I Simply Remember These Favorite Things with Dr. A August 2024
I Simply Remember These Favorite Things, and then I Can Smile All Day. Follow along for my favorite book, garden, book, show and place.
A Plant - Voodoo lily, Amorphophallus ‘Konjac’
I include this cartoon-like plant in this rather restrained list of plants we have generated over the last many months. I say cartoon because when people see the plant in flower, they either laugh, gasp, or turn a few shades of crimson—all the while holding their noses. It is a large bulb whose jack-in-the-pulpit-like flower is said to be quite vulgar and rather foul. It has many names, and perhaps the name that best describes the foul odor is carrion lily, i.e., the smell of a dead carcass.
However, there is no visitor to the garden who does not comment on its in-your-face appearance - and really, the smell is only bad if the breeze is wafting your way. That it attracts every fly in the county is simply a bonus. And lastly, when the flower falls apart a few weeks later, the resulting foliage is truly ornamental.
What’s not to like?
A Garden - Palermo Botanical Garden, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
Those who are fortunate enough to travel always seem to travel to Italy. Food, fashion, and wine are a few of the reasons to jump on a plane, but beauty and, yes, wonderful gardens took us there. Sicily has all of the above, including the wonderful Palermo Botanical Garden. Started in 1779 as part of medicinal studies, the garden rests on 30 acres and is managed by the Department of Botany of the University of Palermo.
The entrance to the garden is about as old-world as you could get, and within its walls were spectacular sculptures, walkways, and, of course, fabulous mature trees and handsome herbaceous plants. I felt lucky to actually recognize a few plants, like the incredible foxtail lilies, but then quickly became a student again, as I discovered the beautiful silk floss tree, Chorisia, (photo above).
The figs were enormous, the bamboo colossal, and the Agaves sharp, and simply walking around such a historic garden is a treat.
A Book -Remarkably Bright Creatures
Author: Shelby Van Pelt
Fiction. I tried to describe this book to a friend, and all he could say was, “You want me to read a story about a friendship between an octopus and a cleaning lady in an aquarium – really?”
It is difficult to describe the relationship between Nora, whose husband passed away and whose son, Eric, mysteriously disappeared more than 30 years ago, and Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living in the aquarium. There is a great deal more to this novel than a simple interaction between two interesting creatures, each of whom saves the other in their own way.
I am not able to express how much I enjoyed this book, but “The Octopus Book” stole the hearts of millions and became a huge best seller since its publication in 2022.
A Show/Movie- Extraordinary Attorney Woo
I debated for some time about recommending this streaming show. On the one hand, it is creative, clever, and has wonderful storylines, but it is also often confusing and too loud.
South Korean attorney Woo Young-woo is autistic. Her brilliance is never in question, but her methods and manner of speaking are seen as odd, awkward, and blunt. However, with each case, her intelligence and compassion earn her recognition and appreciation from her family and clients. Her approach to complex legal issues is often unique and helps resolve cases in unexpected ways.
The show takes place in Seoul, and the dialogue requires English subtitles. We stopped watching for a while as much of the dialogue was scratchy and loud, but we are back. Since it aired in 2022, it has been very highly rated.
A Place - Culloden, the Highlands of Scotland
I have a love and appreciation of history. And it seems that wherever I travel outside of North America, history is palpable. If your bucket list is not yet overflowing, be sure to toss in the Highlands of Scotland. When you get there, you can experience history come alive at the Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Center Museum.
The Battle of Culloden took place on April 16, 1746, and essentially ended the clan system of the Highlanders. The Highland army, usually referred to as the Jacobites, mainly consisted of the Highland clans loyal to Prince Charles Stuart, who wished to claim the British throne for the House of Stuart. The Scottish army was brutally quashed by English forces led by William, Duke of Cumberland, thus ending the Jacobite rising.
Even if history is not your thing, the museum at Culloden is very well done. It shows the positions and strategies of both sides in a moving time frame. Just outside the museum, the battlefield itself allows for reflection on a small part of history in one of the most interesting and rugged parts of the world.
Some recommendations from readers based on last month’s issue.
Recommendations Provided by:
Tina Mast, H is for Hawk
Elaine Bolton, Theo of Golden
Charlotte Connell, for The Light Eaters, Entangled Life & Braiding Sweetgrass
Be featured next month by leaving a little feedback, please.
Anyone who enjoys reading, travel, and gardens could write a column like this. So, if you are keen, send me feedback on your favorites and include a book, place, plant, or garden you recommend.
Add your favorites in the comments below!
I Simply Remember These Favorite Things with Dr. A July 2024
I Simply Remember These Favorite Things, and then I Can Smile All Day. Follow along for my favorite book, garden, book, show and place.
A Plant - Panicle hydrangea, Hydrangea paniculata hybrids
As I look over the list of plants I have recommended in this blog, I can’t believe I have neglected everyone’s favorite shrub. I will not discourse on my lack of enthusiasm for the old fashioned “mophead” hydrangea – suffice it to say that it is not on my favorite plants list.
However, the panicle hydrangeas, introduced under the banner of ‘Limelight’, are so easy to succeed with and available in so many cultivars that I recommend them without hesitation. ‘Limelight’ is still around, but I prefer the shorter ones like ‘White Wedding’, ‘Firelight Tidbit’, and ‘Bobo’.
They tolerate full sun as well as shade and can be pruned in almost any season. Plant them this fall for wonderful blooms next summer.
A Garden - Jardins de Metis/Reford Gardens, Grand Metis, Quebec, Canada
There are so many things to do and see in the province of Quebec, including Montreal, Quebec City, the Gaspe, and the majestic Saint Lawrence River. If visiting eastern Canada, a 4 hr drive trip from Quebec City to Grand Metis may not sound like a lot of fun, but the scenery along the river is breathtaking, and the gardens are wonderful. Created from 1926 to 1958 by pioneering horticulturist Elsie Reford, the Reford Gardens are a National Historic Site of Canada. Well over 2500 species of plants are spread over 15 gardens.
The entrance garden is wonderful, but the stream garden, the poppy glade (including the Himalayan blue poppy), the long walk, the lodge, and the arboretum are also excellent. This northern garden opens on June 1 and closes in early October. There are places to stay in the garden itself, as well as many auberges, chalets, and hotels within 10 km of the garden.
It may seem a long way to see a garden but consider it a wonderful stop on your continued journey to the spectacular Gaspe Peninsular that juts out into the North Atlantic.
A Book -A Woman of No Importance, the Untold Story of the American Spy who Helped Win World War II
Author: Sonia Purnell
Non-fiction. This book chronicles the life of Virginia Hall, an amazing behind-the-lines operative for the Allies in Vichy France in WW II. Hall’s story is one of determination and will power – she enlists as an ambulance driver for the French army in 1940 where her tenacity brought her to the attention of the Special Operations Executive (SOE), a new organization geared to sabotage and subversion. As France begins to fall, Hall builds a network of other women, informants and police and sets up safe exfiltration routes for allied soldiers and operatives. The Nazis considered her as enemy number one and she was close to being captured on many occasions. Hall survived the war and did not speak of her exploits for 38 years.
I am doing a poor job of describing this woman’s amazing exploits, but allow me to say that this book is as riveting as any thriller and was just as hard to put down.
A Show/Movie- One Life
It may be me, but I have not been thrilled by the selection of movies in our local theatres. Perhaps because there is so much choice in streaming series and movies, I have been less interested, or because there may only be junk in the theatres.
However, I recently watched One Life, the story of Nicholas Winton, who visited Prague in 1938 and found families living in desperate conditions, having fled the rise of Nazis in Germany and Austria. Winton realized that if the children were not taken out of Czechoslovakia before the borders were closed, they would perish in the camps. There were thousands of children, innumerable obstacles, and no time, but with the help of friends and his very persuasive mother, he was able to get 8 trains with over 650 children out of Prague to England. The Nazis stopped the ninth train on the day war was declared, and the children disappeared.
Fifty years later, an older Winton thinks back on those times; he is overcome by the children he could not save. After that, the story just gets better.
Nicholas Winton was a hero, certainly to those he saved and their subsequent children and families. Yet no one even knew his name.
This is a very moving story and a wonderful movie starring Anthony Hopkins and an excellent cast. It is a sort of British “Schindler’s List,” a heartwarming look at what the good man is capable of when facing the worst of man.
Be sure to see it when it comes to your theatre or TV screen.
A Place -Hakone, Japan
I have been fortunate to have led many garden tours around the world. I am often asked which place/garden/trip was the best, and I cannot provide an answer; they were all wonderful. However, when asked which was the most memorable, I say Japan.
There were so many amazing places, but Hakone, about 90 minutes SE of Tokyo, was one of the favorites. We journeyed to see the Hakone Botanical Garden, which was well worth the visit. However, in so doing, we discovered a wonderful town, a beautiful lake, spectacular views of My Fuji, and a cable car to hot lava fields.
It sounds a little much, I am sure, but this was one of the most beautiful places we visited, and it can be done as a day trip out of Tokyo. I could go on and on about the sights, sounds, and beauty of the places we visited in Japan, but if you are in Tokyo, get out for a day and see this area.
A little feedback, please.
Anyone who enjoys reading, travel, and gardens could write a column like this. So, if you are keen, send me feedback on your favorites and include a book, place, plant, or garden you recommend.
Add your favorites in the comments below!
I Simply Remember These Favorite Things with Dr. A June 2024
I Simply Remember These Favorite Things, and then I Can Smile All Day. Follow along for my favorite book, garden, book, show and place.
A Plant - Carex, ornamental sedge ‘Feather Falls’
Sedges are everywhere but if you have not grown them or even noticed them, it may because of their poor marketing department. The name sedge likely conjures up a bog, rather than a beautiful garden. Native sedges are valued by native plant enthusiasts, and while not particularly ornamental, they are highly functional (i.e., they grow well) and very useful in area reclamation projects.
However, the more handsome forms happen to be non-natives, and they are equally tough and far more ornamental. There are quite a few different ones, and they are usually sold with grasses at the Garden Center or online. I have tried a good number, but for me, one of the prettiest, toughest, and most persistent is ‘Feather Falls’.
A Garden - Kirstenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa
Friends and acquaintances who travel to South Africa for safari trips to the national parks come back with stories of treks through savannahs, brilliant scenery, and extraordinary animals. It is wonderful to do those things, but don’t miss the marvelous gardens at Kirstenbosch.
Kirstenbosch, one of 10 National Botanic Gardens in the country, was founded in 1913 to study, educate, and preserve the native flora of South Africa. The conservatory highlights plants native to specific biomes, such as the savanna and the fynbos; however, spends as much time as you can simply walking about the park. The gardens and the plantings will astound, but the setting of Kirstenbosch at the base of Table Mountain will mesmerize. Then take a deep breath and pinch yourself – you are actually in Kirstenbosch in South Africa!
It is truly a wonderful place to visit.
A Book -Isaac’s Storm, A Man, a Time
and the Deadliest Hurricane in History.
Author: Erik Larson
Non-fiction. The hurricane that hit Galveston, Texas, on September 8, 1900, arrived without warning, even though all signs showed a huge storm forming in the Gulf. The storm was the deadliest in history, destroying an entire city and killing well over 6000 people (some estimates claim as many as 10,000). The story, however, is far more than a tale of deadly seas, flooding, and the inability to escape. Rather, it is the account of inept leadership of the fledgling National Weather Service, whose director, Willis Moore, insisted that the storm was heading to the Atlantic Ocean rather than racing through the Gulf. The story is told through the eyes of the decent but inexperienced meteorologist Isaac Cline, who was sent to Galveston to head up the Weather Service for Texas. Larson chronicles the hour-by-hour progress of the hurricane with its extraordinary storm surge (15 ft by some estimates) and the winds (up to 200 mph) that systematically ripped the entire town to kindling.
As you read of the approaching storm, you want to shout out a warning to the townspeople, who are totally unaware of its potential for destruction.
It is impossible to put down and turn away.
A Show- The Mentalist
After watching Jeopardy in the evening, my good wife Susan and I sometimes disagree on the content of an upcoming show. Sometimes, her "who-done-it" selection is a little too intense for me, while my choice of mystery show is a little too tedious for her. That’s why we have a second TV.
She finds The Mentalist a little boring, but the series is an easy watch for a simple fellow like me. Simon Baker plays the role of super mentalist Patrick Jane, whose goal in life is to find “Red John,” the madman who killed his wife and daughter many years ago. In between searching for him, he uses his keen powers of observation to solve all sorts of crimes, usually rather calmly. He doesn’t even have a gun. Other than Susan, others seem to have enjoyed it, as it ran for 13 seasons.
A Place -Grenada, Spain
Who doesn’t like Spain, where a visit to the North finds the bulls in Pamplona, the Plazas of Madrid, and the Cathedrals of Barcelona? However, going South is equally wonderful, and the coastal towns of Malaga and Marbella are as charming as any beach experience in the world. However, for exotic old-world charm, beauty, and attractions, it would be criminal not to visit Grenada.
Walking the hills (Grenada is at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains) will provide all the exercise you need, and exploring the Albaicin district, the oldest and surely one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Grenada, is also a must.
The Alahambra
And if you need another excuse, the historic palace at Alhambra is spectacular. The Alhambra is not a single building, rather a collection of palaces and fortifications added over the centuries, each successive ruler trying to outdo the predecessor. The result is one of the best-preserved examples of Medieval Islamic, Renaissance Christian, and modern architecture styles.
But I also very much enjoyed the extensive gardens, water features, and simple beauty of the grounds. A very special place, not to be missed.