Writing down the Garden
Recently, I’ve taken to writing about gardens, and when I picked up Francis Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden to re-read, I realized that many of the books I cherish have a gardening background. I’ve read The Secret Garden at least once a year for decades. During the times I feel like Mary Lennox—selfish and sour and imperious—it is helpful to think of lessons learned within the pages … [Read more...]
Come Into the Garden, Maud
When traveling, one of my favorite activities is to visit gardens. Visiting local gardens is a wonderful way to add depth and understanding to your travel experience, and there are a number of ways to find them wherever you plan to go. • Wikipedia has a list of botanic gardens in the U.S. and internationally. • The American Public Gardens Association has a wonderful searchable database. … [Read more...]
And I Will Make Thee Beds of Roses
Roses are among my favorite flowers. I also love lilac, freesia, orchids, and iris, but only the rose has its own word for its fanatics, a rosarian. One day, I would like to travel to rose gardens around the world, so thought I’d start a list. (Find other lists at http://www.heritagerosefoundation.org and http://www.lillysrosegarden.com/roses-around-the-world.html and … [Read more...]
Austin Gardens and Food
When traveling, we often visit botanic gardens and take a short cooking class. These are two slightly out of the ordinary ways to meet unexpected people and to increase your understanding of a locale. Foodies, who make up most of the cooking school students, are some of the most fun people on earth, and always have great restaurant suggestions. And gardeners are so lovely, with planting and … [Read more...]
Help a Butterfly, Help the World
Butterflies are often considered a ‘canary in the mine’ animal. Because they are more sensitive to the environment than other animals, they provide a bell weather (an indicator of future trends) for the overall ecosystem. This is particularly true of Monarch butterflies that migrate thousands of miles from Mexico to the United States and Canada. The first time I was in a Monarch habitat was … [Read more...]
Sonoma Gardens and Food
As a continuation of my exploration of communities with both wonderful botanic gardens and excellent recreational cooking schools, I thought I’d look at the beautiful Sonoma area, one of my favorites in California. Opened in 2004, Cornerstone Gardens in Sonoma (http://www.cornerstonegardens.com/) feature a series of walk-through areas designed by landscape architects. Each designer was given … [Read more...]
Leisure And Travel With Plants, Nature and the Environment
There isn't anything like a walk in a park or growing your own fresh tomatoes. Retirment for many is a time to connect with nature. Growing a garden is one of the most popular leisure activites as we age. Whether it's vegetables or flowers, it's both pleasurable and rewarding. As people travel around the country and world, visiting gardens and nature are popular destinations as we … [Read more...]
Santa Fe Gardens and Food
When traveling, we often visit botanic gardens and take a short cooking class. These are two slightly out of the ordinary ways to meet unexpected people and to increase your understanding of a locale. Foodies, who make up most of the cooking school students, are some of the most fun people on earth, and always have great restaurant suggestions. And gardeners are so lovely, with planting and … [Read more...]
Denver Gardens and Food
When traveling, we often visit botanic gardens and take a short cooking class. These are two slightly out of the ordinary ways to meet unexpected people and to increase your understanding of a locale. Foodies, who make up most of the cooking school students, are some of the most fun people on earth, and always have great restaurant suggestions. And gardeners are so lovely, with planting and … [Read more...]
Retiree Health Benefits of Pet Fish Tanks
When people think of pets for seniors, the first thought is of the four-legged variety. For many people, cats and dogs are not realistic options. Pet fish tanks or aquariums offer retiree health benefits without some of the challenges of mammals. Plus, they can be lots of fun. There has been a lot of research on the health benefits of aquariums that may be surprising. Researchers found that an … [Read more...]