The Boston Globe's Recommended Summer Reading List
9 years ago
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- 9 years ago
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Summer Reading
Comments (32)Sally, "Kite Runner" is the story of an Afghan man who is now a US citizen. It's very interesting and helps to understand some of the awful things that have happened in that country that have led up to the current upheval there. I think I have found the PERFECT BOOK that combines my two favorite subjects, English History and Gardening. It's by Phillipa Gregory and called "Virgin Earth." It's the story of John Tradescant the Younger and his life in England and his exploration of Virginia Colony. You may recall a plant called Tradescantia also known as spriderwort; it's named for John and was one plant that he took back to England when he made one of his journeys to the New World. After I began reading "Virgin Earth", I discovered there was an earlier work by the same author called "Earthly Joys" that is the story of, what else, John Tradescant the Elder. He established a museum of 'curiosities' and also began a gardening business and eventually became a gardener to the English royal families. I haven't read it yet, but I'm really looking forward to it. I am currently reading "The Mayflower Papers" that is a compilation of several first-hand accounts of early settlers in America. It is designed as companion reading to another book, "Mayflower." These accounts are gleaned from personal diaries of several early settlers, and much of the language is archaic and kinda hard to understand. Also some of the terminology and names of things and articles is mysterious, and I have to go look them up or Google them. But it's very interesting reading, even if it isn't English history per se. Cheryl...See MoreWhat are you reading this summer?
Comments (27)I just finished "Live Bait" by PJ Tracy, the second Monkeewrench Gang book. It was good, but it didn't feature the Monkeewrench Gang all that much. I have the third book but probably won't read it for a few weeks yet. I recently finished "Wicked" by Gregory Maguire. As much as I enjoyed it, I don't know if I want to read the sequel, though. I love Michael Connelly's books featuring Harry Bosch. For a mystery/thriller writer, he injects his characters with so much, well, character. I finished "The Illuminator" by Brenda Rickman Vantrease recently, and currently have the pseudo-sequel "the Mercy Seller" in hand. The economy is so bad here locally that the county has closed my local library for all except 12 hours a week -- M/W/Sat 1-5 pm. I am p*ssed!...See MoreIs there Spring and Summer Sowing? (seed lists included)
Comments (0)Yes you can do this, most certainly. What you need to do is first assure that the soil stays moist. You need a container that has some depth to it....like a cool whip tub. The increased depth of the soil in ratio to the soil surface will decrease the amount of moisture loss through evaporation. Plain and simply, the deeper soil will hold more moisture because less is exposed to the air. Second, because of the warmer days the temperature inside the flat will heat up faster and higher so the flats need to be in part shade. More specifically, they should be in a location where they will not get midday sun which is just too intense. Third and last, you will need to add some extra vents in the lid to allow for rapid transpiration of the warm air inside the flat. *Don't forget*....in the Summer you have to keep a closer eye on the watering needs of all flats. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "What seeds can I start now?" You can Spring and Summer Sow the seeds of any perennial or biennial that says on the back of the packet "sow after last Spring frost", or "sow after ground has warmed", or anything similar to that. That information might not be mentioned at all....as long as you read on the packet any wording that indicates NO COLD PERIOD is required for germination you'll make good choices. I would think that any of the seeds that they sell at the dollar store would qualify.....all of those are very easy to grow. Here's a list of perennials and biennials you can try with Spring and Summer Sowing: Agastache Alyssum Asclepious Aurinia saxitile Belamcanda Buddleia Campanula Catanache Centranthus Coreopsis Dahlia Dianthus Digitalis Daylily Echinacea Eupatorium Flax Gaillardia Geum Hibiscus Hollyhock Hosta Jasione Kniphofia Lathyrus Lunaria Lupine Lychnis Lunaria Malva Monarda Myositis Nepeta Ornamental Grass Papaver Penstemon Phlox Platycodon Pyrethrum Ratibida Rudbeckia Salvia Silene Shasta Snapdragon Verbena Veronica Yarrow ========================================== And here's some fast growing annuals to try with the method. The cheery blooms of Spring Sown annuals will help perk up the garden during midsummer when some flowers start to wane and fizzle out from the heat. Summer Sown annuals can provide a "punch" of colorful fresh blossoms to enliven the Autumn garden. Ageratum African Daisy Alyssum Balsam-impatiens Candytuft Calendula California Poppy Cardina Climber Cleome Coleus Cornflower Cosmos Four-o-Clocks Lobelia Marigold Melampodium Morning Glories Nasturtium Nicotiana Nigella Pansy Petunia Phlox (Drummond) Portulaca Snapdragon Stock Sunflower Sweet Peas Tithonia Viola Zinnia The two lists above are both very short lists, and I will add to them as suggestions are made....so if you have some suggestions for either list please do email me with the variety names that you recommend. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "When can I transplant my Spring and Summer Sown seedlings into the ground?" You can put the seedlings into the ground while they're very small. Let the seeds germinate and when they have a couple of sets of leaves they can go right in. Keep them well watered for the first few weeks. If you're planting the seedlings into an area of direct full sun you can help them along for a few days by placing a lawn chair over them during the midday to shield them from the brilliant noon sun. Midday sun can be very strong, the seedlings are already acclimatized to the temperatures but that brilliant sun can stress them and may even give them a bit of sunscald. To learn about fertilizing your seedlings please read the Winter Sowing FAQ called: "Fertilizing Seedlings and a Simple Explanation of N-P-K" Good luck with your Spring and Summer Sowing! Trudi...See MoreIn August summer still yields - What are you reading?
Comments (60)As August draws to a close I have four books going at once. First is the fifth in George RR Martins's Game of Thrones series, A Dance with Dragons. I am halfway through, but am reading it as an ebook when I travel. We've been traveling a lot this summer and I do expect to finish it. I'm not in a hurry. It may well be years until he releases #6, and who knows if we will ever see #7, or if #7 will indeed complete the story? Second is Superfreakonomics, which my husband Tom read, enjoyed, and passed along to me. It is every bit as engaging as the original Freakonomics was, and I do recommend it to people who enjoy this kind of book, an analysis of human behavior based on economic principles written for a popular audience. Third is The Time in Between by Maria Duenas, which I am reading for my book club. This hefty volume is a historical novel based in mid 20th century Spain. It is moving along well so far. At this point it does not seem like great literature, but the plot has pulled me in and I am enjoying it. If it keeps on this way, I'm sure I will find it to be a thumping good read. And if it does not, well, I will thump it down on the floor in disgust. Finally I am looking forward to opening up a book I just got from the library. It is Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey. This novel about an early stage dementia patient who suspects a murder caught my attention this summer in a bookstore in Edinburgh, but I decided to wait until I returned home to read it. Apparently it is as popular here in the US as it was in the UK, because I had to go on the waiting list for several weeks before I could hold it in my greedy hands. Finally I should mention that I also read The Art of Hearing Heartbeats, last month's book club selection. Not to my taste, I'm sorry to say, but I believe it does have its fans. I found it slight. I'm all for reading lighthearted fun, and do so unabashedly, but not when it earnestly tries to be Significant. Rosefolly...See More- 9 years ago
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