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Spring flowering Primula and a bit more besides

Category: Garden | Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 7:48 pm

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I adore my early flowering Primula. They are colourful, they've got a lovely fragrance and they ask for so little but give me so much pleasure.

One of the Primula auriculas:



A double one with a white edge:



This one has a funny colour but I like it all the same:



These two were survivors from last year's indoor primrose shopping spree:





I've got three different Primula denticulata and I'm on the look-out for the pinker and more purple ones:







Another absolute favourite is the Fritillaria meleagris. I let them self-seed and have a big clump, but only one is blooming so far:



My last two Pulsatillas. I need to re-stock, I've lost a blue, purple, yellow and pink one.





The blue Anemone nemorosa:



I'd be lost without my spring flowers! It's still early and there are lots more under way out there. I greet each one by touching them, just to make sure they're for real maybe. Yes, I've probably got some diagnosis, but I'm happily ignorant and let's keep it that way.

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A new experience, but such fun!

Category: Pets and other animals | Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 6:42 pm

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Today was the first do in the new riding house. The Icelandic people rented it for their gait competition. Iceland horses have five gaits. In addition to the walk, trot and gallop, they have two more unique to them. They walk like camels moving both legs on the same side the same way at the same time. That's called pass. It rocks and makes you feel sea sick. Then there's the tølt. It's faster than trot, slower than gallop and so smooth you feel more like flying than riding. When tølting the horses lift their forelegs so high it's unbelievable, and it looks very elegant and energetic at the same time. The Iceland horse is very small, and is actually a pony, but they don't know that so we won't tell them.

I watched the preparations for the competition. It was very different from what I'm used to seeing. First they evened the track nicely. Then they put chairs and tables in the middle and defined the track width. Then they brought in big cars and drove around in there to make the surface hard and even. And then the show started, but not one by one. They started in groups from two to five participants. Here are a few photos to show what it looked like:

The three judges watching the contestants:



One of two participants from our stables:



The oldest:



The youngest:



Do my eyes deceive me? One group and all men!



One of the prize winning stallions and a world championship rider:



As you can see, both skill and age differed a lot! It was fun to observe how supportive the old hands were towards the young beginners. That's the proper way to do it to get new riders in. Our young rider managed a third place, which is very good considering it's her first do ever. We're very proud of her and the horse.

Here's a small film that shows one icelandic horse doing the tølt, for those who might be interested. flying pace

Last edited: Sat Apr 05, 2008 6:43 pm

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