【推荐1】Companion planting is the idea that some kinds of plants can help each other grow. Plants that are compatible（兼容的，能共处的） together generally have similar needs in terms of nutrients，soil and moisture levels.

Advice about which plants are compatible is sometimes based more on tradition than proof. But experts say there is evidence to support certain combinations. These can improve harvests，reduce disease and help with pest control by attracting helpful insects.

For example，some kinds of soil bacteria take nitrogen from the air and make it into a form that plants can use. The plants hold the nitrogen in their roots. Legumes(豆科植物)are especially good at this nitrogen(氮)fixing. Then any crops that share the same space with the legumes can get the nitrogen when the roots are broken down.

Beans and potatoes can also share territory well because their roots reach different levels in the soil. Deep-rooted vegetables get nutrients and moisture from lower down in the soil，so they do not complete with plants with shallower roots.

But some plants placed together may harm each other's development. For example，tomatoes do not like wet soil but watercress does，so you would probably want to keep them separated.

Some kinds of produce should be kept apart even after being harvested. This is because of ethylene gas(乙烯气体)．Ethylene is a plant hormone(激素)that can cause some foods to ripen too quickly. Apples release ethylene gas. Apricots，melons and tomatoes also release a lot of ethylene. Some vegetables are easily affected by ethylene，including asparagus，broccoli，cabbage and cucumbers.

This risk of ripening too soon is why markets often separate high ethylene-producing foods from those that are sensitive to the gas. But if you put an apple in a bag with a green banana，the ethylene from the apple will make the banana ready to eat sooner.

What about peaches，plums and nectarines? These kinds of fruit do not need any help from an apple—they release enough ethylene to ripen themselves. But that does not mean there is no way to get the job done faster.

Growers suggest placing the fruit in a fruit bowl or in a paper bag with the top folded over. Keep the fruit at room temperature，out of direct sunlight. Once the fruit is soft enough，either use it or put it in the refrigerator to keep it from getting too ripe.

【推荐2】The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, is perhaps the earliest and most famous example of botanical gardens. Over decades and centuries, many incredible botanical gardens have been established. Here is a list of them.

Orto Botanico di Padova

The Orto Botanico di Padova in Padua, north-eastern Italy, is the oldest academic botanical garden still in its original location. It was founded in 1545 by the Venetian Republic. It is spread across an area of 22,000 square meters. It is particularly known for its historical architecture, as well as the collection of 6000 kinds of plants. The astonishing botanical garden is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

The Kirstenbosch National botanical Garden is located at the foot of Table Mountain in. Cape Town, South Africa. It is one of South Africa's nine national botanical gardens, which covers five out of six biomes (生物群落)，and the first of its kind in the world. It is famous for exhibiting native plants from different regions.

Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum

The Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum is located in Berlin, Germany. It has 22,000 different plant species. Among its different plants is a giant bamboo. This astonishing garden has a large scientific library attached to it. The complex has buildings and glasshouses.

Singapore Botanic Garden

The 74 hectare (公顷)Singapore Botanic Garden in Singapore is the only botanic garden that stays open from 5 am to 12 midnight, every day. Its attractions include Rainforest, Botany Centre, Tanglin Gate, Jacob Ballas Children's Garden and other gardens. It has the Tembusu tree, seen on the Singaporean five-dollar bill.

【推荐3】It’s been a hard time for rhinos (犀牛) lately. Recently the International Union for Conservation announced the western black rhinos had died out in the wild. It was last seen in western Africa in 2006. Now, those who work to protect the animals are trying to make sure that won’t happen to other rhinos.

19 south-central black rhinos in South Africa were driven to an area nearly 1,000 miles away, which was said to be the gentlest and quickest way to transport the animals. They were taken to a new home that would keep them safe from hunters.

Though it is not allowed to hunt rhinos, many are still killed for their horns, which can sell for as much as $30,000 each. Most of them are used to make drugs as traditional medicines in Asian countries. Some people believe that the horns work well in treating pain, fever and even cancer. However, there is no medical evidence yet.

Black rhino population began falling rapidly in the second half of the 1900s because of poaching. In fact, some people still hunt the animals at the risk of being put into prison. And many of the places where the animals used to live in were destroyed when people started building farms on the grasslands. Until the 1960s, about 65,000 black rhinos lived throughout most of Africa. Today, fewer than 5,000 are left — most of them in zoos and wildlife reserves.

South Africa has the largest population of rhinos in the world. Poaching is an especially big problem in that country. So far, more than 340 rhinos have been killed there. Since 2003, the Black Rhino Expansion Project has been helping the south-central black rhinos in South Africa. The group works with landowners to find areas where rhinos can live safely away from hunters.

So far, the group has successfully saved about 120 rhinos. Leaders of the project say the south-central black rhinos have seen a rise in numbers. It is hoped that, with continued support, these rhinos can escape the unfortunate result of the western black rhinos.

【推荐2】Ireland has long been known for its strange slang (俚语) words and unusual use of the English language.

One expression-"the Jacks" -has long been used to describe the everyday toilet. Every Irish person knows what this term means, but few know they use it. In fact, it's difficult to find a dependable explanation. There are different stories behind this term, and one of them goes like this.

While Thomas Crapper is commonly known for inventing the first flushing (冲水) toilet in the late 1800s, the first ever multi-cubicle (多隔间) toilet dates back to 1806 to an Irish inventor by the name of Jack Power. Jack Power, a father of 38 children, was the first person in the world to develop a separate cubicle.

Due to the size of his family, Jack had to create something to meet their needs of using the toilet at the same time, so he built a large outhouse with five separate toilets. Following its success at home, Jack went on to produce cubicles for business and soon became very rich.

In 1811, Jack Power was named as one of Ireland's richest businessmen, but the fame and wealth soon brought something unpleasant. Jack patented (取得专利) his multiple toilet system and insisted on calling it a "Multipoo", but the people of Ireland preferred "Jacks" instead—a term first used by his children. This made Jack unhappy because he never liked his name having anything to do with going to the toilet. The more he insisted, the more people called the cubicle system "the Jacks".

Unable to stand what the Irish people had done, Jack later changed his name and moved to the UK with his family. There he began inventing new toilet systems and became the world's leading producer of toilet systems, which are still in operation today.

Whether this story is true or not is still open to question. All we can say for sure is that in Ireland today, "the Jacks" is still a term used to describe a toilet.

【推荐3】We’ve all had cases where we’ve waited just a bit too long to pay an electric bill or speeding ticket. But one man, from California by reasonable assumption, who goes by “Dave”, recently took procrastination(拖延) one step further, by paying a parking ticket almost half-century after it was given.

In December 2018, the Minersville Police Department in Pennsylvania received a letter in the mail. Whoever wrote the letter decided it was best to keep his name somewhat unknown, so he put the return address as “Wayward Road, Anytown California” under the name “Feeling guilty”.

When the officers opened the envelope, they found a brief letter, along with a $5 bill, and a parking ticket dating all the way back to 1974. The note read, “Dear PD, I’ve been carrying this ticket around for 40 plus years always intending to pay. Forgive me if I don’t give you my info. With respect, Dave.”

Even though the initial parking ticket was only for $2. “Dave” must have felt awfully guilty because he left 150 percent, or $3, in interest.

Michael Combs, the Police Chief of the Minersville Police Department, stated in an interview that the same ticket would cost about $20 if it was given today. Combs went on to share that the original ticket from 1974 was given to a vehicle that had an Ohio license plate.

Because there was no system for tracking tickets given to out-of-state cars back then. “Dave” could have gotten away with never paying the $2 fine. But apparently, guilt got the best of him, and he decided to finally cough up the money more than 40 years past its due date.

【推荐2】At an early age, Penny suffered from brain cancer. But Penny refused to live in darkness. In fact, she chose to spread light to everyone around her.

Penny created a series of small gatherings called Adventure Camps for the kids in the neighborhood. It was Penny’s way of enhancing connections among her neighbors. For those who couldn’t attend, she made funny videos and shared her artwork on the social media. She loved to use her creativity to make ordinary things beautiful.

When it was time for another surgery — she had 15 in all — Penny would go about it with failure. No complaining, no crying, she just got through it and got back to living. Her mother recalled, “Somebody said Penny was an actress and the world was her stage. She was a representative of joy.”

Her teachers remembered her as a hardworking girl everyone wanted to be around. She was happy and beautiful and gifted in art. And she used those qualities to lift others. Her father remembered, “She taught us how to treat other people.”

Sometimes a very special person comes into this life to remind all of us what we should really do. We should make time to produce beauty and to share it. Penny’s artwork made people happy. Her videos made people suffering hard things focus on good things. Her friendship brought a sense of hope to everyone who wanted to be close to her.

Penny passed away at the age of 16. “She made a choice to live her life with joy and optimism,” said her father. That optimism continued to burn bright. Her family launched Penny’s Flight, a foundation committed to inspiring others to live life as she did. The foundation raised money for cancer research and also celebrated life by sharing the message: Spread your wings. Shine your light.