Monday, 28 August 2023

Small, but perfect

 Small, but perfect  

   

We are enjoying a glut of apples and plums this year which we are happy to share with others, human or otherwise. The over-ripe, the serially pecked and the windfalls drop to the ground, to be consumed by a myriad tiny creatures.

In this morning’s harvest, a small but perfect passenger was brought safely indoors, travelling on a ripe apple. All babies are beautiful, even snails. 

I liked the first verses of this poem by John Bunyan, Upon a Snail:

She goes but softly, but she goeth sure;

She stumbles not, as stronger creatures do:

Her journey's shorter, so she may endure

Better than they which do much further go.  


She makes no noise, but stilly seizeth on

The flower or herb appointed for her food,

The which she quietly doth feed upon, 

While others range and glare, but find no good.


And though she doth but very softly go,

However, 'tis not fast, nor slow, but sure;

And certainly they that do travel so,

The prize they aim at, they do procure.

                                                       

26 comments:

  1. It seems to be a bumper year for apples, the length and breadth of the land.
    Love the photos of the wee 'passenger'.

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    1. Conditions must have been just right - quite sad, really, considering the weather we have had;-)

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  2. Nice poem. i haven't seen any baby snails for a couple of years. I don't pay close attention to my garden these days.

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    1. I think a lot of baby snails don't get the chance to grow much bigger.

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  3. Haven't seen a snail for a long time. Back in our home in Kerala, which is among lots of trees (unlike here bang in the centre of the city), we get to see some especially in rainy season.

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    1. I know they're a pest but I find them quite fascinating.

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  4. Congratulations on your bumper crop. Between codlin in the apples, some strange fungus on the plums and a dry June we haven't done well at all. The quinces appear to be trying to make up for it but they are not exactly a luscious fruit are they? Maybe I will make a generous amount of membrillo.

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    1. We've never had enough quince to make anything other than an extremely small amount of jelly - not worth the effort, sadly.

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  5. Our apples look quite good but not sure that they are ripe enough for picking yet. I give them a gentle twist but they are still holding firm. The leaves have turned blotchy and are curling up. I hope the tree is not ill!

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    Replies
    1. Ah, poor tree! They seem to survive, no matter what.

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  6. This little poem comes to mind....
    Each morning without fail,
    I see my little,brown-shelled snail,
    Plodding along with his home on his back,
    Leaving a long, tiny, silver track,
    I think he likes blazing a trail....! :0).
    🐌 🐌 🐌 🐌 🐌 🐌 🐌 🐌 🐌 🐌

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    1. 'Blazing a trail' and 'snail' don't seem quite to belong in the same sentence!

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  7. How cute! Lovely poem too! Wonderful to have so many apples and plums in the garden. I love both and in particular the Victoria plums. I can feel a crumble or two coming on! 😁

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    1. We are lucky. We have a good crop of crabapples, too, so I shall have to make some jelly.

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  8. Oh, I am jealous you get to eat your own apples. I have 2 trees, and with the squirrels and birds taking bites, then the ones hit the ground and the deer herd are all over them. Tiny snail looks cute for now.

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    Replies
    1. Just think - without your apples those poor animals would starve ;-)

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  9. I have listened to a recording of a snail eating a leaf. Whilst inaudible to our ears when amplified the noise is deafening.

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    Replies
    1. What we can listen to now is quite amazing. My grandson listened to a tree a while ago.

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  10. How many km/h does it make ? Snails with houses and furniture are less disgusting then the once from the naturist beaches.

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    Replies
    1. This little snail seemed to move quite quickly, really.

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  11. How wonderful to be enjoying so many apples.
    That baby snail is rather cute. I don't usually find the adult versions too appealing, although I do find them to be interesting.

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  12. I agree. The smaller versions are less . . . repulsive!

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  13. I reluctantly have to admit that even baby snails are cute! And why not share your glut of apples with them, indeed. Perhaps they'll be too full of apple to start munching on your precious garden plants and flowers :-) xxx

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