Dr. A's Favorites for the Month of May
Episode 9, May, 2023
A Plant:
Larkspur, The annual delphinium
Oh my, now this is an unusual choice, but let me explain. These are annuals in that they flower, produce seeds and then die. As they produce seeds, they decline and look scruffy - but leave them alone and allow the seeds to be expelled. Dozens of seedlings will emerge the following spring.
If you don’t have any plants now, wander the neighborhood and meet a gardener who has some. She will be pleased to give you a small envelope of seeds, containing a thousand or so seeds. I promise! Or you can buy seeds and simply toss them in the garden.
DO NOT USE PREEN or any other seed suppression herbicide. If you do, you will have nary a larkspur.
A Garden:
Edinburgh Botanical Garden
This is on my top 10 list of great public gardens, perhaps even higher. The bonus is that in order to visit the garden, you must visit the spectacular city of Edinburgh. That in itself will knock you off your feet. The extraordinary rock garden will delight and captivate, as will the marvelous collections of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. No doubt, you will want to stay for days. Finish the visit with a wee dram of Scotch whiskey and you are good to go.
https://www.rbge.org.uk/visit/royal-botanic-garden-edinburgh/
A Book:
The Personal Librarian Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray
Historical. My friend Linda Copeland from Atlanta put me on to this book, and when I had finished it, I had to send her a thank you note. It is the story of the little-known personal librarian, Bella Costa Green, to the multi-millionaire J.P Morgan.
In her twenties, she was hired by J.P. Morgan to curate his collection of rare manuscripts, books and art for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Over time, her talent, her intellect and her wit ,made her one of the most influential and powerful people in the art and book world.
However, Belle had a secret; she was a light skinned African American. The book shares the lengths to which she must go—for the protection of her family and her legacy—to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lived. An excellent read.
A Show:
Ted Lasso
It is about time that I mention one of the finest shows streaming today. If you have not seen it, buy Apple TV for a free three-month trial and start binging season 1. It is presently in its third and last season, and every episode seems to get better. The show revolves around an American football coach hired to manage a premier level English soccer (football) team. It is zany, yet the interactions between Ted and the supporting characters are superb. The writing, the acting and the story lines make you want the show to never end.
A Place:
Banff National Park
Going to the Rocky Mountains is always a worthwhile visit. Banff is located in Banff National Park, one of Canada’s most spectacular regions. The town itself is charming, but getting out to Lake Louise, Moraine lake, or Vermillion Lake is unforgettable. Riding the gondola is great fun but take time to explore a little further. The trip between Banff and Jasper will provide some spectacular scenery.
Winter and summer seasons are both great times to visit.