I Simply Remember These Favorite Things with Dr. A, April 2024
I Simply Remember These Favorite Things, and then I Can Smile All Day.
April 2024
A Plant:
Annual vinca, Soiree singles
Catheranthus ‘Soiree Rose’
This annual plant is one of the prettiest of the dozens of vincas out there. It is small, prolific, and flowers all season. In the small Armitage garden, my Soirees acs as a colorful groundcover, with nary a complaint. The newer double forms (look closely at the label) are not nearly as good as the singles. This is not the perennial vinca vine, which should generally be avoided in small gardens. The annual is called Catharanthus; the perennial is Vinca.
A Garden:
Alaska Botanical Garden, Anchorage, AK
My time at Alaska Botanical Garden a number of years ago was far too short but still very memorable. The Perennial Garden (catch the Delphiniums), Herb Garden, and Rock Garden are outstanding, and while the season is short, the growth of the plants is other-worldly. The Alaskan wildflower walk is interesting, but if you get there at the right time (usually in mid to late June), you will have a chance to see Meconopsis, the blue Himalayan poppies that you will not forget! Say hello to the staff; they are in love with their jobs (as most people in botanical gardens are).
A Book:
Her Hidden Genius
Author: Marie Benedict
Historical Fiction. When studying high school biology, the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA has always been attributed to two scientists, James Watson and Francis Crick. Rosalind Franklin was an extraordinary scientist in a man’s field, and her meticulous studies of the secret of life revealed without doubt the structure of DNA. Watson & Crick received the Nobel Prize in 1962, and Dr. Franklin was never recognized, even though her X-ray work and photographs were likely used by Watson and Crick. That we have never heard of her says volumes. The book was an enjoyable read; Benedict does not lose us in scientific details – but simply shines a little light on one of the most important discoveries in science and the people who made it happen. I recommended “The Personal Librarian” a number of months ago, another excellent book by Marie Benedict.
A Show:
Slow Horses, Apple TV
I am not even sure how to describe this show except to say that Gary Oldham, the slovenly yet brilliant lead character of a dysfunctional MI-5 team, is worth the time. It is a grubby spy series in which Oldham’s agents usually get everything wrong but somehow win the day. Oldham’s iconic Jackson Lamb, a crusty old curmudgeon left over from the Cold War, is more than enough reason to binge the first season (there are now 3 seasons). This is not a series to watch if you want a lot of action, nor if you want a handsome hero riding into the sunset, but I am betting you will be quickly hooked.
A Place:
Jekyll Island, GA
One of the barrier islands of the coast of Georgia, Jekyll is a place for quiet walks on the beach, bicycle rides around the island, or simply watching the sunset. It is not a place to go for nightlife, fine dining, or a ton of activities. However, visiting the Sea Turtle Center, where sea turtles are rescued and rehabilitated, or walking on Driftwood Beach, where driftwood monuments have come ashore, is unforgettable. If a relaxing beach holiday is on your schedule, you will enjoy this Golden Isle
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I Simply Remember These Favorite Things with Dr. A, March 2024
I Simply Remember These Favorite Things, and then I Can Smile All Day.
March 2024
A Plant:
Lungwort - Pulmonaria
Pulmonaria ‘ Roy Davidson’ at Niagara-on-the-Lake
The term “wort” means looks like or is useful for, and for early plant taxonomists, the spotting on the leaves resembled the alveoli of the lungs; thus, the pulmonary system was honored. This is an excellent shade-tolerant perennial that loves the cold (it can be aggressive in Montreal) but also does well in almost all climes. There are dozens of choices: splurge and buy three.
A Garden:
The chateau at Villandry is spectacular and well worth a walkthrough, but the gardens are stunning. Yes, they are way over the top, but the oohs and aahs you will be muttering as you look at the formal gardens, the vegetable gardens, and their sheer size will soon be a loud chorus. The vegetables alone are out of this world, as are the ornamentals, but the incredible designs of the grounds and the amount of labor that goes into this garden is what you will remember. France is a wonderful destination, but get out of Paris and go down to the Loire Valley.
A Book:
Gaining Ground, a story of farmers’ markets. local food and saving the family farm.
Author: Forest Pritchard
Nonfiction. After discovering that five freight car loads of his hard-grown corn netted a profit of $18.16, a young Forest Pritchard vowed to save the family farm. He makes decisions that are not popular with his family and essentially turns normal agricultural practices on their heads. This is not a book about farming but about family, small victories, and saving a lifestyle. The book is well written with a good dose of humor, and in the end, I walked away with inspiration and hope.
A Show:
Navillera (from Korea, Netflix)
I recommended this show in November of 2022. I had no plans to repeat myself until our book club decided to recommend streaming shows as well as books. To a person, everyone was entertained and touched. The Korean dialog and English subtitles take a few minutes to get used to but believe me, you will quickly forget that you are reading rather than listening.
There are no bullets, murders, or dark secrets, but a feel-good (yet complex) show of a 70-year-old retired mailman who wants to fulfill his childhood dream of being a ballerina. It sounds crazy, but for me, this is the second-best streaming show I have ever watched.
A Place:
Port Jefferson, Long Island, NY
I spent a lovely day in Port Jefferson in Suffolk County, Long Island. If you spend time in LI or the city, this is a relaxing and laid-back part of the Island. Originally known for its shipbuilding, Port Jef (pop, ~8,000) now sports excellent accommodations and restaurants, and walking about the town is a pleasure.
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I Simply Remember These Favorite Things with Dr. A, February 2024
I Simply Remember These Favorite Things, and then I Can Smile All Day.
February 2024
A Plant:
Pineapple lily – Eucomis
Eucomis ‘Sparkling Burgundy’
The pineapple lilies are available as bulbs from your favorite online shop, and occasionally from a good garden center. One of the oldest and still one of the best is ‘Sparkling Burgundy’, sporting deep purple leaves and burgundy flowers.
However, there are a good many choices out there, try ‘Tegula Ruby’ or ‘Reuben’if you can find them. Order them now.
Pineapple lilies are supposedly only cold hardy to USDA Zone 6b, but that didn’t stop the creative gardeners in Buffalo, NY, from planting them in containers and enjoying them all summer. They had to be brought in, but then so did dahlias and citrus.
A Garden:
Atlanta Botanical Garden
The Atlanta Botanical Garden is a relative newcomer to the national botanical scheme. From a small start out of a double-wide trailer in 1976, the ABG is now a must-visit botanical garden. The conservatory is next to none; the gardens are brilliant, and the special events—from Mosaiculture displays to Dale Chihuly glassworks to their Christmas lights extravaganza — are truly spectacular. A visit to this world-class city should never be concluded without a visit to this world-class botanical garden.
A Book:
The Wager, a tale of shipwreck, mutiny, and murder
Author: David Grann
Non-Fiction. I am always fascinated with history, particularly history of ships on the oceans. Leaving England in 1740, The Wager was part of an English fleet secretly hunting Spanish galleons during an imperial war with Spain. That they shipwrecked was not surprising, given the ferocious oceans they traversed, the incompetency of the crew and the woeful repair of the ship.
However, the book tells of the tales of the survivors, two separate groups found in 1742 with totally different stories, tales of shipwreck, mutiny and murder. This will keep you riveted, and when you read the last page, you will agree that truth is stranger than fiction.
David Grann is a wonderful author. His last book, Killers of the Flower Moon is also excellent and has been made into a movie.
A Show:
The Boys in the Boat
I was going to choose this as the Book of the Month, but then we went to see the movie. Seldom is a movie as good as the book, but this was close, and it followed the book very well. Even if you have not read the book, you will enjoy this true story.
The story centers on a bunch of struggling young men at the height of the Depression who earned a spot on the 1936 University of Washington rowing team. Rowing at that time attracted tens of thousands of fans, and the movie follows the team from their first trials to challenging the elite eastern schools like Yale and Cornell. Their determination earned them the chance to compete in the 1936 Olympics held in Berlin under the intent glare of the Nazi movement and Adolf Hitler. And the rest, they say, is history.
Grab the book or see the movie; they are both stirring and memorable.
A Place:
Island of Burano, Italy
One day, you will finally get to visit Venice, where you will revel in the lagoons, the canals, and the gondolas. You will love Piazza San Marco and enjoy walking the narrow streets.
But do not miss the wonderful island of Burano, a 45-minute water taxi ride out of Venice. Burano is known for its exquisite lace, a quickly dying art on this small island, and its brightly colored homes. Quaint is an overused word, but with the colored houses (Burano’s nickname is the Rainbow Isle), the small shops, the canals, and the friendly people, it is off-the-charts quaint.
Enjoy Italy, have a grand time in Venice, but buy some lace in Burano and eat some pasta in one of the many picturesque restaurants.