Any experienced home buyer or seller will tell you that one of the big ticket items when it comes to houses is the bathroom. But why do we care so much about them?

Oxford resident Joy Greenwood grew up surrounded by artistically-gifted family members. 

Lately there has been a quiet drama unfolding in my garden. Birds are dying — especially Pine Siskens and Purple Finches — not because they hit a glass door or ran afoul of a neighborhood cat, but because there are too many of them and they are contracting salmonella.

When Coke Williams and his wife, Kelly Kitchens, designed a getaway home on the old family farm, they wanted it to rust.

Recent columns have dealt with the tremendous influence of color in our lives and in our gardens.

Volumes have been written on proper pruning techniques. Never fear; we are not doing so today. We are, however, going to discuss some basic pruning procedures to avoid mishaps.

As a newbie gardener more than four decades ago, I made a lot of mistakes. It took years to learn new tricks to fix them. The effort has been successful for the most part. (No one is perfect.)

You’d be forgiven if you thought that the columned white house atop a hill at Fiddler’s Green in Jacksonville had been standing there for centuries. 

The holiday season is upon us, despite lockdowns, masks, illness and shortages. The pandemic has not curbed our traditional urge to shop as we seek some normalcy.

Since I am still living in my pandemic bubble, I spend more and more time gardening. These months have been devastating for so many. Loved ones have gotten very ill. Some have died. Jobs have ended. Homes have been lost.

Whenever someone visits my garden, the first plants on the tour are the pitcher plants.

It is surely no surprise that Mississippi chose its state flower, the Magnolia Southern Grandiflora, for its new state flag.

It is surely no surprise that Mississippi chose its state flower, the Magnolia Southern Grandiflora, for its new state flag.

White flowers provide a sparkle of light in a shade garden. They can brighten the darkest corners.

Having survived June and July, more than a handful of dedicated gardeners are ready to throw in their holey, smelly gardening gloves by August’s arrival.

At the busy intersection of 13th Street and Quintard Avenue, drivers and passengers are treated to an extraordinary sight: the garden of Temple Beth El, the home of Anniston’s Jewish congregation.

On Anniston’s west side stands a cherished Episcopal house of worship built by a native son, John Ward Noble, as a gift to the city. This magnificent building, the Church of St. Michael and All Angels, sits on four acres. The grounds contain lush green spaces populated by towering trees. The…

The grounds surrounding Grace Episcopal Church in Anniston are as lovely as the building itself. A glorious dogwood frames the front of the church. A crepe myrtle reaches almost to the top of the bell tower. Close to 10th Street and a stone’s throw from the hospital are two ginkgo trees. In …

We are currently appreciating the joy of springtime. Every year the color seems to be more flamboyant as our gardens come alive after a long sleep.

Two years ago on March 19, the city of Jacksonville got caught up in a big storm as monster tornadoes ravaged our neighborhoods, destroying homes and shaking our sense of security. We survived through the strength of our community.

Unique houses of worship and the incomparable gardens that surround them improve the heart and soul of an area. Regardless of the belief systems of the congregants or the size of the membership roster, these sacred gardens are a gift to those who take the time to savor nature’s glory.

As in all towns, there are beautiful houses of worship in our area. We are fortunate to have many with distinguished histories as well. Each has some distinct feature that makes it admired.