OPERA
THE BALKANS
GARDENING
WEDDINGS
SMITH COLLEGE ALUMNAE
1
"Habanera" is the popular name for an aria from this opera about a gypsy woman
Carmen
1
Made of plums in the Balkans, slivovitz is a type of this spirit
Brandy
1
Herbs like basil will grow in soil that's lightly acidic or lightly alkaline, but it's best if this level is between 5.5 & 6.5
the pH
1
In civil ceremonies, the best man & maid of honor may be replaced by 2 of these, required by law to sign the marriage license
Witnesses
1
She went to Smith in 1918 hoping to become a doctor; her dream was "Gone with the Wind" when her mom died in 1919
Margaret Mitchell
2
This Puccini opera is set in Nagasaki in the early 1900s
Madame Butterfly
2
A country in the Balkans meaning "Black Mountain"
Montenegro
2
Available at most gardening stores, these beneficial beetles can help rid your garden of aphids & other destructive insects
Ladybugs
2
It's the canopy under which the bride & groom can stand during a Jewish wedding ceremony
a Chuppah
2
This chef who died at age 91 in 2004 earned a history degree from Smith in 1934
Julia Child
3
Ramfis is the high priest in this opera
Aida
3
This electricity investigator is a hero in the Balkans & a museum in Belgrade was named for him
Tesla
3
Bigger than seeds, they store plants' food in winter; plant some in fall & you'll see snowdrops in spring
Bulbs
3
Superstition says that to ensure good luck a bride must wear these 4 items
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue
3
These 2 20th century First Ladies both attended Smith College in the 1940s
Barbara Bush & Nancy Reagan
4
Spoiler Alert
In a Samuel Barber opera, you know that this queen is about to die when a man enters carrying a basket of figs
Cleopatra
4
It's "The Paris of the Balkans", which makes it, we guess, "The Paris of Romania", too
Bucharest
4
From the Latin for "mixture", it's a mixture of leaves, manure & other organic materials used to improve the soil
Compost
4
In a big fat Ancient Greek wedding, the bride wore this item in red or yellow
a Veil
4
This 1956 grad co-founded the Ms. Foundation & the Women's Action Alliance
Gloria Steinem
5
Sung first by Clara, not by either title character, "Summertime & the livin' is easy" in this 20th century opera
Porgy and Bess
5
The northwesternmost Balkan nation, it shares an Alpine terrain with its neighbors Italy & Austria
Slovenia
5
This process of punching holes & removing small plugs of soil from a lawn helps to improve nutrient & water absorption
Aeration
5
Stephanotis isn't an old partner you invited, it's something found in a formal one of these
the Bouquet
5
Ann M. Martin (Smith, 1977) is the author of the book series about this "Club"
The Baby-sitters Club