I Simply Remember These Favorite Things with Dr. A~ June 2025
June marks the halfway month of the year. So many summer activities await, and hopefully, we can take a little time on the deck to enjoy some tea or a glass of wine, curled up with a good book.
So many things to enjoy in June, here are a few more.
A Plant - Dahlias
Dahlia ‘Diva’
Who doesn’t love a dahlia, especially when in bloom? It used to be that dahlias were somewhat unreliable for many gardeners because they were susceptible to a wide range of diseases and insects. Today’s choices are significantly better, and although they are not trouble-free, we have a range of tall show dahlias as well as bedding forms with stunning flowers.
Most gardeners north of USDA zone 6 have to dig the roots, store them in a cool garage, and then replant in the spring. That is a bit of a pain, but when your dahlias are showing off, you’ll be pleased you tried.
Dahlias, especially the bedding plant forms, can often be purchased locally, but the show forms and the cut flower varieties are best sourced online.
Dahlia ‘Venti Pink Burst’
A Garden - Butchart Gardens, Vancouver Island, Canada
Last month, I suggested that a wonderful place to visit was Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. In this section, I would like to share a bit more detail about Butchart Gardens, undoubtedly one of the world’s most colorful gardens, located on the island. If a “Wow” garden could be searched in the Oxford English Dictionary, Butchart would undoubtedly appear.
Originally a rock quarry, the 55-acre display garden is over 120 years old and is still privately owned and operated by the Butchart family. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2004 to celebrate its 100th birthday.
The beauty is everywhere; the colors are so vibrant as to make you cover your eyes, then peek out in delight. The place is a magical Disney-esque experience.
Walk around the entire park, but get there reasonably early. It can be crowded when the tour buses arrive.
A Book - A Walk in the Park
Author: Kevin Fedarko,
Non-Fiction
I must have some DNA that craves death-defying adventure, especially if others are defying death. When people share their journeys to the Grand Canyon, we listen to their experiences hiking down from the lodge and, especially, hiking back up. And if they are fortunate, they tell us about some harrowing story from their rafting adventure down the Colorado River, usually accompanied by tour guides.
This book has nothing to do with lodges, maintained paths, or tour guides. The incredible story chronicles the yearlong effort to traverse the length of the canyon, from east to west, a journey of over 750 miles. Don’t let the title fool you, this was no walk in the park. Fedarko and photographer Pete McBride survived staggering dangers, made unexpected discoveries, and captured stunning landscapes.
To put this hike in perspective, there was not a single trail link from the eastern entrance to its western terminus; every pathway had to be discovered. The hike was so challenging that when they departed, fewer people had completed the journey in one single hike than had walked on the moon.
The book is terrific, and not without a sense of humor—a great read.
A Show/Movie- Anne with an E
Anne is not classically beautiful, she has a bad temper, and she can be heedless and downright rude. But she is also highly lovable and a yummy pleasure to sit down with in the evening. Anne with an E is a grittier adaptation of the timeless 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables. That the cheerful novel has become a little darker has in fact made it richer.
In this latest adaptation, we view themes of gender inequality, isolation, bulling and childhood trauma in Anne’s early life. The producers have made Anne into a real girl, imperfect to be sure, but with more depth. We still visit Green Gables and get to enjoy the constant bickering of Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert.
While it is a somewhat different take on the original orphan girl, she is still Anne Shirley. And she still brings us the happiness, optimism and buoyancy we have to come to expect from Anne.
She is ebullient and eminently likeable; I loved this series.
A Place - Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh Castle
Fringe Festival
The British Isles are an easy getaway destination. The flights are not grueling, and whether or not you visit England, Ireland, Scotland, or Wales, the vistas are wonderful and the people are friendly. One of our favorite places is the old city of Edinburgh. Old perhaps doesn’t quite capture the cobblestone streets, the medieval architecture, and the rich history. The term 'old' refers to the fact that King David I created the royal burgh of Edinburgh in 1124, and the city has been celebrating its 900th anniversary for some time. However, the city does not need an excuse for a party; there is always some festival or other going on. The Military Tattoo highlights tradition, while the Fringe Festival showcases art, music, and the very unusual, but what fun!
And I haven’t even mentioned The Royal Mile, which connects the Palace of Holyrood House (today’s royal residence) to the awe-inspiring Edinburgh Castle (the original royal residence), built on Castle Rock and overlooking the city since the 11th century. It was built for its strategic military location, and as you climb the stairs and look out over the landscape, you wonder why any army would attempt a siege and how any force could take it. It is hard to believe that the castle has the title of “the most besieged place in Britain” and has changed hands many times.
The Royal Mile
There are a ton of things to do – and oh yes, you might want to get to The Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, one of the world’s finest botanical gardens. I can’t wait to go back (hint, hint, Alejandra, Jack)
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