tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post6629587105353670529..comments2024-03-29T15:22:02.787+00:00Comments on Positive Letters ... inspirational stories ...: Interlude … Tamarisk, Old Man’s Beard … last of the summer … Hilary Melton-Butcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-36152252630429058642020-10-10T16:52:28.415+01:002020-10-10T16:52:28.415+01:00@ Inger – yes, I have to say hedgerows are excelle...@ Inger – yes, I have to say hedgerows are excellent boundaries … one sees so many plants, insects, birds and mammals happily living in them. Delighted you think the posts string themselves together … I always slightly worry, but know you recognise the English countryside and ways as you’ve lived here … <br />Wonderful I’ve reminded you of your mother and her visit to see you in LA back in the late 1970s … when you also saw an earlier Tut exhibition … <br /><br />@ Susan – thank you … an easy write up. I’m always grateful for everyone’s comments, which so often add to the post. Gosh your weather sounds really strange – yes October is usually hot and stifling … but over my life-time the weather has changed here and in South Africa … <br /><br />@ Susan – we need bushes and creepers that survive our temperate climate … but they’re pretty as we walk down to the promenade and sea. I must say a cooler climate is easier – we’ve had a hot summer – which hasn’t been much good in a pandemic lock-down world.<br /><br />@ Jess – yes at times rain can be bliss – that earthy smell is wonderful. Thankfully we didn’t have much hail … but it can be really dangerous and smash much to pieces. Autumn is definitely here … and Old Man’s Beard is a great name isn’t it … <br /><br />@ Deniz – thank you … I suspect memories of Masefield might have come through. Excellent you’re thinking of reading Linnaeus after I sent you my review for a group I’m part of. Also I gather you’re looking at going to the Tut exhibition on in Zurich – hope you get there … <br /><br />@ Sherry – I’ve always loved seeing Old Man’s Beard and it’s spread all along the walkways along the seafront … <br /><br />@ Denise – yes Monty Don is special isn’t he … I may have watched one or two episodes of his garden series … but I’m sure at some stage in the future I’ll take time out and look at them – I saw his American ventures recently. Tutankhamun was also on at the O2 in 2007 – but that was the year my Ma became terminally ill … so any visiting was scuppered.<br /><br />@ Joylene – Oh sorry Joylene – though I did see you’ve commented on my next post … I hope it works. Oh yes you worked out I got back here … so am staying put now … but I did love having the opportunity of seeing BC – though not the reason I was there for: such is life.<br /><br />@ Lee – that Linnaeus book is just amazing … my Ma was a great gardener and very knowledgeable … we’d always natter about trees, plants, shrubs etc as we walked or drove around.<br /><br />@ Erica – thank you … there’s lots to see around here – but covid has slightly dampened things down. I’ve never got into Bill Bryson – why I don’t know … I must give him a go again sometime.<br /><br />Proper nougat is delicious … Christmas is a-coming – perhaps we can find some for then?<br /><br />Thanks so much for visiting – it’s taken me ages to get the next post up … but am always grateful for your comments and thoughts – all the best Hilary<br />Hilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-88283074103999441152020-10-09T02:44:28.471+01:002020-10-09T02:44:28.471+01:00Hi Hilary, It is always fun and fascinating for m...Hi Hilary, It is always fun and fascinating for me to see your neck of the woods. Your post reminds me how I am in the middle of a book, “Walk in the woods” by Bill Bryson. He also brings up the important and tedious work of the naturalist many years ago. I have not had nougat in a long time. I will have to find some, soon. Your post looks great! Very easy to read and the photos look great in your layout.Erica/Erikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05542330143072789332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-54983533112618262112020-10-07T17:24:09.848+01:002020-10-07T17:24:09.848+01:00Scientists who set up effective identification sys...Scientists who set up effective identification systems are invaluable. Of course, your mom's hedgerow, is perfectly fine too. You know exactly the plant you're referring to.cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05614478740889477584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-42129044857498829682020-10-07T15:13:46.613+01:002020-10-07T15:13:46.613+01:00My mistake. I see you're back in England. Same...My mistake. I see you're back in England. Same weather as Vancouver though. Stay safe, Hilary. Love your posts. Joylene Nowell Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04497637513532136615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-47737194201225685882020-10-07T15:11:19.471+01:002020-10-07T15:11:19.471+01:00I signed up but I'm still not getting notified...I signed up but I'm still not getting notified when you blog. My poor ole MacBook tries. It's wonderful that you're in BC, Hilary. Hope your safe. I see on the news that the numbers are going up every day. I missed the news on why you're in BC. Have you moved? Or are you stuck there?Joylene Nowell Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04497637513532136615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-52036844837289397412020-10-07T05:27:27.973+01:002020-10-07T05:27:27.973+01:00So interesting Hilary. Love Monty Don. Have watche...So interesting Hilary. Love Monty Don. Have watched his Italian and French gardens series. Wonderful. Tutankhamun was in London when I took my first trip there! Fascinating for sure! Denise Covey https://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-20745393809749551102020-10-06T18:43:43.670+01:002020-10-06T18:43:43.670+01:00Old Man's Beard is an appropriate name for tha...Old Man's Beard is an appropriate name for that plant!Sherry Ellishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07844837212122243321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-71728059753199890712020-10-06T10:31:30.042+01:002020-10-06T10:31:30.042+01:00Love the opening of your post, so poetic!
Linnaeus...Love the opening of your post, so poetic!<br />Linnaeus must be a fascinating study. Such an exciting task to devote one's life to.<br />Oh! The Tutankhamun exhibit must be the one that's on in Zurich right now! Maybe I should make an effort to go...Deniz Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17134553551048836979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-27038477081685020962020-10-05T23:37:44.289+01:002020-10-05T23:37:44.289+01:00Rain is a favorite sound of mine and right now we ...Rain is a favorite sound of mine and right now we so need some here. I am sorry to hear about the hail you had-it can do a lot of damage! Autumn is all around me as each day the leaves change their color a little more. I love the name Old Man's Beard. :) Enjoy and hope you have a lovely week. <br />~JessDMShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04202502753961748992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-37317700375540818212020-10-05T19:44:35.310+01:002020-10-05T19:44:35.310+01:00Those flowers are unknown to me, living here in S....Those flowers are unknown to me, living here in S. California. But I wish they were here.<br /><br />I'd take autumn of any sort! Esp. with rain!Susan Kanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09834094675218254410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-46376150002210737322020-10-03T11:14:40.094+01:002020-10-03T11:14:40.094+01:00Lovely post Hilary thank you .. I'll check it ...Lovely post Hilary thank you .. I'll check it out again as for now I've sped read it. I enjoy the comments too so I need a bit more time. But just to say the weather is very peculiar here, thunder, lightning, very high winds, driving rain - it's supposed to be Spring, and it's like Winter.Susan Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12041548718544123557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-38089223328294278852020-10-02T14:56:37.062+01:002020-10-02T14:56:37.062+01:00I love the word hedgerow, I immediately picture th...I love the word hedgerow, I immediately picture the English countryside in my mind. I just had a thought: Your posts are like a hop,skip, and a jump that always lands on yet another wonderful thought, experience,or something gained from literature. Just fabulous.<br /><br />My mom came to visit me in Los Angeles, back in the late 1970s and we saw the King Tut exhibit together at the Los Angeles County Museum. Such a good memory.Ingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02924736131382149056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-74092286018618927102020-10-02T09:42:10.242+01:002020-10-02T09:42:10.242+01:00@ Sandra ... thank you it was fun combining these ...@ Sandra ... thank you it was fun combining these two plants with the various snippets of life ... remembering the peaceful sea shore ... <br /><br />@ Diane - I'm sure you've been ultra busy in the garden with your harvesting ... it must be so satisfying. Yes suddenly we've had lots of rain here ... and today it's a wee blustery. Once you can get out - enjoy the countryside ... <br /><br />@ Deborah - both wonderful names aren't they ... and thanks for laughing at the smoking sticks ... as you say kids will be kids. At the moment it's blustery and damp with a wet weekend ahead ... but it's all good to have a change.<br /><br />@ Jo-Anne - many thanks ... <br /><br />Take care all of you - and enjoy the weekend ahead ... HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-22146486181576158692020-10-01T23:23:58.782+01:002020-10-01T23:23:58.782+01:00Great photos and suuch an interesting read Great photos and suuch an interesting read Jo-Anne's Ramblingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11418152399382818709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-32456186933714313252020-10-01T21:49:54.564+01:002020-10-01T21:49:54.564+01:00Old Man's Beard or Traveller's Joy - I'...Old Man's Beard or Traveller's Joy - I'm not sure which name I prefer, but the plant is lovely. I laughed at the smoking sticks reference - kids will be kids won't they? Here's hoping your autumn tames and there are plenty of delightful adventures in store for you.Deborah Weberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05971869506007671786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-10326128686941391662020-10-01T21:10:41.630+01:002020-10-01T21:10:41.630+01:00Interesting and informative post. There is a lot ...Interesting and informative post. There is a lot of Old Man's Beard around here. I have been too busy to do any walking, and now things are quieter it is raining all the time! I am sure though I would only have to walk down the road to find some. Hopefully, I will get out again very soon.<br /><br />Keep safe and look after yourself, DianeRhodesiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00159888599601532530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-64440366844791427982020-10-01T18:52:27.008+01:002020-10-01T18:52:27.008+01:00Beautifully written, Hil. Loved the first three pa...Beautifully written, Hil. Loved the first three paragraphs.Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-25184842600052579842020-10-01T18:49:03.550+01:002020-10-01T18:49:03.550+01:00@ Dan – Virginia Creeper is native to America … wh...@ Dan – Virginia Creeper is native to America … whereas our is on the ‘not wanted’ list – but not actually condemned, though they ask us to make sure we don’t leave cuttings etc around – that I didn’t know. <br /><br />Tamarisk must have come from the folklore of Persia – where the herbalists would have tried all species for new tastes and flavours … the salt being added to the sugary nougar.<br /><br />I’m pleased I brought back memories for you of your grandmother … presumably she made nougat?<br /><br />I know I failed with what I wanted to do with blogger … get my photos to go left or right next to an appropriate paragraph … but I’ll keep trying.<br /><br />@ Lisa – as you’ve started your garden … you’ll appreciate these nearly wild varieties … good for cascading, or waving – but not in the garden! …. Carry on enjoying late summer, I say … it’s really not that nice here – but … weather is weather … <br /><br />@ Lynda – thank you … very appreciative … just wish they looked ok to me – still I’ll try and master.<br /><br />Gosh I looked through how to make it … I’ve never been good with sugar-cooking … but the Aussie youtube I looked at was relatively easy … as you say pistachios are always good to eat.<br /><br />I gather WP and Blogger are both providing their users difficulties – when I started these were the two that were suggested … so I started that way – and I’m not that technical … so even Square Spaces’ blocks might have defeated me … still so far in with Blogger (over 1,000 posts) I really can’t move … <br /><br />@ Donna – your weather usually matches ours … but at the moment we are definitely in the cold, wet belt – so pleased you’re still able to get out and about on the Island – it can get pretty depressing in winter on the Island … well I thought so … but I was out of my depth a little … <br /><br />Great that you enjoyed seeing Old Man’s Beard … <br /><br />@ Jacqui – this book is totally fascinating … and so well written – I’m really enjoying it. So often with the older books/ ideas there’s often so much in them … giving value to the historical data – whereas now it’s too modern, the context isn’t there.<br /><br />Looking at the DNA suggestion … we cannot see that – but we can see a flower and thus its name gives us a link to its history … eg Rudbeckia … interestingly your ‘black-eyed susan’ was named by Linnaeus – who honoured his patron and fellow botanist at Uppsala University, Olaf Rudbeck the Younger and the elder, by dedicating the plant to them. I don’t think we’d recognise the bright yellow petalled coneflower from its DNA … <br /><br />Take care all of you … and thanks so much for your interest … HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-58642806363971713672020-10-01T18:48:43.610+01:002020-10-01T18:48:43.610+01:00@ Keith – thank you re the Virginia creeper photo ...@ Keith – thank you re the Virginia creeper photo – I’m irritated with the positioning … I wanted it to the edge of that paragraph – not central … frustrating. I agree – even though I see it’s a non-threatening invasive plant … not good to have – but so pretty, as you say glossy in summer, gaudy in autumn.<br /><br />Oh gosh – I know WP has its challenges too – I just need to tame Blogger!<br /><br />@ David – oh dear … I guess I could have done – but of course I’d never do that … much too much of a British miss to say something like that! Your beard looks great on you … <br /><br />You’d love Linnaeus’ book … it is absolutely riveting and well written – I’ve been very impressed with it … and opened my eyes to that era. Wonderful descriptions in it … as too quotes from other writers and scientists of his time … I want to quote them … <br /><br />As Yam says above … it’s because the blog needs to appear on all devices … and thus be controlled to appear looking good – not if I can’t set it out the way I want it to look – but I’ll persevere.<br /><br />@ Elsie – we’re having a cold patch and another wet and windy one coming up … it’s autumn … so I guess I mustn’t complain. Do you think people started smoking because it was an accepted thing to do … indigenous people smoked, and thus we would have tried it … and continue to do so – not realising the implications. I’m glad I never took it up – that’s for sure.<br /><br />@ Joanne – well it’s all centred – which I don’t like … I like the pictures to be placed left or right with the appropriate picture next to it – then the eyes follow the paragraphs/ images down the page.<br /><br />Many thanks … I really appreciate that you ‘go to my blog’ for interesting snippets of life, or names et al … lucky you with the weather – we are in for wet and windy weekend … ah well we do need the rain down here.<br /><br />Hilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-72847340551130774982020-10-01T15:59:28.958+01:002020-10-01T15:59:28.958+01:00I've thought about Linneaus more than I should...I've thought about Linneaus more than I should, with his classification system. I like it but doesn't it seem dated? Shouldn't we classify now based on DNA rather than what the eye beholds? Hmm...Computer Tutorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00938856237984732342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-32214378747628703262020-10-01T14:48:23.400+01:002020-10-01T14:48:23.400+01:00I'm hoping that your Rough Autumn does not com...I'm hoping that your Rough Autumn does not come to visit us soon. We've had warm and sunny days this past week. Fingers crossed it lasts for at least a little while longer.<br />Love Old Man's Beard. I continue to learn so much from your posts. Thank you!retirementreflectionshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03256842249783275416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-34777227937977534252020-10-01T14:37:39.352+01:002020-10-01T14:37:39.352+01:00I'm sorry you're having trouble with Blogg...I'm sorry you're having trouble with Blogger's new setup, but I still think your posts are terrific! And seeing the gaz photo caused me to immediately look up the recipe . . . I may have to try that, since I love pistachios.<br /><br />I've heard people complaining about WordPress's upgrades as well, so it makes me glad that SquareSpace is simple, with drag & drop blocks. Playing with blocks is about the level of IT I can handle. Lynda Dietzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15442214431341019380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-91091119748416472832020-10-01T13:56:31.377+01:002020-10-01T13:56:31.377+01:00Oh, lovely post to look at as well as read. I have...Oh, lovely post to look at as well as read. I haven't heard yet here (haven't looked either!) what our autumn and winter are supposed to be like... Hope they aren't too bad. Had a "blustery" day yesterday!Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06658507579160418855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-2592426517265893962020-10-01T12:54:12.852+01:002020-10-01T12:54:12.852+01:00We do battle with Virginia Creeper every year as i...We do battle with Virginia Creeper every year as it winds through our bushes. It's truly amazing how it grows. I never thought much about plant names, but I guess if they become an ingredient, it would be good to know you're starting with the right plant. That picture of the Nougat is bringing back memories of my grandmother and making me hungry. Thanks for a delightful post, Hilary. It looks like you took care of Blogger - no small feat.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756142122700513993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-40811984220300901392020-10-01T12:51:15.163+01:002020-10-01T12:51:15.163+01:00You've tackled and succeeded in this blog - al...You've tackled and succeeded in this blog - all centered and awesome. You are my go to source for interesting names and history. Cooler here - October is my fave month and it's looking great for the next ten days. Enjoy!Joannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11604494404874408870noreply@blogger.com