What
the Wee Folk Saw
(and how they told us about it)
By the Editor and
Paigetheoracle
To be
clear: although my family has inhabited the Southern Appalachians for nearly
400 years, and I currently dwell in the Northern Appalachians, this story
concerns the Hyperborean Appalachians. You know, the ones that got separated
from us by what eventually became an ocean, back after the unfortunate incident
in Pangea. Family estrangement can be so messy.
I don't
think the fae have ever quite gotten over it. I mean, you lure one human off
the path, entertain them for a few hours at a fairy picnic, let them go, and
what happens? They turn up weeks later on another continent? It's kind of
annoying.
Which is
why, I believe, the wee folk up in Inverness have taken to doubling as
historical tour guides. Too many people have their noses stuck in their mobile
phones these days, anyway. And they probably saw Paige coming. He certainly
didn't see them: he was probably too busy looking out for seagull nests. (The
parents peck at him.)
Paige is from around Norwich. You know, where saints wall themselves up in churches to avoid the locals.
He lives in northern Scotland now. The photos he sends me are kind of random. I'd been asking him for photos relating to the Battle of Culloden, which Americans know about because of movies and caber-tossing Virginians. In reply, he sent me this while he was in Inverness.
Sorry no information on the church as I stumbled upon these on my way to the bus station on my way home. The young variegated holly caught my attention through the fence...
Variegated
holly. I tutted and did some research. As it turns out, Paige had pointed
his camera at a crime scene.
According
to Atlas Obscura, 'Following the Scottish defeat at Culloden, this graveyard
became a "killing field".' They massacred the Scottish prisoners
there. Who did? James Wolfe, who later became famous for...checks notes…oh,
defeating the French in Quebec. And getting mentioned in that old Canadian
national anthem along with the maple leaf.
Other
things that happened in that church: John Wesley preached there. Going back a
few more centuries, St Columba preached there and founded the first church on
the spot. Right now the worshippers go over to St Stephen's because this
building isn't usable. The old church has been bought by a preservation group.
Nice
holly, though. Thanks, pixies, for distracting our photographer.
Flower
Centrefold
'Ditch Lily' (Hemerocallis fulva)
What a rude name. Okay, people: Orange you glad you
saw this lily?
(This 'pun' doesn't work in western Pennsylvania,
anyway.)
The
Return of the Jersey Tiger:
Photos
and Video
By SashaQ, Tavaron da Quirm,
& the Kids
The Jersey Tiger, Euplagia quadripunctaria, is a
drop-dead gorgeous European daymoth.
SashaQ found one the other day:
So did Tavaron and the kids:
They made a video, too. Enjoy.
After a while,
Dmitri Gheorgheni, Editor
I'm doing this anonymously as I'm about to put in a pun and I know he doesn't like puns. I didn't know about Wolfe of Quebec being at Culloden or the slaughter of prisoners there. Not surprised about St. Columbus or Wesley. I am not from the Norwich area (whoops!) but Diss, in Norfolk. The old joke is that on the road to Yarmouth, suddenly Diss-appears (and I didn't write that one!).
ReplyDeleteI knew you were really from a town with a funny name. Only with h2g2 down I couldn't look it up. I knew you'd tell me if I dissed you. (Exit sniggering)
ReplyDelete