardener:  I relocated here from New Mexico in November, and even though it is winter, I am really enjoying how much more greener everything is! I am looking forward to my first spring here. I do want to learn about the native plants, and I was wondering if you knew of a source within easy driving distance that featured native plants for sale.

Imagine the challenges of producing an 18th-century historical drama, or a reality TV show that replicates life two centuries ago. Everything on the set has to come almost directly from nature. You’d have clay, wood, fabric, stone, glass, some crude metallurgy and that’s about it. No petroleum-based plastics or paints, no synthetic fabrics, no electronics.

For 2013, Sue Black is delighted to have her dining room back to use for its intended purpose. Gone are the woodworking tools, the sawdust and the projects in progress that have claimed it for 20 years.

Living Space:  Instead of trying to beat the crowds on Feb. 14, why not celebrate Valentine’s Day at home this year?