My hometown has weather-beaten terracotta planters the size of vintner barrels, a crumbling concrete birdbath rescued from the Garden of Eden, and a jungle's worth of leaves, branches, and foliage. There is a very luxurious and overly selective garden center that is packed to the brim. Destination. People from out of town come to admire the landscape of moss, handmade shears, and fairy lights, and to sample seasonal produce at the on-site cafe. I think there might be a real waterfall behind the table linen.
I would go to this store and wander the aisles and think, like Keats staring at the Grecian urn, how different my life would be if I could live in this store with the promise of eternal greenery. I love to imagine.
As my colleague Stephen Kurtz writes in today's Times, dreams of the most vivid life, true to beautiful ideals of aesthetic richness, have led many former fashion designers and filmmakers to pursue gardening. I imagine it drives me to work.
They're art students who found their medium in flowers and ferns, and corporate employees who realized there was life beyond the laptop, even if it wasn't all that glamorous. “I wanted to dig a hole and carry dirt up a four-story skyscraper,” a tech startup defector turned factory coach and landscape designer told Stephen.
I wrote about my struggles trying to bring the riches of the jungle into my apartment, and the ongoing struggle between southern exposure and the relentless ravages of root rot. I took the advice of Morning readers and learned to stop making too much of a fuss about my accusations and let them be themselves. In most cases this was successful. I have a bird of paradise, and even if it's not thriving, at least it's alive. Living for plants, even if you live for plants, means angrily throwing out the vine in an unnatural and totally un-Keatsian mass, and then inexplicably lying there limp for a season. , play dead, or, let's be honest, I might actually be doing that, but I'm alive and I'm keeping the plants alive. Died.
People who work with plants for a living and curate lush and enviable displays of plants that make you want to be a better person know that creating a home garden that looks effortless is hard work. I know. I combine my dream of growing free-range plants with the fact that every leafy thing that crosses my threshold instantly becomes a greenhouse flower, and I want climate and light conditions that I can't immediately provide. I’m still trying to find balance. I try to adopt the mindset of floral designer Emily Thompson. He said to Stephen: “Working with the living world is, in effect, a spiritual and sacred experience.” She's not talking about garden-variety snake plants planted on dusty sills, Although we may be talking about such plant creations, this wisdom is still valid.
for many
a week of culture
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“We are at war,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after Palestinian militants launched a surprise rocket and ground attack in Israel.
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U.S. employment rose by 336,000 people last month, nearly double what economists expected.
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House Republicans are fighting over how to choose a successor to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
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President Biden said he does not have the authority to block construction of the border wall that Congress approved under President Donald Trump.
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'Disgust is not a strong enough word': Americans from all walks of life are tired of politics.
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New Jersey's attorney general has opened an investigation into a 2018 fatal car crash involving Sen. Robert Menendez's soon-to-be wife.
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A former US Army soldier who fled to Hong Kong has been charged with attempting to provide secrets to the Chinese government.
cultural calendar
🎧🎬 Taylor Swift: The Elus Tour (Friday):If you're like me and couldn't get tickets to Taylor Swift's latest tour, you're practically out of luck. Swift, an American girl with big, boundless emotions, has produced a concert film that AMC will bring to theaters. While movie theaters can't replicate the excitement of a stadium, Swift is inviting attendees to experience the live event with her outfit, friendship bracelets, singing and dancing, and more. Can Swift dance? not much! But why not book a seat near the aisle so you can stand up and shake it off?
📺 “Frasier” (Thursday): Blues, they're calling again. Nineteen years after going off-screen, the domineering psychiatrist Frasier, played by Kelsey Grammer, returns. He is the latest marcher in the parade of reboots, resurrections, and retribution. In this new series, he returns to Boston. This is fitting for a character that started on “Cheers.” But he traveled light. No other characters from the original “Frasier” appear, but some do appear as guests. It can be hard to like the new cast if you've spent so much time with the old cast. You may want to talk to your psychiatrist about why you are afraid of change. The show will premiere on Paramount+ and Pluto TV before moving to CBS.
chocolate chip banana bread
It's a long weekend for many of us, so it's the perfect time to bake Erin Jeanne McDowell's cozy Chocolate Chip Banana Bread. Her recipe calls for more bananas than many similar recipes, giving it a deep banana flavor and a super moist crumb. Chocolate chips make this banana bread dessert-worthy, but if you're looking for something a little healthier, you can substitute extra chopped nuts or a handful of dried fruit (prunes or apricots are great). Masu.
real estate
Wrong house, right wrong: A couple accidentally buys a derelict house in a Scottish village. They struggled for five years to make it happen.
Where is the heart located: Some people choose to get married at home.
What you get for $640,000: Victorian living in Dorset, Vermont. Craftsman home in Kansas City, Missouri. Or his 1890 renovated home in Columbus, Ohio.
hunting: A retired couple leaves their floating home of 20 years in Portland, Oregon, to be closer to their children in Los Angeles. Which house did they choose? Please play our game.
Party in America: Kids of the 2000s are returning to the tween pop of their youth.
Autumn rides: Cycling is the best way to enjoy the autumn atmosphere. We'll do it here.
In-flight meltdown: Airplanes have become the setting for viral videos of questionable behavior.
Prevention: What you need to know about DoxyPEP, the new morning-after pill to protect against sexually transmitted infections
Advice from a wire cutter
The perfect backpack for fall travel
The bag I use most on the weekends is a surprisingly spacious backpack. On a recent three-day trip for her wedding, I stored my bridesmaids, her dresses, a few pairs of heels, all the hot hair tools I own, and stash of toiletries in her Cotopaxi Allpa 35L. However, there was still plenty of space. For frequent solo travelers like me, navigating through airports with a backpack is easier than using a carry-on suitcase. It's especially easy if you don't have a companion to watch your luggage while you take a pre-flight bathroom break. Of course, not everyone wants to carry all their belongings on their back. The experts at Wirecutter have plenty of recommendations for durable bags for smooth travel. — Elissa Sansi
New York Liberty vs. Las Vegas Aces, WNBA Finals: These two teams are on a collision course. After the Aces won the championship last season, Liberty formed a super team to challenge them. New York won the regular season, and the team's new forward, Brianna Stewart, won the league MVP award. The Aces are not slowing down, with A'ja Wilson averaging 26 points and 11 rebounds per game in the playoffs. Stewart and Wilson have been the best players in the league for years. A clash in the finals will take their rivalry to the next level. It will air tomorrow at 3pm ET on ABC.
