Some people have a hard enough time keeping their front yard or flower gardens alive, but others can do just about anything with the right plant. Those gardeners who've mastered the art of vertical gardens are beyond green thumbs and are instead closer to plant whisperers. Aside from setting these buildings apart from their surroundings with a living paint job, these plant-covered buildings also benefit from energy savings as they have additional insulation built in to their walls. If you're interested... READ ON

Here in Los Angeles, cars rule. You've all heard the Missing Persons' song "Walking in LA" - well it's true: nobody walks here. It's just not that kind of town. Never has been. We've always been car-crazy here, especially back when cars were something special. Back in the 1920s, the city's love affair with the car turned into some pretty odd offspring. Roadside business shaped like giant owls, dogs and mushrooms sprouted up. It was easier to see a giant... READ ON

Gargoyles bring out a variety of emotions from their spectators. Some people find them chilling, others believe they are intriguing, others think they are humorous. The emotions change even more when you step out of the realm of classic Notre Dame gargoyles and into the world of wacky gargoyles, like those seen above from the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Rather than going for classic monster designs, the designers decided to shoot for classic American imagery with pop culture figures,... READ ON

Playgrounds have come a long way since the early days of hot, steel slides and open-backed infant swings. Safety is a big issue on today's playgrounds, but so is imagination and ingenuity. Take a look at some of the many unusually cool designs popping up around the world. And if you have a favorite we left off the list (which could easily have been twice as long), be sure to tell us about it in the comments. 1. Nishi-Rokugo - Tokyo,... READ ON