I Simply Remember These Favorite Things, and Then I Can Smile All Day
April prepares her green traffic light, and the world thinks, “Go.”
A Plant: Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum) – A Classic Shade Perennial
Variegated Solomon’s Seal
This terrific group of plants bears handsome foliage, lovely white tubular flowers that hang down from the stems, and is easily available at good garden centers. Plants usually stand about 2.5-3’ tall, although forms that are less than 6” tall and those 6-7’ tall are all part of Solomon’s mix.
Plants perform well in shady locales and will languish in hot afternoon sun. They may be native to Europe and Asia, but if you are a native aficionado, several species are also native to North America.
The roots of the plant are knarly, and lore has it that the roots were used as the royal seal of King Solomon, thus giving rise to the common name.
Solomon’s seal in the Garden
A Garden - Inverewe Gardens, Highlands of Scotland
In my former life, I was a tour guide. One September, I led a group of seasoned gardeners to the Highlands of Scotland, stopping at well-known cities like Inverness, the castle of Jamie Fraser (from the Outlander series), and the fields of Culloden. Then we traveled north to almost the 58th parallel (essentially similar to Hudson Bay), and believe it or not, we found ourselves surrounded by lush gardens of plants from all over the world. As we walked through Inverewe Gardens, we quickly realized that the weather was atrocious, the soil was rocky, and the season was short, but oh my what a treat it was to visit.
Blue poppies from the Himalayas, flora from New Zealand and Australia, rhododendrons from China, and dozens of plants from North America are quite spectacular. That so many exotic plants thrive in this northern clime is due to the warm currents of the Gulf Stream and the acres of woodlands to temper the wind and the temperatures. The garden was started in 1852 by Osgood Mackenzie, who realized that the location was unique, and it is now managed by the National Trust of Scotland.
About a 2-hour drive from Inverness, make the time if Scotland is in your travel plans.
Kalanchoe
A Book
The Ghost Map; The Story of London’s Most Terrifying Epidemic – and How it Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World.
Author: Steven Johnson
Non-Fiction
Our book club has been meeting for 16 years, discussing about 10 books a year. We keep a running list, and every Christmas we ask, “Of all the books we have read, which ones do you recall more than others?” One of the books that always comes up is The Ghost Map, and we read that over 14 years ago!
Cholera was common, deadly, and terrifying in Victorian London, and the cause was unknown. The book tells the story of the lethal 1854 cholera outbreak, which killed over 650 people in a rapidly growing, unsanitary city. The story focuses on Dr John Snow, who challenged the “miasma theory” (disease from bad air) and the Reverend Henry Whitehead, who gathered local data on the outbreak. Together they developed a map that linked deaths to the public water supply, and proved that water, not air, was the source of the disease.
The discovery led to new ways of thinking about disease, and eventually to the beginning of the Public Health system and Urban Planning and Development. This sounds a little bland, but the book reads like a medical thriller and has you turning pages, willing them to uncover the source of the outbreak.
I believe this will also become one of the books you will recommend to others.
A Show/Movie- The Woman in Gold
I am sharing another movie with you this month, and more books are coming soon. I started the book (The Lady in Gold by Anne-Marie O’Connor), but found it a difficult read for many reasons. However, the movie, with a slightly different name, starring Helen Mirren, was excellent. The title of the book and movie is based on the famous painting by Gustav Klimt known as The Lady in Gold.
The movie examines the true stories of the plunder of valuable art from Jewish homes by the Nazis in Vienna during World War II. It recounts the story of how Marie Altman, the niece of the woman who sat for the painting, fought the Austrian government 50 years later to have The Lady in Gold returned to her family.
The story recreates court scenes in Austria and the United States, as well as flashbacks to the Nazi treatment of Jews and their property. It is gripping, poignant, and an outstanding vehicle for such a difficult subject.
Our book club was unanimous in our enjoyment of the movie, and the discussion was quite in-depth. However, my other reason for this recommendation was easy – when have you ever seen Helen Mirren not make any role come alive?
A Place -Edinburgh, Scotland
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.
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)
Fringe Festival
The Royal Mile