Trolls in Jingletown?

Yah, sure you betcha. A few trolls have taken up residence in my garden here in Fruitvale's Jingletown neighborhood, and more are on the way. Since I'm a good Pagan gardener with Nordic roots, I know that if I leave them alone they'll cause little harm.

It seems that they knew this was a summer when I'd have to water so sparingly that my garden wouldn't be as lush as usual. So they decided to move in and add some color to a few of my pots.

This ancient fellow is presently living near my front door. He surveys all visitors and stands there with his hands behind his back, muttering about all the comings and goings.
 
This next troll has the special ability of being able to remove his head and stick it somewhere else to watch what's going on. His body's in a pot of feverfew, and his head looks around from a pot containing a white Buddleia davidii. 

I don't know why anybody thinks the troll in the photo below is a dog, although a number of benighted people in my ceramics class insist this is the case. (They're the same ones who say my Green Man looks like Rodney Dangerfield).  This one-eyed troll has opposable thumbs, which dogs clearly lack. He hangs out in a pot from which a lovely and fragrant pink nicotiana erupted as a volunteer.

Unfortunately this fierce troll with a red nisselue is peeking over the edge of a galvanized wash tub I use as a planter, so you can't see his feet. Which are, by far, the best part. He has three of them, each with an enormous big toe. I think he must have ingrown toenails or something as he's thoroughly cranky. But then, it could be because his backside is constantly being pricked by cactus spines.

One other troll is sitting on the shelf at my ceramics class. In a few weeks he'll come home to Jingletown, too. All I remember for the moment is that he has very big ears and jutting eyeballs.

What I'd really like to make is a huldra, which is a troll that looks like a beautiful maiden when you see her facing you. But when she turns around, she has a hollow back, like a rotting tree trunk, and a cow's tail hanging down.

Huldras show up in a number of Norwegian folk tales, and a feminist interpretation would have them serving as the protectors of the seter maids, who are the women who spent the summer alone in the high pastures taking care of the cows, making cheese, and knitting.  I'm sure there's got to be some good reason for a huldra to come and live in my Jingletown garden.

Well, I suppose I should show you the Green Man, and the Roman Goddess Flora, who flank a doorway in my garden. Now really, do you think he looks like Rodney Dangerfield all that much?

Incidentally, Jingletown, which is a subset of Oakland, California's Fruitvale section, has become a happening place. Mosaics are popping up everywhere on building walls, and now there's a monthly art walk taking place in the community. Creeping gentrification is certainly upon us, what with two Starbucks within walking distance.  But we still have freight trains occasionally making a trip down the middle of one of the streets, and more than our share of raccoons and possums.

Comments

[Jan]

We call them gnomes here and they're apt to go walkabout if you don't keep an eye on them !!!

[Hollyheartfree]

I love Flora and Rodney. Yes, he does. I love all the trolls. Do you find they are protectors or other??? Gardens are so much fun.