Movies: Gardening Passively During Winter

This is a list of movies that I have enjoyed over the years that reference gardening is some way or another. I thought it would be fun to share these movies with you.

Balian (Orlando Bloom) Kingdom of Heaven Director's Cut
He develops irrigation for crops in the desert. It is a beautiful part of the movie where he collaborates with the local peoples.

Maximus (Russell Crowe) in Gladiator
references are made to his farming at his estate; raises grains

Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
Sam is shown gardening in the shire; movie is full of inspiring landscapes and otherworldly beings.

Roger the Shrubber (Michael Palin) The Holy Grail
"I arrange, design, and sell shrubberies".

Tinle (Thilen Lhondup) Himalaya
He and his community raise grains for trade

Jack Meadows (Timothy Hutton) Sunshine State
a landscape architect/does residential golf course developments. There is even a reference to Frederick Law Olstead "the father of
landscape architecture".

Wong Kei-ying (Lung Ti) The Legend of the Drunken Master
raises herbs and Bonsai; he and his two sons deliver a very special ginseng root for a client.

Professor Pomona Sprout (Miriam Margolyes) Harry Potter
raises various plants with healing properties

Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes) The Constant Gardener

Bronte Parrish (Andi McDowell) Green Card
a horticulturalist who finds the perfect apartment with a greenhouse but it is for married couples only.

Chance (Peter Sellers) Being There
A simple-minded gardener with no knowledge of the world except what he has learned from television. He becomes an unlikely political insider.

Mr. Bennet (Donald Sutherland) Pride & Prejudice
He grows orchids; his daughter Elizabeth enjoys walking through beautiful, picturesque landscapes.

Elinor Dashwood (Emma Thompson) Sense & Sensibility
She is shown gardening towards the end of the movie.

My Neighbor Totoro directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Totoro, his friends and two children nurture tree seeds to grow into a massive tree.
This is an animation masterpiece.

American Robins: Overwintering in MN

American Robins are known to overwinter in Minnesota in modest numbers. I have occasionally seen a Robin or two over the years. However, this year I have seen quite a few. Last week, during the sub-zero temperatures, I saw three separate flocks (on the same day!) feeding on the berries of Hackberry trees (Celtis occidentalis). Each flock numbered about 24 to 36 birds.



My dad reported several American Robins eating the small, red fruits on his Eastern Wahoo tree (Euonymus atropurpurea) last week. He adds, "This is the third winter that the female Cardinal has eaten berries from this tree." This is exciting to know because I have not heard many reports regarding what birds feed on the fruit of Eastern Wahoo.



I am glad these birds are finding food at this time of year. If American Robins are shifting their winter ranges farther north, it is not clear. I have heard reports that birds are more sensitive to climate change. Birds are more sensitive to climate change whether the shifting is due to short term weather patterns or long terms changes. Northern Cardinals shifted north years ago and we enjoy seeing them during our winter seasons.



All sightings were in Saint Paul, MN