I Simply Remember These Favorite Things, and then I Can Smile All Day
Episode 12, august, 2023
A Plant:
Phlox ‘Delta Snow’
Phlox ‘Ka-Pow Fuchsia’
Summer phlox, Phlox paniculata
There are few things not to like with summer phlox. They are native, they are fragrant, and they are magnets for all sorts of pollinators (the magnet queen is ‘Jeana’). But let’s be honest here, summer phlox have not always been a favorite of gardeners and landscapers. In fact, most of the old selections were awful! They reeked of powdery mildew. Thank goodness, this is no longer the case, better plant breeding has provided us with beautiful disease resistant summer phlox.
Here are two of my favorites. The best part is that they are both “clean”. ‘Delta Snow’ is an old-fashioned nativar, but one of the oldies that is not susceptible to the fungus. Plants are 3-4’ tall, and mine has come back for over 20 years! Its downside – hard to find.
A newer one that is striking is ‘Ka-Pow Fuchsia’, manageable height and persistent eye-catching flowers. Should be reasonably easy to find.
A Garden:
Planting Fields Arboretum, Oyster Bay, Long Island, NY
I have been to this wonderful arboretum many times, and regardless if I walk the grounds, roam through the conservatory, or visit the palatial Coe Hall, I always feel better than before I arrived. The beautiful landscape is influenced by the visions of the well-known and well-respected Sargent and Olmstead families. The noble tress are the framework of the arboretum but enjoy the historic Italian gardens as well as sensory garden, hydrangea collections, and the synoptic garden while there.
However, the garden would be a shadow of itself if not for Arboretum Director, Vinnie Simeone and his staff. His love of the arboretum and his attention to detail is reflected in every corner. Say hello and thank Vinnie when you visit.
https://plantingfields.org/
A Book:
Grandma Gatewood’s Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail
Author: Ben Montgomery
Nonfiction. Want or need a little inspiration, then you need to meet this hiking pioneer and superstar, Emma Gatewood. In 1955, at the age of 67, Emma left her Ohio home and told her family (she had 23 grandchildren) that she was going for a walk. With a hand-sewn sack over her back and a pair of Ked’s shoes, she left home. She was next heard from months later after she had walked 800 miles along a primitive and barely known track called the Appalachian Trail.
As her fame grew (reporters linked up with her along her trek), her exploits brought her on TV with Art Linkletter and to the cover of Sports Illustrated. The public attention she brought to the “lousy, difficult” stretches of the trail was unprecedented. Emma Gatewood likely saved the Appalachian Trail from extinction. She was the first person, man or woman, to hike the entire trail— twice. A truly amazing story, and one that might help us get off the couch and go for an evening walk.
A Show:
Streaming Show: Grantchester
Set in the 1950s, the show follows a vicar in Grantchester, a small village near Cambridge, England. He teams up with a crusty local detective to help solve crimes while still being the moral compass of the community. Many social subplots (women’s place in the 50s, the criminalization of sexuality, treatment of children) are woven well into the story lines. The show has attracted so much acclaim that it is continues to attract more and more attention. It is now in its 9th season.
If you have been following this thread, it is obvious that many of my choices are from the UK. Thank goodness for subtitles.
Prime video
A Place:
Oman
I realize that few of you will be taking a trip to the Arabian Peninsula, but then again, why not?
Oman is the oldest continuously independent state in the Arab world. In 2010, the United Nations Development Program ranked Oman as the most improved nation in the world in terms of development during the preceding 40 years. The country has long welcomed visitors.
Making the decision to visit the area is not an easy one; there are many easier places to get to with fewer question marks of safety and women’s rights. However, ignore all those fancy ads for Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and look into the independent Sultanate of Oman. The country has long welcomed visitors and most North American travelers would feel more at home here than in areas of the United Arab Emirates.
Regardless, the countryside is fascinating and the city of Muscat is delightful. The city is squeaky clean, the people are friendly and accommodations plentiful. Susan and I joined my well-traveled brother, Howard and his wife Phyllis, to Oman many years ago, and the times there still remain fresh and fond in our memories. If you are looking for adventure off the trodden path, look up Oman.