A Romp of River Otters, and other stuff

[pensnest]

A Romp of River Otters, and other stuff

Can there be a more perfect collective name?

I discovered it here, a story about orangutans making friends with otters. You're welcome.

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How to complete a scale in the most satisfying way possible. I wonder if either of mine would co-operate?

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The main picture, and 7th pic down, item on this list reminds me so much of a sewing machine, though I can't define how—I want to believe it is some kind of yarn-winding mechanism (even though I can't see how it would work). Anyone have any other suggestions?

The last one is, I feel sure, a Victorian educational tool, basically, a Steampunk a representation of a woman's sex organs. With added scary bits.

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I've watched quite a few episodes of Garden Rescue lately (in which Charlie Dimmock and the Rich Brothers compete to design an instant garden for someone). The Rich bros in particular seem very keen on including strips of 'meadow turf', ie grass adulterated with wildflowers, various.

Which is nice, really. I, however, have an abundance of 'meadow turf'. There are daisies, of course, and buttercups, and small dandelions on slender stalks (but not, oddly, large dandelions on fat, juicy stalks). There is an abundance of clover in drifts of white and purple. There are occasional turrets of tiny white flower-clusters, and little pink ones with five petals, and pretty grasses with pinkish seeds. The bees and butterflies are busy making the most of all this abundance. At some point, Beast will mow it, but there is no reason to hurry.

I did, of course, start out by thinking how delightful it would be to have the Garden Rescue team come in and redesign my garden. But it wouldn't, really. For starters, they'd want to divide my garden into 'rooms' and build me new patios and decks and paths, none of which I want. Well, maybe a better path. For seconds, I've been developing something in my head, and while it would be really helpful to have a plant expert on hand to help me figure out what to plant where, I'm working on it and getting there. And thirdly, I don't think they do much long-term thinking about the gardens they implement. Mine is full of loose, flinty soil and needs a lot of conditioning rather than decking. It still means that FIL's portion of the garden fills me with soul-crushing despair (though my apple trees are flourishing, and I think there are greengages on one of his trees!), but I can probably figure it out, when I have to. Meanwhile, I shall dig myself one flowerbed at a time and see if I can plant pretty things all by myself.

Comments

[dine]

that story about orangutans and otters is too terrific! thank you indeed for sharing

that 7th pic down is a pedal-powered jigsaw - looks like you'd pump the pedals to power it, and the thin blade would likely go up & down to cut through wood

[pensnest]

That seems more plausible, although sadly not yarn-adjacent. There is something about it that reminds me of my mother-in-law's sewing machine.

[dine]

reminds me of my mother-in-law's sewing machine - I can see that, the old treadle sewing machines shared a certain aesthetic with this jigsaw.

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

Operating a jigsaw was another parlor craft, so it might have been adjacent to some yarn. They might have been cutting images of cats, perhaps puss playing with yarn.

[pensnest]

Wow, how fun! It would never have occurred to me that it was a 'parlor craft', what a lovely thought. Thanks!

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

It is one of those "the past is a foreign country" things--but we can all benefit from my History and English Literature of the Victorians coursework. Lots of things were Done in the parlor--some only when the light was best, others as the family gathered.

Not sure just what was being jigsawed. Possibly sunscreens and fan ribs.

[sperrywink]

Good luck with your garden and apple trees!

And a romp of sea otters is delightful.

[pensnest]

I have ordered some tiny plants, and have in mind a trip to a local garden centre. But, which one? There are so many here!

[turlough]

That's an absolutely perfect collective noun for otters!

I was at my mum's today and she was talking of how much she enjoyes watching that program with Charlie and the brothers. I haven't seen it myself but it does sound like a fun pastime.

What you call small dandelions are actually hawkweeds (Hieracium) and hawkbeards (Crepis) but I'm very curious what those turrets of white flowers are. I clearly need to come visit you in the summer so I can botanise your meadow turf properly!

[pensnest]

I very much hope you will be able to come for a visit next summer! There are some lovely gardens hereabouts, too, which I'd been meaning to visit before All This.

[turlough]

I'm definitely planning on visiting you next summer!

Speaking of next year, I'm all for trying to get that house in Giggleswick we didn't get to stay at this year. I watched 'Escape to the Country' when I was at my mum's the other day and one of the properties they looked at in this episode was located right outside Giggleswick. It looks like an absolutely lovely area!

[isabellerecs]

OMG, the otter/orangutan story made my day! Thanks for sharing. :D

[pensnest]

It's so cute, isn't it! :-)

[turps]

I watch Garden Rescue on occasions and often sit amazed at how expensive the renovations can be. Yeah, they look nice but a few of them have been heading toward house price sums for this area.

[pensnest]

And when you think that the labour is *free*, the amount of money a not-on-telly person would have to spend is scary! Mind you, at least you'd get to decide what you wanted and ask them to alter the design until they got it exactly right.... It is performance gardening, I think, rather than actual gardening, but I would love to see some of those gardens a year or two later! And in the summer.

[frausorge]

It does kind of seem like instant gardens might wither away just as fast. Your wildflowers sound beautiful! And congrats on the apple trees. I hope your garden rewards the time you're investing in it.

[pensnest]

They give some tips about how to care for plants, but we don't really see much practical gardening, 90% of the show is people sorting out decking and laying patios, or building funky pergolas and making benches out of pallets.

I really hope I can make something pretty in the back garden, but it may well take me a few years!

[rikes]

'Meadow turf' is so good for bees and other insects though!