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Meet Lucille, the epitome of charm. This laid-back lady is your ideal companion, always ready to share life’s moments by your side. Lucille’s journey began as a devoted mother, nurturing seven chubby pups while in the care of a local shelter. Since joining the Second Chance family, Lucille has captured the ...

Enter to win tickets to Willie Nelson & Family in concert with Drayton Farley, at Koka Booth Amphitheatre on April 27th. Tickets on sale now! Contest ends Sunday, March 29th at 11:59 p.m.

North Carolina Symphony presents "Mozart "Great" Mass" featuring the North Carolina Master Chorale! Listen just after 8a.m. for Big Jim's Fast Facts to win! 🎟️ Tickets now on sale! 🎟️

Win a 4-pack of tickets to the Fairgrounds Southern Ideal Home Show. Your project begins here! The Fairgrounds Southern Ideal Home Show, April 10-12 at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds - 3 days only to shop, compare and save with over 150 trusted local experts under one roof. Don't miss Christopher Knight, of Chris...

Maya is a beautiful tuxedo girl with a very gentle heart. She is incredibly sweet and loving. Maya can be shy and sensitive, and new environments may feel overwhelming for her at first. She's looking for a calm, patient adopter who understands that trust takes time and won't expect her to settle in overnight. With gent...

Meet Chardonnay - a total sweetheart with a gentle guardian heart. This loving girl has earned the nickname "little shadow" because she adores her people and likes to stay close, quietly keeping an eye on everything. True to her German Shepherd roots, Chardonnay is alert and aware but calm and affectionate, h...

Becky (3½) is a soft, snuggly calico queen who melts into pets and loves cozy naps near her people 🤍 Buckley (3½) is her orange tabby best friend with a calm, comforting presence and a serious talent for lazy-day cuddles. Becky is gentle and affectionate, always happiest close to those she loves. Buckl...

Ziggy is a 3-year-old poodle mix with a big heart and plenty of pep! He's the best of both worlds-happy to go for walks and burn off his energy, then just as content to curl up on the couch, the bed, or even the floor for a cozy nap. While he may give a few barks when someone's at the door, he quickly settles and greet...

Lorena is a truly sweet girl with the gentlest soul. From her soft demeanor to her loving presence, she's the kind of cat who brings a sense of calm wherever she goes. She enjoys the company of other cats and does well with feline friends, especially those who match her easygoing nature. Lorena can also do well with po...

Meet Bugsy - a stunning tan beauty with plush, velvety fur and a personality just as warm. Bugsy is fully housebroken and loves nothing more than soaking up the sunshine while lounging in the backyard. Don't let her elegance fool you-this girl has hops, so yard time should always be supervised! She's social, energetic,...

Tingle is a tabby kitten with a gentle, sweet disposition and the kind of engaging eyes that stop you in your tracks. One look at her and you can tell she's curious about the world and ready to be part of it. She brings all the best parts of kittenhood, playful bursts of energy, curiosity, and just the right amount of ...

By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener I have always been fascinated by unusual plants, trees, shrubs and flowers that I rarely see, especially those growing in North Carolina. Autumn-blooming cherry, Higan Cherry or Autumnalis Rosea (Prunus x subhurtella), is a rarity around these parts as far as I can determine. It is a...

Meet Onslow! Onslow is a gentle, easygoing hound with a heart made for snuggling. This big couch potato is happiest curled up next to his people, soaking up all the love and affection he can get. He's a quiet, thoughtful guy who prefers to observe the world with a calm wag rather than a big bark. Onslow enjoys his walk...

By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener I have spent many hours looking out our window into the backyard. It gives Melissa and me great pleasure. The same can be said for the joy of watching the many birds that visit and reserve their bit of habitat in the Raley landscape. I think my real interest in birding began with my ...

By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener Alas, another plant I have never owned and rarely seen in the landscapes in the Triangle. Of course, I normally don't trespass to look for plants so there may be a lot more out there than I realize. One of the reasons may be that the Carolina Silverbell (Helesia carolina), a native f...

By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener Our friend Phil Campbell and her brother, who owns a separate nursery near Mt Airy, grow extraordinary plants of all kinds. Every year Phil brings down poinsettias and other Christmas wonders from brother Jim's place. Beauties like the Holiday Cactus and Cyclamen. It's the latter I w...

I have always believed that God is in everything. There can be nothing on Earth to which this idea applies more than a garden. Don't forget - one of God's first creations was the Garden of Eden. George Bernard Shaw once wrote, "The best place to find God is in a garden." For me, gardening has become a spiritu...

Most of us have seen or have some knowledge of the most iconic plant in the world: It's the "Venus Flytrap", which is native to a small area of southeastern North Carolina. One of its cousins, also a native to the "Tar Heel State", is the venerable "Pitcher Plant". It is also carnivorous a...

Naomi is a gentle 12-year-old tabby who came to us after her owner became homeless and wanted a better life for her. Now, Naomi is hoping to find a loving home where she can spend her golden years in comfort and peace.She's a sweet and affectionate girl who enjoys cuddles and the occasional playful moment. Naomi gets a...

One of the most economical and practical things you can do for the plants in your landscape and vegetable garden is to start a compost pile. We've discussed it fairly often on the "WPTF Weekend Gardener" over the last 40 years. The first step is to find a relatively shady well-drained location in your back ya...