Focus on Flowers

Within the Roman Catholic Church properties worldwide, there are many gardens dedicated to the mother of Jesus. Many are rose gardens, but others also contain many different types of lilies, marguerites, marigolds, rosemary, virgin’s bower clematis, and many other flowers that are associated with Mary, too.

Annie Corrigan hosts this interview with screenwriter, author, comics teacher, and film producer Michael Uslan, a key figure behind the Batman movies.

Sarah Ruhlen's work has appeared in RHINO, Slipstream, Monday Night, and Noö Journal. She is the recipient of the 2007 George Wedge poetry prize and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize.

It has been said that when the weather is cold, as in British gardens, there are paths for walking, and where the weather is hot as in desert areas of the world, there are more pools and places to lounge. However, despite minor design differences related to the weather, most religious faiths seem to use a garden as a metaphor for heaven.

Matt Colglazier is the founder of americancraftspirits.com, a website devoted to interviews and reviews focusing on the craft spirits movement in the United States.

Annie Corrigan speaks with Zach De Pue, concertmaster of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and former violinist for the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Two recordings from a notable British ensemble (Linn).

There are some sacred gardens known as saint’s gardens that are designed to honor a particular person and reveal a vision of God through nature. Usually the specific saint’s spirit and philosophy is embedded in the character of the garden, and there is at least one statue of the saint to whom the garden is dedicated.

Peter Phillips joins Harmonia to talk about the Tallis Scholars’ recording “Lamentations of Jeremiah,” Gary Cooper leads the New Chamber Opera Ensemble in music from the Gresham Autograph, and L’Arpeggiata is featured in the release “Via Crucis.”

Romayne Rubinas Dorsey lives in Bloomington, Indiana. Her work has appeared in Brilliant Corners, Sou'Wester and the Louisville Review, and she teaches in IU's creative writing program.

Megan Meyer speaks with Buddhist teacher Arjia Rinpoche, director of the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center in Bloomington, Indiana.

Many of us in the Midwest are planting even more peonies than ever because they are deer resistant. However, these easy-care plants do have some problems. One is buds that never develop into blooms.

Alexander Bernstein, son of Leonard Bernstein and founding chairman of The Leonard Bernstein Center For Learning, is interviewed by Charles Webb.

Romayne Rubinas Dorsey lives in Bloomington, Indiana. Her work has appeared in Brilliant Corners, Sou'Wester and the Louisville Review, and she teaches in IU's creative writing program.

The composer of the music entitled "Airs for the Seasons" is Scotland's most famous 18th Century composer James Oswald, who was born in 1710 and died in 1769. I listened to a recording of his 48 Floral Suites each representing a particular shrub or flower, played by the Broadside Band.

Philip Picket leads the Musicians of the Globe in music from Shakespeare's plays and the Masque of Oberon.

Michael Barone, host and producer of Pipedreams, has been involved with the pipe organ for more than half a century. Peter Jacobi hosts.

Lucidarium explores Jewish music and poetry of Renaissance Italy, Ensemble Caprice performs gypsy-inspired baroque music, and a unique LP from Leonard Bernstein’s record collection.

Romayne Rubinas Dorsey lives in Bloomington, Indiana. Her work has appeared in Brilliant Corners, Sou'Wester and the Louisville Review, and she teaches in IU's creative writing program.

Perovskia is known by the common name Russian sage and is native to central Asia. It is a strong grower though looks delicate. However, it is not aggressive, even though it is a member of the mint family. Its pungent scent is a valuable asset as deer dislike it, and so this is a plant that usually blooms where it is planted.

Haydn symphonies with the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra (Harmonia Mundi) and Nocturnes for the King of Naples with Mozzafiato and L’Archibudelli (Sony).

Harmonia continues it look at musical instruments from the Middle Ages, Baroque oboist John Abberger talks about his chosen instrument, and Private Musicke performs music of Spanish Renaissance composer Alonso Mudarra.

Dustin Nightingale lives in Fargo, North Dakota. His poems have been published in various journals including Margie, Cimarron Review, Stickman and others. His band, the Citronella Hangovers is currently recording their 3rd spoken word album.

Peter Breslow is the supervising senior producer for NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday and a former producer for All Things Considered. Owen Johnson hosts.

Campanulas, or bellflowers to use their common name, are plants with bell-shaped blue or white blooms, and they range in height from ground-hugging dwarfs to plants that grow to 6 feet. A gardener who plants a number of different types can have bloom for most of the summer.