I Simply Remember These Favorite Things with Dr. A~ February 2025
February is often the month of depressingly long nights, dull days, and no-end-to-winter thoughts. Cheer up; here are a few favorite things to help lift your spirits.
A Plant - Orchid
I realize many of you expect an outdoor garden plant each month, but given the doldrums of February and the sure-to-have-another-winter-storm month of March, I need some color and happiness in the house. While it may seem that orchids are quite commonplace at florists and even the grocery store, they are still the most amazingly beautiful plants we can buy. And compared to ten years ago, they are cheap!
There is no end to colors, flower sizes, and heights (Susan loves the tabletop size), and they are simply wonderful pick-me-up plants. Purchase one with as many unopened buds as possible and place it in a bright area of the house. Plants will keep you happy for weeks on end.
A Garden - Jardin des Plantes, France
No trip to Paris is complete without a stroll through Jardin des Plantes, a natural retreat located in the heart of the city. This is the main botanical garden in the country and covers well over 50 acres. While it is a well-organized botanical garden and museum, its main function serves as a getaway for the people; a lovely green space in a busy city.
The Jardin des Plantes constructs demonstration gardens, exchanges seeds with other gardens around the world, has large displays of brilliant plants and maintains a school of botany to train botanists. The garden also houses four museums, or Galleries, each one worth a visit. It truly is worth an entire day’s outing.
10’ Spanish Flag Towers, Ipomoea lobata
A Book -The Ghost Map
Author: Steven Johnson
Non-Fiction
The Ghost Map takes us back to London, England, in the summer of 1854. London had become one of the fastest-growing cities, with more than 2 million people living within a 10-mile radius. This hub of commerce and travel, teeming with people from all over the world, essentially lacked infrastructure for garbage removal, clean water, or sewers, and it had become a perfect breeding ground for diseases, especially the terrifying disease called cholera.
As epidemics spike, Johnson introduces a real-life hero in Dr. John Snow, whose ideas about contagion have been dismissed by the scientific community. As people are dying in gruesome numbers, we read about Dr. Snow’s dogged determination to find the cause of the disease.
Not only was he able to find the cause, but his work became the foundation of what was to become the first Public Health System.
We have been discussing books in our book club for nearly ten years, and this is still one of the top five books we have ever read.
A Show/Movie- Jimmy Carter, Rock & Roll President
When Jimmy Carter passed away on December 29, 2024, there was an outpouring of love and respect worldwide. He was mostly remembered for his humanitarian efforts in waging peace, fighting disease, and improving the lives of people who had been forgotten. His post-presidency years were incredibly productive and remarkable. He seemed to be of another world. Then I watched this documentary; it also turned out that he was really cool.
Who knew how he loved music and surrounded himself with some of the most popular musicians of the day? Artists like the Allman Brothers, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and Bono. Other presidents used music and musicians to garner votes from young people, but such thoughts of calculated motives are quickly dispersed when we hear the musicians talk of their respect and love for the man.
I learned so much about the times, the man, and his efforts for peace, but for me, the music was simply outstanding. Leave any thoughts of politics behind and get set to enjoy a great documentary.
A Place - Quebec City, Canada
While I enjoy sharing wonderful places in Europe, the Pacific Rim countries, and Asia, I invariably slip back to wonderful places in my home country. The nice thing about recommending places in Canada is that they are easy to get to, inhabited by friendly people, and relatively inexpensive to visit.
Quebec City lies on the mighty Saint Lawrence River, Canada’s preeminent waterway, that extends nearly 1500 km (930 mi) from Lake Ontario east to the Gulf of St Lawrence. Grand River aside, the French Canadian walled city is lush with places to enjoy. It is a unique destination in North America with a distinctly European feel; its history, architecture, and language are matchless anywhere on the continent. The Chateau Frontenac hotel looms over the town, the Plains of Abraham shouts out English/French history, and cold temperatures or not, the Winter Carnival is an absolute delight.
Be sure to walk around the Old Town, where people are smiling, music is everywhere, and incredible food is just a small restaurant away.
Plains of Abraham
Some recommendations from readers based on last month’s issue. Dr A reads everyone and will get back with you.
Longwood Gardens
From Bill Walker
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