Much of a muchness

Things that make you go 'hmm'…

Poppies RIP

This is not a proper post – that will come tomorrow but I just wanted to let off steam. I drove into Dorchester today and guess what? Some plank of a jobsworth idiot has MOWN ALL THE POPPIES DOWN!!!!! FOR NO REASON!!! They do not obstruct a footpath, they have not started to build there yet, all they were doing was making an otherwise scruffy area of land stretching along the main road into Dorchester through Poundbury, look pretty as far as the eye could see. I am so furious I could spit tacks. You want to see me when I am cross, DP? Well, look now!

So here, in memory of the poppies (which is kind of ironic when you think about it), are a couple more shots of the now composted poppies….

23 responses to “Poppies RIP

  1. Lady Banana June 7, 2008 at 3:15 pm

    How stupidly ridiculous is that, they are/were so beautiful…

  2. Diane June 7, 2008 at 3:27 pm

    It is VERY stupidly ridiculous, I’m afraid….

  3. durano lawayan June 7, 2008 at 4:13 pm

    Hi Diane,

    Stupidity knows no boundaries and does not have any class distinction. I was in your site yesterday and I saw the photos but deferred making a comment until I return today.Then I see smoke all over your site! Wow, you’re fuming mad! For a while I thought I saw a werewolf! LOL!

    There are imbeciles who cannot stand natural beauty, and whoever that specific one is was probably trying out the grass cutter or something. He should have tried it on his head because nothing good could grow on a brain like that. Or perhaps he doesn’t use his brain at all. we should then seek him out for his brain would fetch a substantial amount if it is sold to a brain lab for possible transplant. It is slightly used. :-) –Durano, done!

  4. pete June 7, 2008 at 4:35 pm

    Hi Diane! Sorry to be absent as of late, but it’s been a busy end of school year and a minor back surgery. But here I am, recovering for two weeks, brrowsing the web on our new MacBook. Life is good.

    I love wildflowers, but when someone mows them for no apparent reason, it infuriates me. Why does everything have to be so manicured and trimmed? Grrr.

  5. Creechman June 7, 2008 at 5:04 pm

    The wicked witch of the East must be in charge of country-side landscaping.

    Poppies…. Dorothy….. swoon……there’s no place like home.

  6. Daddy Papersurfer June 7, 2008 at 5:51 pm

    How come you have the same knack that the TG has of making everything sound like my fault?
    Still you’re charming when steaming and it is a great shame about the poppies ………. really.
    If you think it would help, I’ll come over there and chain myself to a thistle if you want me to ………

  7. AmyH June 8, 2008 at 12:42 am

    What a shame! They were beautiful! I just discovered a little field of California poppies on the road up to my neighborhood. They make me happy whenever I see them and they’re just small little things. I hope nobody touches them.

  8. DrowseyMonkey June 8, 2008 at 1:54 am

    Well, that’s just not right. They were so beautiful!

  9. RennyBA June 8, 2008 at 1:17 pm

    How stupid! Actually I feel sorry for those who can’t let be and see the beauty of the nature – they are really missing something in their life.

    Wishing you a lovely Sunday and a great week ahead :-)

  10. strugglingwriter June 8, 2008 at 10:13 pm

    Sniff sniff. RIP poppies. Till next year…

  11. 70steen June 8, 2008 at 11:02 pm

    it is just criminal. I watched a British Rail guy at my local station with a strimmer doing just the same thing not long ago … I had such a Victor Meldrew moment in my head ‘ I don’t believe it!’

    It all beggars belief Diane. doesn’t it!!! (70s shaking her head)

  12. Teresa June 9, 2008 at 1:04 am

    Nooo! How could they? In some median stretches along U.S. Interstates, they actually grow wildflowers to brighten things up and to save on having to mow all the time.

    Those idiots who mowed down the poppies reminds me of the Einstein quote: “Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.”

  13. Jenny June 9, 2008 at 2:26 pm

    Awww … that’s sad because there’s just something so achingly beautiful about a field of poppies. And when traveling, those flowers along the side of the road can make the trip so enjoyable. I hope you find the cretin who did it and kick him in the shins.

  14. shinade June 9, 2008 at 2:53 pm

    Thanks for the answer Diane. So far two others have given me the same answer.

    Now I wonder if they are poisonous like in the movie ‘White Oleander’ with Michelle Pfeifer?

    Hope you have a grand day!!:-)))

  15. nursemyra June 9, 2008 at 11:35 pm

    hey… I was wondering…. how easy is it to make some form of opium from poppies? maybe that’s why they were mown down?

  16. laketrees June 10, 2008 at 6:24 am

    that’s terrible Diane..
    thanks goodness you have such a lovely photographic reminder of these beautiful flowers ….

  17. pobept June 10, 2008 at 4:58 pm

    Mmmm, not being from the UK, I can only say in good old Oklahoma, USA, areas near & along side roadways are mowed several times a year to keep vegetation down to minimize fires being started form traffic and cigarettes being tossed from cars.

  18. Diane June 10, 2008 at 9:00 pm

    Thank you all for your commiserations and general agreement.

    Nurse M – I don’t think they are a completely different variety of poppies than opium poppies….

    pobept – sounds reasonable – if only it didn’t pour down with rain so frequently in the UK!

    At least I do have the photos as you point out Kim, and as Paul says, there’s always next year , – if they haven’t paved it over…what did Joni Mitchell sing ‘they pave paradise and put up a parking lot’.

  19. idreamelectric June 15, 2008 at 1:24 am

    that’s sad… perhaps next year you could press a few and make paper from them? might make nice book cover material!

  20. Diane June 15, 2008 at 8:44 am

    What a nice idea! If I’d known they were going to be cut down in their prime I would have pressed a few…
    Actually, I drove b there yesterday, and I was thrilled to see that a few poppies are bursting through again. Ha! Poppies rule!

  21. ian hampshire June 17, 2008 at 11:54 am

    Hi ,
    Great fun blog and well produced. I really must try some of that meusli though.

  22. Diane June 17, 2008 at 12:26 pm

    Thanks, Ian. I see you know Dorset well! I highly recommend Dorset Cereals – and their hot, fruity porridge – yum! As for being an aphrodisiac – well, I couldn’t possibly comment….:-)

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