I had a pretty quiet day at work yesterday. I made a book available for a kid coming to collect it, I re-shelved a few things, and I considered weeding our art section but didn't get launched on that project. We have a lot of really old art books, many donated, some in pretty bad shape. I think the Internet has killed the need for them. Nowadays, wouldn't people go online to see a certain painting or work by a certain artist?
Anyway, I did wind up cleaning the windowed corner of our silent area, where we have a lot of plants sitting on the metal windowsill. There were dead leaves and loose dirt everywhere, so I got some damp towels and wiped the windowsill down, trimmed the plants and vacuumed the carpet below. Probably not really my job, but it just seemed easier to do it myself.
It led me to an interesting discovery. Remember the drag queen hyacinths?
These are the ones I brought home several weeks ago. See how they look stunted and kind of brown? Not very healthy, right? I've been puzzled about why they looked so bad, and while cleaning the library I figured out why. I picked one up (we still have a ton of them sitting around the school) and began peeling away the glittery layer. It fell off easily, and beneath it I found latex -- or some kind of rubbery stuff, like a balloon -- tightly wrapped around the bulb!
So basically, the poor things haven't been getting any water at all, even though they've been planted in damp soil. I brought three more home from the library, removed their rubber bulb-torture suits, and planted them. Then I pulled all ours up, one by one, and did the same. Now they should be able to grow roots and become healthier. (Plus -- bonus -- most of that glitter is now in the trash.)
(Top photo: Pavement construction in Swiss Cottage. I think they're laying underground pipe. It's a mess!)
I agree. Art books are history. Since COVID many galleries have put their works online in high quality photos and scans and those who haven't probably will until we reach a new COVID normal, some time away.
ReplyDeleteWhat would be the reason for the rubber balloon like thingie around the bulbs?
I guess it's so the bulbs would retain what little moisture they had -- the idea was they could be set on a desk or table and would bloom without needing to be planted.
DeleteThe glitter was bad enough but balloons? I guess they made pretty packages and no mess. Argh! I'm so glad you figured that out and I now look forward to seeing them thrive under your care. Glad to see the closed footway offers an easy alternative. Here, there's rarely warning. Often you hit a fence and a CLOSED sign with no detour alternative. You're expected to walk back sometimes another block to use the crosswalk. As you can imagine, a lot of foot traffic ends up in a car lane.
ReplyDeleteOh, that would REALLY annoy me. I get annoyed enough being diverted onto the roadway!
DeleteI am torn in two directions on the subject of books...colour reproduction is never 100% in any medium. Even online it depends on the settings and capabilities of the machine that you are receiving the pictures...
ReplyDeletePlus, I just love books....the feel and look of them, the old friends on the shelf that you can see without worrying about the screen needing refreshing.....
Absolutely. I wouldn't get rid of ALL the books. But some are so aged I doubt their usefulness. Some are in black and white! What's the point of THAT?!
DeleteUnless they are Ansel Adams books.....
DeleteWell, I never realised that a librarian's role might include horticulture and vacuuming. Why not have a word with the school principal. You could also wash the windows, clean the "rest rooms" and polish the principal's car. Better still, when the kids are back you could be the lollipop man - making cars screech to a halt when you jump out with your sign.
ReplyDeleteSteve knows how to keep his job varied. We are not robots - tied to one task on the production line.
DeleteAnyway, think Robin Hood - only in plants, Steve the saviour of lost and deprived greenery.
I take it, from your response, that you have never stepped outside your job description. Never cleaned up one of your pupil's spontaneous vomit or comforted them having peed their trousers. I suppose there was always matron, a learning assistant (usually female) and/or the janitor to see to the fallout of an accident.
U
LOL -- I might draw the line at being the lollipop man. (Actually we don't have any lollipop people around our school.) I figure any way I can stay useful is a good thing!
DeleteDaughter currently doing art at university finds the internet inadequate for her research needs, which is making her final year project very difficult as her university has told her to stay away. I suspect the bar might have to be lowered this year.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I would think for university-level research, especially if it's on a very narrow topic, she might need a library.
DeleteWhat's with the bulbs in latex? Maybe someone is trying to prevent hyacinths from procreating. Benign euthanasia - considering you mention they are everywhere. I like all plants yet have to admit that there is something mumsy (not in a good way - sort of twinset and pearls) about them.
ReplyDeleteI understand your need to keep your library shelves under control. However, I do not agree with those who think that the internet can replace the book. There is something sensual, singularly missing from sitting in front of a screen, about the written/printed page. To put it another way: Isn't it more contemplative to flick through a catalogue, a book on visuals, an artist's collection, stop here, stop there, read the captions, the commentary at your leisure? Maybe even whilst sitting on an apple tree leaning against a convenient branch. True story. My childhood. And yes, despite my parents' extensive collection at home, I did leg many back from public libraries. That's why I know how heavy books are. Libraries? Paradise.
U
I assume the latex (or whatever it is) is meant to help the bulbs retain whatever moisture they have, because they weren't really designed to be planted. They were supposed to sit on a desk and look glittery. It should have occurred to me they might have a waterproof barrier of some sort.
DeleteI certainly wouldn't get rid of everything -- just a few select books that are too old or in poor condition. As you can imagine, we have to do this to keep the shelves current. It's a constant process.
I've always thought that drag queens were some of the strongest people on earth. And look at how strong those hyacinths have had to be. What a very strange thing for someone to do to a plant.
ReplyDeleteMay they grow and flourish, now freed from their confining girdles.
I feel better myself, knowing they now have access to air and water and soil!
DeleteI think there are a lot of us casting about for things to keep us busy these days. How bored does one have to be to contrive decorating plant bulbs? Well. The good news is that you have figured it out and will have a bit of spring in fairly short order.
ReplyDeleteThe weird thing is, I'm pretty sure the school parents' organization BOUGHT them. Which means someone has made a business of this!
DeleteSo the drag queen hyacinths were actually S&M?
ReplyDeleteLOL! YES!!
DeleteWell I went exploring. Look up wax encased plant bulbs. It is a 'thing'.
ReplyDeleteNot a good thing!
DeleteMarty ^^^ and I think alike.
ReplyDeleteS&M Hyacinths!
LOL!
DeleteLatex wrapped bulbs—curiouser and curiouser! But your library day sounds so peaceful in its way.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't bad. I actually like cleaning, so that wasn't a problem for me. :)
DeleteI love your hyacinth rescue. I can't wait to see how those plants thrive and bloom.
ReplyDeleteMe too! I hope I didn't "release" them too late in the season for them to grow and store up some energy for next year.
DeleteThose poor bulbs! I wonder why they were wrapped that way.
ReplyDeleteI have a theory, which I mentioned to Andrew above. Basically someone really likes glitter, I guess.
DeleteALL of bulb love world thank you , deeply from our very bottoms, what a relief! LET LIFE abound! They look happier already, fingers crossed. I found a sad bag of bulbs in the mystery garage one day. They had suffered greatly , beyond any glimmer of hope. Compost. Sad. Thank you so much for your good work, sir, YOU are a fine gentleman and cleaner.
ReplyDeleteWell, you can't save everything. I've tried to rescue some plants that don't pull through. I just never write about them. :)
DeleteGood thing you noticed those bulbs were dying! Hope they bounce back and reward you with lots of hyacinth beauty! Good for you!
ReplyDeleteYou gotta weed books when you work in a library. That is just a fact. Find good homes for the ones that aren't too bad - if they have good colored pictures, someone would cut them out to frame them. But you know what you are doing!
Absolutely -- it's a requirement. Especially in a library like ours, which isn't that big. If we were a university we could archive all that stuff, but not in our school. We usually donate what we weed to charity.
DeleteIt will be interesting to see how the hyacinths fare. I trust you'll provide a photo in the future.
ReplyDeleteOh absolutely -- I'll keep you posted! :)
DeleteThis was really interesting about the flower bulbs. As for the squirrels, they sell little boxes to put on a tree (or post) and you can put your squirrel food in it. They get hungry too. As for watching Amazon on your computer, why not just buy an Amazon Fire stick and watch your Amazon and other things on your TV? You have a good day, hugs, Edna B.
ReplyDeleteWe used to have a squirrel feeder on the fence, but we had rats show up, and that became a problem. Plus the squirrels DEMOLISHED it. They're amazingly destructive little beasts!
DeleteI would not have thought of wrapping bulbs in balloons. Weird. Glitter is my most hated stuff, with styrofoam a close second. Glad they are now free to thrive.
ReplyDeleteHa! Do we even use styrofoam anymore? It seems packaging has switched more to that potato starch stuff that's supposedly biodegradable. (But still annoying in its own way.)
DeleteOof - that's making me feel a little claustrophobic. Poor bulbs! I thought they were a lot of fun, but that's just mean!
ReplyDeleteThey're cute looking, but yeah, not good for the life of the bulb!
Delete