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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my list of April Favorites
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.
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I Simply Remember These Favorite Things with Dr. A, January 2024
I Simply Remember These Favorite Things, and then I Can Smile All Day.
January 2024
A Plant:
Coral bark Japanese maple
My love affair with Japanese maples has probably bored you to death, but what can I say? They work! I extolled the foliage of ‘Villa Taranto’ last year, but now its time for winter bark color. This is an easy plant to find, relatively inexpensive (for Japanese maples) and is hardy to zone 5 in winter and zone 8 in summer. Site it where you can look at it from inside as well. When ordering, look for Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’
A Garden:
Monticello Historic Gardens
The house, the history, and the site are remarkable, and walking around the gardens is even more so. Between the West Lawn, the Flower Border, and the Vegetable gardens, there is plenty to see and appreciate. As Thomas Jefferson so eloquently stated, “I may be an old man, but I am a young gardener.”
A Book:
Horse
Author: Geraldine Brooks
Fiction. The story spans 1850 Kentucky, 1954 New York and 2019 Washington, DC. We are introduced to a diverse group of characters, the only thing they all have in common is the Horse. This is not just about any horse, it is about the greatest racehorse in America, Lexington. As I read the reviews, I see there are many dissenters, but far more who thoroughly enjoyed it.
Geraldine Brooks is an excellent author, her acclaimed Pulitzer Prize winner, People of the Book is almost as good.
A Show:
Nyad
This is not a series but rather a documentary about Diana Nyad, the most amazing long-distance swimmer the world has seen. The story documents her efforts to swim the 110 miles from Cuba to Florida. This did not happen on her first effort, not her second or third (jellyfish and storms had something to do with it), but her obsession and obstinacy would not allow her to fail. The movie documents her remarkable efforts, and those of her best friend (played by Jodie Foster) and her team, in finally succeeding at the age of 60! Want a little inspiration, you might want to watch this
A Place:
Newfoundland, the Island
Newfoundland just seems to sit out there in the Atlantic and is affectionally known as “The Rock.” It was the last province to join Canada, not being part of the country until 1949. It was isolated then and is still not an easy place to get to. The ferry from Nova Scotia takes 6-8 hours (there are also flights to the capital), but oh my, it is worth it. Two national parks and more moose, whales, polar bears, and birds than you can imagine are part of its charm. While Newfoundland has appeal to the adventurous traveler, not all of us have the time or inclination to chase moose around the tundra. Even if you can only get to the capital, St John’s, there is so much to do and see there (be sure to walk around the joyfully colored houses). There is even a wonderful botanical garden there.