Friday greetings!
Following on from my last post about the Great War,
I have to say how much I like the art installation
'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red'
at the Tower of London.
888,246 ceramic poppies progressively fill the Tower's moat, each one representing a British military fatality during the war.
The installation has been created by ceramic artist Paul Cummins.
To me it is both beautiful and shocking, the blood red poppies a stark visual reminder of the reality of the war.
Unlike Kate, I won't be seeing it in person, but I would like to think it is remembered as one of the great moments in Contemporary art.
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Do you know what this is?
An Australian long-nosed bandicoot, which until recently I had only seen occasionally in the bush or in a zoo.
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Well, to our horror, these protected little animals have moved into the Cardinal's Garden of Neglect, and are becoming quite the nightmare.
See what they do to the lawn, every night!
Holes appear in in the lawn, and in any garden bed with soft moist soil,
helpfully provided by our sprinkler system.
We rarely see them, as bandicoots are nocturnal creatures, hiding during the day in nests in leaf matter. I shudder to think where that might be, but under our hedges is a distinct possibility.
They feed on worms, grubs, insects, and some berries or fruits.
They move over the ground sniffling and snuffling as they go, then having detected food under the soil they quickly dig down. The front feet have three toes with long curved claws, making a hole which is narrow and pointed at the borrom. Their narrow snout then fits neatly into the hole to get the hapless worm or grub.
Thus far I have been unable to find a way to discourage the bandi-culture which is wrecking havoc in our garden.
Sprinkling pepper or chilli has been no deterrent whatsoever, because they can move to another spot.
The pest-control man has no ideas either!
If you have a solution, I'd love to hear it ...
Here's an update on our two Canadian grandsons.
Little Bebe (in yellow), clearly a babe no longer, and his Big Brother are looking out at Lake Champlain in Vermont, en route to their summer holiday at Cape Cod.
Gazing across towards Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard...
Wish I was over there with them...
Oops, almost forgot to say I like the subtle poppies on Kate's hat, too.
Thank you everybody for your well wishes after my last post, when I was down and out with the flu.
I am feeling much better now, thank you, and up and about.
Just the lingering dry cough, and you all know how that hangs about...
Hope this weekend finds you In the Pink!
XXXX
Hello Patricia,
ReplyDeleteWe have not seen the Poppies at the Tower of London in person but can well believe that it makes a significant impact on the senses as well as the emotions. It is a poignant reminder of the terrible loss of life that took place in a war which was to end all wars. Sadly, there must be several hundreds of thousands of lives which have been lost subsequently to the ravages of war.
We have never visited the USA but very much wish yo do so. Your family are in a wonderful part, obviously having a fun time on holiday. We too wish we were there!
Hello Jane and Lance, Yes, indeed the Poppies not only remind us of the Great War, but also make us aware of the tragedy that war is very much with us to this day. So sad..
DeleteCape Cod has such resonance, I think, as a place which has 'starred' in dozens of films. Love to be there!
I am hoping to see the Poppy installation when I go to London in October. By then it will have had several more hundred poppies added to it in readiness for Remembrance Sunday.
ReplyDeleteWhen we stayed in Canada and the States we crossed Lake Champlain to Vermont on a car ferry. There is a story about it on my sidebar in the post 'Passionate about hats'.
Yes, Little Bebe is rapidly catching up with Big Brother.
Oh I do you you see it Rosemary, and of course, show us your wonderful photos!
DeleteI like that you have also been on that route; the car ferry wasn't mentioned, but I suppose they also went across on it. The boys would have loved that. Off to look at your post about it.
I hadn't heard of the Poppy installation, thank you for the pictures. It is indeed a great work of contemporary art.
ReplyDeleteBandicoots? Never heard of those either. They look just a bit like the possums that plague our garden. Also nocturnal. I hope you find a way to make them move on.
Darla
There has been a lot of media coverage in Australia about the poppies, I think because so many Australian lives were lost in that war Darla. Bandicoots are the size of a small cat or large rat, and do look a little bit like possums (but not as pretty). We have dozens of holes all over our property, so need to find a deterrent, soon!
DeleteThe poppy installation is incredible. I so wish I was going to London and could see it in person. The sad thing about all the commemoration of the start of WW1 is how reading the current news headlines shows we haven't learned a thing since the start of that war 100 years ago.
ReplyDeleteYour grandsons look like they are enjoying their adventure! I'm glad to hear you are feeling better now. Just in time to go on an adventure of your own!
The poppies do look incredible, don't they!? Yes, it is a stark reminder that war goes on; bad news about Iraq today. Glad our airline has just changed its route - was over Iraq, now Arabia and Jordan. I'm sure the boys are having the best time - whale watching today.
DeleteNice post. So much about WW1 at the moment - obviously, and rightly so. Would your bandicoots respond to the type of alarms that emit high-pitch sounds to deter cats, foxes and other creatures?
ReplyDeleteThank you Mike and welcome to my blog. That is an excellent suggestion re bandicoots, and I will be following that one up asap. The only thing I hear works is to get a dog, but we have retired from dog ownership and don't want to start over.
DeleteI didn't know about the installation but it is sobering indeed to see all those poppies.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the bandicoot, have you thought of putting some really strong smelling stuff on as many of their holes as possble. They might find it such a hassle finding a nice smelling place that they go elsewhere. I never think pepper or chili does the trick, you need something really pungent that stops them feeling that this is a nice friendly place for them.
Jenny, I do hope you go to the Tower of London and see the poppies, which must be an amazing sight in reality.
DeleteUnfortunately, the destructive bandicoot makes one hole per worm catch, and moves on to make another, to the extent we now have dozens, soon to be hundreds, of holes. However, I could throw some vinegar about. Might help. Our garden is just too delicious, I suspect!
I've seen images of the striking poppy installation at the Tower of London on the BBC website, but doubt I will manage to see it in person. It is certainly a sobering and moving sight. as for your bandicoots, they seem to be doing the same kind of damage to your garden as the moles do to mine, but from the surface downwards rather than the reverse. I do hope you can find some way of deterring them.
ReplyDeleteLittle Bebe is clearly neither a baby or even very little now. You're going to have to rename him. :)
I think the bandicoots do operate a bit like moles, Perpetua, but don't make tunnels. We have only seen them when coming home late at night. They run off when the lights hit them! It is weird knowing all this destruction takes place while we sleep.
DeleteYes, need to rename the Bebe. Is there a French word for Toddler?
The nearest I know is bambin which means little child, though if he keeps on growing at this rate he'll outgrow that one too before long. :)
DeletePatricia,
ReplyDeleteThe RED Poppies are gorgeous. And a whole field of them, wow! I really like this picture of Kate with the red poppies and her blue dress. You know, the Poppy is our State Flower, and it is a vibrant orange color. This is a very peculiar looking animal, isn't it? So glad you are feeling better. Those coughs can linger on for a long time. Your grandsons are so precious, Patricia.
Have a relaxing weekend.
love,
~Sheri
Dear Sheri, I did not know the Poppy was a State Flower, but what a lovely bloom it is. Much as I like animals, it is difficult to love the bandicoot, I am afraid...so destructive. I will check out Mike's suggestion for an electronic deterrent. xxx
DeleteThose first photos are quite poignant and an apt reminder of the horrors of war. Kate does look stunning in that blue dress against the backdrop of the poppies plus the one in her hand.
ReplyDeleteCan't help you with those little monsters you have causing mayhem in your garden but I hope you find a solution soon!
Glad to hear you are feeling well now.
Can I just cheekily add on from the comment you left on my blog, that etsy now accepts credit and debit cards which they never used to do. Makes it so much easier for people to buy things now.
Have a good weekend, hugs Suzy x
Yes, lovely photo of Kate and the poppies. She does choose her clothing very appropriately, I think.
DeleteMmmmm, must take a closer look at the Etsy situation :)
Hugs xx
We saw the poppies on the news - a spectacular memorial.
ReplyDeleteA stunning photo of Kate, so elegant in her blue dress.
Your grandies are growing - just like mine. It's so hard when we haven't got them 'on tap' - I imagine you feel just like me Patricia.
Sometimes I wonder "what's it all about" - just like Alfie!
I'm still shaking off the flu too.
Enjoy your weekend.
Hugs
Shane
Love the Poppy memorial so much I am tempted to suggest we catch the train over to London one day just to see it! But that might be pushing things a bit too much... Yes, the grandies are growing, so fast, I feel I don't know the little one at all now. He will be a different child next time we see him in person. Such is the result of our wandering children - so many of us have children living internationally these days. Dang flu!! hugs xx
DeleteHi patricia. I saw the poppy display on the news and was deeply moved. Put me in mind of a poem I learned in school about Flanders Field. The Great War: such a momentous occurrence and so many lives lost. When I wasittle I remember er that veterans groups sold the paper poppies on the streets to raise money. No more. I don't think we pay tribute enough anymore to these historical events that changed the course of the world forever. Those menacing little creaturesook sort of like a miniature erosion of opossum or armadillo. Always a pest for everything. Sorry to hear you've even sick. Glad you're better now.
ReplyDeleteHi Sanda, I remember the poem about Flanders Field too. We still have the paper poppies sold each year on our two days of remembrance, sold by the returned soldiers. The bandicoots do look a bit like a possum, but much more pointed snout. I am investigating more options, or we will come home from holidays to quite a big mess!
DeleteThe poppy display is so interesting. I really like the sea of red it makes, though I know that the symbolism is dark. I'm sorry to hear about the bandicoot, he is adorable but sounds like a real pest. I hope you figure out how to keep him away. I'm glad you're feeling better now.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it a beautiful display, Jennifer? A brilliant idea by the artist. Yes, a bandicoot in the wild was an inoffensive and cute animal, but once they move into town, not such a good thing :) I wonder how many of them we have actually hiding about our garden during the day.
DeleteYou already know how much I appreciate and what I think of this post! I hope that you can find a solution to the bandicoots, they sound very annoying digging up your garden! xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Amy, for posting about this on your blog, and linking to mine. I do wish we could reason with the native wildlife and suggest they go back to the bush they came from, and live there! But alas, I think the food is more plentiful in our garden.
DeleteThese commemorative poppies are a beautiful and poignant tribute to all those who died in that terrible tragedy that was WW1. So sorry about the Bandicoots. They look like our shrews, but I don't think shrews do quite as much damage! Kate looks very glamorous!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and poignant indeed, Val. I just looked up shrews and they do look very similar. However, the bandicoots are much, much bigger, about the size of a small cat. Much as I love animals, I have gone right off them!
DeleteAmazing symbolism - so much also fought for, I hope we are not in danger of forgetting.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about the Bandicoot lodgers - I have no idea how to deal with them. I agree, if only we could communicate with them about how to live out of each others patches.
Hi Sara Liz, watching the news this week, it certainly makes you wonder, doesn't it.
DeleteI am not giving up on the bandicoots, although I don't think we can use an audio deterrent which I had considered because it would upset the nice little dogs next door. After the holidays I thought I might ring the possum man for suggestions.
Those red ceramic poppies are so beautiful. I never knew about the Great War until I watched Downton Abbey....From the number of poppies, I can see that it was a very bloody war...
ReplyDelete