This & That
The mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope has been very successful, and if everything that was hoped for wasn’t achieved, much more than was actually expected has been accomplished. The final application of new thermal blankets is in progress, and the telescope will be released tomorrow.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2009 is in full bloom in Britain, and even if you aren’t a dedicated gardener, it is a wondrous thing to behold. Although it has been decades since I was there, I still have memories of aroma and colors. Most Americans have no true appreciation of the multitude of colors available in plants because “garden centers” only stock the “top 40” varieties.
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I love flower shows. Chicago has an annual show that’s not too bad. But I’d love to go to a really nice one like the Chelsea Flower Show.
There is little variety in the big box garden centers. Mostly the common annuals like petunia, impatients, geraniums, marigolds or begonia in a few colors. I prefer perennials, but those take patience and planning. And a good garden catalog to order from.
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Catalogs are the only way you can get anything down here, even though the stuff is grown in the state. All of the variety is exported. Have you ever tried to find a blue flower without to a catalog? I don’t know what they have against blue.
Stella is casting her eye on the beds in back of the new old house, but it’s late enough she’ll probably wait until next year.
Your mention of the RHS evoked memories of old movies of Agatha Christie stories… probably Miss Jane Marple, though I don’t remember for sure; it could have been Poirot. I’d sneeze myself to death at such an event, but as one who lived across the street from the Houston Garden Society rose garden… one of the largest and arguably most beautiful in the city… for eight years about 40 years ago, I have to say that might not be such a bad way to go.
I am also reminded of the story of the frat boy who was required to make a sentence with the word “horticulture.” His response: “You can lead a horticulture, but you can’t make her think.” [Make appropriate gender changes if desired.]
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In Rochester, NY I lived just West of Highland Park which has one of, if not the largest collection of lilacs in the world. During the Spring when they bloomed the air was permeated with their aroma. Alas it only lasts a couple of weeks, but after a Rochester Winter followed by Slush [the fifth season in upstate New York between Winter and Spring] you knew that the cold was finally gone.