In the middle of the twentieth century, the Brazilian actress and singer Carmen Miranda was a hit with the public. Known for her large personality, great talent, and fruit-bedecked headwear, she was celebrated for her “exotic” beauty. She was a trailblazer for Hispanic performers in the United States. I think of Carmen Miranda when I … Read more
As a nature lover, I am very fond of the nature series that British naturalist/broadcaster David Attenborough has produced and presented over the years. All of them highlight not only specific creatures and environments, but the interconnectedness of all living things. Not long ago, I was watching “Wild Isles,” about the wildlife of the British … Read more
Once upon a time, plant merchandisers offered only one mandevilla variety, ‘Alice Dupont’, known to botanist friends as Mandevilla x amabilis ‘Alice Dupont’. Cultivated and studied for 30 years at Longwood Gardens, home of its wealthy namesake, ‘Alice Dupont’ was officially named and introduced to the world in 1960. The original Alice and her husband, … Read more
Going away on vacation is one of the pleasures of summer and should be savored by those who are able to take time away from the day-to-day routine. Of course, it also means leaving your garden behind. Unless you are wealthy and have someone to tend the beds, borders and containers while you are away, … Read more
Filippo degli Albizzia was descended from a family of Florentine power brokers that made successive economic and political splashes in that city beginning in the fourteenth century. At various times members of the Albizzia family, armed with a fortune made in the wool trade, were politicians, important churchmen, mistresses of churchmen, and inquisitors. Filippo was … Read more
