Some people say “husks” for the outer layer, but I was struck by how these looked like ships, sailing across the moss.
So it had to be “hulls.”
I’m now on the lookout for leaves that look like barques.
Some people say “husks” for the outer layer, but I was struck by how these looked like ships, sailing across the moss.
So it had to be “hulls.”
I’m now on the lookout for leaves that look like barques.
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Cool. Are they walnut hulls?
Thanks, Mark. I think shagbark hickory. There are plenty of acorns and black walnuts in that woods, too (those are the green round ones that turn black and stain your hands semi-permanently). It’s a small nature preserve, that has to have the highest concentration of chipmunks on the planet.
Wow. Those chipmunks can be noisy too.
Your shell pieces do look like little ships. The American Heritage Dictionary gives the meaning of Middle English hol, from which modern hull derives, as ‘husk.’ The same dictionary says husk appeared in Middle English, probably from Middle Dutch hūskijn. That diminutive of hus, the Dutch relative of English house, meant ‘little house, core of an apple.’
I love the hull concept. Finding leaves that look like barques may take a bit of rigging.
Thank you. yes, once I find the right leaves, I’m going to need to find some really cooperative spiders to do the rigging.
Can’t wait to see the results.
it’s all about training and motivation. unfortunately, in this case a lot of the motivation involves eating bugs.
Then I need to find one of those scientists who gave different drugs to spiders, to see what sort of webs they would spin – LSD seemed to result in a perfect web if I remember right, I cannot imagine why, and the caffeine web was a random mess.
I don’t remember any of the drugs resulting in a nautical-theme web, but maybe if I gave them essence of clam chowder?
MGH knows a spider in Nova Scotia who might be able to help. https://thepoetryofphotography.wordpress.com/2019/10/20/2418/
that’s great! 😀
Nuts!
Changing the subject slightly: a new variety of apple is about to enter the marketplace. It’s called Cosmic Crisp. The story behind it is interesting. Google has the info. See you.
thanks Neil. they really made a major investment in this haven’t they? But did you think I’d bite? C’mon man an apple from Washington state??? I grew up a few miles from Geneva New York where all the best apples come from!
Have you tried SnapDragon? A new type like HoneyCrisp — from upstate New York of course!
I probably like the good ol’ Macintosh apple the best.
I like apples, applesauce, apple pie, apple cider, Apple fritters, etc.
Now I’m hungry.
All of the above are delicious. The one I’d like to have the most right now is applesauce.
This made me smile!
Thank you, Anne, I’m really glad to hear that!
A very impressive monochrome composition coupled with a witty comment, Robert!
Thank you, Peter! I hope you’re having a nice autumn, it sure seems that way from your photos.
Definitely hulls!
We don’t have to guess which hull has the nut under it. Maybe some insects used them as prairie schooners.
😀
A truly fantastic picture!
Thank you, Pit, I’m so pleased you liked it.
I took some advice from Peter Klopp, and actually laid down, to see things at eye level.
Love your humor and imagination, Robert. Terrific image, too. 🙂
Thank you, Jane!
Love that photo! Yes, they do look like ship hulls. Around here, we have trees that look like something Dr. Seuss or Fritz Frieling conjured up–with fuzzy moss and curving vines/trunks.
A miniature world that looks so different because of the perspective. It’s like a world within a world, or as someone else wrote, that those nutshells look like small boats. It’s a lovely photo.
Thank you, Otto!
There’s another, quite real, nautical/nut connection. Before modern non-skid additives had been invented for the decks of boats, finely ground walnut shells were added to coatings to help the sailors keep their footing. Today, the ground hulls have fallen out of favor for the decks of hulls, but they’re still available, and I know people who keep them around for projects like this.
All that aside, I love the photo. I’d love to set sail in one of those hulls; the photo reminded me of the Owl and the Pussycat, who had quite an adventure in a boat of their own.
“The Owl and the Pussycat” still makes me smile.
I remembered the illustrations for this poem, but not the poem itself, that’s great! Of course I hurried off to look up “runcible” only to find out, it’s a made-up word.
I’ve always thought of a runcible as akin to a spork.
Thank you, Linda. That’s great, that they still have a use for walnut shells, I never knew that.
I presume automation’s taken over the grinding, how. I tried to find some information on how it was done in earlier centuries, but couldn’t. I suspect walnut-grinder wasn’t the most sought-after job in the world!
Seems like it would kinda set your teeth on edge.
I was reading about these shells being used for cleaning and polishing buildings, bridges, etc. like sandblasting, and it was described as “moderately aggressive media,” I like that, sounds like what we want in news reporters – – determined, but not over-the-top and obnoxious, and maybe a little nutty.
There is some barque (bark?) that peels off trees that can end up looking leaf-like. Madrone, Paperbark Maple, maybe even Birch or Aspen. Come to think of it, there are (were?) birch barque canoes…
Thanks Dave that looks very classy spelled that way! like what a French poodle would say “Barque! Barque!”
I wondered, looking at this (delightful photo and accompanying idea) what little creatures might sail in them? And while nut shells and sieves are very different, it made me think of The Jumblies. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/54364/the-jumblies (By the way, what nuts lived in them?)
Thank you, Val. I’m really pleased this photo suggested “The Owl and the Pussycat” to Linda, and “The Jumblies” to you – both Edward Lear! I think the nuts were hickories – – very delicious, but very hard to crack. It also seemed like a record year for acorns – – they’ve really been raining down, in much greater numbers than usual, and just carpeting the ground.