Mar 302012
 

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

Hard on the heels of the return of Spike the Talking Cactus, another of the Duthie Park’s David Welch Winter Gardens favourite characters has been rejuvenated back to his former glory.

Friends of Duthie Park Chairman Tony Dawson explains:

“Since Spike made his welcome return, we have had so many people enquiring why ‘McPuddock The Mechanical Frog’ wasn’t working as well as he should and wasn’t gurgling. And I have to say it was mostly adults doing the asking!

“Sadly he had been below par for some years but, thanks to our wonderful friends at Richard Irvin, he’s now back and as good as new, freshly repainted and emerging from the pond with accompanying gurgles on a regular basis!

“For a certain generation, Spike and McPuddock are characters they grew up with and I’m absolutely thrilled they are now both back to their best, particularly at this time, with the major restoration project well underway.”

The David Welch Winter Gardens are open between 9.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m., with closing time extended until 5.30 p.m. from Sunday onwards.

Nov 172011
 

By Bob Smith.

A meadow ower on Tullos Hill
Iss idea it is maist gran
A use faar mair diversified
Than jist trees upon the lan

A maun confess a love fer trees
Am a member o The Widdland Trust
Bit the growin o a hey meadow
Ower in Tullos iss is a must

Ye’ll hae wild flooers an ither plants
Buttercups, reid clover an daisies
Ti attract aa kins o beasties
Moths plus bees an butterflees

Doonamang aa the grasses
Frog hoppers wi yon cuckoo spit
Horny-gollachs an grasshoppers
An beetles faa feed on shit

Hay meadows are rich in earthwirms
Faa  dee gweed things ti the soil
Are fine grub fer birds an mowdiewarts
A feast they think richt royal

Noo meadows provide nesting grun
Fer the peesies an skylarks
Faa hiv a job ti survive
In intensive fairmed parks

It’s reckoned ae hail acre
Can support twa million spiders
An lots o ither  insects
Faa in win are expert gliders

Anither species faa wull benefit
Fae iss idea fit’s maist gifted
Is aa us tired oot humans
Faas spirits wull be uplifted

Jist ti waak throwe a meadow
Wi its flooers an bummin foggies
A pleasure e’en on a frosty morn
Myn an weer yer hummel doddies

So awa wi yon feel ideas
Ti sheet the puir bliddy deer
Leave them ti graze a meadow
An live a life withoot ony fear

©Bob Smith”The Poetry Mannie” 2011
Image credit: Suzanne Kelly.