Thursday, June 21, 2012

Alliterative acanthus.





Acanthus. They barely survived in the Scottish garden . North sea gales and May frosts not to their liking . We planted three of the things in a distant wilderness corner , behind the barn , in our first year here . Two years later and they're taking over . Purple and white shoots sprouting everywhere.  ' Self seeding ' the understatement of the decade  . Ineradicable . No sooner do you dig up the roots than new shoots appear . What was an exotic feature in Scotland is an invasive weed in South West France . The rickety old farmhouse and its ever expanding acanthus garden .

Time for a glass of champagne . Angus picks up a recently delivered book on the lives of the Roman caesars . Reviewed in the Saturday FT. First page , first chapter , the following line .  " ... with impassioned gestures he importuned his contemporaries for acquiesence, assistance , acknowledgements , awe , acclaim , an approximation of ardour and , above all , admiration and action " . Alliteration run wild . The book , unread,  put back on the library shelves . Saved for a winters night.

Still no sign of the electricians .

16 comments:

  1. I think we've got Acanthus in our garden, although the leaves look 'slightly' different, but the flowers and its invasive nature are definitely the same! Hope the electrician arrives.....

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  2. We're not even going to attempt A words.

    Oz is full of plants that grow wild because someone thought they'd look good and remind them of Europe.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

    Animals, too.

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  3. Well, I was either going to have to look at the dictionary for some interesting A words, or, perhaps say in a slightly more 'rustic' tone that Msr Dennison appears to also be an acrobat and has consequently retreated to somewhere that in also begins with an A.
    Apologies.

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  4. I wonder what Mr. Dennison will do with the letter "B"?

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  5. That sure is alot of A's for my early morning eyes!! Love acanthus, just not when it takes over! Happy weeding!

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  6. The snow would never get deep enough for me to plow through Mr. Dennison's alliteration!

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  7. What nerve!
    A better placement would be under the bookcase.

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  8. Can't wait till the author gets to the "b's". Bombastic, bumptious, bountiful, bromidic, banal.....
    Your french acanthus reminds me of my southern Lamb's Ears.

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  9. wow this place is really cool. I hope you have a great day guys :D

    Dog Shock Collar | Puppy & Human Bond

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  10. Wish that acanthus would be happy in a pot on my side of the world.....sadly not the best climate for it..hope you get it under control soon.
    Twelve Caesars? Winter reading?? Abominable!!!
    Virginia

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  11. Wish that acanthus would be happy in a pot on my side of the world.....sadly not the best climate for it..hope you get it under control soon.
    Twelve Caesars? Winter reading?? Abominable!!!
    Virginia

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