Leap Frog Races and a picnic!

'Well today is the the day Hortie, hot or not it is time for the Leap Frog Races!' Archibold grinned at Hortensia to try and reassure her. Hortensia was packing a substantial picnic into several baskets and a  small cart, 'never too sure that I like race day Archie, such a messy activity and so much slime, still I suppose it is hot enough this year to enjoy swimming in the river afterwards!'

For the last week or so, for the sake of coolness, most of the gnomes of the Forest had taken to sleeping high up in their summer houses in the tree tops. Hortensia adored the roar of the leaves in the wind and even the gentlest of rustles brought news of the forest and music to her heart. 'Seems a shame to have to be at ground level when we could stay up here in the cool, still a summer picnic by the river is not be missed!'

The wild strawberries were gleaming red under their leaves as Hortensia and Archibold passed by and Hortensia quickly filled a basket with the cheerful berries, 'What a treat - oooh Archie look at Harriet' for Baby Harriet was sitting up in her nest in the cart giggling and smiling at a young blackbird that was perched next to her. 'Sometimes Archie, she makes me wonder what is going to happen next.' Harriet clapped her hands as the bird chirped, 'She is just hearing the latest news Hortie, nothing to worry about, and now the blackbirds can tell the rest of the forest about the races!'

Soon they were on their way again and as they passed by on the windy path down to the river, most of the other gnomes came out to join them. Soon the procession of hand carts and happy gnomes laden with baskets and rugs, fishing rods and kettles reached the rivers edge.

The frogs had already agreed to meet in a particularly wet and muddy inlet and were happily hidden in the shade of the long grass as the gnomes set up camp. 'I'll hang the hammocks and set the fire for the kettle', Archibold was rushing about eager to finish so he could limber up for the start of races -  limbering up meant warming up for the race with all sorts of strange lunges and hops and stretches, the frogs of course were ready just as they were. Stephanotis and even Uncle Humperdinck were going to join in this year and as everyone knew, Aunt Mildred, who had been a legend in the leapfrog racing world of her youth, was a stern and very strict judge.

Hortensia smiled as she saw Archibold's enthusiasm, try as she might, she could never understood why anyone would want to leap over frogs in the mud whilst trying to stay on the back of a slimy frog themselves. 'I know you and the frogs love it Darling, but Harriet and I will be very happy to watch from the shore.' Harriet blinked and smiled at her Mother, she was looking forward to when she could join in too, but thought it best to keep her thoughts to herself for a while yet!

Dandelions and fighting talk!

Archibold was sitting in his armchair relaxing and reading aloud from his favourite newspaper, 'The Gnome's Digest', after enjoying a tasty dinner of mushroom stew with herby dumplings. 

Hortensia was resting her feet, (which truth to tell were still recovering from dancing at The Mid Summer Revels), in a bowl of sweetly scented lavender water. She was feeling rather sleepy and in fact was just beginning to doze off when Archibold suddenly exclaimed, ' there I knew it, at last, O'Dophoplus has taken up the cause for Dandelions!' and with that he began to read aloud........

'The humble dandelion - friend or foe?, you see Hortensia, just what I have been saying all along?' Hortensia tried to look interested but was too sleepy to say anything other than a quiet 'really Dear?' That however was quite enough for Archibold who began to read aloud in earnest..... 

' Here goes Hortie, I'll just read the whole article to you, to save you having to read it yourself.' Hortensia loved being read to, especially by Archibold as to her mind he had the loveliest of voices, she just wasn't too sure she wanted to hear about dandelions at the end of a long day. 

Archibold coughed, sat up straight and began, 'The vagaries of human taste are most peculiar - especially with regard to what humans call 'weeds'. Imagine a flower bed full of the riotous joy of dandelions intermingled with ox eye daisies and cornflowers, yet what human would gladly introduce such a thing to their beloved garden?  - Just what I think Hortie, that was a mix we tried in the long field, looked a treat too!' Hortensia rolled her eyes and tried hard to stay awake.

'From a Gnome's perspective, a human's hatred of dandelions is just plain absurd. Compare the humble dandelion with the common, and to humans, most acceptable marigold. Both glorious in bloom, radiant with colour, both upright and of good character in their cheerfulness inducing qualities - but the lowly dandelion is despised and removed in disgust whilst the marigold cherished and nurtured!

As a gnome of many years experience in supporting humans in their efforts to bring an earthly paradise to their gardens, I can truly report that their tastes are often most at variance with the natural abundance that could be theirs for the planting, for what we call The king of Cheerfulness, is much loved by the insect world and by us gnomes, and is deserving of a nobler future!

Toddle pip for now!

Yours in service, Humbert O'Dopholus - author of 'From a Gnome's perspective'

Well Hortensia, what an article, how right he is!' Sadly for Archibold and his enthusiasm, all that Hortensia could manage in reply was a gentle snuffle, for she was well and truely asleep!

'Well, well, nothing for it I suppose, I might as well have forty winks too ' and with that Archibold leaned back contentedly, patted his folded newspaper and fell asleep too!