Blessed are those who save seeds produced by plants they have grown, for they shall inherit the earth's crops in all their biodiversity. Only slightly less blessed are those who save seed packets. Yes, you paid money for them, but you rarely use all of what's in those little envelopes, so into th...

Q: I just purchased a vacation home on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Our waterfront cottage is darling, and it is landscaped nicely. I would like to put something in the window boxes and perhaps add urns and planters around the house. I would like to have loads of flowers with trailing vines, but since...

If there is a room in your home that needs some interior-design help but you don't know where to start, you may be interested in Spring Spruce Up , an annual promotion offered by the Washington chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). This program matches Washington area...

Q: I have a lot at the beach with wetlands that I cannot disturb. What plants could I choose for this sandy area?

There are curators in this town who are responsible for some pretty important stuff: the Declaration of Independence, Leonardo da Vinci's picture of Ginevra de'Benci and copies of Shakespeare's First Folio, to name a few.

During mild spells, check fall-planted perennials, shrubs and trees. The freeze-thaw cycle can cause soil to heave, exposing plant roots. Reset dislodged root balls and apply a winter mulch to temper future freeze effects.

Getting your paws on sleek puppy beds, cool bird cages and haute cat collars has become easier than teaching a dog tricks, thanks to a new generation of chic pet companies. What began with a few high-end designers offering modern, handmade wares has evolved into a growing part of the pet-product...

These food establishments were closed because of health code violations. The list, compiled from health department reports, reflects actions taken by the departments.

Commemorate Black History Month by taking in a performance by the Durham, N.C.'s Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble. The troupe's daytime shows have an educational mission, with Davis (who majored in theater and dance at Howard) as a storyteller, plus dance and music from West Africa....

Earthsac Reusable Insulated Tote. This pale-green shopping bag keeps frozen and refrigerated items cold until you get them home. It has a flat, reinforced bottom, is made of wipe-clean polyester fabric and has a food-safe insulated lining. Folds flat. $9.99 at http://www.containerstore.com .

"The walls are painted washed-over green, the window treatment looks like the '80s, the chairs are not great . . . the room just does not have the 'feel' that you want when

These sales data were provided by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. To find sale and assessment records for homes in other Washington areas, visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/realestate .

Are we done dieting? Many of us want to lose weight, and many more probably should. But in recent months I've seen a subtle shift in the diet-guidance market: Instead of prescribing eating regimens, many weight-loss experts are suggesting that we reevaluate our relationship with food, focus on ea...

Two months back, tiny Lincoln University attracted worldwide media attention when it threatened to withhold diplomas from overweight students unless they took a special fitness class.

Marni Barron, an innovative educator, shares my discomfort with many Washington area school districts that rate nearly 100 percent of their teachers as satisfactory. (I'm not kidding: Alexandria says 99 percent, Fairfax County, 99.1 percent, Montgomery County, 95, Loudoun County, 99, Prince George's...

A.k.a. Spot. This Clarendon shop stocks chic beds, blankets, collars and more. It also has a do-it-yourself station for washing your dog. 2509 N. Franklin Rd., Arlington. 703-248-0093. http://www.akaspot.com .

Prince George's County Animal Shelter, 3750 Brown Station Rd. in Upper Marlboro, makes animals available for adoption by residents of the county and other jurisdictions. Adoptable animals, as well as lost pets, can be seen at the shelter's Web site, at http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov . Under...

The following cases were received by the Prince George's County Department of Environmental Resources Animal Management Group. Call 301-780-7200 for directions to the county animal shelter, hours of operation and adoption and licensing procedures. The shelter's Web site is at...

Her father made history by helping found Prince George's County's first all-black volunteer fire station, and now Ruby Keeling is carving out her own place in the fire department community.

Chris Urquiaga, 18, of Beltsville has been playing piano since he was 7 and singing since his early teens. He has performed at numerous recitals and concerts, but he will take the stage Wednesday at perhaps his most prestigious venue yet.

Riverdale Park is examining a potential program in which town residents could ride the University of Maryland, College Park's buses without paying fares.

MALL WALKERS, a supervised walking program with blood pressure monitoring; parents may bring children in strollers. Sponsored by Southern Maryland Hospital Center. 8-9:30 a.m. weekdays, Centre at Forestville, Pennsylvania Avenue and Donnell Drive, Forestville. Register at the mall's Center Court....

A Stellar Award nomination and an invitation to the Nashville ceremony were enough to please Emory Andrews, 54, and the Oxon Hill High School Choir he directs. But when the choir's album, "Amazing," on YRome Records, won the Children's Performance of the Year award, Andrews and the students were...

First Baptist Church of Suitland will host "Discover Your Destiny," a seminar led by Pastor Paul G. Mathenia at 9 a.m. Saturday for age 2 and older. 5400 Silver Hill Rd., Suitland. To register, e-mail paul@saved4sure.com and mention the seminar location and number of people attending, call...

The Prince George's County Department of Social Services and the Maryland Department of Human Resources need fluent speakers of Creole or French to help repatriate Haitian evacuees. Contact Loretta Tillery, ltillery@dhr.state.md.us or 301-909-7016.

These were among incidents reported recently by Prince George's County police. For information, call 301-772-4710.

Reusable bags were a hot topic during our recent Home Web chats (http://www.washingtonpost.com/liveonline). Here are tips from our bag-savvy readers on buying totes and making them part of your shopping routine.

If caulk around a tub or shower has deteriorated, the middle of this month is a perfect time to replace it. Why then? Most tub caulk needs to cure for 24 to 36 hours before you expose it to water. So if you devote, say, Feb. 13, to the yucky task of prying out the old stuff and the somewhat intim...

One of Washingtonians' worst fears these days is being caught shopping without their own bags. As people adjust to the new five-cent fee on disposable bags in the District, everyone seems to have something to say on the subject.

Dear Dr. Fox: We adopted two young dogs that had been abused at a puppy mill. They have adjusted nicely.

Dear Dr Gridlock : The garage at the Franconia-Springfield Blue Line station is undergoing some sort of renovation that occasionally causes a rapid fill-up in the morning, but not every morning. The station manager didn't know much, but said to call Metro information , which I did.