web analytics

Perfidious delphiniums

godinton

June 23rd to July 2nd is Delphinium Week at Godinton House! The sharp-eyed among you (I realize that’s not many) will note that it is, in fact, only the 16th of June, but nobody bought the delphiniums a calendar. They are early. They are likely to be all done by the time Delphinium Week proper gets here.

Also, those are not delphiniums in the picture. They’re tulips.

Never mind. We were tipped off and went today. We’ve been to the gardens many times, but this is the first time we’ve toured the house. It’s another one of these great old country houses that accreted centuries of new build around a Medieval great hall center. The carving throughout the house was spectacular!

Sadly, no photography anywhere inside the building, so I can’t share. I bought the guidebook, but it was a little light on reproductions of the paintings – my main interest.

All that and a proper cream tea in the tea room.

Good weekend, y’all!

p.s. I didn’t owe you a Dead Pool, did I? Nobody had Adam West this time, I know.

Comments


Comment from Skandia Recluse
Time: June 16, 2017, 9:33 pm

I, of course, immediately googled perfidious delphinium and google offerred up this –

DELPHINIUM. … shamefully mutilated and killed by Menelaus, whom Helen perfidiously introduced into his chamber, in order to palliate her former misconduct.


Comment from Steve Skubinna
Time: June 16, 2017, 9:36 pm

Anybody have Helmut Kohl?


Comment from Ric Fan
Time: June 16, 2017, 10:11 pm

I want a Great Hall. A Great Hall, a Mott and Bailey, and a Roman Road. Is that too much to ask for???


Comment from Deborah HH
Time: June 16, 2017, 10:35 pm

Blue flowers are the best. An all-blue bouquet makes my heart go pitty-pat. Texas wildflowers were early this year, too.


Comment from Ric Fan
Time: June 16, 2017, 10:49 pm

I wouldnt want a moat. Moats are stinky.


Comment from Uncle Al
Time: June 17, 2017, 12:00 am

Ric, sounds good! I’d also like a dungeon complete with oubliette. I’ve got a little list…

As some day it may happen that a victim must be found,
I’ve got a little list – I’ve got a little list
Of society offenders who might well be underground,
And who never would be missed – who never would be missed!
There’s the pestilential nuisances who write for autographs –
All people who have flabby hands and irritating laughs –
All children who are up in dates, and floor you with ’em flat –
All persons who in shaking hands, shake hands with you like that –
And all third persons who on spoiling tête-á-têtes insist –
They’d none of ’em be missed – they’d none of ’em be missed!

He’s got ’em on the list – he’s got ’em on the list;
And they’ll none of ’em be missed – they’ll none of ’em be missed.

(Ko-Ko:)
There’s the banjo serenader, and the others of his race,
And the piano-organist – I’ve got him on the list!
And the people who eat peppermint and puff it in your face,
They never would be missed – they never would be missed!
Then the idiot who praises, with enthusiastic tone,
All centuries but this, and every country but his own;

And the lady from the provinces, who dresses like a guy,
And who “doesn’t think she dances, but would rather like to try”;
And that singular anomaly, the lady novelist –
I don’t think she’d be missed – I’m sure she’d not he missed!

He’s got her on the list – he’s got her on the list;
And I don’t think she’ll be missed – I’m sure she’ll not be missed!

(Ko-Ko:)
And that Nisi Prius nuisance, who just now is rather rife,
The Judicial humorist – I’ve got him on the list!
All funny fellows, comic men, and clowns of private life –
They’d none of ’em be missed – they’d none of ’em be missed.
And apologetic statesmen of a compromising kind,
Such as – What d’ye call him – Thing’em-bob, and likewise – Never-mind,
And ‘St- ‘st- ‘st- and What’s-his-name, and also You-know-who –
The task of filling up the blanks I’d rather leave to you.
But it really doesn’t matter whom you put upon the list,
For they’d none of ’em be missed – they’d none of ’em be missed!

You may put ’em on the list – you may put ’em on the list;
And they’ll none of ’em be missed – they’ll none of ’em be missed!

God Bless Gilbert & Sullivan


Comment from Steve Skubinna
Time: June 17, 2017, 12:53 am

Uncle Al, oubliette always sounds to me as though it must have a sanitary function, even though I do know what it is. “Sorry I missed your call, but I ate some bad oysters last night and was in the oubliette all morning!”

Could be worse, I suppose. Were I still a child I’d undoubtedly associate it with Bartholomew and the Oobleck.


Comment from durnedyankee
Time: June 17, 2017, 1:43 am

You would have if I’d stuck with Al Baghdadi, but alas, I’m still hoping it’s George Soros for the win.


Comment from Can’t Hark My Cry
Time: June 17, 2017, 2:42 am

There once was a Dormouse who lived in a bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red),
And all the day long he’d a wonderful view
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).

A Doctor came hurrying round, and he said:
“Tut-tut, I am sorry to find you in bed.
Just say ‘Ninety-nine’ while I look at your chest….
Don’t you find that chrysanthemums answer the best?”

The Dormouse looked round at the view and replied
(When he’d said “Ninety-nine”) that he’d tried and he’d tried,
And much the most answering things that he knew
Were geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).

The Doctor stood frowning and shaking his head,
And he took up his shiny silk hat as he said:
“What the patient requires is a change,” and he went
To see some chrysanthemum people in Kent.

The Dormouse lay there, and he gazed at the view
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue),
And he knew there was nothing he wanted instead
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red).

The Doctor came back and, to show what he meant,
He had brought some chrysanthemum cuttings from Kent.
“Now these,” he remarked, “give a much better view
Than geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).”

They took out their spades and they dug up the bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red),
And they planted chrysanthemums (yellow and white).
“And now,” said the Doctor, “we’ll soon have you right.”

The Dormouse looked out, and he said with a sigh:
“I suppose all these people know better than I.
It was silly, perhaps, but I did like the view
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).”

The Doctor came round and examined his chest,
And ordered him Nourishment, Tonics, and Rest.
“How very effective,” he said, as he shook
The thermometer, “all these chrysanthemums look!”

The Dormouse turned over to shut out the sight
Of the endless chrysanthemums (yellow and white).
“How lovely,” he thought, “to be back in a bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red.)”

The Doctor said, “Tut! It’s another attack!”
And ordered him Milk and Massage-of-the-back,
And Freedom-from-worry and Drives-in-a-car,
And murmured, “How sweet your chrysanthemums are!”

The Dormouse lay there with his paws to his eyes,
And imagined himself such a pleasant surprise:
“I’ll pretend the chrysanthemums turn to a bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red)!”

The Doctor next morning was rubbing his hands,
And saying, “There’s nobody quite understands
These cases as I do! The cure has begun!
How fresh the chrysanthemums look in the sun!”

The Dormouse lay happy, his eyes were so tight
He could see no chrysanthemums, yellow or white.
And all that he felt at the back of his head
Were delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red).

And that is the reason (Aunt Emily said)
If a Dormouse gets in a chrysanthemum bed,
You will find (so Aunt Emily says) that he lies
Fast asleep on his front with his paws to his eyes.

A. A. Milne

(Apologies: I have just endured a FOUR HOUR retirement dinner for the high school principal of a client school district, and I am in what might accurately be described as a fey mood. And you said “delphiniums.”)


Comment from dissent555
Time: June 17, 2017, 3:23 am

Cherry blossoms were earlier in DC too.


Comment from dustoffmom
Time: June 17, 2017, 5:31 pm

Beautiful house indeed. However, I don’t see any delphiniums. 🙁


Comment from Wolfus Aurelius
Time: June 19, 2017, 2:00 pm

“And that, my darlings, marked the first point in The House at Pooh Corner where Tonstant Weader fwowed up.”
( — Dorothy Parker, as book reviewer “Constant Reader,” who had a high distaste for Milne. Personally I liked the poem that Can’t Hark quoted)

And I’d be better off if I didn’t keep thinking, every time the name is mentioned on the radio, that “The Moslems had a leader called ‘Al Big-Daddy’???”

Off to the oubliette!!


Comment from durnedyankee
Time: June 19, 2017, 2:55 pm

Perfidious Albion? What? (snort, mumble, rolls over)

No no Oubilette, you mustn’t! You naughty thing! (giggles)
French nightie? oh, you ARE bad! (giggle) (mumble) (snore)
(snort)
Xerxes! get the unicorns out of the moat!
(rolls back over)


Comment from Steve Skubinna
Time: June 19, 2017, 8:21 pm

Wolfus, every time I see that Parker quote I wonder “Why in Hell was she reviewing that book in the first place? Was the New Yorker readership devoted to Milne?”


Comment from Mrs. Peel
Time: June 20, 2017, 2:46 am

Can’t hark, if you hadn’t posted it, I would have 🙂

Write a comment

(as if I cared)

(yeah. I'm going to write)

(oooo! you have a website?)


Beware: more than one link in a comment is apt to earn you a trip to the spam filter, where you will remain -- cold, frightened and alone -- until I remember to clean the trap. But, hey, without Akismet, we'd be up to our asses in...well, ass porn, mostly.


<< carry me back to ol' virginny