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  • The Hibiscus Hiatus Hypothesis

    L.A. Jackson answers gardeners’ questions about non-flowering hibiscus, bulb planting schedules, and wildflower identification.

  • Ancient ginkgo drops carpet of yellow leaves

    Later this fall, the singular fan-shaped leaves of the ginkgo tree will turn a rich golden yellow, and in the silence of the night, the tree will offer a little arboreal tremor and drop its entire canopy in one go.

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Buttermilk Cake with Fresh Strawberries and Cream is from "The Foster's Market Cookbook," by Sara Foster with Sarah Belk King.

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Entertainment

This Sept. 4, 2013 photo shows country music artist Kenny Rogers at The Hot Seat in Nashville, Tenn. Rogers' latest album, "You Can't Make Old Friends," was released on Oct. 8.

Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton reunite on new duet

Three decades after their unforgettable team up on "Islands in the Stream," Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton have a new duet out on Rogers' latest album.

Food & Drink

Kate Brunson of Maryland tries a cheese in the final rounds of an N.C. State Fair contest at N.C. State University on Friday as Stephenie Drake of Texas looks on. Brunson is director of purchasing for specialty foods for Whole Foods’ mid-Atlantic region, while Drake is a scientist with the Daisy dairy company.

Artisans vie for ‘big cheese’ at NC State Fair

Judges sampled an avalanche of cheeses at the unofficial start to the NC State Fair, trying more cheeses than any dinner party guest would ever endure. And, like dinner guests, the cheeses came in many varieties: Some were salty, some were smoky, ...

Home & Garden

Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) bloom best in a location that is sunny from early morning to the mid-afternoon.

The Hibiscus Hiatus Hypothesis

L.A. Jackson answers gardeners’ questions about non-flowering hibiscus, bulb planting schedules, and wildflower identification.

Fashion

Last month North Carolina native Charles Harbison hosted his first New York Fashion Week runway show for his womenswear line.

From Lincolnton to N.C. State to Vogue: Charles Harbison beats the fashion odds

Lincolnton native Charles Harbison sees his fashion dreams realized with his own critically acclaimed women’s clothing line.

Travel

The Quillen family from Lima, Ohio hoped to see the synchronous fireflies over the Little River in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park but were told that more of the bugs would be seen if the faced away from the water.

Mountain tourism hit by national park shutdown

The closure of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park during the federal shutdown cost the region $33 million in lost tourism, according to an analysis released Friday.

Health & Wellness

Not just a 'women's disease,' osteoporosis strikes men too

GRAND FORKS, N.D.-Osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to weaken and sometimes break, is often thought of as a "women's disease," but it poses a significant threat to more than 2 million men in the United States, according to the National Institutes...

Family

Duke Gardens in Durham is always a lovely place for a family outing, but this weekend, there is an added bonus – the Fall Festival in the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden.

Family Picks: A fall festival at Duke Gardens

Duke Gardens in Durham is always a lovely place for a family outing, but this weekend, there is an added bonus – the Fall Festival in the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden.

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