Primrose Evergreen's Winter Forecast

Hello! It's Darcy again. Back at work and quite happy how business has been handled during my extended Christmas break. I hadn't decided what to write for you but inspiration came after a visit from Primrose Evergreen.

Primrose Evergreen in Upper Mellowdene

Primrose Evergreen is Mellowdene's weather forecaster. I understand she's always had an affinity for meteorological predictions but that has been honed over her life so that her accuracy is uncanny. She regularly travels to Upper Mellowdene to observe Coldmount Peak and records movements of ice particles whirling about the pinnacle. She says this helps her long-range forecasts. I've no reason to dispute that. 

 

Anyway, Primrose had visited to bring me a forecast for the next week, ready for inclusion in the Mellowdene Examiner.

"We're going to get some winter snow, Darcy," she had said. "I'm going to see HHG after I've left here. They'll need the heads up to clear the county roads."

"That bad?"

She nodded as she handed over the forecast report.

"Only a smattering of snow in the village - and that is likely to melt within a couple of hours. But further into the county the snowfall will last longer - two to three days - and as a result it will be deeper and take longer to clear. I'll update you in a few days."

She remained briefly as I went to key the report details into the newspaper's typesetting system.

With Primrose gone my thoughts turned to HHG.

HHG Enterprises' workshops and stores

HHG Enterprises are the brainchild of Magnus Hamilton. Upon moving to Mellowdene this enterprising hamster saw the need for a better organised plan for maintaining the village infrastructure. He also wanted something for his son Huckleberry to take forward should he eventually come to the village; a decision he'd have to make with his fiancée. In the meantime he took on two young partners - Perkin Harvey and Richard Grunt (hence HHG) - and created the company. Whilst these three families form the core of the organisation they have a flexible workforce to service the needs of the village, working closely with the council. Despite the growth of the company, Huck, Perkin and Ritchie were determined that they would not become purely administrators. Their time management ensures they still do plenty paws-on work! At the newspaper, my right-paw critter is Harry Hawthorn and, as Huckleberry Hamilton's brother-in-law, he keeps me updated with HHG's plans.

HHG out on a job

Winter weather provides particular challenges and HHG are prepared to meet them. Although crittizens in the village don't tend to suffer from a cold climate, those living further afield in the county can be affected. Snow cannot be allowed to isolate them. Most live within reach of the three main roads, Mellowdene Road, County Road and Rivercourse Road, so HHG consider it a primary need to keep those roads clear.

HHG clearing some snow

Of course, roads aren't the only routes through the county. Recently, Jackson highlighted our rail connection to the rest of Sylvania. You can be assured that the tracks are always kept clear. Fireglass channels run parallel to the railway lines. The Hunter-Smyth family process this resource in inventive ways and the interaction of rain or snow on a fireglass derivative within those channels keeps the tracks clean, warm and free from ice or snow. The channels are regularly maintained so that the Maple Town Express can keep running to schedule.

 

Reilly Hunter-Smyth takes Formula 4 Fireglass to the rail track

With the main routes clear, we still need to ensure that provisions are accessible to the county dwellers. Fireglass is again used to keep wells from freezing but what about food?

Timbertop Farm, Blackberry Orchards, Buttercup Dairies (with their farming of lactolia plants) all have longstanding plans to combat poor weather. Again, Primrose Evergreen's forecasts give them sufficient notice. 

Bud Timbertop takes out the tractor

Bud shifts some snow

 

Zeb, Taylor and Tyler go shoveling

Tyler Timbertop and Zebediah Cody carry some fireglass

But what about shopping for everyone else?

 

Rocky Babblebrook to the rescue. Rocky is a descendent of our first mayor of Mellowdene, his lineage extending to one of the four founding families of our village. He doesn't share his ancestors' political ambitions. Long ago the Babblebrooks became more concerned about providing food for our villagers. Not everyone can spend their time on farming, fishing and other food production tasks. Babblebrook's Store was born. A few years ago, the store was expanded and rebranded as the Village Supermarket with new managers running the day-to-day business, these being Bert, Joyes and Macey Harvey. Rocky, his father Cliff and uncle Gerald decided that their traditional smaller stores should continue in the form of branches, still bearing the Babblebrook name, peppered about the expanding village. There are three branches in Mellowdene, and one conveniently positioned in the county.

Babblebrook's county store

In bad weather, Rocky not only takes extra care to ensure the county branch of Babblebrook's is well stocked, he is known to take his four-wheel-drive car and personally deliver food to the less accessible homesteads.

 

Rocky and Cliff driving into the county

Rocky on deliveries

 

Actually, Rocky is not alone. There is the community convention where all villagers choose to pile in when there is need. The worst of winter may pose challenges for the county but we are Sylvanians through and through.

o 0 O 0 o

Speaking of the "worst of winter" I had a conversation with Ricardo Porcini about how such conditions affect Chunglewood.

"We don't get snow," he said. "It doesn't get through."

I remembered what Jackson had said about the weird spatial effects above the forest. Rain didn't have a direct path downwards to the clearing, resulting in patchy but predictable irrigated areas and even one sky cascade. There were sky pools too.

"Right," I replied. "The barrier thing. But don't the sky pools ever freeze over? Snow settling and blocking out light?"

Ricardo laughed. "I'd never thought of that. It does sound reasonable now that you mention it. But no, we don't see that happening. The sky lightens a bit from time to time and we get cold rain, that's all."

"Could the barrier be melting it?"

 

"Darcy, you do ask some crazy questions. Maybe it does. We don't think about it. In fact I don't remember snow ever coming up in conversation. Nobody's seen it since they left the Woodzeez realm. Except me, of course. With me able to leave Chunglewood and travel around Sylvania, I've witnessed my fair share of snowy landscapes. Saw a blizzard once."

Ricardo's words made me think. The Chunglewood villagers were still reticent to leave the clearing - for whatever reason, and I have my suspicions - so how would they react seeing a blanket of winter snow after well over a decade of being sheltered from the excess of weather?

Maybe they'd better stay cloistered until Primrose Evergreen gives a favourable weather forecast!

o 0 O 0 o

Orton - From Lizards to Potatoes (2)

Orton's attempts at "spudiculture" - as he called it - had brought no success. The largest potato he'd been able to grow was no bigger than a pea, and he'd been lucky to find that in the soil.

His uncle Denzel couldn't provide any advice. "I'm more a maintenance rabbit than a grower, Orton," he said. "I can keep grass in good condition, get rid of weeds, cut back unruly branches... things like that. Allotment holders would know better. Maybe Perry Babblebrook at number 32, as he loves his garden."

When quizzed, Perry shook his head. "No lad. I don't grow veg. Flowers and shrubs are my thing. Nice foliage, colourful blooms, a bit of hard landscaping."

In the end it was Mookie Dappledawn who provided some useful information. Orton chatted with him on his way to his woodland home.

"Nairum beetles. That's your problem."

"What are they?" said Orton. "Garden pests?"

"The opposite, mainly," said Mookie. "They prey on the pests that attack green veg. That's why Merlin and Eliza grow such good cabbages, lettuces and cauliflowers. Them beetles don't like potatoes though. Oddly, they're fine with most other root crops. They won't eat carrots, swedes and so on but as soon as they find a potato starting to form, it's num, num, num."

"Do I need a different soil? Would that help?"

"It might, for a while, but there will be established nests of them beetles deep in the ground. They won't go too far from their nests but I reckon this whole garden is their territory. New soil won't stop 'em once they detect a potato plant."

"But they are really good for other plants?"

"You've tasted Eliza's lettuce soup? Great with cheese."

"I've seen other people grow potatoes - not too far away from here. Don't other gardens have nairum beetles?"

"Good question," said Mookie. "The thing is, nairum colonies aren't that numerous and they don't travel far. They find a good place and stick to it. They seem to like this garden. I think potatoes aren't the best thing to grow here at Butterglove House. Although you could try a big pot, well away from the earth."

"Hmm," said Orton. "Maybe. I think a trip to the library is in order."

Mookie laughed. "Book learnin', eh? Aye, you might find something out that old Mookie doesn't know."

o 0 O 0 o

Orton's upbringing with two master zoologists gave him a thirst for knowledge on all animals, even tiny voracious beetles. He read all he could find on the comparatively rare nairum variety.

Emerging from the library he realised he was almost late for tea, but it didn't matter too much. He had a plan.

Over the next few weeks he worked his tiny garden plot whenever he could. Brendan and Beverley would watch him as he tended his land.

"Potatoes?" said Brendan, "What's up with him?"

"He says he's battling beetles," said Beverley.

"Hardly Flash Gopher material. Still, do you think he wants some help?"

"I offered," Beverley said, "but he said no. Mind you, Russell wasn't helping, digging in the soil at the time."

"Let's leave him to it. I'm expecting Nolly and Hughie soon, anyway."

o 0 O 0 o

Orton's efforts were rewarded with a single green stem. Only one, but that was better than all his previous attempts.

When it came to the day of the uprooting, all of Butterglove House attended.

"I think you might be lucky," said Eliza, although we all knew that any success wasn't down to luck. Orton has been diligent, and he had informed us that his latest fertilizer mix was scientifically designed.

"There's something there," he said as he delved into the soil. "There's one... no, two... and that's it."

Two potatoes. But what potatoes! They were enormous.

 

"Congratulations, my boy," said Merlin rubbing the top of Orton's head. "I never expected to see a potato growing here."

Orton beamed. "It was all down to the fertilizer. It not only helps growth, it wards off nairum beetles."

"And what fertilizer did you use in the end? Not the concentrate from rotted comfrey?"

"No pappa. Diluted manure from Kimball's pet schismasaur."

Brendan scrunched up his face. "Lizard poop?"

Cecile laughed. "I think the potatoes will be washed, Brendan. No one is suggesting they be eaten fresh from the garden."

As the family dispersed, Beverley approached Orton.

"So, can we expect regular potato crops from you now?"

Orton considered his response. "No. I might grow something else. The main thing is that I've solved the potato mystery. I'll document my technique and submit it to the Allotment Society."

"Ooh, posh. You realise you've gone beyond zoology now? Botany, isn't it?"

"Maybe." He grinned as he went to fetch a container for his crop. "Do you think mummle or pappa will make us some chips?"

"Chips fresh from the garden? I think even Brendan would like that."

"Even those grown in lizard poop?"

Beverley laughed. "Even then."

o 0 O 0 o