MICONIA MAGNIFICA

A VERY RARE PLANT, AT LEAST IN THE CONTINENTAL USA, IS THE STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL MICONIA MAGNIFICA, WHICH CAN GROW TO TREE SIZE. IT HAS THE REPUTATION OF BEING AN INVASIVE PEST IN TRULY TROPICAL AREAS, BUT WHERE IT CAN BE CONTAINED--SAY IN A GREENHOUSE AS AT SELBY GARDENS IN SARASOTA, IT IS A REMARKABLE AND TRULY AWESOME TROPICAL. THE LEAVES ARE AMONG THE MOST SPECTACULAR OF ANY PLANT ONE CAME NAME AND CAN GET VERY LARGE. I HAVE GROWN THIS PLANT IN A POT--VERY LARGE--AND IT HAS BLOOMED (BLOOMS DECIDEDLY UNSPECTACULAR). IT ALSO SET SEED, BUT I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD LIKELY BE UN VIABLE IN FLORIDA. THIS PROVED INCORRECT AS I HAVE MANAGED TO GET TWO SEEDLINGS, ONE OF WHICH HAS SURVIVED. THE PLANT IS VERY COLD TENDER AND IT ALSO REQUIRES A LOT OF WATER. PRETTY MUCH IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND, BUT WORTH THE SEARCH. AS ROBERT LEE RIFFLE HAS STATED IN HIS SUPERB BOOK ON TROPICAL PLANTS,( AMONG THE VERY BEST BOOKS AVAILABLE ON TROPICALS) "IT IS ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE THAT MORE OF THESE BEAUTIES HAVE NOT BEEN EXPLOITED FOR GARDENERS IN FROST-FREE REGIONS."

LAURA

EVEN AFTER ONE KNOWS ALL THE TWISTS AND TURNS OF LAURA INCLUDING THE BIG SURPRISE MIDWAY THROUGH THE FILM, THIS IS STILL A MOVIE TO BE ENJOYED OVER AND OVER. IT HAS A FANTASTIC CAST, COMPREHENSIVE EVEN FOR FILMS OF THIS ERA AND PRETTY MUCH UNKNOWN IN CONTEMPORARY MOVIES. OTTO PREMINGER, WHO HAD A VERY INTERESTING IF UNEVEN FILM CAREER, WAS BROUGHT IN TO TAKE OVER THIS TROUBLED PRODUCTION AT THE LAST MINUTE. IT WAS HE WHO INSISTED UPON CASTING THE UNKNOWN CLIFTON WEBB IN A PIVOTAL ROLE. WEBB BECAME A STAR AS A RESULT. THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN GENE TIERNEY AND DANA ANDREWS --AT THEIR MOST BEAUTIFUL HERE--IS DAZZLING. IT'S PRETTY GOOD BETWEEN EXCELLENT VINCENT PRICE AND JUDITH

ANDERSON,TOO. WEBB DOMINATES AND STEALS EVERY SCENE HE IS IN AND THE REST OF THE LARGE CAST IS SUPER, EVEN THE SMALLEST PARTS. PREMINGER GOT SUPERLATIVE PERFORMANCES FROM ALL. THE MAIN MUSIC THEME BY DAVID RAKSIN HAS BECOME A CLASSIC STANDARD. A SIDE TRIVIA NOTE: PREMINGER HAD THE REPUTATION OF BEING A MONSTER WITH ACTORS REDUCING MANY TO TEARS. YEARS AFTER THIS FILM, I MET HIM AT A PRESS LUNCHEON AND FOUND HIM WITTY AND CHARMING; BUT, OF COURSE, I WAS ONLY INTERVIEWING HIM, NOT WORKING FOR HIM.

IRESINE

PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR GOOD GROUND COVERS AND A VERY NICE ONE IS THIS IRESINE FROM THE AMARANTHACEAE FAMILY. IT IS AN UNDER-USED SUN-LOVING TROPICAL FROM BRAZIL THAT MAKES VERY ATTRACTIVE BEDS AND BRIGHTENS UP GROUPS OF PLANTS IN LARGE POTS OF BASKETS. THE BLOOMS ARE NOT MEMORABLE, BUT IT IS EASY TO GROW AND CAN BE SHEARED AS NEEDED. CUTTINGS GENERALLY ROOT WELL, THOUGH NOT 100% BY ANY MEANS. THE PLANT, ONCE LESS AVAILABLE, NOW SEEMS TO BE EVERYWHERE IN THE GOOD WEATHER. THERE ARE VARIATIONS, TOO. I ESPECIALLY FAVOR THE GREEN AND YELLOW ONE. WORTH A TRY AND REALLY LOVELY WHEN WELL GROWN.

THE LADY VANISHES

LONG BEFORE ALFRED HITCHCOCK CAME TO AMERICA AND BECAME AN INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR, HE WORKED IN ENGLAND AT MORE MODEST LEVELS, BUT STILL MADE SOME VERY GOOD FILMS DURING THIS EARLY PART OF HIS CAREER. AMONG THE BEST AND INDEED AMONG THE BEST OF ALL HITCHCOCK FILMS IS THE LADY VANISHES BLESSED WITH AN ESPECIALLY WITTY AND INTRIGUING SCRIPT AND WONDERFUL PERFORMANCES. MICHAEL REDGRAVE, WHO MADE FEW FILMS AS A YOUNG MAN IS ESPECIALLY WINNING IN WHAT IS ARGUABLY ONE OF HIS BEST SCREEN ROLES AND MARGARET LOCKWOOD, A NOW FORGOTTEN BRITISH ACTRESS, BUT A MAJOR STAR IN HER TIME IS ALSO ENORMOUSLY APPEALING HERE. THERE IS ALSO THE LADY WHO VANISHES, DAME MAY WITTY, WHO BRIGHTENED UP EVERY FILM IN WHICH SHE APPEARED. THIS IS ALSO ARGUABLY ONE OF HER BEST ROLES, TOO; AND THOUGH IT IS COMPARATIVELY SMALL, SHE MAKES EVERY SECOND COUNT WHEN SHE IS ON THE SCREEN. THE MYSTERY HERE IS VERY ABSORBING AND HAS BEEN MUCH COPIED IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS; BUT THE REAL FUN OF THIS FILM IS THE CHARACTERS AND THEIR INTERACTION WITH ONE ANOTHER. A FILM THAT CAN BE APPRECIATED MULTIPLE TIMES-A MAJOR TEST FOR A GREAT MOVIE.

MANIHOT ESCULENTA VARIEGATA

MANIHOT IS A BEAUTIFUL MEMBER OF THE EUPHORBIACEAE FAMILY AND IS WIDELY GROWN IN WARM CLIMATES. IT IS THE SOURCE OF TAPIOCA AND IS SOMETIMES SIMPLY CALL THAT. THIS STRICTLY TROPICAL PLANT IS VERY BRITTLE IN THE WIND, BUT IT IS AMONG THE MOST EASY OF PLANTS TO PROPAGATE, WHICH MAKES THE HIGH PRICES TAGGED ON IT IN MANY NURSERIES SEEM PRETTY GREEDY. EVEN STICKING A PIECE IN THE GROUND DURING GOOD WEATHER USUALLY PRODUCES ALMOST INSTANT RESULTS. THE PLANT REALLY DOES HATE THE COLD AND WILL DEFOLIATE AND LOOK PRETTY RATTY IN WINTER WEATHER. IT WILL REMAIN SMALLER AND MORE IN CONTROL IN A BIG POT, IF YOU HAVE LIMITED SPACE. BUT IT WILL HELP,WHATEVER GROWTH METHOD, IF THE PLANT IS BOTH FED AND PRUNED REGULARLY.

MAX DUGAN RETURNS

THE WORK OF NEIL SIMON IS AN ACQUIRED TASTE FOR SOME. MANY LOVE SIMON'S PLAYS AND OTHERS HAVE MANY RESERVATIONS. I GUESS I FALL IN THE LATTER GROUP, BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF HIS WORKS FOR WHICH I HAVE A SPECIAL AFFECTION AND MAX DUGAN RETURNS IS ONE OF THEM. IT IS ONE OF SIMON'S LESSER KNOWN WORKS, ALMOST ALL OF WHICH HAVE MADE IT TO FILM. SIMON WAS MARRIED FOR A TIME TO THE VERY GOOD ACTRESS, MARSHA MASON, AND HE WROTE A LOT OF MATERIAL JUST FOR HER OF WHICH THIS IS A SHINNING EXAMPLE. MASON PLAYS A BELEAGUERED SINGLE MOM /SCHOOL TEACHER, WHO IS TRYING--NOT OVERLY SUCCESSFULLY TO COPE WITH LIFE AND A TEENAGE SON. RE-ENTER HER FATHER, MAX DUGAN, WHOM SHE LONG THOUGHT DEAD; AND TO COMPLICATE MATTERS A LOT, DUGAN IS ON THE RUN WITH A LARGE AMOUNT OF STOLEN CASH. HE IS ALSO DYING. THIS MAY NOT SOUND LIKE A PLOT RIPE FOR COMEDY AND ONE-LINERS, BUT SIMON MANAGES IT AND DOES IT WELL KEEPING MUCH OF HIS SOMETIME LETHAL, TREACLY SENTIMENTALITY AT BAY FOR MUCH OF THE PROCEEDINGS. JASON ROBARDS IS WONDERFUL IN THE LEAD AND MATTHEW BRODERICK--VERY EARLY IN HIS CAREER--IS THE CONFUSED, BUT VERY BRIGHT TEENAGER. ADD DONALD SUTHERLAND AS A SMART DETECTIVE WHO FALLS FOR MARSHA AND YOU HAVE A PREDICTABLE, BUT STILL VERY ENJOYABLE LIGHT COMEDY THAT ONLY THE HARDEST OF HEARTS WILL BE ABLE TO RESIST.

EUPHORBIA COTINIFOLIA

EUPHORBIA COTINIFOLIA IS A LOVELY LITTLE TREE OR SHRUB ( IF PRUNED A LOT) THAT SHOULD BE USED MORE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MORE POPULAR IN CALIFORNIA AND THE WEST THAN HERE IN FLORIDA. BUT, RECENTLY--APPARENTLY DUE TO SOME TISSUE-CULTURING--IT IS AROUND MUCH MORE IN THE SOUTH. THE PLANT LIKES SUN AND DOESN'T APPEAR TO WANT TO BE TOO WET, BUT IT ALSO CANNOT TAKE LONG DROUGHTS WITHOUT ATTENTION. iT IS TROPICAL AND WILL NOT TOLERATE FREEZING, THOUGH THERE ARE SOME REPORTS IT WILL COME BACK AT THE BASE FOLLOWING VERY COLD WEATHER. IT'S LEAVES RUSSLE NICELY IN THE BREEZE, BUT THE STEMS ARE BRITTLE AND EXUDE THE SAME KIND OF IRRITATING SAP AS THE CHRISTMAS POINSETTIA. MANY PEOPLE MAY HAVE ISSUES WITH THIS, THOUGH, USUALLY, IT JUST MAKES A STICKY MESS WHEN CUT OR BROKEN. THE PHOTO HERE DOES NOT REALLY SHOW UP THE MUCH DARKER RED LEAVES THAT PLANTS IN GOOD LIGHT PRODUCE. IT WILL PROPAGATE FROM CUTTINGS, BUT REQUIRES SOME PATIENCE. A KEEPER THIS IS!

IRENE DUNNE

IT IS SAD THAT MANY CONTEMPORARY MOVIE LOVERS ARE UTTERLY UNAWARE OF SOME OF THE SCREEN GREATS FROM THE PAST AND KNOW NOTHING OF THEIR BODY OF WORK. ONE SUCH NEARLY FORGOTTEN ACTRESS IS THE GLORIOUS IRENE DUNNE, WHO WAS ONE OF THE MOST VERSATILE STARS OF HOLLYWOOD'S SO CALLED GOLDEN AGE. HAPPILY, THE WONDERFUL TCM HAS MONTH LONG TRIBUTES TO DUNNE'S WORK AND HAS INCLUDED MANY OF HER MOST MEMORABLE FILMS. DUNNE WAS SOMEONE WHO REALLY COULD NEARLY DO IT ALL. BLESSED WITH A SUPERB VOICE OF NEAR OPERATIC QUALITY, (SHE APPEARS IN THE VERY BEST VERSION OF SHOWBOAT), SHE SANG IN MANY OF HER FILMS. BUT DUNNE, WHO COULD EXCEL IN MUSICALS ,ALSO WAS WAS EQUALLY ADEPT IN DRAMAS FROM THOSE AT THE SOAP LEVEL TO THE FAR MORE SERIOUS EFFORTS (SEE LOVE AFFAIR, I REMEMBER MAMA FOR BUT TWO GREAT EXAMPLES). SHE COULD EVEN DO WESTERNS AND WAS NOMINATED FOR CIMARRON. SHE GOT MANY NOMINATIONS OVER HER CAREER, BUT, INCREDIBLY, NEVER WON, WHICH IS A BLISTERING COMMENTARY ON THE ACADEMY AWARDS PROCESS. IRENE DUNNE HAS FEW EQUALS WHEN IT COMES TO COMEDY APPEARING IN SOME OF THE VERY BEST SCREWBALL COMEDIES AS WELL AS NUMEROUS OTHER LIGHTHEARTED FARE. EVEN WHEN A MOVIE WAS NOT NECESSARILY THE VERY BEST, DUNNE'S WORK ALWAYS WAS. WHEN SHE WAS ON THE SCREEN, YOU NOTICED. DUNNE RETIRED YOUNG AND REALLY WORKED ONLY ABOUT 20 YEARS IN MOVIES, BUT HER OUTPUT IS JUST ASTONISHING. ABOUT THE ONLY TYPE OF PART SHE NEVER PLAYED WAS A VILLAIN AND ONE SUSPECTS SHE COULD HAVE BEEN SUPER IN THE KIND OF PART --A SOPHISTICATED FEMME FATALE--JUST AS SHE IS IN VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING SHE EVER FILMED. SHE IS AN ESSENTIAL DISCOVERY FOR ANY TRUE MOVIE-LOVER, AND THE REST OF HER FILMS DESERVE TO BE ON DVD. ARE YOU LISTENING TCM?

ALPINIA SANDERAE

GINGERS HAVE BECOME EVER MORE POPULAR PLANTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND ONLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG OF WHAT IS OUT THERE IS CURRENTLY BEING GROWN HERE. ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GINGERS IS ALPINIA SANDERAE, SOMETIMES JUST CALLED ALPINIA VARIEGATA. THOUGH THE BLOOM SPIKES ON THIS GINGER ARE NOT ESPECIALLY NOTABLE, THE LEAVES ARE SO BEAUTIFUL THAT THIS IS ALL THAT MATTERS. IT IS A PLANT THAT JUMPS OUT AT YOU IN THE LANDSCAPE OR IN LARGE POTS WHERE IT IS OFTEN GROWN. THIS IS A GINGER THAT IS TRULY TROPICAL (IT'S FROM NEW GUINEA) AND ONE WHICH LOVES HIGH HUMIDITY, THOUGH THERE ARE MANY GINGERS CURRENTLY BEING DISCOVERED, WHICH CAN TAKE CONSIDERABLE AMOUNTS OF COLD. THIS PARTICULAR PLANT IS BEING SEEN MORE OFTEN FOR SALE--IN THE GOOD WEATHER TIMES. IT WAS RECENTLY SPOTTED AT THE HOME DEPOT, FOR EXAMPLE, AN ENCOURAGING SIGN FOR TROPICAL PLANT LOVERS.

AWAY FROM HER

DESPITE THE FEELINGS OF MANY MOVIEGOERS, ESPECIALLY OLDER ONES, THAT THERE ARE NO GOOD MOVIES BEING MADE, AWAY FROM HER (2007) GIVES THE LIE TO THIS CONTENTION. NOT ONLY IS IT ONE OF THE VERY BEST MOVIES OF THIS YEAR, BUT IT'S CLAIM FOR ACCOLADES GOES HIGHER. IT IS ONE OF THE BEST FILMS PERIOD, NO MATTER THE YEAR. JULIE CHRISTIE, NOW IN HER 60S, IS STILL ABSOLUTELY RAVISHING AND A MESMERIZING SCREEN PRESENCE. HERE SHE DOES ACADEMY AWARD WORK AS DOES HER CO-STAR, THE RELATIVELY UNKNOWN GORDON PINSENT. HE IS WITH HER EVERY SINGLE STEP OF THE WAY. OLYMPIA DUKAKIS AND MICHAEL MURPHY HAVE SMALL,SUPPORTING ROLES AND ARE FANTASTIC. MURPHY DOESN'T EVEN SPEAK A LINE AND YET YOU WON'T FORGET HIM. YES, THIS FILM IS A SERIOUS DRAMA WITH A HARD BUT UNSENTIMENTAL AND HONEST LOOK AT LIFE AND ITS LESSONS AND OUTCOMES,A MEDITATION NOT SO MUCH ON ALZHEIMERS AS IT HAS BEEN SOLD, BUT RATHER ON THE COMPLEXITIES OF LOVE AND LOSS. BUT IT IS SO WONDERFULLY WARM AND LIFE-AFFIRMING THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO FORGET WHEN ITS OVER. HOW MANY FILMS CAN EARN THAT CLAIM? AGAIN, WHATEVER THE YEAR? THE FILM IS BASED ON AN EXCELLENT STORY BY ALICE MUNRO ; AND EQUALLY TELLING AND TERRIFIC, IT HAS BEEN DIRECTED BY SARAH POLLEY, AN ACTRESS STILL IN HER 20S. HER GRASP AND UNDERSTANDING OF THIS FAR FROM EASY MATERIAL IS ASTONISHING AND GIVES ONE A LOT OF OPTIMISM AND HOPE ABOUT HER FUTURE FILM CAREER. THIS IS A CONTEMPORARY MOVIE--IN SO MANY WAYS--AND NOT TO BE MISSED.

HEMIGRAPHIS COLORATA

HEMIGRAPHIS COLORATA IS ANOTHER WONDERFUL PLANT FROM THE UNDERRATED ACANTHUS FAMILY. IT IS FROM MALAYASIA, SO IT IS STRICTLY TROPICAL, BUT IT MAKES A WONDERFUL, CREEPING GROUND COVER IN TROPICAL AREAS OR IN GREENHOUSES AND BLOOMS OFTEN WITH LOVELY LITTLE WHITE FLOWERS. IN BEST LIGHT, IT WILL TAKE ON A DARK BRONZEY COLOR INSTEAD OF THE MORE USUAL SILVER AND GREEN. IT PROPAGATES EXTREMELY EASILY AND WILL GROW IN POTS OR BASKETS. IN THE LATTER, IT REQUIRES A GOOD AMOUNT OF WATER AND REGULAR FEEDING. IF INSIDE AND LEGGY, SNIP OFF TOPS AND START NEW PLANTS...AGAIN WITH THE GREATEST OF EASE. SOME SOURCES REFER TO THE PLANT AS AN "IVY" TO WHICH IT BEARS ONLY A PASSING RESEMBLANCE.

THE LADY EVE

THE LADY EVE IS ONE OF HOLLYWOOD'S VERY BEST MOVIES, AND ONE OF PRESTON STURGES' GREATEST COMEDIES. MY PERSONAL FAVORITE IS THE PALM BEACH STORY (SEE SEPARATE DISCUSSION) , BUT ALL THE STURGES' COMEDIES IN HIS GOLDEN PERIOD (THE 40S) ARE CINEMA AT ITS SUBLIME BEST. BARBARA STANWYCK AND HENRY FONDA MADE MULTIPLE MOVIES TOGETHER AND HAD SUPERB SCREEN CHEMISTRY, BUT THIS IS THEIR MASTERPIECE. THIS IS A FILM THAT REALLY IS FILLED WITH ALMOST NON-STOP LAUGHS AND IMAGINATION AND A KIND OF WIT THAT IS RARER IN MOVIES THAN MONEY IN THE MAIL. THE STURGES' STOCK COMPANY OFFERS ITS USUAL INIMITABLE SUPPORT, BUT ONE HAS TO MENTION EUGENE PALLETE (FONDA'S MILLIONARIE DAD) WILLIAM DEMAREST (FONDA'S BODYGUARD) AND ERIC BLORE ( A CON MAN SUPREME). AND, OF COURSE, THERE IS CHARLES C OBURN (STANWYCK'S FATHER AND THE ULTIMATE CARD SHARK). COBURN NEVER GAVE A BAD FILM PERFORMANCE AND ENLIVENED MANY DULL FILMS. THE LADY EVE IS DEFINITELY NOT ONE OF THOSE. THE SAME ACCOLADES CAN BE OFFERED FOR STANWYCK, WHO APPEARED IN A LOT OF MEDIOCRE MOVIES, BUT THIS IS AT THE TOP OF HER VERY BEST WORK ALONG WITH DOUBLE INDEMNITY. THE LADY EVE IS A MOVIE TO BE SAVORED OVER AND OVER AND A GUARANTEED SPIRIT-UPLIFTER, EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU WATCH IT.

HOFFMANIAS

HOFFMANIAS ARE AMONG THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLANTS ON EARTH WITH GORGEOUS, "RIDGEY" LEAVES, BUT IT IS HARD TO FIND A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THEM ALMOST NOTHING ON THE INTERNET, STRANGELY; AND EVEN THE PLANTS ARE NOT SO EASY TO COME BY. THEY ARE NATIVE TO MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA, WHICH TELLS YOU HOW MUCH HEAT AND HUMIDITY THEY LIKE TO DO WELL. THEY ALSO LIKE TO BE FED; AND IF TRIED IN THE GROUND IN THE APPROPRIATE GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS, THEY MUST HAVE VERY WELL DRAINED SOIL. HOFFMANIAS ARE ALLEGED TO BE EASY TO PROPAGATE AS THEY GROW WELL IN THE HOT WEATHER; BUT IN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, A LOT OF STEMS DO NOT ROOT--EVEN THOUGH I HAVE TRIED VARIOUS MEANS OF PROPAGATION. THERE IS A VARIEGATED PLANT CALLED HOFFMANIA "STRAWBERRY SPLASH" IN SOME SOURCES, "FANTASIA" IN OTHER SOURCES. IT IS TRULY SPECTACULAR! ONE SPECIES OF THE GENUS MAKES AN EXCELLENT GROUND COVER IN WARM, HUMID GREENHOUSES (I HAVE SEEN IT GROWN THIS WAY IN GLASSHOUSES ON THE NC STATE CAMPUS IN RALEIGH.)THIS IS A PLANT THAT NEEDS TO BE MUCH BETTER KNOWN AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE LOOKING INTO TISSUE CULTURE POSSIBILITIES.

INTIMATE STRANGERS

INTIMATE STRANGERS IS A DIFFICULT FILM TO CATEGORIZE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS IT IS SO INTERESTING AND COMPELLING. IT IS A SUSPENSE -ROMANCE-PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER AND EVEN A DARK BLACK COMEDY IN MANY WAYS, ESPECIALLY ITS DELICIOUSLY SATIRICAL LOOK AT THERAPISTS AND ANALYSTS ABOUT WHOM IT TAKES A VERY SKEPTICAL VIEW. THE MOVIE IS ALSO MOST CERTAINLY A REALLY THOUGHT-PROVOKING MEDITATION ON LOVE AND LONELINESS.. A VIEWER IS QUICKLY LURED INTO ITHE FILM'S WORLD AND THE MOVIE DOESN'T LET GO. THE WORK IS OFTEN VERY REMINISCENT OF HITCHCOCK'S FILMS, RIGHT DOWN TO THE EVOCATIVE MUSICAL SCORE WHICH EVEN SEEMS TO CHANNEL HITCHCOCK'S FAVORITE COMPOSER, BERNARD HERRMANN. FABRICE LUCHINI AND SANDRINE BONNAIRE ARE WONDERFUL IN THE LEADS AND HAVE MOST OF THE SCREEN TIME AND THE STORY, BUT THERE IS EXCELLENT SUPPORT FROM A GREAT GROUP OF ACTORS. ESPECIALLY FINE IS ANNE BROCHET WHO PLAYS THE LEAD CHARACTER'S FORMER LOVER. IN A FEW BRIEF SCENES, SHE MANAGES TO CONVEY THE HURT AND DEVESTATION OF THEIR BROKEN RELATIONSHIP IN SUBTLE, VERY MOVING WAYS; AND HER FINAL SCENE WHEN SHE LOOKS BACK ONE LAST TIME AT HER LOST PARTNER AND REALIZES THEY WILL NEVER REALLY BE TOGETHER AGAIN, IS ESPECIALLY HEARTBREAKING.

PSEUDOERANTHEMUM RETICULATUM

THE ACANTHACEAE FAMILY OF PLANTS IS A WONDERFULLY VARIED ONE IN WHICH THERE IS A GREAT VARIETY OF TROPICAL PLANTS AND A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT MANY OF THEM. ONE PARTICULARLY FINE GENUS IN THIS GROUP IS THE PSEUDORANTHEMUM, A VERY VARIED ASSEMBLY IN ITSELF WITH MANY KINDS OF LEAF PATTERNS AND TEXTURES AND LOTS OF VARIEGATION AND COLORING. THESE ARE REALLY STRICTLY TROPICAL, BUT GROW WELL IN GREENHOUSES AND ALSO IN HOMES WITH ENOUGH HEAT , LIGHT AND HUMIDITY. AMONG MY VERY FAVORITE OF THEM IS PSEUDORANTHEMUM RETICULATUM , A STUNNING GREEN AND YELLOW PLANT, WHICH CAN GET MODERATELY LARGE IN GOOD GROWING CONDITIONS. IT DOES BLOOM AND HAS NICE PINK AND WHITE SPRAYS OF FLOWERS IN THE HEAT OF SUMMER. IT ALSO PROPAGATES FAIRLY EASILY AS DO MOST MEMBERS OF THE ACANTHUS FAMILY, SOME FROM MERELY STICKING UNTREATED CUTTINGS INTO ALMOST ANY WELL DRAINED PROPAGATING MEDIA. IN A COLLECTION OF TROPICAL PLANTS, THIS ONE STANDS OUT AND ALWAYS ATTRACTS ATTENTION.

LOVE AFFAIR

WHEN GREAT ROMANCE CLASSICS ARE MENTIONED, AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER ALWAYS MAKES THE CUT.BUT THE ORIGINAL OF THIS FILM, LEO McCAREY'S LOVE AFFAIR IS THE FAR SUPERIOR FILM IN EVERY WAY. McCAREY DIRECTED BOTH VERSIONS, AND HE HAD GREAT STARS IN EACH EDITION. BUT IN THE ORIGINAL HE HAD IRENE DUNNE ( WHO ALSO MADE THE FANTASTIC THE AWFUL TRUTH--DISCUSSED SEPARATELY HERE--WITH THE SAME DIRECTOR) AND CHARLES BOYER. THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN DUNNE AND BOYER CANNOT BE BOUGHT AND RADIATES IN EVERY FRAME OF THIS WONDERFUL FILM. THE SMALL SUPPORTING CAST IS ALSO VERY FINE, ESPECIALLY MARIA OUSPENSKAYA, WHO HAS ONLY ONE EXTENDED SCENE, BUT REALLY MAKES THE VERY MOST OF IT. AS A TRIVIA NOTE, DUNNE AND BOYER APPARENTLY BECAME LIFE LONG FRIENDS AND WORKED TOGETHER AGAIN; AND YEARS LATER, WHEN BOYER COMMITTED SUICIDE THE DAY AFTER HIS WIFE OF MANY YEARS DIED, DUNNE IS REPORTEDLY THE ONLY HOLLYWOOD TYPE WHO SHOWED UP AT HIS FUNERAL. INTERESTING THAT "THE GREAT LOVER" WAS DEVOTED TO ONLY ONE WOMAN IN HIS REAL LIFE AND COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT HER.LOVE AFFAIR IS A STRAIGHTFORWARD STORY ABOUT A COUPLE MEETING ON A SHIP, BUT INVOLVED WITH OTHERS. THEY FALL IN LOVE AND AGREE TO MEET AGAIN LATER WHEN THEY CAN UNTANGLE THEIR SEPARATE AFFAIRS, BUT--AS ALWAYS IN MOVIES AND IN LIFE--FATE INTERVENES AND THINGS RUN INTO MANY SNAGS BEFORE A HAPPY ENDING. CERTAINLY THIS MOVIE SUBSCRIBES TO THE PHILOSOPHY THAT LOVE CONQUERS ALL...AND THAT IS ALMOST ALWAYS TRUE...AT LEAST IN THE MOVIES.

CANNA STUTTEGART

EVERYONE WHO GROWS TROPICAL PLANTS KNOWS THAT CANNAS ARE A MAINSTAY OFFERING A WIDE VARIETY OF COLORS AND HEIGHTS AND BLOOMING VERY WELL IN WARM WEATHER. THEY DO LIKE TO BE FED A LOT, AND THEY ARE SUBJECT TO EVERY CHEWING INSECT ON THE PLANET, OR SO IT SEEMS. ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF THE INCREASINGLY NEW SUPPLY OF VARIEGATED LEAF ONES IS CANNA STUTTEGART, WHICH PROVED MORE DIFFICULT FOR ME TO GROW IN FLORIDA THAN I EXPECTED. IT IS NOT WIDESPREAD HERE, BUT I HAVE SEEN LOVELY CLUMPS OF THIS CANNA IN SUCH DISPARATE PLACES AS MY HOMETOWN OF RALEIGH, NC AND IN CALIFORNIA, ESPECIALLY AT THE SAN DIEGO ZOO. GROWN WELL, IT IS A KNOCKOUT PLANT THAT WILL REMIND MANY OF THE VERY DIFFICULT TO GROW VARIEGATED BANANAS (MUSAS) AS WELL IT SHOULD SINCE THEY ARE RELATED AFTER ALL. ANYWAY, THIS IS A PLANT WORTH SEARCHING OUT AND TRYING. IT IS FAR LESS COSTLY THAN THE VARIEGATED BANANA PLANTS.