Container gardening
A procession of conifers in sturdy pots provide a welcoming guide up the stairs to the stoop of this brownstone in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Front stoops have long welcomed visitors to city homes, and have served as gathering spots for friends and neighbors engaging in what urban design activist Jane Jacobs called “the sidewalk ballet.” (Kate Cook via AP)
The Stoop: Creating a welcoming spot for hanging out

By Kim Cook Apr. 22, 2021 09:01 AM EDT

Early morning shoppers in Oxford Street, London, Monday April 12, 2021. Millions of people in Britain will get their first chance in months for haircuts, casual shopping and restaurant meals on Monday, as the government takes the next step on its lockdown-lifting road map. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP)
Chilly weather doesn't dampen UK joy at lockdown easing

By Jill Lawless Apr. 12, 2021 05:25 AM EDT

An orchid purchased at Trader Joe's grocery store that has rebloomed is pictured on March 4, 2021, in Atlanta. Once the flowers on an orchid die, though it's tempting to toss the plant, that orchid can bloom again. (AP Photo/Ali Kaufman)
The ubiquitous orchid: A pandemic project with surprises

By Beth Harpaz Mar. 23, 2021 08:47 AM EDT

This photo provided by Rottet Studio shows a backyard designed by architect and interior designer Lauren Rottet in Montauk, N.Y. To add color and a lovely scent, Rottet recommends adding a large planter filled with flowering plants, as she did here in this backyard. (Eric Laignel/Rottet Studio via AP)
Making the most of your outdoor space, no matter how small

By Melissa Rayworth Jun. 23, 2020 09:04 AM EDT

Denmark's Queen Margrethe waves from the doorstep of Fredensborg Castle, in Fredensborg, Denmark, Thursday, April 16, 2020. Despite spending her 80th birthday in isolation due to the coronavirus, many people gathered outside the castle to sing happy birthday. (Olafur Steinar Gestsson/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
Amid lockdown, Danes find way to celebrate queen's birthday

By Jan M. Olsen Apr. 16, 2020 08:55 AM EDT