An article about Who Was Harry Lauder

Harry Lauder's Walking Stick posted by
A Garden Exempt from Public Haunt
The thyme of an ancient gardener.


As I sit and look out at the cold January landscape and plot my return to gardening, one of the plants that will be added to the yard will be something called a "Harry Lauder's walking stick" (Corylus Avellana 'Contorta'). It looks like something that was a prop out of a Harry Potter movie or the result of a poorly-aimed bolt from Gandalf's staff. It is a twisted and gnarled little tree that is unremarkable when green but very interesting in winter.I've liked the look of Harry Lauder's walking stick for some time as I want a garden that has interest to both an adult and a child. But as I can't do more than plan (at the moment), I thought I would try to find out a little more about this Harry Lauder. And -- through the wonders of the internet -- I found out quite a bit.In most descriptions of the tree, Lauder is simply mentioned as a vaudevillian who would take the stage with a gnarled walking stick. He was quite a bit more than that. Lauder was born in Portobello, Scotland, into a family of eight. His father, a miner, died of pneumonia when he was 12. Harry, the eldest child, did what he could to help provide for his family by going into the mines but his call was to the stage. Even in the mines, Lauder found opportunities to perform.Eventually, Lauder found a way out. His caricuture of a miserly old Scotsman walking with a crooked stick became (humorously but unfairly) a national icon. However, Lauder's fame found its way to shine his humanitarianism.In 1917, while preparing for a show in London, his only son was killed in combat in France. Lauder cancelled the show and rushed home to grieve. Convinced by his wife that his grief was no reason to cost others much needed work, Lauder returned to London to perform for "the show must go on". His selflessness became a standard for actors around the world.A few weeks later, he volunteered for service to take his son's place. Thwarted from this effort on account of his age, Lauder then volunteered to go overseas at his own expense and make the burden of the soldiers "a wee bit lighter" with a joke or a song. No one had ever done this before Lauder and it was his example that began the efforts of Bob Hope and other USO entertainers performing before the troops.Upon his return, Lauder continued his extraordinary work by raising funds for the wounded soldiers who needed assistance. Lauder was knighted for life-long efforts and continued his work through World War II. So at some point this spring, I look forward to planting a Harry Lauder's walking stick and recalling the selflessness and humanitarism of Harry Lauder.

The Tree Swallows

This summer we have been gifted with a pair of tree swallows who have taken up nesting in our new Blue Bird box. Every day there is drama of some sort with 2-4 other swallows who seem to be vying for the house or the "girl". There are 2 little eggs inside the nest which was made with long pieces from last year's Siberian Iris leaves and a lot of interesting feathers, some geese, some doves, 1 definitely is a downy woodpecker's. They sing a merry little song and do not mind me around them in the yard, but do not like anyone near the nest box, of course.

An alternative to mulching

Angelina Sedum is such a beautiful plant. It is drought resistant, disease resistant, and I'm hoping they are telling the truth when it is also deer & bunny resistant. On the Proven Winners website, there are oodles of pics of this plant also featured as the "spill" in the Thrill, Fill, Spill recipe for great container displays

Midnight Musings - 5/19/08

The moonlight is resplendent tonite, illuminating everything and yet casting shadows to alter the entire look of my garden. I wonder if moonlight has any effect on the plants ~ like sunlight does.

I once had a "moon garden" in which I planted all white or light pink plants, like impatiens, balloon flower, dragon's wing, petunias, and moonflower morning glory. The fragrance brought bats which ate the bugs, but on a night like this one, it would be positively glowing. When I drove by that house years ago, the current owners opted for grass. Oh what they miss!