I Simply Remember These Favorite Things, and Then I Can Smile All Day
Happy September! The world shall now transform into pumpkin everything.
~Keith Winn
A Plant: Strawflower, Granvia series, Annual
‘Granvia Gold’ strawflowers in Dr.A’s Garden
I am writing this in early September, so I can’t help but think of plants that are useful for the fall garden. I have talked about chrysanthemums, Japanese maples that turn color, fall asters, and others, but fortunately, we will not soon run out of options.
I enjoy fall, but my September garden has just gone through the scorching month of August, and before that a hot July, so there are a number of open spaces and tired containers as I write this. Your garden may be perfect.
So, what to do? For me, I have discovered a fabulous plant that works in any season, anywhere, but has been overlooked as a fall refresher. That plant is the new series of strawflowers, called Granvia from an excellent company called Suntory Flowers. Strawflowers are always fun to grow; simply touch an open flower, and you will quickly discover why. And the new Granvia series is a major breakthrough in breeding; the plants are compact, well-branched, and produce a ton of flowers in an array of colors .
I have refreshed a couple of containers, and refilled in a hole or two in the ground with these plants of straw. I recommend the Granvia series above all others; see if you can find them this fall. If not in the fall, put them on your spring plant list.
Strawflower ‘Granvia Gold’, shown at California Spring Trials from Suntory Flowers
A Garden-Jardin Jeanne-d’Arc, Quebec City, Quebec
Bronze statue of Jeanne d’Arc
We just returned from a wonderful 2 weeks visiting the Gaspé Peninsula in the province of Quebec. So, I must warn you, you will be sharing this visit with me in the columns to come. Quebec City, the capital of the province, is a wonderful destination and teems with history, cuisine, and happy people.
One must-visit place is the Plains of Abraham, famous as the site of the pivotal battle between the English and the French in 1759. The surrender of the city to the British resulted in British control of North America. However, I am not inviting you to visit history; rather, I am inviting you to visit this ~250-acre green space along the St Lawrence River. And when you visit, be sure to enjoy the Jardin Jeanne-d’Arc (Joan of Arc garden), designed in 1938 around a massive bronze statue of Jeanne d’Arc on a magnificent steed.
The sunken garden is awash in color, with thousands of bulbs, annuals, perennials, and shrubs. It is a pleasant walk in a pleasant park in a wonderful city. Admission is free.
Mixed Flower bed~Jardin Jeanne-d’Arc, Quebec City, Quebec
A Book - Isola, Allegra Goodman, Historical fiction
I was told of this book by my colleague Kristin Zeit, who is a voracious reader and traveler. Then, after I read it, I mentioned it to my aforementioned sister-in-law Sandi, who was also a huge fan of the book.
The premise sounded interesting: a story about the life of a young French noblewoman, Marguerite de la Rocque de Roberval, a child heir to an estate, who seemed to have everything. However, the estate was overseen by her cousin Roberval, a vain, ambitious man who takes advantage of his control of her estate, only to lose everything and become mired in debt. He mortgages the estate to raise money for a voyage to discover the new world.
Marguerite’s life up to this time has been fraught enough. She feared Roberval. And her worst fears were realized when he essentially kidnapped her and her maid to accompany him on the voyage. He wished to marry her and control the new colony of New France. Marguerite had never seen the sea, let alone been on a tall ship on the ocean, and it was every bit as cruel as she imagined. However, the story takes an unexpected turn as her relationship with Roberval’s secretary, Auguste turns from friendship to love.
Roberval considers this relationship a betrayal and marooned Marguerite, her nurse, and Auguste on a barren island in the New World (likely in the Gulf of St Lawrence, near Quebec). She finds ways to survive the incredibly harsh winters, losing everything she loves, and eventually finds her way back to France, where her story comes to a remarkable finale.
Isola is based on the true story of Marguerite, and while parts of the story are somewhat confused in the historical records, the author has fashioned a compelling read.
This is a story of intrigue, greed, hardship, death, and love. You will not be bored!
A Show: Ludwig
This has to be the slowest show I have recommended. When we started watching it, I was intrigued, but both Susan and her sister, Sandi, were asleep by episode 2. However, the show is based on the premise of a brilliant, reclusive puzzle maker. But not just any puzzle maker; Ludwig involuntarily finds himself posing as a missing detective, who happens to be his twin brother. Sounds wacky, I know, but I quite enjoyed the unique way these “unsolvable” crimes were resolved.
Once you wake up from the first episode or so, I believe you, like me, will find yourself looking forward to more.
Two seasons, Britbox
A Place -The Gaspésie, Quebec, Canada
Lighthouse at La Martre, south shore of the St Lawrence
This issue is kind of turning into a Canadian ballad; I may break out into renditions of Gordon Lightfoot. However, the Gaspésie, otherwise known as the Gaspé Peninsula, is very different from Canadian areas in British Columbia, PEI or Ontario. When you drive from Quebec City along the shores of the St Lawrence river, you may find yourself in towns like Riviere du-Loup, Trois Pistoles, Rimouski, Grand-Metis, Ste Anne-des-Monts or Perce. The scenery is spectacular, the people are friendly, and the language is French.
This is certainly not Europe, but as close to small French towns as possible without crossing an ocean. Speaking of oceans, you will see what looks like an ocean when you view the St Lawrence River as you travel northeast. As it widens past Quebec City, it extends from 25 to 55+ miles wide, and where it officially meets the border of the Gulf of St Lawrence, near Ste Anne-des-Monts, it is over 60 miles wide! That is a big river.
However, the trip needs a destination, and the destination will likely be the town of Perce, on the tip of the peninsula, and sporting the most famous rock in Canada, Rocher Perce. You may ask yourself why anyone would travel that far to see a rock; I suppose it must be seen to be appreciated.
Fly into Montreal or Quebec City, rent a car, and start driving. But take your time; there is so much to enjoy.
A Recommendation from our Readers
Coast Maine Botanical Garden, Fall 2024
Greetings………enjoy your articles about botanical gardens. Don’t recall if you’ve ever done one on the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden in Booth Bay, Maine. The first time I visited about 15 years ago, I knew before I’d left the parking lot and got to the entrance that I would “join”. Their back-story of how the community obtained the land from a failed housing development project, and created this magnificent Garden and educational center is so inspiring!
~ Mary Lutz
Well, if liking good mysteries makes one musty, then consider us musty, party of two.
I've got a stellar recommendation called "Murder at Gulls Nest", written by Jess Kidd. It was published in 2025, but is set in 1954. It features a compelling main character named Nora Breen, who has left her convent home to solve a mystery. Yes, folks, she was a nun. Those with scenisciphobia, beware. The sequel is also out of you find yourself a fan.
Murder at Gulls Nest: A Novel
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~ Elizabeth
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