The Month is July, the year is 2020 and one thing is obvious

Jul 6

The Beast will not go away quietly:

Cases of Covid-19 have returned to levels in April, in some states they are higher than they have ever been. We cannot lightly shrug it off as the result of increased testing. Unfortunately, the rate of infection is soaring, more young people are getting sick than ever, and more ominously, hospitalizations are up. The forced shut down was awful; mentally, physically and economically but that “death by a thousand cuts” had flattened the curve in most areas.

The opening up of restaurants, bars, and informal gatherings had to occur but could have been done without a spike, if people were concerned enough about others to do their best to distance - and to wear a mask. I mean, really, how hard is that? A mask is a symbol of respect, that you respect the health of others and will do your best not to expose them to this virus. Good grief, did a public health issue really become a political issue? Do some people actually see political implications of protecting others from a killer? Or maybe all those people not wearing masks in shops and stores simply don’t give a flip, about themselves and others. We are in the process of losing all the incredibly hard-won gains from the shutdown, to say nothing of another 50-60,000 lives. I am going to die someday, perhaps of a car crash, of an accident or of old age. However, I refuse to die of stupid.

Enough of this:

Most of us are doing just fine thank you, and we have discovered that this gardening thing is not only fun, it is essential. Many people in the gardening industry have had banner years and I truly believe we will come out of this better than when we went in. But do we have to make it so hard?

“Something to look forward to!” On a similar but brighter note, I have discovered the new gardening/industry slogan: If we have not learned that nothing should be taken for granted anymore, then we have learned nothing. One of the things that we all took for granted was we always had something to look forward to – dinner with friends, an upcoming ballgame or simply a movie to enjoy with the popcorn.

Something to look forward to is exactly what gardening is all about. No one hires a landscaper to design hardscapes and put in immature trees and shrubs if they weren’t looking forward to the long-term improvement to their home? No one plants bulbs in the fall if they didn’t look forward to the lilies in the summer, or grows cut flowers to if not looking forward to the bouquet tomorrow?

Something to look forward to! Now that is a slogan I am going to start with every one of my lectures and walkabouts.

Speaking of Walkabouts:

The latest “Walkabout with Dr. A” on Facebook Live was on July 2. Amazingly, that was the eighth one; the first being on a Saturday morning in April. Participants ranged from about 200 to nearly 2000 on a given walkabout. The numbers got much larger when I changed the time to Happy Hour, another confirmation that wine and gardening go together. All the FB live walkabouts are available on my Facebook page.

Join me next time August 6th, at the UGA Trial Gardens and will be chatting about all things annuals. The Garden looks amazing right now! Can’t wait to show you all!

Who knew this old geezer would so embrace Instagram:

Good grief, I hardly knew what it was. However, my colleagues Kelly Garcia and Maria Zampini suggested that since I couldn’t tell stories about plants and people in person, I should tell them socially. So, we started Legends in the Garden. They are posted every week on Mondays and if you want to know why snapdragons snap or what foxgloves have to do with foxes or what beebalm is good for … then you can find them on my Instagram IGTV Channel, https://www.instagram.com/armitageallan/channel/ .

The stories are mostly based on the books Of Naked Ladies and Forget-Me-Nots and Legends in the Garden, Who in the World is Nellie Stevens? If you would rather read than listen, those books are available through my bookstore.

Speaking of Books-

HALLELUJAH, finally, amen, and at last – the 4th edition of Herbaceous Perennial Plants is truly available. I am excited, humbled and exhausted – but so pleased I can hardly stand myself. A book for everyone, from seasoned grizzled growers and breeders to my daughters and neighbors.

Soon you will not have to take my word for it, I have sent it out to respected reviewers.

Herbaceous Perennial Plants is available through Stipes Publishing (https://stipes.com/) and from Dr. Armitage (www.allanarmitage.net). The book retails for $89.80 (hardbound), $79.80 (paperback) and those copies ordered through the Armitage website can be personalized and autographed if desired. For more information about the book, contact John Hecker, Stipes Publishing, at stipes01@sbcglobal.net.

Herbaceous Perennial Plants, 4th Edition

from $89.95

This is not to say that I am still not working to keep the App up to date:

Lugging around a 5-lb weight is all well and good but having information in your pocket on your phone is a little easier on your back. I have added herbs, woodies, annuals, perennials, to say nothing of where you can buy these wonderful plants I am highlighting. It is really cool.

Learn more About The App Here

*** A note to current iPhone users, we are having technical difficulties with the color contrast when your phone automatically moves to night mode. You will need to adjust your settings to day when using the app in the evening. We are working hard to figure out this problem!