Yesterday, while I was squashing aphids on the lupines, I came across this exotic-looking critter. I think it's also an aphid, but with its zebra-striped antenna and rows of speckles on its body, a much more interesting one than usual. I didn't squash it. Yes, I know its progeny will now continue to ravage our lupines. But I could not be executioner to such a remarkable thing.
(I realize there is inherent injustice in casually killing homely aphids while sparing handsome ones, but such is life.)
Yet another amazing day weather-wise. I sat in the garden in the morning and read "Holes" by Louis Sachar, another Newbery book and one of the best ones I've read so far. It was genuinely a page-turner, both clever and funny, and I read virtually the whole thing in one sitting.
I took Olga to the cemetery after lunch.
Look how wild it is now, with the yellow buttercups coming up through the tall grass. Now this is "No-Mow May" on a grand scale! Olga dropped her tennis ball somewhere along the route, and I tried to find it, but in all that grass a green ball was impossible to see.
Here's the obligatory daily dog portrait, taken with my Australian blog pals especially in mind. Andrew Fisher was a three-time Australian Prime Minister for the Labor party in the early 1900s. Seems strange that he's buried in West Hampstead rather than Australia -- although he was born in Scotland, way back in 1862. Apparently he was rendered partially deaf by a cow that kicked him in the head in his youth. There's some trivia for you. (Not trivial to Fisher, though.)
Oh, before I forget, the white flower in yesterday's post is Convolvulus cneorum, or silverbush. It's never taken off in our garden because it's a sun-loving plant and it's in a semi-shady spot, but it hangs on and gives us flowers every year.
"Holes" is a terrific book. "A total must-read" as The Times said at the time. Bought it for the Angel when he was in his early teens. And one of the books that has survived my occasional weeding of shelves. From now on, whenever "Holes" catches my eye, it will remind me of one Steve who, meticulously, reads his way through the Newberies.
ReplyDeleteThat green thing had a lucky escape. It also proves, as you hint at, that looks count for a lot. I nearly said "looks are everything" but that isn't (quite) true. I once came across a study that said people will couple with those roughly on the same scale of attractiveness as they themselves are. Which, by observation, is largely so. Where that leaves Jerry Hall and Rupert Murdock is anyone's guess. Maybe a meeting of minds. She certainly doesn't need his money.
U
I'd forgotten Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall are married. How could she leave Mick for THAT?!
DeleteThat is a find, among the long grass!
ReplyDeleteWe did see something about him a while ago, which mentioned why he happened to be in London. I will try and remember which programme
You were momentarily a good follower of Jainism by not killing that aphid. (As long as you don't tell anyone it was simply because it was a pretty one... and you kill the ones you think are ugly.) Anyway, it's a beautiful photo. I wondered if that stone marker for Andrew Fisher was simply a memorial erected by his friends and not his actual burial place. So I looked it up. After his retirement from Australian politics, he and his family moved to England and soon bought a home in South Hill Park near Hampstead Heath. Mystery solved. (And I didn't even know his name until your blog post...)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm not sure my rather selfish benevolence toward that aphid could be called Jainism! LOL
DeleteI'd never heard of Fisher either, but apparently he's known in Australia, which even issued a postage stamp honoring him a couple decades ago.
Just read the article from your link to Andrew Fisher.
ReplyDeleteVery sad..I wonder why his children had moved to
London. Very interesting that his widow returned to Australia even though her children were in London
Maybe they came back to get educated or go into business. I imagine opportunities were better then in England than in far-off Australia.
DeleteWhoa! I have read "Holes" by Louis Sachar several times because I once ordered thirty five copies of it as a class reader from which written work emerged. The kids always loved it. We also watched the film version.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, if you micro-chipped Olga's tennis balls you would be able to locate them in even the roughest grass. Of course you would need the appropriate app on your smartphone: "Load of Balls".
That would be a great book for a class read. I knew it was popular but it's nice to fill that gap in my own cultural education!
DeleteThat is one sassy lookin' aphid.
ReplyDeleteShe is fierce!
DeleteI listened to "Holes" on an audio book and I still remember listening to it as I walked. It is a good story.
ReplyDeleteAnd you could probably listen to the whole thing in a single long walk!
DeleteI was trying to remember if I've read Holes, and I just don't know. But I HAVE seen a play put on by our local theater group & it WAS excellent!
ReplyDeleteWell, at least you know the plot. I didn't have a clue what it was about when I started it.
DeleteThat is an interesting bug you found there. I'm glad you were able to get such a fine detailed photo of it.
ReplyDeleteI like the No-Mow-May look in the cemetery.
The cemetery must be a boon to insects in the summer, when it isn't mowed and the butterfly garden comes into its own.
DeleteI loved the book "Holes" and my kids enjoyed Sachar's "Wayside School" books too when they were in school. Great writer!
ReplyDeleteLucky aphid whose good looks saved his life today!
Those remain popular books in our library even now.
DeleteThat is an interesting little bug. It reminds me that I have a photo somewhere in my archives of one of the ugliest bugs I've ever seen. I should dig that out and post it. I got curious about how a prime minister of Australia ended up in London so I looked him up. I sounds like he retired to London to be closer to his children. Wikipedia said he lived on South Hill Park near Hampstead Heath. There are lots of interesting people in that cemetery you walk in.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm...I'm intrigued by this photo of the ugly bug! Do post it!
DeleteWhat A Happy Girl - Well Done Human
ReplyDeleteCheers
She is indeed!
DeleteI watched a video this morning of a news anchor eating cicadas with an Oriental chef who prepared them. Maybe that bug would be tasty as he looks quite plump. Just sayin'.
ReplyDeleteI heard about this trend toward eating cicadas. No way in hell would I do that. In fact I wonder about the environmental wisdom of eating them -- don't they need to reproduce so we get another brood?
DeleteOh my gosh does that sound nasty! I think everyone should just keep a chicken or two. They gobble up cicadas like nobody's business. The Oriental chef will have to figure out another way to freak us out.
DeleteThe cemetery looks comfy. Dead folks sending their good Juju up into the grasses, as it should be. I like No Mow May very much.
ReplyDeleteI do too. I think it's a great idea.
DeleteHave you seen the film adaptation of Holes? I enjoyed it and wonder how it compares to the book (which I've not read). My book club usually does a YA selection each year, so maybe it would be a good choice.
ReplyDeleteThat bug is creepily beautiful. *shudder* Lovely photo of Olga, as always.
I haven't seen the movie, no. I know there is one, though. Shia LaBoeuf, I think?
DeleteI know what you mean about inequality toward bugs. I usually take bugs outside if I find them in the house, except for the house spiders who live inside year-round. But today, after a trip to our cottage to get some repairs done prior to selling it, I came home and found two ticks on me - one still ambling around on my neck and one stuck into my shin. I flushed those suckers, and then I flushed them again, and I'm not sorry. Well, maybe a little sorry. But not enough to make me do any differently in future.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I would spare no mercy for ticks. Sometimes it's a matter of us vs. them.
DeleteGreat photo of the attractive aphid.
ReplyDeleteWho knew an aphid could be attractive?!
DeleteThe cow kick to Fisher's head was trivia I didn't know and nor would I have guessed he was buried in England.
ReplyDeleteAnd not just in England, but practically in my back yard!
DeleteThat's a very famous book and both my daughters have read it. I saw the film; does that count? ;)
ReplyDeleteSure! At least you know the story! I kept thinking as I read it that it's very visual and would make a great film, so maybe one of these days I'll watch it.
Deleteah, so, the white flower is a bush morning glory, non-invasive. I thought it looked morning gloryish. I wonder if it would do well down here.
ReplyDeleteinsects are so amazing in their colorations and variations.