Category: Gardens

Tidy Tidbits: Art, Angst, & Autism

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BEAUTY IN GLASS

Bromeliads planted like a mosaic

Each year, Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota highlights the work of a notable artist as inspiration for special art throughout the gardens.  Other years have built on the interplay of art and nature in the works of Andy Warhol, Marc Chagall, and Monet.  This year’s focus is on the stained glass art of Louis Comfort Tiffany.  There are pieces both in the conservatory and throughout the landscape. 

Hanging stained ”glass” in the conservatory

 I think it is one of the most successful exhibits in this series.  Tiffany: The Pursuit of Beauty in Nature is on display through June 25th.  It’s well worth visiting!

Desert plants seen through a colored panel

RECENT READING

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

As has been noted, Kingsolver’s latest novel, Demon Copperhead, is a modern variation on Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield.  Demon, birth name Damon, is the child of a teenage addict and an absent father.  When his mother dies, he becomes the responsibility of a sorry welfare system and endures a series of mostly terrible foster homes.  Overworked, mistreated, and bullied, he is nonetheless a survivor.  

Lacking in self-esteem, his early shining moments are starring on the football field and being elected homecoming king.  He has artistic talent which he occasionally values, but he lacks the confidence in his abilities to seriously pursue it.  A badly injured knee damages him both physically and mentally, and he descends into a drug-fueled existence.  He functions, but not fully.

The novel is all in Demon’s voice.  The sentences are delivered in a breathless almost hasty tone with occasional staccato-like bursts.  There is humor and coarse language wrapped in a surprisingly engaging character.  

The writing is terrific, but the book is just too long!  I got bogged down with all the teenage boys’ antics and shenanigans about two-thirds in and set the book aside for a week.  Then I returned to it, determined to finish, and felt rewarded by my efforts in the last several chapters.  For me, the ending was a satisfying one.  Overall, recommended with reservations. (~JWFarrington)

OUTSTANDING SERIES

Astrid, season 1 (PBS)

I mentioned Astrid in an earlier blog post and have now watched the entire first series.  It is excellent on several levels.  Astrid works in criminal records and is blessed with an encyclopedic memory and keen observation skills. She is also autistic and at the beginning of the series quite timid in her dealings with other people and the world in general.  Paired with detective Raphaelle Coste, Astrid provides insights and knowledge of previous murders instrumental in solving the latest crime.  She even manages to win over the somewhat crusty pathologist Fournier. 

The cases are intriguing and usually hinge on some connection to an earlier crime.  What was most engaging for me was the growing friendship between Astrid and Raphaelle and watching Astrid gain in confidence, able to practice basic social niceties.  I also enjoyed the interactions between the members of Astrid’s autism support group and the wise guidance provided by William, the group leader.  The series is in French with subtitles.  Highly recommended!

Live plants echo the colors of the glass

Note: All photos ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved.) Header photo is of a screen at Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota.

France: Castles & Gardens

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Today we explored more of Dordogne with a visit to a castle, hanging gardens, and the medieval city of Sarlat. 

MILANDES IN CASTELNAUD

In this area of France, it seems you are never far from a castle or chateau, to use the French word.  In a small radius from our B&B, there are at least four chateaus, most of which we’ve seen from a distance, if not up close.  Milandes was a chateau we had not heard of previously.  On our hosts’ Richard and Philippe’s recommendation, we started there.

Josephine Baker, an American singer, dancer and actress, was born in 1906 and came of age in the 1920’s and 30’s. As a Black woman who was not widely accepted, she left the U.S. for France.  Here, she was warmly welcomed and had a very successful career.  In later years, she also performed in New York and elsewhere.  

Milandes is the 15th century chateau she owned for 30 years.  Baker lived and raised her twelve adopted children here.  But she was more than just a performer. During the Second World War, she served in the French military carrying encrypted messages in her sheet music.  In her post-war years, she actively fought against racism.

Exterior of Milandes

Her chateau, which was much restored during the 19th century with formal gardens added in the 20th, is stately and beautiful.  The Chief Penguin and I thoroughly enjoyed both the grounds and touring the interior rooms, everything from the huge kitchen to children’s bedrooms to Baker’s dressing room.  All are furnished, and there are mementos and photos from her long career. (Photos not allowed inside.)  The air was lovely so we ended with croque monsieurs for lunch outside at the brasserie.

Casual French lunch

MARQUEYSSAC

Planted around a 17th century chateau, the Hanging Gardens of Marqueyssac have been owned by the same family since 1692.   A series of winding paths and walkways stretch linearly for a kilometer from the level of the chateau to a belvedere which is almost 400 feet above the river.     Along the way, the views of the Dordogne Valley are stunning.  In the distance, you can see castles and a fort ranging from Castelnaud to Beynac to Roque Gageac.   The paths are lined with boxwood hedges and boxwood topiary.

View over the boxwoods toward the valley

After you park, there is a somewhat steep walkway up to the entrance gate.  Once inside, you have your choice of several different walks, one of which is flat, the others being hilly.  We walked some, marveling at the views across the valley and also checked out the chateau and tea garden.  Some of the rooms in the chateau are lightly furnished.  The thousands of boxwoods that add to the beauty and fragrance of the paths were added in the 19th century by Julien de Cerval. Cerval made other improvements to the property as well.

Boxwood topiary & fields below

RETURN TO SARLAT

Street in Sarlat

More than 40 years ago, the Chief Penguin and I spent part of a day in Sarlat. We came on market day, wandered around the stalls, and then savored lunch outside in one of the squares.  Sarlat is one of the best preserved and most beautiful 14th century towns anywhere.  Its cobblestoned streets and narrow passageways are both inviting and intriguing.  Scores of restaurants are tucked in and around these winding ways.  It is hard not to eat well here. 

 Specialities are foie gras, truffles, duck confit, cassoulet, and more.  Our lunch that day included foie gras, of course, and their famous pommes sardalaises, potatoes cooked in duck or goose fat with garlic and parsley.  I don’t recall the rest of the meal, but it was deliciously memorable!

Square in Sarlat

Yesterday, we weren’t in need of a meal, so we just strolled noting the shops for truffles and wine and the many restaurants and cafes, almost wishing we were hungry.  We stopped at two war memorials. A gentle rain was falling, few people were out, and it was strangely peaceful.

Sarlat memorial

Note: All photos ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved.) Header photo is of the garden at Milandes.

France: Charming Giverny

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MONET’S GARDENS AND HOUSE

Per the advice of our travel agent, we arrived early at the gardens and were so glad we did.  It was another foggy morning and only about 45 degrees.  Very few people initially, so we could take our time wandering the garden paths. Even when we got to the water lily garden, it wasn’t extremely crowded. 

At Monet’s Gardens

I had wondered if visiting the gardens in October was crazy, but no.  They were spectacular!  The garden rows are a riot of color, seemingly arranged casually, but not quite so. The colors popped against the grayish white sky.  The Rows and rows of densely planted flowers are somewhat grouped by color and all allowed to grow very tall.  As you walk along, you are both surrounded by greenery and blossoms and dwarfed by their size.  Lots of yellow big daisy-like flowers, dahlias in pinks and purples, plus masses of other purple and lavender flowers.

 The water lily garden is also gorgeous, perhaps even more so than the main garden.  There are Japanese maples with their red leaves, slender stands of bamboo, Monet’s signature green arched bridges, and then the lilies themselves.  It was serene and almost quiet, despite the masses of people with everyone shooting photos of themselves or the views with their iPhones.

Water lily garden in Giverny
Japanese maple overlooking Monet’s waterlilies

Monet’s brick house is also open to the public.  Not surprising, it has green shutters.  Inside you see the blues and yellows and greens that were some of his favorite colors. 

Green bench with Monet’s house behind
Monet’s dining room

I particularly liked the yellow dining room with yellow table and chairs, a ceramic pot with yellow flowers in it, and a yellow fireplace with green and blue tall vases on top. The kitchen was done in shades of light blue. We also saw Monet’s bedroom and the bed in which he died. Throughout the house, the walls are filled with art. A comfortable place to live indeed!

GIVERNY VILLAGE

What are the colors of Giverny?  The buildings and homes are stone, oatmeal and tan in color, a perfect backdrop for wooden doors and shutters in blue, green, or red and cafe chairs in yellow and blue.  Much of the main area is a pedestrian zone which makes it very pleasant to wander.  

Note orangey-red doors
Outside an in-town B&B

We noted a sign with an arrow to see Monet’s grave so, we headed to Saint Radegonde’s Church, a simple but striking Romanesque church, parts of which date to the 11th century.  Radegonde lived in the 6thcentury, was forced to marry a royal, but later left her husband. Devoutly Christian, she helped the poor, cared for the ill, and later founded a monastery. She continued to have influence with the government and was linked to the liberation of Normandy from the English.  

St. Radegonde’s Church

In the 10th century, she was canonized and even today is an important saint beyond France and Europe and is honored with two feast days.  The interior of the church is small with several impressive stained glass windows.

In the cemetery surrounding the church are not only the graves of Claude Monet and several members of his family, but also that of seven airmen buried together who were shot down nearby in 1944 during the war.

We lunched in the village at the Ancien Hotel Gaudy and enjoyed our repast of salmon rillettes, a Camembert crepe which was bathed in a puddle of melted cheese and accompanied by both greens and French fries for me, and for the Chief Penguin salade landaise of duck confit, lettuce, and mini potatoes.  Plus a basket of toothsome French bread and some vino.

Decadent crepe filled with and sitting in Camembert

Note: All photos ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved.)

Maine Days: Blossoms & Book

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GARDENS

ABUNDANT BLOOMS

If I were asked to name the most common flowers in this part of Maine, it would be daylilies and black-eyed Susans. Native to North America, Black-eyed Susans or Rudbeckia hirta are now found in the lower 48 states.

 A close third would be the many varieties of cone flowers.  

We made another visit to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens this week.  After checking off another troll on our list (we’ve seen three of the five), we enjoyed wandering in the children’s garden and through the senses garden.  Everything seemed especially lush and leafed out (probably all the rain here in July) and as always, it was lovely.

Here on Southport, there are daylilies in the garden and when we walk the neighborhood, we spy more of them.  Especially prevalent are the yellow and cream ones.  

Cream daylilies at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

CHALLENGED DETECTIVE

The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert K. Galbraith

I missed some of the hoopla when J. K. Rowling published her first crime novel as Robert K. Galbraith.  I’m only now discovering this work, thanks to the recommendations of Patricia and Rebecca.  The Cuckoo’s Calling is the first of five novels featuring detective Cormoran Strike.  Strike is a former soldier who served in Afghanistan.  At the outset, he is hard up, soon to be homeless, and slowed down by the loss of part of one leg in the war.  After the apparent suicide of Lula, a famous model, Strike is hired by the model’s stepbrother to investigate her death.  His new temp Robin is efficient, motivated, and tactful in ignoring the travails of Strike’s personal life. Together they wind their way through false leads and questionable tactics to arrive at the truth.

I enjoyed getting to know both Cormoran and Robin but was less taken with the unsavory characters of the celebrity world.  The book is very well-written (one probably wouldn’t expect any less) and clever, but long.  I picked it up and put it down and then resumed.  The more I got into it, the more I found it satisfying and engaging.  Therefore, after a break, I will probably read the next title in the series.  

Note: All photos ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved).