The truth behind gardening proverbs
Many gardeners rely on a proverb, an almanac or their grandmothers for gardening advice, while Master Gardeners are trained to convey information that is research-based. Here are a few adages with a little bit of scientific discussion to clarify the level of their validity: April showers bring May flowers This saying can be traced back to English poet Thomas Tusser, who wrote in the... READ MORE
In praise of politically active older voters
Political season is heating up, both locally and nationally. As usual, older Americans are front and center. The reasons are tried and true. We vote, and we give money. Younger people might do the first, and sometimes do the second. But so often, they are too busy and too cash-strapped to lean into campaigns the way their elders do. So, we oldies-but-goodies will soon see and hear... READ MORE
Works illuminate ‘the war to end all wars’
The Bibliophile April 6 marks the 105th anniversary of the U.S. entry into the First World War. These books help us remember and appreciate those who served. Never in Finer Company: The Men of the Great War’s Lost Battalion, by Edward G. Lengel, 368 pages, Hachette Books paperback, 2021 Chief historian of the White House Historical Association, D.C. native Edward Lengel, has... READ MORE
Exquisitely crafted furniture as sculpture
Housed in a Tudor Revival mansion on Monument Avenue, the Branch Museum of Architecture and Design is posthumously exhibiting the work of local artist Sam Forrest, who created unique works of furniture as graceful as they are functional. Forrest, who passed away last May, learned his craft in the late 1960s at Richmond Professional Institute (RPI, which later became Virginia Commonwealth ... READ MORE
Fostering inner strength through the arts
Though it was founded 35 years ago by a Holocaust survivor, the CREATE Arts Center in downtown Silver Spring has a mission that seems tailored for today: offering art classes and art therapy to foster creativity, connect community and boost mental health. “My feeling was that the arts really belonged out there in the world for all people,” said its founder, Tamar Hendel, now 86. That ... READ MORE
On top of the world with a Baltimore artist
Baltimore native and visionary artist Ernest Shaw Jr. is a unique storyteller. In his decades-long career, Shaw, 53, has won numerous awards and accolades for his dignified and spirited images of the people of the African diaspora and their impact on American culture. This month, Shaw’s paintings of this complex story are exhibited in his solo show, “Continuous Line,” displayed at... READ MORE
Going for the green (lawn) this spring
When you think of March, you probably think of shamrocks and the color green. And you may have visions of a lush green lawn. To attain a verdant lawn, you may be tempted to sow grass seed and spread fertilizer this spring. Although you can find seed and fertilizer in garden centers, please do not apply them now. The nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus in lawn fertilizer are major... READ MORE
Richmond dancer debuts with Riverdance
When the Irish dance troupe Riverdance kicked off its 25th anniversary North American tour this year, someone special appeared in its high-stepping cast: the troupe’s first Black female dancer. Morgan Bullock, from Midlothian, said she’s been mesmerized by the dance style since she first saw it at age 10. She makes her professional U.S. stage debut in the production. She recently... READ MORE
Springtime at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
As Alfred Austin, English writer and poet said, “To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body but the soul.” Rated second on the Travel Channel’s list of top botanical gardens in America, the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a vast playground of architectural design, plants and flowers. What can you do at Richmond’s world-famous garden? Wander its 82 acres, bask in a... READ MORE
Loving a frumpy car — and proud of it
When two old-ish people buy a new car, they fall into one of two camps. Camp One: Let’s buy something zingy and silly, to prove that blood is still coursing through our veins. Camp Two: Let’s buy something dowdy and reliable, a bit like us. Eleven years ago, my wife and I did not have to ponder for very long. We chose Camp Two. Thus was born our Bu. The Chevrolet people call ... READ MORE
Arts 2024
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