Baader Meinhof Phenomenon………Baader Meinhof Phenomenon……..

This is an interesting tidbit of information we are dispensing today - that of the Baader Meinhof Phenomenon also known as frequency illusion.

A Stanford linguistics professor coined the term in 2006 to describe the syndrome in which a concept or thing you just found out about suddenly seems to crop up everywhere. It’s caused, he wrote, by two psychological processes. The first, selective attention, kicks in when you’re struck by a new word, thing, or idea; after that, you unconsciously keep an eye out for it, and as a result find it surprisingly often. The second process, confirmation bias, reassures you that each sighting is further proof of your impression that the thing has gained overnight omnipresence.

Now this explains why Stoneballs Company continually comes across spherical shapes all over the place and at unexpected times. Thinking the world was perhaps being taken over by the aforementioned geometric objects it is now easily explained - our brains are selectively picking them out from an ocean of shapes.  Our brains are fantastic pattern recognition engines, a characteristic which is highly useful for learning. Considering how many words, names, and ideas a person is exposed to in any given day, it is unsurprising that we sometimes encounter the same information again within a short time. When that occasional intersection occurs, the brain promotes the information because the two instances make up the beginnings of a sequence. 

On a recent trip to Doddington Hall in Lincolnshire (wonderful house, gardens and shops. See below for further information) we were subjected to yet another link in our particular sequence. No sooner had we tumbled out of the car when we were met by a lawn full of rattan balls on sticks - quite a surreal moment and no real explanation other than sculpture in the garden.

Rattan balls Doddington Hall

The next day found Stoneballs Company visiting clients near Sunningdale, Berkshire. After parking and (again) tumbling from the car our attention was taken by the sound of a chain saw coming from a nearby tree. Yes, you guessed it - or maybe you hadn't if you haven't paid full attention to this blog entry - there high up in the tree receiving noisy attention from a tree surgeon and his blade, was a series of balls - not dissimilar to the Doddington Hall balls but this time high up in the branches of a tree! The balls were Mistletoe balls and what an amazing sight to add to our brain-led sequence. 

Misteltoe balls

Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon / Frequency illusion - It's a fascinating psychological theory and we expect, having read this entry, you will now follow our experiences and begin to witness similar sequences and acknowledge the omnipresence of balls. 

www.stoneballs.co.uk anyone?!

ps

The building of Doddington Hall began in about 1593 and the Hall was finished in 1600. It was built by Robert Smythson who also built Wollaton Hall in Nottingham and Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire. In the mid 1700s the building was inherited by John Delaval who redesigned much of the Hall quite drastically into a more Georgian style although he kept the outside of the Hall the same as it was when it was originally built.

The Hall has never been sold for the last 400 years amd today it is the family home of the Birches who inherited the house through the generations, (the family name having changed several times because of women inheriting the building). The Birches devote their work to the upkeep of the house and gardens, preserving as much as possible the original features of the house, as well as encouraging visitors to the house and gardens

pps

The common name of Mistletoe is derived from the Anglo-Saxon mistel, meaning dung, and tan, meaning twig. So, literally, it's the dung-on-a-twig plant. Evocative.  After a bird, usually a mistle thrush, eats the sticky berries, they're excreted with much of their sticky coating still attached. So, as soon as they land on a branch they stick and are ready to germinate in February and March in exactly the right place. Mistletoe is a partial parasite, which means that although its small green leaves provide the host plant with energy through photosynthesis, it also sends a root under the bark into its host and gathers nutrients there and after some time large balls of the plant develop, which probably doesn't do the host tree much good but does look good.

Wellies and Gaia

We all have great sympathy with the population currently suffering from the current flooding and watch with dismay people being injured and even killed, trees uprooted and property damaged.We empathise at the huge efforts that homeowners are having to go to in order to keep their houses safe and dry.
Livestock has been displaced, wildlife has sustained heavy losses and habitats and many SSSI destroyed.
We watch with fascination the "News Specials' on the current weather anomalies and many theories abound as to the causes and the blame game has begun. 

Politicians are derided as they jostle to take centre stage in what may prove to be their 'Hurricane Katrina moment'. 
Sales of Hunter wellies, North Face and Berghaus jackets and waders so beloved of news reporters tv presenters have gone through the roof. Every cloud etc.

Whatever the causes or indeed if it's just a natural weather/climate phenomenon, it's always a good time to consider our role in the earth and adopt an earth based religion as well as a spiritual one. Gaia is always a good starting point.

 Below is part of an essay written by James Lovelock.

We now see that the air, the ocean and the soil are much more than a mere environment for life; they are a part of life itself. Thus the air is to life just as is the fur to a cat or the nest for a bird. Not living but something made by living things to protect against an otherwise hostile world. For life on Earth the air is our protection against the cold depths and fierce radiations of space.

There is nothing unusual in the idea of life on Earth interacting with the air, sea and rocks, but it took a view from outside to glimpse the possibility that this combination might consist of a single giant living system and one with the capacity to keep the Earth always at a state most favorable for the life upon it.

An entity comprising a whole planet and with a powerful capacity to regulate the climate needs a name to match. It was the novelist William Golding who proposed the name Gaia. Gladly we accepted his suggestion and Gaia is also the name of the hypothesis of science which postulates that the climate and the composition of the Earth always are close to an optimum for whatever life inhabits it.

The evidence gathered in support of Gaia is now considerable but as is often the way of science, this is less important than is its use as a kind of looking glass for seeing the world differently, and which makes us ask new questions about the nature of Earth.

If we are "all creatures great and small," from bacteria to whales, part of Gaia then we are all of us potentially important to her well being. We knew in our hearts that the destruction of a whole range of other species was wrong but now we know why. No longer can we merely regret the passing of one of the great whales, or the blue butterfly, nor even the smallpox virus. When we eliminate one of these from Earth, we may have destroyed a part of ourselves, for we also are a part of Gaia.

There are many possibilities for comfort as there are for dismay in contemplating the consequences of our membership in this great commonwealth of living things. It may be that one role we play is as the senses and nervous system for Gaia. Through our eyes she has for the first time seen her very fair face and in our minds become aware of herself. We do indeed belong here. The earth is more than just a home, it's a living system and we are part of it.

Valentines Day 2

It's that time of year again.
A snowdrop walk really does work.

http://www.greatbritishgardens.co.uk/snowdrops.htm

Urban Exploring

We must profess a slightly guilty secret – nothing terribly exciting in the scheme of things but it does tick one or two boxes.

It’s the slightly edgy ‘sport’ of Urban Exploring.

This is the exploration and photography of abandoned buildings and ruins. The images are then uploaded by the ‘explorers’ for people (like me) who can easily get some degree of thrill even from armchair urban exploring. This is possibly due to being slightly woosy when it comes to any form of danger and of course there is always danger (in various degrees) in exploring abandoned buildings. So with this disclaimer we will continue.

SB recently chanced upon an amazing case of ‘UE’ from the Yonkers, New York State that satisfies several interests – botany, historic architecture…oh, and of course stone balls.

The building of interest is the ex Boyce Thompson Institute building which was built to further botanical research in 1924 by Boyce Thompson and was dedicated ‘to the study of plants and associated organisms for the betterment of society’.

To quote the man himself ‘the dependence of man upon plants is intimate and many sided.  No science is more fundamental to life and more immediately and multifariously practical than plant science.  We have here around us enough unsolved riddles to tax the best scientific genius for centuries to come.’

Architect Frank Arnold Colby designed the Georgian Revival building. It was constructed of reinforced concrete with a Flemish Bond brick veneer and is attached to a series of greenhouses on the south end, which were part of the original construction. Teams of botanists, entomologists and chemists worked at the well-equipped laboratories focusing on cures for plant diseases and methods to increase crop yields using eight greenhouses and indoor facilities for “nature faking”—growing plants in artificial conditions with precise control over light, temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide levels.

By 1974, the Institute had gained an international reputation for its contributions to plant research. However, although soaring air pollution in Yonkers enabled several important experiments at the institute it also hindered many more. Exacerbated by dwindling finances, the BTI moved to a new site at Cornell University and continues to dedicate itself to much needed research in plant science.

Sadly since then, the building, greenhouses and grounds have been left to decay. Wild, uncontrolled vegetation has taken over and ubiquitous vandalism has contributed to the decay. However, the bones of the once glorious building still survive and (thankfully) ‘explorers’ have provided armchair explorers with fascinating images of the interiors and grounds.

Vandalised interior

Wrecked exterior

Decaying glasshouses

Looking at the images and reading about the botany experiments that once took place there was satisfying enough but imagine SB’s surprise when it saw what must be considered the cherry on the cake – i.e. a hulking big stone ball inside the building! It does looks incongruous and simply sad as vandals had dislodged and pushed it inwards from its prominent and venerable position from the grand entrance pediment and down the elegant interior stairway. No doubt smashing several treads on the way. SB’s is acutely aware of the weight of these spherical adornments so it must have been no small task to dislodge.

Rightful place

Final resting place?

Such misguided energy.

Stoneballs Company Summer BALL!

Recently, Stoneballs Company held it's annual summer 'ball' (such a clever play on words)
This is held to thank all our staff and friends who have worked tirelessly throughout the year to keep the ball rolling, juggling the many balls and any other ball related work themes anyone can think of. We are lucky to have such great people working for us and this is reflected in all the many messages of thanks we receive from happy customers. 
Thankfully the weather was perfect (although an early thunderstorm threatened to scupper everyone into the marquee but this soon disappeared) and a great evening was in motion. Food good. Music great. Dancing creative. Drink flowing. Conversation interesting.
Great party.

Post script

Basking as we all seem to be in the heat of summer (such glee!) Stoneballs Company ventures out of the heat (working of course) and into the shady coolness of the office to update the followers of this blog on the wonderful achievement of the QEF Garden for Joy at the recent Hampton Court Flower Show.
Deservedly, the garden was presented with a Silver Award - congratulations to co-designers Heather Appleton and Bella D’Arcy Reed.

Floral affairs...

Well - long time no write as they say - well those that start blogs and then get side tracked in mid flow. If anyone has been on tenterhooks waiting for Stoneballs' next blog entry (mum?) then the wait is over, we're back.
Yes, we know - we have missed commenting on Chelsea  but as always it was a most successful time for us (busy, busy, busy).
It's the inspiration gained by show garden revellers that is most striking - people flock to Chelsea to see exquisite and beautifully turned out gardens and go home and look at their own plots with fresh eyes, noses and ears and want to add, change revamp their plot.. It's the same as when you visit a designer show home - as soon as you get home you instantly dislike everything you have stuffed into your drab rooms. (Or am I the only one who thinks like this? Erk...) The same with Show Garden Voyeurism. Beware any jarring, misplaced, and obviously out of place plant/shrub when I get home - compost heap for you.

So, Chelsea has come and gone and well done to all those who took part. It is such a glorious way to really rock into our British 'summer', swiftly followed by Wimbledon - and then the Hampton Court Flower Show begins.
Hampton Court is a real show off for our British Heritage - with its Tudor backdrop, stunning gardens and glorious deer park. The 'new' Privy Garden is one of the most accurately reconstructed gardens because so much was recorded about the original 1702 garden. Unfortunately for the gardeners and workmen, William III died before it was completely finished (even more unfortunate for William no doubt) and all the gardeners  were so scared of not being paid that they submitted the fullest accounts for all their work. (garden designers take note) Luckily for the recent garden restorers as everything is logged and can therefore be easily recreated. 

While Chelsea's emphasis is on showy gardens (not to mention the guests), Hampton Court's has a slightly different character, focusing more on environmental issues and community issues. It is also the largest flower show in the world - good grief - that is quite an achievement and well worth a visit just for this fact alone.
Stoneballs popped down to Hampton Court this week and saw for ourselves the amount of work that goes on to transform a grassy field to the largest flower show in the world. Amazing really. And what preparation goes into every last garden, stand and exhibit. We were particularly interested as a supplier in the Queen Elizabeth's Foundation (QEF) Garden for Joy designed by Heather Appleton and constructed by  Big Fish Landscapes. Although still at the build stage when we visited it promises to be a vibrant and joyful garden. 'The QEF logo has inspired the uplifting theme of this garden. The design captures the bubbly atmosphere at QEF’s residential home for disabled young people, where every achievement, however large or small, is recognised and joyfully celebrated.' (RHS)

Good luck to the whole team involved in such a  massive but worthwhile task.

 http://qef.org.uk/
http://www.twigdomesticlandscaping.co.uk/
http://www.bigfishlandscapes.co.uk/

 

St Patrick's Day

 As a nod to our Irish friends Stoneballs Company wishes a very Happy St Patrick's Day to everyone. There will surely be loads of craic and laughs this weekend. Good craic is always social - something that would benefit all of us to do more of.

Lots of fun,social things happen in Ireland on St Patrick's day and Stoneballs Company have found a cracker of a link to blog about!



                                      Bol Chumann na hEireann or Irish Road Bowling!


This is an ancient game played by teams of players who basically hurl/chuck/lob/toss small metal balls down the road. It's a mix of bowling and golf, but the goal is to get it to the end of the line in the least number of throws.

The balls were originally made from stone - if anyone would like to use stone balls you know where to come. We're all for preserving past traditions.

Quite simple really. But the best things usually are.

Have a look at the video to see road bowling in action. Olympic sport?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12361591

1001 Uses of Balls……

It is with great cunning that we seamlessly slot the latest entry into our Blog.
February 28this soon to be upon us and although the next Leap Year is not due until 2016 we will persevere and use this date phenomenon as our starting point.
On a recent visit to Greenwich Observatory Stoneballs Company couldn’t help but be fascinated by the red Time Ball installed on the roof of Flamsteed House. (see where we have gone with this?)

This is the original Observatory building at Greenwich, designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1675 on the instructions of King Charles II as a scientific institution for navigational research. The Royal Observatory also became the source of the Prime Meridien of the world, Longitude 0° 0' 0''. Every place on the Earth is measured in terms of its distance east or west from this point.Since the late 19th century, the Prime Meridian at Greenwich has served as the co-ordinate base for the calculation of Greenwich Mean Time. Before this, almost every town in the world kept its own local time.The Time ball station sets its clocks according to transit observations of the positions of the sun and stars and in this way keep world times and therefore dates accurate.

The bright red Time Ball on top of Flamsteed House is one of the world's earliest public time signals, informing ships on the Thames and many Londoners of the correct time. (The red ball, with a winch,was originally made of leather, which must have become like lead when soaked.) Each day, at 12.55, the time ball rises half way up its mast and at 13.00 exactly, the ball falls, and so provides a signal to anyone who happens to be looking.

Of course, if you were distracted and looking the wrong way, you had to wait until the next day before it happened again!

Always keep your eyes on the ball.

Valentine's Day

Perhaps this day should be renamed Hallmark Day or Interflora Day.

 
Most of the red roses available in the UK for Valentine’s Day are exported from Kenya where 120 million cut rose stems are shipped, most of them destined for Britain.

 Stoneballs Company could now fill its blog with information about roses but no, we have resisted that easy journal entry temptation.

If you don't want to spend vast sums on extravagantly arranged blousy red roses or the cheap garage forecourt flowers are already hanging their heads in shame on the front seat of your car, (turn the heater down) then read on.....


An alternative to show your love you have really put a great deal of thought in to a Valentine gift is an almond tree.

Van Gogh

The name Valentine is associated with the Christian Saint named Valentinus who was a priest near Rome in 270 A.D. Valentinus was imprisoned for holding wedding ceremonies for soldiers who were forbidden to marry as they were considered to be better fighters if they were single.
Before being executed for his ‘crime’ he healed the daughter of his jailer, Julia who was blind and whom he had befriended.
On the eve of his death Valentinus wrote a last note to Julia, urging her to stay close to God. He signed it, "From your Valentine." His sentence was carried out the next day, February 14, 270 A.D.

It is said that Julia planted a pink-blossomed almond tree near his grave. The almond tree remains a symbol of abiding love and friendship.

Some facts to consider before the purchase of this truly romantic gift:
 
· Almond trees are in the same family as peaches and plums and the nuts grow as kernels within the fruit in the same wa
· Almonds can be grown from the nut (or seed) but it is more reliable to buy young tree, either bare root or pot grown, which will fruit in its second or third year
· Easy to grow but cropping will be light unless the right weather conditions prevail: warm, dry summers and frost-free winters
· Good drought resistance once established.
(with thanks to www.allotment.org.uk

Alternatively, a bag of almonds may be a compromise gift…..but perhaps that’s straying a tad far for some people …… healthy though.

 

Disclaimer: Stoneballs Company Blog can be held in no way responsible if the gift of a bag of almonds is not received in a welcoming manner by the recipient.

 

Shrove Tuesday / Lenten Rose



Lenten Rose at Ordnance House

The word shrove is from the English verb shrive, which means to obtain absolution for sins by way of confession and penance. Shrove gets its name from the shriving that Christians were expected to do in order to to receive absolution before Lent begins. Shrove Tuesday is the last day of "shrovetide".Pancakes are associated with Shrove Tuesday, the day preceding Lent because they were a way to use up rich foods such as eggs, milk, and sugar, before the fasting season of the 40 days of Lent.

So, to take your mind of food if you are fasting for Lent, take a walk round the garden and gaze in wonder (similar symptom to low blood sugar level) at the gorgeous injection of colour provided by the Lenten Rose (you may need to take several walks to fully take your mind away from food if you are partaking of a serious fast, but it will be worth it to see these flowers in all their glory).

Just to confuse the Lenten Rose is actually a member of the Hellebore family (the flowers are simlar to small roses) whose early blooming season happens to coincide with Lent - injecting colour into the early spring garden after a long, bleak and dull winter-scape.
The petals of the Lenten rose are actually sepals, and do not drop as with other flowers, but last for a couple of months. Darker purple blooms often fade to a pastel pink over the 8- to 10-week bloom and fruiting period.They have coarse-textured, dissected evergreen foliage, which combines especially well with delicate foliage such as ferns or rounded foliage of hosta. Eagerly self seeding, soon small seedlings will appear in dense clusters around the plant which can be easily be transplanted to additional sites.

Enjoy this plant as spring is definitely on the way.

Chinese New Year / Feng Shui

The Chinese New Year on the 10^th February will be the year of the snake. The Chinese will buy presents, decoration, material, food, and clothing. It is also traditional for every family to clean the house in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red banners wishing good fortune, happiness, wealth and longevity. Much feasting will take place with families getting together to celebrate ending the night with firecrackers. The Chinese New Year tradition is to reconcile, forget all grudges and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone.

So, with a Chinese theme in mind we are taking a look at Feng Shui in the garden. We could have gone down the snake path (but as one who would concrete over the entire garden if one encountered a snake – deep fear and revulsion I’m afraid- I know they are perfectly harmless and good for the garden but no amount of persuasion would effect relaxation if a snake made an appearance) so for those who would prefer the snake option we refer you to the following link:

http://www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk/wildlife/reptiles/grass-snake.aspx

Meanwhile, back to Feng Shui……..

Chinese Feng Shui is both a science and philosophy, created to understand the harmony of nature and the natural world.
Applied to landscaping ideas or small garden design, Feng Shui offers a unique method of creating peaceful outdoor areas and proper arrangement of garden sculptures, objects and plants to attract abundance and wealth.

The theory of Chinese Feng Shui in design is that your personal spaces should work for you, providing relaxation and should bring comfort, peace and joy into your life. Design is an important element that protects the house and occupants and attracts wealth whilst being relaxing and pleasing to the eyes, radiating positive energy.

Good Feng Shui in the garden means a dynamic harmony of sounds, colours, images and movements using the 5 natural elements.  And what better way to bring good energy than with beautiful garden sculptures – especially those using the Earth element which is represented by soil, rock and stone.

Our favourite way to add the Earth element to a garden is with stone balls.  The round shape of the garden ball provides the Feng Shui energy of completion, while the surface colour and texture bring additional elements for each area of your garden. The sphere shape in Feng Shui reduces negative energy and helps in the flow of energy around the garden. All good stuff.

                       Stoneballs Company wish you all a Happy Chinese New Year 2013

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