#All-good (Goosefoot)

[thebotanicalarcade]

n312_w1150 by Biodiversity Heritage Library Via Flickr: A new British flora;. London,Gresham Pub. Co.,1919.. biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11330083

[jiubilant]

If it is Known that Ravi is never without the Staff of Magnus and also Known that he often visits Laf and also also Known that baby mammoths are fond of brandishing sticks . . . how many times has a baby run away with a powerful artifact

“And that is how,” says the Archmage of Winterhold, gesturing grandly to the Staff of Magnus, “after two hundred years, I found a walking-stick of perfect height. Snipp, snapp, snute, så er eventyret ute.”

“Most people,” says the mammoth-herder, “cut their own to size, Hrafi.”

“Now you tell me.”

Midday, and the rolling Hviting plains gleam golden-green. The mammoth-herder lounges in the tickly grass. Most of her beasts are browsing well downslope, rooting like great gardeners through goosefoot and sedge. They chew with calm deliberation. Only the two calves gambol nearby, trumpeting and treading on each other’s trunks—and turning, every so often, to make sure that their minder is paying attention.

“It is a good walking-stick,” she says, keeping a fond eye on the calves. The sun warms her shoulders. A sleepy breeze ripples through the grasses of the steppe. “And a good story. Wundorlic.”

“Yes, well.” With an embarrassed smile, her friend returns to his lunch. He’d bartered the bread from a passing drover; the mammoth-herder had supplied the cheese, and he’d mortared it all together with fascinating disregard for the proper way to eat anything. “Yarn for yarn. You’ve answered all my questions.”

“No small boast.” The mammoth-herder glances down at the Staff, propped like a broom against the Archmage’s bedroll and bag. It’s a twig like any other, she thinks. Only the blue flame flickering at its tip betrays it as a wizard’s companion. “You found it for the clevermen. Why did you keep it?”

“Had to,” says the Archmage, his voice somewhat muffled by sandwich. (That’s what he’d called it, though the mammoth-herder had witnessed no witchery in its production.) “It’s choosy. Burned my Master Wizard’s hand.”

The mammoth-herder raises her eyebrows. The calves trundle over, cross at being ignored; she coaxes one to her side, deft as a shepherd with a lamb, and scratches it under the chin.

“How does it—ouch,” she says, and makes a face. A wandering trunk had tweaked her beard. “How does it choose?”

“S’a matter of, ah, of might,” says the Archmage with a vague wave of the sandwich. “And—and stature, supposedly, and so forth. Far as I’ve read, anyway—oof—”

He goes down with a helpless laugh. The calf who had butted him tries to climb into his lap, finds it too small, and snuffles with indignation through his hair.

“Gently, lytling,” the mammoth-herder chides it, catching the curious trunk. The calf, out of the corner of its eye, gives her a martyred look.

Then it wriggles free and rummages through the Archmage’s packs. The Staff tips over. A kicked cookpot bounces down the slope. The Archmage, lying limbs akimbo in the grass, stifles an undignified snort as a few notes from his field journal flutter by.

“The mammoth,” he intones with mock solemnity, as if dictating to a scribe, “is a known vandal, and smokes like a chimney—”

“Might, you said,” says the mammoth-herder with a great grin, and plucks the man’s pipe from the calf’s trunk.

The Archmage seems disinclined to sit up. He pillows his head under one arm, smiling, and shuts his eyes. “Mm.”

“Stature.”

“S’what I said.”

“Why, then,” asks the mammoth-herder, not unkindly, “did it choose you?”

The Archmage blinks up at her. He’s wearing his squashed lunch. His hair sticks up in peaks where the calf had mussed it.

“I’ve no notion,” he says.

The calf, with a gleeful toss of its head, seizes the Staff and waves it. The Staff sends forth a delighted shower of sparks.

[scythe-lover-a]

Soooooo, my take on how to say "Pineapple belongs on pizza" in (Victorian) flower language!!!

So, first of all. Pineapple. You could take the flower, but I think it would be funny to go with the whole pineapple lmao...

Only the pineapple base, of course. The flowers that are going to be inside include ingredients to, uh, pizza, to represent it.

We have onion,

Bell pepper flower,

Olive flower,

Basil,

Oregano,

Tomato

And mushroom.

Probably interluded like this.

Also, to represent the bacon, here we have corn which pigs eat, and as a pun creature, forgive me, I put there a cornflower. Haha.

So, uh, for the including of the pineapple on it (ore more literally like including the pizza inside of the pineapple lol), here we have a Goosefoot flower - meaning insult and/or goodnes in Victorian flower language. to those who hate pineapple on pizza the insult - and goodness to those who love it. Also is there for the "belongs" factor.

Also, id put it there like this -

When pineapple is pineapple, the blue ones are the pizza ingredients and the red, higher, more above-pushed and centered,'s gonna be the goosefoot - to not /zaniknout/ - like get lost - inside all the pizza pieces.

More in reblog.

[afrodytis]

SOME CALL THEM WEEDS, BUT THEY ARE HEALTHY FOR US

Did you know that some weeds we are always worried about in our yards and Gardens are actually good for you, and can be delicious if prepared properly? Be sure to identify the weeds correctly (The ones described here are easy to spot.) Avoid harvesting from anyplace you suspect pollution — such as from vehicle exhaust, lawn pesticide or doggy business. And remember that edible does not mean allergen-free. Here are 9 good ones:

DANDELION

Dandelion is one of the healthiest and most versatile vegetables on the planet. The entire plant is edible. The leaves are like vitamin pills, containing generous amounts of vitamins A, C and K — far more than those garden tomatoes, in fact — along with calcium, iron, manganese, and potassium.

The leaves are most tender, and tastiest, when they are young. This happens in the spring but also all summer along as the plant tries to rebound after being cut or pulled. You can add them to soup in great abundance. Or you can prepare them Italian style by sautéing with a little olive oil, salt, garlic and some hot red pepper.

You can eat the bright, open flower heads in a lightly fried batter. You can also make a simple wine with the flowers by fermenting them with raisins and yeast. If you are slightly adventurous, you can roast the dandelion root, grind it, and brew it like coffee. It's an acquired taste. You might want to have some sugar on hand.

PURSLANE

If you've ever lived in the city, you have seen good ol' Portulaca olearacea, or common purslane. The stuff grows in cracks in the sidewalk. Aside from being surprisingly tasty for a crack dweller, purslane tops the list of plants with omega-3 fatty acids, the type of healthy fat found in salmon.

If you dislike the bitter taste of dandelion greens, you still might like the lemony taste of purslane. The stems, leaves and flowers are all edible; and they can be eaten raw on salads — as they are prepared worldwide — or lightly sautéed.

You should keep a few things in mind, though, before your harvest. Watch out for spurge, a similar-looking sidewalk-crack dweller. Spurge is much thinner than purslane, and it contains a milky sap, so you can easily differentiate it. Also, your mother might have warned you about eating things off the sidewalk; so instead, look for purslane growing in your garden, or consider transplanting it to your garden from a sidewalk.

Also, note the some folks incorrectly call purslane "pigweed," but that's a different weed — edible but not as tasty.

LAMB'S QUARTERS

Lamb's-quarters are like spinach, except they are healthier, tastier and easier to grow. Lamb's-quarters, also called goosefoot, usually need more than a sidewalk crack to grow in, unlike dandelion or purslane. Nevertheless, they can be found throughout the urban landscape, wherever there is a little dirt.

The best part of the lamb's-quarters are the leaves, which are slightly velvety with a fine white powder on their undersides. Discard any dead or diseased leaves, which are usually the older ones on the bottom of the plant. The leaves and younger stems can be quickly boiled or sautéed, and they taste like a cross between spinach and Swiss chard with a slight nutty after-taste.

Maybe that taste combination doesn't appeal to you, but lamb's-quarters are ridiculously healthy. A one-cup serving will give you 10 times the daily-recommended dose of vitamin K; three times the vitamin A; more than enough vitamin C; and half your daily dose of calcium and magnesium.

PLANTAIN

Plantain, like dandelion, is a healthy, hardy weed as ubiquitous in the city as broken glass. You know what it looks like, but you might not have known the name.

Part of the confusion is that plantain shares its name with something utterly different, the banana-like plantain, whose etymology is a mix of Spanish and native Caribbean. The so-called weed plantain, or Plantago major, was cultivated in pre-Columbus Europe; and indeed Native Americans called it "the white man's footprint," because it seemed to follow European settlers.

Plantain has a nutritional profile similar to dandelion — that is, loaded with iron and other important vitamins and minerals. The leaves are tastiest when small and tender, usually in the spring but whenever new shoots appear after being cut back by a lawnmower. Bigger leaves are edible but bitter and fibrous.

The shoots of the broadleaf plantain, when green and tender and no longer than about four inches, can be described as a poor-man's fiddlehead, with a nutty, asparagus-like taste. Pan-fry in olive oil for just a few seconds to bring out this taste. The longer, browner shoots are also tasty prepared the same way, but the inner stem is too fibrous. You'll need to place the shoot in your mouth, clench with your teeth, and quickly pull out the stem. What you're eating are the plantain seeds.

The leaves of the equally ubiquitous narrow-leaf plantain, or Plantago lanceolata, also are edible when young. The shoot is "edible" only with quotation marks. You can eat the seeds should you have the patience to collect hundreds of plants for the handful of seeds you'd harvest. With time being money, it's likely not worth it.

CHICKWEED

One of the not-so-ugly weeds worth pulling and keeping is chickweed. Identified by purple stems, fuzzy green leaves, and starry white flower petals, this weed is a fantastic source of vitamins A, D, B complex, and C. It also contains minerals like iron, zinc, calcium, and potassium. Chickweed (Stellaria media) has a cornsilk-like flavor when eaten raw, and tastes similar to spinach when it is cooked. [1]

Chickweed nourishes the lymph and glandular systems, and can heal cysts, fevers, and inflammation. It can help neutralize acid and help with yeast overgrowth and fatty deposits, too.

Additionally, chickweed can be finely chopped and applied externally to irritated skin. Steep the plant in ¼ cup of boiling water for 15 minutes, and chickweed provides benefits similar to dandelion root. Speaking of dandelion…

CLOVER

Other than the occasional four-leafed clover hunt, this common lawn weed goes mostly unnoticed, even though it is becoming popular as a lawn replacement altogether. Clover is an important food for honeybees and bumblebees, and clover leaves and flowers can be used to add variety to human meals as well. Small amounts of raw clover leaves can be chopped into salads, or can be sauteed and added to dishes for a green accent, and the flowers of both red and white clover can be eaten raw or cooked, or dried for tea.

MALLOW

Mallow, or malva, is also known as cheeseweed, due to the shape of its seed pods, and can be found in many lawns or garden beds across the US. The leaves and the seed pods (also called the 'fruit') are both edible, either raw or cooked, and like many greens, are often more tender and palatable when smaller and less mature. The older leaves can be used like any other cooked green after steaming, boiling, or sauteing them.

WILD AMARANTH

The leaves of the wild amaranth, also known as pigweed, are another great addition to any dish that calls for leafy greens, and while the younger leaves are softer and tastier, the older leaves can also be cooked like spinach. The seeds of the wild amaranth can be gathered and cooked just like store-bought amaranth, either as a cooked whole grain or as a ground meal, and while it does take a bit of time to gather enough to add to a meal, they can be a a good source of free protein.

STINGING NETTLES

It sounds like a cruel joke, but stinging nettles — should you be able to handle them without getting a painful rash from the tiny, acid-filled needles — are delicious cooked or prepared as a tea.

You may have brushed by these in the woods or even in your garden, not knowing what hit you, having been trained all your life to identify poison ivy and nothing else. The tiny needles fortunately fall off when steamed or boiled. The trick is merely using garden gloves to get the nettles into a bag.

Nettles tastes a little like spinach, only more flavorful and more healthful. They are loaded with essential minerals you won't find together outside a multivitamin bottle, and these include iodine, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, silica and sulfur. Nettles also have more protein than most plants.

You can eat the leaves and then drink the water as tea, with or without sugar, hot or cold. If you are adventurous — or, you can collect entire plants to dry in your basement. The needles will eventually fall off, and you can save the dried leaves for tea all winter long. Info by Christopher Wanjek

Credit for the Great Identification photo goes to Cook's Illustrated Magazine.

[scriptflorist]

I am writeing the character being repersent the lily would the lily repsent the characters good nature and love towards the other person? i wanted the lily to bring out the good traits of my character

If only the meaning is important for your characters here then no, the lily isn’t a good fit. However it’s your story of course, so you’re free to decide that that’s exactly what it means to your characters. And make up reasons why that is. That’s one of the neat things about fiction, it gives a lot of freedom.

If the meaning however is all-important and has to match the characters more than there needs to be a lily in your story here are some flowers that might be a good fit.

Victorian

ambrosia – love returned

aster – symbol of love, talisman of love, daintiness, patience, beauty in retirement

bay (red) – love’s memory

chrysanthemum (red) – I love., love

cosmos – joy in love and life

forget-me-not – true love, forget me not, memories

furze – love for all seasons, love for all occasions

goosefoot – goodness

heliotrope – I love you, the intoxication of love, infatuation, attachment, devotion, devoted attachment, intoxicated with pleasure, I turn to thee

honeysuckle – bonds of love, the bond of love, generous and devoted affection, devotion, I would not answer hastily

honeysuckle (coral) – I love you, the colour of my fate

japonica – symbol of love, sincerity

mercury – goodness

mullein – good nature, take courage

myrtle – love, love positive, love in absence, joy

pink (clove) – true love

primrose (chinese) – lasting love

rose – love, beauty

rose (bridal) – happy love, happiness

strawberry – goodness, perfect goodness, perfect excellence perfection

windflower – symbol of love, sincerity, frailty, abandonment

zephyr flower – symbol of love, sincerity, expectation, fond caresses

zinnia (white) – goodness

Hanakotoba

abekia  – only love

azalea (white)  – happy to be loved by you, satisfaction

anemone (red)  – I love you

exacum – I love you, love, enthusiastic love, beauty, passion

forget-me-not – true love, do not forget me

honeysuckle – love bonds, dedicated love

rose (red) – I love you, 

sasanqua (pink) – eternal love

tulip (pink) - sprout of love, sincere love

– Mod Jana

Disclaimer

This blog is intended as writing advice only. This blog and its mods are not responsible for accidents, injuries or other consequences of using this advice for real world situations or in any way that said advice was not intended.

[emeraldragonfly]

The Cycle of the Seasons in the Desert

The pagan Sabbats follow the cycle of the seasons, and often, this cycle is easy to visualize. In terms of temperature, of course, we generally have:

Winter/Cold --> Spring/Warm --> Summer/Hot --> Fall/Cool

We go from cold to warm to hot to cool and repeat. In terms of how the plants and animals respond to the seasons, we tend to think of it like this:

Winter/Death/Hibernate --> Spring/Mate/Birth/Growth -->

Summer/Birth/Mature/Growth --> Autumn/Fade/Hoard Food

We say the seasons follow the cycle of birth, growth, death, and rebirth. 

That’s all pretty straightforward. The problem is . . . those concepts don’t apply equally well to all climates on earth.

Now that I’m in the southwest US desert, some of the pagan holidays seem a bit, well, out of step with what’s going on outside. It’s taken me some time to ponder these differences. I’m going to summarize some major ones now.

The Desert Simply Isn’t Well Suited to Farming

A lot of the cycle of life metaphors used are ones about farming. You ‘sow’ new ideas and projects in the spring, nurture them over the summer, ‘reap’ the fruits of your efforts in the fall, and rest in the winter and plan the new year. Also, the pagan holidays often feature feasts that involve crop foods that are in season for those times of the year. 

Here’s the thing though-- I’m in the middle of Utah. This is not a great place to grow crops. It never has been. Do we grow some crops here? Sure, of course. Mostly hay for cattle, in fact. Also certain grains like corn and barley. But really, most of Utah’s agriculture comes from cattle, who can free-graze on the local, desert-tolerant brush. The fact is, the soil and climate are not suited for most typical crops. And growing them requires expending a lot of extra resources.

There’s a reason why the Native Americans who were here long before white people didn’t farm extensively. They mostly relied on hunting and gathering, with some supplemental farming near rivers (which allowed for irrigating crops). So, the idea of huge harvests of typical crops, full of lush fruits and vegetables, and feasts organized around them, isn’t very meaningful here.

A Yearly ‘Death’ or Winter Hibernation Is Not Universal

Many, many animals do indeed hibernate or otherwise enter some sort of state of decreased acitvity during the winter. They do this to conserve energy when resources are scarce. In plants, this can be seen very dramatically when plants die off entirely and go to seed, or when deciduous trees shed their leaves and remain as dormant, bare-limbed creatures for a time. 

The thing is, while a winter hibernation is very common in a lot of plants and animals . . . there’s also a lot who don’t follow that rule. 

Plenty of animals remain active year-round. They may simply shift the emphasis in their diets during winter. For example, the cute little white-tailed antelope squirrels eat a lot of vegetation in spring and summer while it’s growing, but in fall and winter they focus more on fruits and seeds. Cottontails and jackrabbits eat fresh vegetation in spring and summer but focus on woody plants and dry vegetation in fall and winter. 

Other animals may travel back and forth between spring and winter feeding-grounds within their home range. Mule deer feed at higher elevations during the spring growing season and then switch to lower elevations during winter (where there’s much less snow). 

Other animals might migrate greater distances to warmer, wetter places during winter. Birds are especially known for having a lot of species that migrate, and a lot of our ducks are only seasonal residents here.

Whatever method used, for many animals winter is not a time of rest at all, but of steady activity.

This holds true for plants, as well. Many plants are “evergreen.” In the desert, many of the shrubs, cacti, succulents and trees are evergreen. They do not undergo that dramatic death or dormancy, and instead just steadily go about doing their planty business. Many of the typical “signals” to people that winter is coming-- the leaves are falling, animals are vanishing or going to sleep-- just aren’t here. Many of us are just carrying on as usual.

Summer is a More Complex Season Here

The typical view of summer is that it’s a celebration of the power of the sun, of the vitality and abundance of life, a time of handfasting, and of enjoying early harvests. 

It has a different flavor in the desert, though. While summer is certainly a time of growth and power, it’s also other things, too. Summers here are intense. Absolutely scorching, in fact. Temps climbing into the triple F digits is pretty normal-- expect something in the 90s or 100s. It’s genuinely a life-threatening risk for hyperthermia and dehydration for people who don’t take appropriate precautions. Summer needs to be taken seriously. Outdoor activities are . . . pretty hard to enjoy in these conditions. Especially when the windstorms kick in, blasting scorching hot winds and sharp sands and red dirt into your face. Even when the sun sets it can take a long time for the place to cool down. If you want to go for a comfortable walk outside during summer, you pretty much can only aim for a very short window of opportunity in the very early morning-- but better be quick, because it won’t last long.

This isn’t difficult just for people. Animals face the same challenges. How do they deal with it? By being very selective about when they are active during summer. Almost every single animal in the desert avoids midday entirely, staying hidden the shade of shrubs or in underground dens, where things are cooler. (I think the only animal here that braves the raw sun are the ants-- remarkable little creatures.) Animals will be active either in early morning and evening or are completely nocturnal. Many, many desert creatures come out at night, when the world is at a much more tolerable level.

In fact, the summer heat and dryness can be so intense that some animals will even enter into a special type of summer hibernation. This is called estivation. They bury themselves underground and await cooler temperatures and rainfall.

In any case, the point is that summer is a time of rest and sheltering for desert inhabitants. This is normally only associated with winter, but our summer extremes are often a reason to conserve energy and shelter from the sun as well. 

The funny thing is, summer is not just a time of rest and shelter. It’s also a time of growth and activity. Animal breeding is often in full swing during the summer, as well as plant growth and plant reproduction. Why is that?

Our summer has two faces because while it’s our most extreme time of year in terms of heat and dryness, it’s also the growing and monsoon season. Deserts, as you know, get very little precipitation. That’s what defines a desert. A lot of our water comes from melted snow that gathers in the mountains over the winter, which then runs into rivers. But the rest comes from what little rain we do get. Most of our rain occurs in spring, paving the way for a busy summer: Plants grow in the spring, ensuring there’s food available in summer, and thus, it’s a good time for animals to breed. Additionally, there are the summer rains.

The summer rains or “monsoons” (really just thunderstorms) come suddenly and with little warning. They then will dump incredible amounts of water onto the ground. The soils here are very poor at absorbing the water, so we get what we call “flash floods.” There’s this sudden overabundance of water in a place that’s normally starved for it. Animals and plants RUSH to take advantage while they can. Plants suck up as much as possible (cacti and succulents are designed to be huge sponges for these events), as do animals. Frogs and other amphibians, as well as arthropods like dragonflies, quickly breed in temporary puddles while they have the chance. It’s a great frenzy of activity. They don’t have much time because not long after the flood, things will dry up again.

So, in conclusion, our summer has two extreme sides: lots of rest and sheltering from the raw power of the sun, and a rush of activity, fertility and relative abundance. 

Ok. So I’ve rambled on about all these differences in the desert. But what’s the take-away from all this? How can we incorporate it into our pagan or Wiccan practice? 

I have a few ideas.

Reduce Farming and Feasting Metaphors: Replace With Foraging

We aren’t usually wandering along plentiful apple orchards here, or fields of potatoes, or filling our larders with cheeses, or slaughtering loads of lambs, or any of that. The traditional Celtic foods and feasts don’t really fit in here-- nor does the lifestyle. Does that mean you can’t be a pagan in the desert?

No, I don’t think that’s what it means. I think it just means maybe adjusting things a little. Maybe lean less on these farming metaphors for sowing and reaping, and less on those traditional foods. 

They can be replaced with the kind of story that this desert tells us. This is a different story, a lot less about the hard labor of planting large quantities of crops, all the anticipatory waiting for it to grow, the praying for good rains and sun to nurture the crops. A lot of the story of living in the desert comes from foraging. Foraging in an arid desert is not an easy affair. Survival itself in the desert is often not an easy affair. Life is more scarce in the desert because resources are more scarce here. Things are more spread out and scant. You must forage and eat what you can find, often traveling and working quite a bit to gather up enough food. 

Native Americans found things such as roots (wapato, wild onions, sego lily bulbs), seeds (bulrush, goosefoot, pine nuts, sunflower), grains, and other plant parts (wild rice, ricegrass, pickleweed, thistles, cactus flower buds, cactus fruits). There also were berries (raspberries, chokecherries, strawberries) and insects-- a very healthy source of protein (grasshoppers, crickets, ants). Of course, there was also small game (rabbits, mice, squirrels, waterfowl) and occasionally larger game. 

This may not sound very glamorous to you, or very tasty. But it is very resourceful, and sometimes the focus was more on survival than on being gourmet. 

What I propose is that desert pagans think about foraging metaphors and not just farming ones. The steady work of gathering up lots of little bits here and there-- that’s a useful metaphor too, in my mind. Sometimes projects aren’t just about sowing, nurturing and reaping. Sometimes projects are about the steady daily work of foraging, making progress bit by bit. Making use of what you can find, crafting useful things out of them, and ultimately accomplishing something surprisingly huge at the end. Remember, Native Americans even in this harsh desert built incredible, massive apartment-like structures into the cliffs. The “slow and steady” work of foraging (or of erosion!) is a useful metaphor too.

As to celebratory foods . . . why not draw inspiration from Native Americans or early white settler’s ideas on cuisine? Here’s a link to a great article about some Native American recipes (from, you know, an actual Native American). Of course I am not suggesting you treat these things like you “own” them. These inspirations may not come from your personal direct ancestors. But it’s still valid to respectfully borrow cuisine ideas from others! These are foods that grow naturally here or are more easily farmed here, so it makes sense to celebrate with foods that connect you to the land here.

Consider Alternative Seasonal Cycle Ideas

I have been trying for months now to develop an alternative to the traditional season cycle. The traditional one is something like this:

Winter (Death/Rest) ---> Spring (Birth/Growth) ---> Summer (Birth/Growth) ---> Fall (Mature/Wane)

What if we consider our ideas on how many plants and animals here are “evergreens,” and the fact that summer here is a little bit different? Maybe it would look more like this:

Winter (Rest/Forage) ---> Spring (Birth/Growth) ---> Summer (Birth/Growth/Rest) ---> Fall (Mature/Forage)

This suggestion gives two seasons of rest, during the most extreme times of year; winter and summer. It gives two seasons of growth and fertility, during the “light seasons” of spring and summer. And it gives two seasons of “foraging” during the “dark seasons” of fall and winter.

I’m using the word “foraging” as a moderate word that can fit in-between the life energy extremes of “death/rest” and “growth/reproduce.” For animals, foraging is the calm, steady work of searching for and gathering food. It’s a time when you are not hibernating but you also are not putting out the explosion of energy that comes with new growth and reproduction. For evergreen plants, “foraging” is the steady work of photsynthesis that continues even in dark seasons. You’re not doing much new growth or blooming flowers/etc., but you’re not in total dormancy either.

Ultimately these suggested changes are not huge. But I think they’re tweaks that help us connect more! We can see winter as a time of rest for some, enjoying the old traditional metaphors of winter. But we can also see winter as a time of steady progress for the ‘evergreen’ among us. For summer, we can see it as a time of much growth and vitality, but we can also acknowledge that resting and recovering in between moments of intense energy is a good thing and a part of the desert’s cycle.

[the--sad--hatter]

Flowers for my followers - A Writing Challenge

I can not believe that I have hit such a number! I honestly don’t know why I have so many people following me, but I am beyond flattered and thankful!

I have had this blog for years but rarely used it. A little under a year ago I decided to take a leap and post my fanfiction, and look at how far we have all come together! I have made some wonderful friends, there are so many people I have come to love, tagging them all would take hours. Anyone and everyone I have spoken to on here, including my lil anons, please know I adore you so much. I want to celebrate with you guys who have shown me so much support and love, and I thought of different ways I could do that including sending everyone flowers, but that would cost me upwards of 20 grand! So here’s another way to share flowers with you all.

 Whether you take part as a writer or a reader, I hope you enjoy this little writing challenge. Please reblog and like the submissions and give the authors all the love they deserve.

Rules –

You don’t have to be following me to take part, in fact if you aren’t following me then I commend you on your good decision making skills.

This is a challenge for Reader x Character stories, not OC x Character, please use Y/N or nicknames.

This is a Marvel/MCU writing challenge

No smut or romance for underage characters, that includes aging up or down.

Use warning and tags appropriately if your story contains smut and/or any potential triggers.

Anything longer than 500 words must have the ‘read more’ line.

Please tag me (@the—sad—hatter) and #hattersflowers so I can read and reblog.

Please state which flower/s you chose.

I’ll be making a Masterlist of all submissions, but you can request to be left off of it if you so choose.

You can make it as long as you want, but please only submit one-shots.

You can send me a message or an ask if you have any questions, I'm happy to try and answer them.

You don't have to claim your prompt/flower, they are all open to all.

You can use as many flowers as you like, make a bouquet if you will.

Submission must be sent by February 12th.

Anon submissions –

 If you want to submit a story but don’t want to do it publicly, you can send it to my email address thesadhatterfics@yahoo.com

Please include a pseudo name that I can use to post it for you so that there is no confusion about the fact I did not write it.

 The Flowers –

The flowers don’t represent quotes or prompts, they represent themes and emotions. How you interpret that theme is up to you, and you can combine flowers or just use one. Let your imagination and creativity run free, and have fun!

e.g – You could choose Marigold and write a story about sorrow.

 Anemone - Vanishing hopes

Balm - Compassion

Bittersweet – Truth and Loyalty

Caladium - Immense delight and joy

Dog Rose - Pleasure and Pain

Euphorbia - Persistence

Fern - Fascination

Geranium - Folly, Stupidity

Gerbera - You are the sunshine of my life

Gloxinia - Love at first sight

Goosefoot – Insult

Ivy - Affection

Indian Cress - Resignation

Ipomen Scarlet - Embrace

Indian Cane - Rendezvous

Jasmine (Indian) – Love

Jasmine (Yellow) – Elegance

Jasmine (Spanish) - Sensuality

King's Spear - Regret

Laurel - Glory

Magnolia - Perseverance

Marigold - Sorrow

Manchineel - Betrayal

Nasturtium -  Conquest

Nightshade – Truth

Nettle - Cruelty

Orchid   - Beauty

Orange Blossom - Eternal Love

Ophrys Fly - Mistake

Olive - Peace

Petunia - Resentment

Peach Blossom - I am your captive

Queen Anne's Lace - Fantasy

Rose (Red) – Passion

Rose (White) - Virginity

Rose (Yellow) - Infidelity

Rose (Coral) – Desire

Rose (Pink) - Secret love

Rose (Pale pink) - Joy

Rosemary - Remembrance

Rhododendron – Beware

Snowdrop – Hope

Snapdragon – Strength

Spider Flower - Elope with me

Star of Bethlehem – Reconciliation

Tulip (Yellow)- Hopeless love

Tulip (Red) - Declaration of love

Thornapple - I dreamed of thee

Tuberose - Dangerous pleasures

Teasel – Misanthropy

Violet – Modesty

Violet (White) - Let´s take a chance

Vervain – Enchantment

Water Lily - Purity of heart

Windflower – Sincerity

Wood-Sorrel – Joy

Whortleberry – Treachery

Yarrow- Healing

Yew – Sadness

Zinnia - Thoughts of absent friends

Zinnia (Magenta) - Lasting Affection

Zinnia (White) - Goodness

[themissinglynx]

Lynx Reads DotC - Sun Trail 2

Let’s get to it, shall we?

Also, this is a good time to put up a spoiler warning. If you haven’t read DotC or have somehow avoided any and all spoilers for it, please read the book before I do. I’m going to discuss some stuff about it.

So it’s mentioned Hawk Swoop, Falling Feather, and Jackdaw’s Cry are the youngest cats aside from Jagged Peak. Never specified how old, but I’mma take a guess. Jagged Peak is still too little to go out, but old enough to be weaned from his mother, which would place him at three or four months old. Hawk Swoop and Jackdaw’s Cry have their kits at the end of the book, about six months later. This would make Jagged Peak about nine or ten months old. Those three might be about a year and a half old? So by the beginning of the book, they’re about a yearish old. That should be about right since it says they’re struggling to get over the bigger boulders and they’re not quite at full size.

Wait a second, am I applying actual cat biology to a frickin Warriors book. I know the Erins know nothing about cats, who am I kidding.

Hm! So is Tall Shadow a -throat if everything she says is worth listening to?

“Is the molly who’s been fooling around with the hot piece of mountain cat pregnant? Oh I don’t know why don’t we frickin smell it on her?”

“I don’t want anyone to know yet,” my ass.

“What about using my tail for balance?” YOU’RE CATS YOU ALWAYS USE YOUR TAIL FOR BALANCE.

Oh Moon Shadow, you’re gonna be fun...

... Clear Sky, you’re gonna regret making this plan.

Considering Gray Wing is swift, his warrior name would probably be Grayfoot. Or Goosefoot to keep the bird theme of his name.

Bright Stream is selfless. She’s willing to go through with a gambit to save them all.

... and with that, our first cat on the journey to a new home has fallen. Rest in peace, girl. You saved your boyfriend’s brother by pushing him to safety.

Dang, that was actually a crushing reaction to a death.

OKAY, so, what would her name be if she were a warrior? Well, she’s described as a brown tabby and white. There’s not really a prefix that neatly fits that description, so I’ll just pick some stuff. Weasel- is a good “brown and white” name, Adder- is good for the tabby aspect, and Eagle- because I’m a jackass. She’s mentioned to be the fastest runner besides Gray Wing, so Weaselfoot, Adderfoot, or Eaglefoot. If you want to stretch that, Eaglewing could also work.

Clear Sky, calm down, jeez.

Gray Wing, don’t beat yourself up over it, okay?

It’s too dark to hunt, my ass. I thought one of you guys have a cat, don’t you know they hunt at night just as well as day?

The Erins did.

It’s called “you have finished the tutorial level”, except you lost a party member among them.

Clear Sky, don’t be an ass. And Gray Wing, stop blaming yourself.

The road-crossing scene is surprisingly well-written.

No new things to add to the counter.

[fatehbaz]

Ethnobiologists research the prairie plants utilized by Indigenous peoples to determine the most nutritious native plants in the Midwest and Great Plains regions: Here’s some data, from 2018, about multiple native plant species and their protein and fiber content.

A few of the most nutritious native plants and Indigenous food sources in the Great Plains:

- Eastern gamagrass (ground hull is highest in total dietary fiber; seeds store for long periods; good forage crop)

- Buffalo gourd (highest protein content)

- blackseed plantain (high fiber content)

- pitseed goosefoot (Chenopodium berlandierir - leaves are high in protein)

- carelessweed (Amaranth palmeri - useful as an easily cooked green, with edible seeds, as well)

- ram’s horn (Proboscidea louisianica - young pods are a common cooked vegetable for Great Plains and Apache people)

- honey mesquite (in the High Plains, its seed-filled pods were consumed widely, and the tree propagates easily)

This study assessed the area inhabited by Indigenous peoples of the “Plains culture region.” [Map of the general Native culture regions of North America, by Wikimedia user Nikater.)

This is an outline of the combined tall-grass prairie of the “Prairie Peninsula” (eastern Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, western Ohio) and the Great Plains. (This is Kuchler’s famous map of “potential natural vegetation,” which basically outlines the extent of native vegetation if left undisturbed by imperialism/colonialism/European influence.)

-

Midwestern / Great Plains native plants with highest percentages of protein:

Midwestern / Great Plains native plants with highest percentages of soluble and insoluble fiber:

Top 10 native plants from Midwest/Great Plains which ranked highest for both protein and fiber content:

Combined protein and fiber content of many edible native plants in the Great Plains:

Abstract:

Traditional foods of indigenous people are a potential untapped source for providing nutritious dietary options in the modern world. The rising popularity of indigenous foods such as amaranth in recent years suggests that these foods can become a popular part of a healthy diet in the United States. Traditional knowledge of indigenous people can form the basis for using wild food resources. This research provides data on 50 plant species common to the central United States that are abundant sources of dietary protein and fiber, and used traditionally by Native American tribes. Many species show promise with high amounts of protein and fiber being found in lamb’s quarters, nettles, grass seeds, and buffalo gourd seeds. These results honor traditional knowledge. In addition, many of these species could be cultivated using techniques similar to those existing for commercial grains and vegetables. Seeds and/or greens of these wild plants could easily be incorporated into the diets of many more people, improving modern diets, and the nutritional quality of food products.

Seeds:

“Twelve of the seventeen species’ seeds tested had total dietary fiber values higher than commonly consumed [non-native plants; grocery store vegetables] species.”

“Buffalo gourd (Cucrbita foetidissima) seeds had the highest protein content, which was higher than any of the commonly consumed species. Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) had the second highest protein content ...”

“Twelve of the seventeen species’ seeds tested had total dietary fiber values higher than commonly consumed species. The highest value was found in eastern gamagrass seed, which had nearly double the total dietary fiber of chia (Salvia hispanica) seeds.“

Fruits:

All but two species of fruit tested had higher values of protein than commonly consumed dried fruits, and all but one had substantially higher values of total dietary fiber than commonly consumed species (Table 4). Young green pods of ram’s horn (Proboscidea louisianica) were the top source of protein out of all fruits, followed closely by honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), skunkbush sumac (Rhus trilobata), longleaf groundcherry (Physalis longifolia), and golden currant (Ribes aureum var. villosum). These species contained nearly or over double the percent protein of all commonly consumed species.

Skunkbush sumac fruits contained the highest total dietary fiber content, all of which was the insoluble form. Honey mesquite pods contained the second highest percentage of total dietary fiber and insoluble fiber. Ram’s horn pods were the top source of soluble fiber, followed by golden currant, honey mesquite, common pawpaw (Asimina triloba), and longleaf groundcherry.

Eastern gamagrass

Eastern gamagrass is a notable species (Figure 2), with a long history as food, and once considered as a possible progenitor of corn (Eubanks 1997), though recent evidence suggests it is not (Matsuoka et al. 2002). It is native to tallgrass prairies of the central United States and into central Mexico. The seeds have an ancient use as food and were found stored in bundles in the remains of Ozark Bluff-dwellers cave habitations (Gilmore 1931), which may be 2,000 years old. However, the seeds are hard to prepare because the hulls are very tough and thick. We ground up both the hull and endosperm for testing, which resulted in our highest amount of total dietary fiber. This plant has been studied by the Land Institute in Salina, Kansas as a possible perennial grain crop (Jackson 2002; Jackson and DeWald 1994). It is an important forage crop and seeds are available through commercial sources. While not nearly as productive as corn, it has seeds about a fourth the size of corn and production techniques have been established as it is harvested mechanically for the native grass seed industry.

Conclusion:

Many of the plants tested contain protein and fiber at amounts superior or comparable to commonly consumed foods. Identification of plant species with novel protein and fiber sources could raise awareness of wild plants and traditional knowledge and cultivation and/or harvest of these plants could become both commercially viable and competitive in the world market. Of particular note is the recognition of indigenous food practices as not only successful, but beneficial to a modern dietary intake. Introducing these indigenous plant foods to the wider public has value beyond simply their appeal as food. Promoting the indigenous origins of the foods acknowledges the subsistence innovations of the Native Americans beyond corn and honors their ancient and traditional knowledge of native foods. It represents another important contribution of Native American culture to the wider world and evidence of their healthier and more sustainable cultural practices. Tribes today may be particularly interested in these plants and how they might be used to improve the health and economic welfare of their Tribal members. For modern use of these plants as foods, future studies on the energy content and economics of cultivation of the plants will be important next steps.

-

Full article available for free.

[melodiouswhite]

Here a small floriography dictionary for you - E-H

E.

Edelweiss - daring, courage, devotion

Eglantine - poetry, I wound to heal

Elder Flower - zeal

Endine - frugality

Epigaea (Mayflower) - budding

Eremurus - endurance

Eupatorium - delay

Euphorbia - persistence

Everlasting - never ceasing memory 

F.

Fennel - flattery

Fern - fascination, sincerity, magic, confidence, shelter

Fern (Maidenhair) - secret bond of love

Fern (Royal) - reverie

Filbert - reconciliation

Fir - time

Flax - domestic symbol

Fleur-de-lis - emblem of France, passion, faith, hope, wisdom, My compliments, Your friendship means so much to me

Flora's Bell - without pretention

Flowering Almond - hope

Flowering Reed - confide in Heaven

Forget-me-not - true love, memories

Forsythia - anticipation

Foxglove - stateliness, youth

Foxtail Grass - sporting

Freesia - innocence, trust, friendship

Fuchsia (Scarlet) - taste, confiding love

Furze - love for all occasions

G.

Galax - encouragement

Gardenia - You’re lovely, secret love

Garlic - courage, protection, strength

Gentian (Fringed) - autumn, intrinsic worth, I look to Heaven

Gentian (Closed) - Sweet be thy dreams

Geranium - stupidity, folly

Geranium (Apple) - present preference

Geranium (Ivy) - Your hand for the next dance

Geranium (Lemon) - unexpected meeting

Geranium (Nutmeg) - I expect a meeting

Geranium (Oak-leaved) - true friendship

Geranium (Pencilled) - ingenuity

Geranium (Rose) - preference

Geranium (Scarlet) - consolation

Geranium (Silver-leaf) - recall

Gerbera - innocence

Gladiolus - I’m really sincere, strength of character, flower of the gladiators

Globe (Amaranth) - unfading love

Gloxinia - love at first sight

Goldenrod - encouragement, good fortune, Be cautious

Gooseberry - anticipation

Goosefoot - goodness

Gorse - endearing affection

Grass - submission

Gypsophila - fertility

H.

Harebell - humility, grief

Hawthorn - hope

Heartese Pansy - Think of me

Heart’s Easer - You occupy my thoughts

Heather (General) - good luck

Heather (Lavender) - admiration, solitude

Heather (White) - protection, Wishes will come true

Heliotrope - eternal love

Hellebore - scandal

Henbane - for males to attract love from females

Hibiscus - delicate beauty

Holly - domestic happiness, defense, foresight

Hollyhock - fruitfulness

Hollyhock (White) - female ambition

Honey Flower - sweetness, secret love

Honeysuckle - generosity

Honeysuckle (Coral) - I love you

Horehound - health

Hoya (Wax Plant) - sculpture

Huckleberry - faith, simple pleasure

Hyacinth (General) - game and sport, rashness, playfulness

Hyacinth (Blue) - constancy

Hyacinth (Purple) - sorrow, I’m sorry, Please forgive me

Hyacinth (Red or Pink) - play

Hyacinth (White) - I’ll pray for you, unobtrusive loveliness

Hyacinth (Yellow) - jealousy

Hydrangea - Thank you for understanding, frigidity, heartlessness

Hyssop - sacrifice, cleanliness

[flamioannie]

THESE 9 MIGHT BE CALLED WEEDS, BUT ARE HEALTHY FOR YOU

Some weeds that we are always worried about in our yards and gardens are actually good for you, and can be delicious if prepared properly. Be sure to identify the weeds correctly (The ones described here are easy to spot.) Avoid harvesting from anyplace you suspect pollution.

DANDELION

Dandelion is one of the healthiest and most versatile vegetables on the planet. The entire plant is edible. The leaves are like vitamin pills, containing generous amounts of vitamins A, C and K — far more than those garden tomatoes, in fact — along with calcium, iron, manganese, and potassium.

The leaves are most tender, and tastiest, when they are young. This happens in the spring but also all summer along as the plant tries to rebound after being cut or pulled. You can add them to soup in great abundance. Or you can prepare them Italian style by sautéing with a little olive oil, salt, garlic and some hot red pepper.

You can eat the bright, open flower heads in a lightly fried batter. You can also make a simple wine with the flowers by fermenting them with raisins and yeast. If you are slightly adventurous, you can roast the dandelion root, grind it, and brew it like coffee. It's an acquired taste. You might want to have some sugar on hand.

PURSLANE

If you've ever lived in the city, you have seen good ol' Portulaca olearacea, or common purslane. The stuff grows in cracks in the sidewalk. Aside from being surprisingly tasty for a crack dweller, purslane tops the list of plants with omega-3 fatty acids, the type of healthy fat found in salmon.

If you dislike the bitter taste of dandelion greens, you still might like the lemony taste of purslane. The stems, leaves and flowers are all edible; and they can be eaten raw on salads — as they are prepared worldwide — or lightly sautéed.

You should keep a few things in mind, though, before your harvest. Watch out for spurge, a similar-looking sidewalk-crack dweller. Spurge is much thinner than purslane, and it contains a milky sap, so you can easily differentiate it. Also, your mother might have warned you about eating things off the sidewalk; so instead, look for purslane growing in your garden, or consider transplanting it to your garden from a sidewalk.

Also, note the some folks incorrectly call purslane "pigweed," but that's a different weed — edible but not as tasty.

LAMB'S QUARTERS

Lamb's-quarters are like spinach, except they are healthier, tastier and easier to grow. Lamb's-quarters, also called goosefoot, usually need more than a sidewalk crack to grow in, unlike dandelion or purslane. Nevertheless, they can be found throughout the urban landscape, wherever there is a little dirt.

The best part of the lamb's-quarters are the leaves, which are slightly velvety with a fine white powder on their undersides. Discard any dead or diseased leaves, which are usually the older ones on the bottom of the plant. The leaves and younger stems can be quickly boiled or sautéed, and they taste like a cross between spinach and Swiss chard with a slight nutty after-taste.

Maybe that taste combination doesn't appeal to you, but lamb's-quarters are ridiculously healthy. A one-cup serving will give you 10 times the daily-recommended dose of vitamin K; three times the vitamin A; more than enough vitamin C; and half your daily dose of calcium and magnesium.

PLANTAIN

Plantain, like dandelion, is a healthy, hardy weed as ubiquitous in the city as broken glass. You know what it looks like, but you might not have known the name.

Part of the confusion is that plantain shares its name with something utterly different, the banana-like plantain, whose etymology is a mix of Spanish and native Caribbean. The so-called weed plantain, or Plantago major, was cultivated in pre-Columbus Europe; and indeed Native Americans called it "the white man's footprint," because it seemed to follow European settlers.

Plantain has a nutritional profile similar to dandelion — that is, loaded with iron and other important vitamins and minerals. The leaves are tastiest when small and tender, usually in the spring but whenever new shoots appear after being cut back by a lawnmower. Bigger leaves are edible but bitter and fibrous.

The shoots of the broadleaf plantain, when green and tender and no longer than about four inches, can be described as a poor-man's fiddlehead, with a nutty, asparagus-like taste. Pan-fry in olive oil for just a few seconds to bring out this taste. The longer, browner shoots are also tasty prepared the same way, but the inner stem is too fibrous. You'll need to place the shoot in your mouth, clench with your teeth, and quickly pull out the stem. What you're eating are the plantain seeds.

The leaves of the equally ubiquitous narrow-leaf plantain, or Plantago lanceolata, also are edible when young. The shoot is "edible" only with quotation marks. You can eat the seeds should you have the patience to collect hundreds of plants for the handful of seeds you'd harvest. With time being money, it's likely not worth it.

CHICKWEED

One of the not-so-ugly weeds worth pulling and keeping is chickweed. Identified by purple stems, fuzzy green leaves, and starry white flower petals, this weed is a fantastic source of vitamins A, D, B complex, and C. It also contains minerals like iron, zinc, calcium, and potassium. Chickweed (Stellaria media) has a cornsilk-like flavor when eaten raw, and tastes similar to spinach when it is cooked. [1]

Chickweed nourishes the lymph and glandular systems, and can heal cysts, fevers, and inflammation. It can help neutralize acid and help with yeast overgrowth and fatty deposits, too.

Additionally, chickweed can be finely chopped and applied externally to irritated skin. Steep the plant in ¼ cup of boiling water for 15 minutes, and chickweed provides benefits similar to dandelion root. Speaking of dandelion…

CLOVER

Other than the occasional four-leafed clover hunt, this common lawn weed goes mostly unnoticed, even though it is becoming popular as a lawn replacement altogether. Clover is an important food for honeybees and bumblebees, and clover leaves and flowers can be used to add variety to human meals as well. Small amounts of raw clover leaves can be chopped into salads, or can be sauteed and added to dishes for a green accent, and the flowers of both red and white clover can be eaten raw or cooked, or dried for tea.

MALLOW

Mallow, or malva, is also known as cheeseweed, due to the shape of its seed pods, and can be found in many lawns or garden beds across the US. The leaves and the seed pods (also called the 'fruit') are both edible, either raw or cooked, and like many greens, are often more tender and palatable when smaller and less mature. The older leaves can be used like any other cooked green after steaming, boiling, or sauteing them.

WILD AMARANTH

The leaves of the wild amaranth, also known as pigweed, are another great addition to any dish that calls for leafy greens, and while the younger leaves are softer and tastier, the older leaves can also be cooked like spinach. The seeds of the wild amaranth can be gathered and cooked just like store-bought amaranth, either as a cooked whole grain or as a ground meal, and while it does take a bit of time to gather enough to add to a meal, they can be a a good source of free protein.

STINGING NETTLES

It sounds like a cruel joke, but stinging nettles — should you be able to handle them without getting a painful rash from the tiny, acid-filled needles — are delicious cooked or prepared as a tea.

You may have brushed by these in the woods or even in your garden, not knowing what hit you, having been trained all your life to identify poison ivy and nothing else. The tiny needles fortunately fall off when steamed or boiled. The trick is merely using garden gloves to get the nettles into a bag.

Nettles tastes a little like spinach, only more flavorful and more healthful. They are loaded with essential minerals you won't find together outside a multivitamin bottle, and these include iodine, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, silica and sulfur. Nettles also have more protein than most plants.

You can eat the leaves and then drink the water as tea, with or without sugar, hot or cold. If you are adventurous — or, you can collect entire plants to dry in your basement. The needles will eventually fall off, and you can save the dried leaves for tea all winter long.

Info by Christopher Wanjek

https://www.facebook.com/theseedguy

[classic-infrahomes-interior]

Most plants do thrive outdoors with plenty of sunshine and natural conditions. But indoor plants have a reputation for being fussy and delicate. In short, you need to pick plants that will make it through some neglect on your part. We have put together the ultimate list of houseplants for amateurs and sheer lazy people. Scroll through to know more. Palms: This tropical family of plants grow very easily in low-light conditions. At least, most of them fare quite well indoors. Keep it on your table tops or consoles or even the dark corners and it will thrive. Syngonium: You may have come across this plant and know it as the Goosefoot or the Arrowhead (due its arrow-shaped leaves). The plant is great for the Feng shui of your home as the five lobes of its leaves represent the five natural elements. Snake Plant: It looks quite like its name snake with its long and slender leaves. The best part is that this plant can survive without sunlight so you can place indoors without much ado. Money Plants: They come in many varieties and shades of green and each one grows as fast and easily as the other. Also, they are climbers, so you can also grow them in a basket. Song of India: As is apparent from its name, this plant is a tropical rhapsody. It likes hot and humid weather but adapts to drier climatic conditions as well. This plant can survive without sunlight but it’s growth rate slows down. Peace Lily: A plant that flowers indoors! Walah, we have got our wish! The peace lily is a really fuss-free flowering plant. It doesn’t need light and likes to stay dry. However, think twice before you keep this plant indoors if you have pets because it could be toxic if chewed. Spider Plant: These plants do remind of spiders with their sprawling leaves but they look pretty when they are bunched together. All you need to do is keep it watered and have a well-draining pot to prevent its roots from rotting. Bamboo: It grows in soil or water and makes no demands on your time. Apart from being a super easy plant to grow, this plant is also good for the Feng Shui of your home.

[tlatollotl]

Conventional wisdom holds that prehistoric villagers planted corn, and lots of it, to survive the dry and hostile conditions of the American Southwest.

But University of Cincinnati archaeology professor Alan Sullivan is challenging that long-standing idea, arguing instead that people routinely burned the understory of forests to grow wild crops 1,000 years ago.

"There has been this orthodoxy about the importance of corn," said Sullivan, director of graduate studies in UC's Department of Anthropology in the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences. "It's been widely considered that prehistoric peoples of Arizona between A.D. 900 to 1200 were dependent on it.

"But if corn is lurking out there in the Grand Canyon, it's hiding successfully because we've looked all over and haven't found it."

Sullivan has published a dozen papers outlining the scarce evidence of corn agriculture at more than 2,000 sites where they have found pottery sherds and other artifacts of prehistoric human settlement. He summarized his findings in a presentation last month at Boston University.

Sullivan has spent more than two decades leading archaeological field research to Grand Canyon National Park and the region's Upper Basin, home to the 1.6-million-acre Kaibab National Forest.

When you think of the Grand Canyon, you might picture rocky cliffs and desert vistas. But the Upper Basin, where Sullivan and his students work, is home to mature forests of juniper and pinyon trees stretching as far as you can see, he said.

"When you look down into the Grand Canyon, you don't see any forest. But on either rim there are deep, dense forests," he said.

On these high-elevation plateaus, Sullivan and his students have unearthed ceramic jugs adorned with corrugated patterns and other evidence of prehistoric life. Sullivan is particularly interested in the cultural and social practices of growing, sharing and eating food, also called a foodway.

"What would constitute evidence of a corn-based foodway?" he asked. "And if experts agree it should look like this but we don't find evidence of it, that would seem to be a problem for that model.”

Like a detective, Sullivan has pieced together clues firsthand and from scientific analysis to make a persuasive argument that people used fire to promote the growth of edible leaves, seeds and nuts of plants such as amaranth and chenopodium, wild relatives of quinoa. These plants are called "ruderals," which are the first to grow in a forest disturbed by fire or clear-cutting.

"It's definitely a paradigm-threatening opinion," Sullivan said. "It's not based on wild speculation. It's evidence-based theorizing. It has taken us about 30 years to get to the point where we can confidently conclude this."

Lab analysis identified ancient pollen from dirt inside clay pots that were used 1,000 years ago before Sullivan and his students found them.

"They've identified 6,000 or 7,000 pollen grains and only six [grains] were corn. Everything else is dominated by these ruderals," Sullivan said.

The corn itself looked nothing like the hearty ears of sweet corn people enjoy at barbecues today. The ears were puny, about one-third the size of a typical cob, with tiny, hard kernels, Sullivan said.

So if prehistoric people were not growing corn, what were they eating? Sullivan found clues around his excavation sites that people set fires big enough to burn away the understory of grasses and weeds but small enough not to harm the pinyon and juniper trees, important sources of calorie-rich nuts and berries.

Evidence for this theory was found in ancient trees. Raging wildfires leave burn scars in growth rings of surviving trees. In the absence of frequent small fires, forests would accumulate vast amounts of underbrush and fallen timber to create conditions ripe for an inferno sparked by a lightning strike. But examinations of ancient juniper and ponderosa pine trees found no burn scars, suggesting big fires are a relatively new phenomenon in Arizona.

"To me that confirms there weren't massive fires back then," Sullivan said.

Sullivan also studied the geologic layers at these sites. Like a time capsule, the stratigraphicanalysis captured the periods before and after people lived there. He found higher concentrations of wild edible plants in the period when people lived there. And when people abandoned the sites, the area they left behind saw fewer of these plants.

But it was only this year that Sullivan found contemporary evidence supporting his theory that prehistoric people generated a spring bounty by setting fires. Sullivan returned to the Grand Canyon last spring to examine forest destroyed by a massive 2016 fire. Touched off by a lightning strike, the blaze called the Scott Fire laid waste to 2,660 acres of pines, junipers and sagebrush.

Despite the intensity of the forest fire, Sullivan found edible plants growing thick everywhere underfoot just months later.

"This burned area was covered in ruderals. Just covered," he said. "That to us was confirmation of our theory. Our argument is there's this dormant seed bed that is activated by any kind of fire."

Archaeologists with the National Park Service have found evidence that corn grew below the rim of the Grand Canyon, said Ellen Brennan, cultural resource program manager for the national park.

"It does appear that the ancient people of the Grand Canyon never pursued corn agriculture to the extent that other ancestral Puebloan peoples did in other parts of the Southwest," Brennan said. "In the Grand Canyon, it appears that there continued to be persistent use of native plants as a primary food source rather than corn."

The National Park Service has not examined whether prehistoric people used fire to improve growing conditions for native plants. But given what is known about cultures at the time, it is likely they did, Brennan said.

The first assumptions about what daily life was like in the Southwest 1,000 years ago came from more recent observations of Native Americans such as the Hopi, said Neil Weintraub, archaeologist for Kaibab National Forest. He worked alongside Sullivan at some of the sites in the Upper Basin.

"Corn is still a big part of the Hopi culture. A lot of dances they do are about water and the fertility of corn," he said. "The Hopi are seen as the descending groups of Puebloan."

While native peoples elsewhere in the Southwest no doubt relied on corn, Weintraub said, Sullivan's work has convinced him that residents of the Upper Basin relied on wild food—and used fire to cultivate it.

"It's a fascinating idea because we really see that these people were highly mobile. On the margins where it's very dry we think they were taking advantage of different parts of the landscape at different times of the year," Weintraub said.

"It's been well documented that Native Americans burned the forest in other parts of the country. I see no reason why they wouldn't have been doing the same thing 1,000 years ago," he said.

UC professor Alan Sullivan holds a pottery sherd recovered from an archaeological site in Arizona. Credit: University of Cincinnati

The area around the Grand Canyon is especially dry, going many weeks without rain. Still, life persists. Weintraub said the forest generates a surprising bounty of food if you know where to look. Some years, the pinyon trees produce a bumper crop of tasty, nutritious nuts.

"In a good year, we didn't need to bring lunch in the field when we were out at our archaeological surveys. We'd be cracking pinyons all day," Weintraub said.

Weintraub recently studied the forest burned in last year's big Scott Fire. The exposed ground was thick with new undergrowth, particularly a wild relative of quinoa called goosefoot, he said.

"Goosefoot has a minty smell to it, especially in the fall. We actually started chewing on it. It was pretty pleasant," Weintraub said. "It's a high-nutrient food. I'd be curious to know more about how native peoples processed it for food."

UC's Sullivan said this prehistoric land management can teach us lessons today, especially when it comes to preventing devastating fires.

"Foresters call it 'the wicked problem.' All of our forests are anthropogenic [man-made] because of fire suppression and fire exclusion," Sullivan said.

"These forests are unnatural. They're alien to the planet. They have not had any major fires in them in decades," he said. "The fuel loads have built up to the point where you get a little ignition source and the fire is catastrophic in ways that they rarely were in the past."

The National Park Service often lets fires burn in natural areas when they do not threaten people or property. But increasingly people are building homes and businesses adjacent to or within forests. Forest managers are reluctant to conduct controlled burning so close to population, Sullivan said.

Eventually so much dry wood builds up that a dropped cigarette or unattended campfire can lead to devastating fires such as the 2016 blaze that killed 14 people and destroyed 11,000 acres in the Great Smoky Mountains or the fires in California this year that killed 40 people and caused an estimated $1 billion in property damage.

"It's a chronic problem. How do you fix it?" he asked. "The U.S. Forest Service has experimented with different methods: prescribed burning, which creates a lot of irritating smoke, or thinning the forest, which creates a disposal problem."

Fire also seems to increase the diversity of forest species. Sullivan said vegetation surveys find less biodiversity in forests today than he found in his archeological samples.

"That is one measure of how devastating our management of fire has been to these forests," he said. "These fire-responsive plants have basically disappeared from the landscape. Species diversity in some cases has collapsed."

Today, federal land managers conduct controlled burns when practical to address this problem, even in national parks such as the Grand Canyon.

"The fire management program for Grand Canyon National Park seeks to reintroduce fire as a natural agent of the environment," the park's Brennan said. "That is to reduce ground fuels through prescribed fire, mechanical thinning, and wildland fire."

Scientists also are studying how to adjust forest management techniques in the face of climate change, she said.

"Program managers are working to understand how climate change affects forest management and how to restore forests to the point where fire can follow a more natural return interval given a particular forest type," she said.

Climate change is expected to make wildfires more frequent and severe with rising temperatures and lower humidity. Meanwhile, public lands are under increasing pressure from private interests such as tourism and mining, putting more people at potential risk from fire, Sullivan said.

"Rather than create more uranium mines or establish more tourist cities in our forests, it's better to spend our money on addressing 'the wicked problem,'" Sullivan said. "Unless we solve that, all of these other ventures will only add to the severity of the risks."

[livingcorner]

Identifying Weeds in the Garden

One problem gardeners are constantly struggling with is weeds growing in their flower gardens. A weed is essentially a plant growing where you don’t want it. There are a number of plants that pretty much always fall into the category of weeds, either for thier vigorous growth and ability to take over or the ability to keep regrowing.

Fortunately daylilies are strong vigorous growing plants that compete well with most weeds. That being said, even daylilies can struggle with weeds growing around and even into the clumps.

You're reading: Identifying Weeds in the Garden

Weeds can be divided pretty much into Annuals or Perennials. The management of them is based on this growth habit.

Annuals usually seed in heavily and grow quickly. Killing the young plants and preventing them from going to seed is the best approach.

Perennial weeds on the other hand typically are slow to bloom and seed and start growing a bit more slowly. Regular pulling of the plants is the best approach with attention to removal of all the roots.

Tip: All things being equal, most grasses are weeds, if you focus on the grasses, that will most likely be the majority of your weeds.

On Lawn Management

Our lawns are a hodge-podge of plants including grass (of course), Clovers, Dandelions, Plantain, Violets, Vetches and more.

While on one level we are happy to accept that as that is the easiest and simplest approach, we also enjoy the amazing plant diversity that our lawns exhibit.

Additionally a diverse plant ecosystem (even in a lawn) may result in an planting that is more resilient to adverse conditions like drought, flooding or pest problems.

Here is a list of some of the most common weeds you may find

  Amaranth: Annual

This is the noxious weed variant of Amaranth

There is a couple of wonderful ornamental types, but this Amaranth is a monster.

Even tiny plants can flower and drop seed. It doesn’t run so that makes it a little easier to control.

  Bindweed: (Convolvulus arvensis) Perennial

A member of the Morning glory family (Convolvulacea). Bindweed is a climber, and as such it wraps around and “binds” other plants

It produce small Blue or White trumpet shaped Morning Glory-like blooms

Once established it’s hard to eliminate as it will have wrapped itself all around other plants. Small pieces of roots can re-grow too.

Catnip: (Mentha cataria) Annual

Not really weed per se, but can be a frequent volunteer which can become weed-like in the wrong situation

It is a short lived perennial that reseeds but does not run!

Easily controlled and identified but it’s distinctive smell and square stems (which all mints exhibit)

Chickweed: (Stellaria media) Annual

This weed is very low growing and as such will not really bother Daylilies and Iris much.

It is kind of unsightly running rampantly over open ground. Easy to remove as it

just pulls up nicely. It tolerates cool temperatures well and produces thousands of seeds

early control is important to keep it from spreading via seeds.

Potentilla or Cinquefoil: perennial

is easily identified by it’s five part leaf. Growing up to 2 feet tall it

Grows from seed and is slow to multiply compared to many weeds. It has a somewhat

attractive yellow flower and as such might be left ialone in the right spot.

Read more: Getting to the Coir of the Matter – FineGardening

   Dandelion (Taraxacum) perennial

is probably the best known weed around. While not particularly invasive, it’s persistence and it’s resilience make it a real problem plant.

Typically if the crown is cut off a new plant will grow. And even flowers that are cut may end up going to seed.

Dandelion does seed in vigorously. The best approach is regular cutting of the crown until the plant wears out (or you do!).

Ground Ivy or Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea) perennial

This plant is easily identified by it’s creeping habit and tiny blue flowers. As it is low it is not a major

competitoor to Daylilies and Iris. however it roots regularly from its growing nodes, so though it’s easy to pull out it can re-root from tiny pieces.

regular pulling and hoeing can help control it.

    Horsetail (Equisetum) perennial

Horsetail is a tough weed to eliminate. An ancient relic it is well adapted to survive.

It spreads by runners and seems almost impossible to eliminate without regular removal.

It can grow to 2 feet so it does interfere with the daylilies but not so much that it chokes them out.

Lambsquarters (Chenopdium album): Annual

While definately a weed growing over 5 feet tall, Lambsquarters

also know as Goosefoot and Pigweed is considered by many to be a wonderful food

According to Joan Richardson’s Wild Edible Plants of New England, “Lambsquarters

even outclasses spinach as a storehouse of protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin C

, and great amounts of vitamin A, not to mention all the minerals pulled out of the earth

by its strong taproot. It also lacks the puckishness of spinach, although lambsquarters, too, contains oxalic acid.”

It can produce thousands and thousands of seeds so pulling before it blooms and seeds in is crucial!

Lamium (Lamium purpureum) Annual

Dead Nettle as it is called is a low growing, spreading member of the mint family.

Not too competitive with Daylilies and Iris, it will spread in quite vigorously.

the best approach is regular pulling of the plants.

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) Perennial

Mugwort is one of the most pernicious weeds there is! It is a strong spreader that spreads via underground runners.

Tiny pieces of root will regrow and spread quickly. Easily identified by it’s characteristic Marigold smell and silvery undersides, Mugwort is best controlled by constant pulling or ideally smothering with some sort of impermeable material. Grwinf to 3 feet it will grow in amongst your Daylilies and be very hard to eradicate.

Nutsedge (Juncus) Perennial

Nutsedge is another one of those horrible spreading weeds. Growing to 3 feet tall and spreading by tubers, Nutsedge is very difficult to eradicate.

The best approach we have found is to smother it with plastic or some other weed barrier. Easily recognized by it’s 3 sided shape (Sedges have edges)

Pulling will make you feel better but won’t eliminate it.

Evening Primrose: (Oenothera biennis) biennial

Evening Primrose is a biennial weed that grows up to 4 feet tall.

Large and imposing it can compete with Daylilies and Iris a bit

but it is not a rampant grower and as such is relatively easy to live with. Cutting it at the crown will kill it too.

It might be worth leaving as it seems to be a Japanese Beetle magnet drawing them away from other plants.

Creeping Sorrel (Oxalis): Perennial

Sorrell is sometimes called Lemon Grass and is a favorite of kids to munch on because of it’s lemony taste.

Small and not too invasive it is easy to pull but seems to pop up everywhere!

Tip: Using smell is a good way to help identify certain weeds/plants. Catnip, Lamium, Mugwort and Mints all have very distinctive smells

Purslane (Portulaca):Annual

While considered a weed, Purslane is not a bad plant, just misunderstood. It only appears in late summer here in Vermont.

Purslane thrives in hot dry conditions. Very low growing, it is never a problem for Daylilies and Iris.

Purslane is considered good eating and very good for you.

From Mother Earth News

“Purslane may be a common plant, but it is uncommonly good for you.

It tops the list of plants high in vitamin E and an essential omega-3

fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Purslane provides

six times more vitamin E than spinach and seven times more beta carotene

than carrots. It’s also rich in vitamin C, magnesium, riboflavin, potassium and phosphorus.”

Probably just letting it be is the best approach.

Read more: Cat Deterrents for Gardens | Garden Advice – The RSPB

Queen Annes Lace: (Daucus carrota) biennial

Queen Annes Lace is not considered a weed by many. It has wonderful weed airy flowers.

The ancestor of the Carrot, Queen Annes Lace has a deep taproot. Cutting the taproot should control it.

Not too rambunctious we almost always leave Queen Annes Lace be to grow.

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) perennial

Red Clover is not really a weed. Clovers help add nitrogen to the soil and are excellent bee forage.

But lets face it if it’s growing in the wrong place it’s a weed. Cutting at the crown will control it.

Growing to almost 2 feet tall it could compete with Daylilies and Iris but it is usually not too

overbearing and as such we leave it when we can.

White Clover: (Trifolium pratense) perennial

White Clover is the smaller cousin of Red Clover. We have it in all our lawns and love it!

As a Clover it also adds nitrogen to the soil. Low growing to not compete with Daylilies and Iris we

leave it be most of the time.

Annual Black Eyed Susan: (Rudbeckia annua) annual

Annual Black Eyed Susan is not really a weed either but sometimes it’s in the wrong

place. Easily identified by it’s hairy leaves it starts as a low rosette and then grows to about 2 feet in hieght.

Easily controlled by cutting the crown. In fact trying to transplant it in bloom is a surefire way to kill it!

Smartweed; (Polygonum) Annual

Sometimes called Mile A Minute plant! This low growing weed can really spread and seeds in like crazy.

Pulling the plants early and often is the best approach. Thier shallow root system makes them easy to pull.

Velvet Leaf: (Abutilon theophrasti) Annual

Velvet leaf is an invader from from India! Growing up to 5 feet tall.

It’s characteristic velvety leaves make it easy to identify. Persistent and tall we always pull it out

as it will grow taller than the Daylilies and Iris. The seed capsule are fascinating, with a gear like appearance.

Vetch: (Vicia sativa) perennial

Another legume Vetch will also add Nitrogen to the soil. not really a too terrible weed in our experience,

but because it’s a creeper and climber it’s not much fun finding it growing all over your Daylilies and Iris.

Easily pulled from the tops, Vetch will come back but not particularly strongly.

Violet (Viola odorata) Perennial

Definitely not a weed in our opinion, Violets our low growing with wonderful blue-violet or white flowers.

At least when one is assessing ones flower garden, it’s nice to recognize this as a good “weed”

Wild Lettuce: (Lactuca serriola) Annual

Growing to over 5 feet tall, this weed while not particularly invasive is large and imposing.

Cutting the crown before it seeds is the key to easy control.

Quackgrass or Creeping Quackgrass: (Agropyron repens) perennial

We’ve saved the worst for last. Quackgrass is a horrible pernicious weed that runs like crazy.

We have found it growing right through Daylily roots. Constant pulling of the plants and roots is the best control. We’ve found heavily mulched beds make pulling the Quackgrass much easier.

In conclusion:

Nature abhors a vacuum.

Allowing certain low growing weeds to remain can be beneficial as these plants will occupy space and act as a green mulch, helping to prevent certain other less desirable /more invasive weeds from growing.

Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Garden

source https://livingcorner.com.au/identifying-weeds-in-the-garden/

[niympha]

Athena: Good morning, Leo. You’re up early.

Calliope: Mr Goosefoot will tell us today where we’re going for the student exchange. I can’t wait to find out the name of my exchange student!

Athena: Oh right. I almost forgot about that student exchange. Good thing you talk about it all the time to remind us.

Calliope: I can’t help that I’m super excited to get out of this town for once.

Linen: We’ve been on vacation before...

[afriedbreaddragonposts]

Sindh Class 10 English Notes Chapter 13 Shopping

Sindh Class 10 English Notes Chapter 13 Shopping Education in Karachi solved exercises, MCQs, important questions, grammar, chapter overview, and Reading Comprehension.

Chapter 13 Shopping

Why did Mother ask Najma and Ajmal to go with her shopping?Mother asked Najma and Ajmal to go with her for shopping as their father was not at home and their groceries and provisions were near to end. Therefore, they had to do the shopping for themselves due to the absence of their father as he used to do all the shopping for them.How much fare did the taxi-driver demand?When mother and children hired the taxi, on asking the taxi driver demanded a high fare from them i.e. twenty-five rupees to the market.What did Mother tell the taxi-driver?Mother told the taxi driver that he was demanding quite a high fare as the market was not too much far from there, it was just two kilometers away from that place. She further told him that she would not give him more than fifteen rupees to take them to the marketplace.Where did Mother and children go first for shopping?Mother and children went to the mutton market first.What is the difference between beef and mutton?Beef is the meat of cows whereas mutton is that of goats and sheep.What did Mother buy at the butcher's shop?Mother bought one kilo of leg and one kilo of minced meat and for each kilo of meat she paid one hundred and ten rupees.Where did Mother go after making purchases at the butchers?After making purchases at the butcher’s, Mother along with Najma and Ajmal decided to go to the vegetable and fruit market so to buy some fresh vegetables and fruits from there.How did Mother buy bananas and apples?Mother bought ten bananas at the cost of twenty rupees and one kilo apples by paying twenty-four rupees to the fruit retailer.What did Mother buy last of all?Mother went to the poultry shop last of all as she had to buy eggs and dressed chicken from there. Mother purchased two dozen eggs for thirty rupees a dozen and one kilo dressed chicken for ninety rupees a kilo.How far is the market from the house of Najma and Ajmal?The market was not far away from the house of Najma and Ajmal, it was just two kilometers away. They hired a taxi to reach the market and gave fifteen rupees as fare.What did Mother ask the children to do when they had reached back home?Mother asked the children to get busy as they had spent a number of hours out for shopping. She asked Ajmal to polish his own and Najma’s shoes and ordered Najma to iron the clothes.

Comprehension-B

B. Learn the spellings and meanings of the following words from the lesson and use ten of them in sentences of your own: gulped; beef; butcher; cabbage; calves; carton; cauliflower; chillies; dressed; freezer; grocer; hire; kilogram; kilometre; spices; spinach; live; meter; mutton; onion; potato; poultry; provisions; turnip; drums; choked Answer: WordsMeaningsgulped swallow (drink or food) quickly or in large  mouthfuls, often audibly.beef the flesh of a cow, bull, or ox, used as food.butcher a person whose trade is cutting up and selling meat  in a shop.cabbage a cultivated plant eaten as a vegetable, having thick  green or purple leaves surrounding a spherical  heart or head of young leaves.calves Plural of calf; the young of the domestic cow or  other bovine animal.carton a small, light box or container in which drinks or  foodstuffs are packaged.cauliflower a cabbage of a variety which bears a large  immature flower head of small creamy-white flower  buds.chillies  a small hot-tasting pod of a variety of capsicum,  used in sauces, relishes, and spice powdersdressed put on one's clothes.freezer  a refrigerated cabinet or room for preserving food  at very low temperatures.grocer a person who sells food and small household  goods.hire employ (someone) for wages.kilogram a unit of mass equal to 1000 grams: the basic unit  of mass in the International System of Units (SI),kilometer a metric unit of measurement equal to 1,000 metres  (approximately 0.62 miles).spices an aromatic or pungent vegetable substance used  to flavor food, e.g. cloves, pepper, or cumin.spinach an edible Asian plant of the goosefoot family, with  large dark green leaves which are widely eaten as a  vegetable.live remain alive.meter a device that measures the amount of something  that is used:mutton the flesh of fully grown sheep used as food.onion  a swollen edible bulb used as a vegetable, having a  pungent taste and smell and composed of several  concentric layers.potato a starchy plant tuber which is one of the most  important food crops, cooked and eaten as a  vegetable.poultry the flesh of chickens and other domestic fowl as  food.provisions the action of providing or supplying something for  use.turnip a round root with white or cream flesh which is  eaten as a vegetable and also has edible leaves.drums a percussion instrument sounded by being struck  with sticks or the hands, typically cylindrical,  barrel-shaped, or bowl-shaped, with a taut  membrane over one or both ends.choked  (of a person or animal) have severe difficulty in  breathing because of a constricted or obstructed  throat or a lack of air. WordsSentencesbeef Yesterday my mother gave me deliciously cooked beef slices in  lunch.butcher The butcher’s dress was splashed with chicken’s blood.cabbage I love cabbage soup in summers.carton Please help me in placing the carton in the storeroom.kilometer My school is almost a kilometer away from my home.spices Spices are the main ingredients in Asian foods.spinach Eating spinach is good for purifying our blood.meter One meter cloth is not enough for making an adult’s shirt.mutton Mutton is much expensive than beef and chicken in Pakistan.potato Potato is all time favorite vegetable of most of the people all over  the world.

Comprehension-C

a) Find words similar in meaning in the two lists given below. ABfrightenedpurchasehailboxbuyhintingcartongreeprovisionswarmpointingafraidthreatensupplies Answer: ABfrightenedafraidhailwarmbuypurchasecartonboxprovisionssuppliespointinghintingthreatengreet b) Find in list B the opposite of words in list A: ABSwimDifferaliveFreezefloatwholefrontsellstartacceptboildrownpartrearbuydeadagreesinkrejectstop Answer: ABswimdrownalivedeadfloatsinkfrontrearstartstopboilfreezepartwholebuysellagreedifferrejectaccept

Comprehension-D

a) out of order, out of date, in force, in order, up-to-date, to date. With the help of the phrases given above, complete the following sentences; 1. The old system of weights and measures is no longer _______ . The old system of weights and measures is no longer in force. 2. You must revise your book and bring it _______ . You must revise your book and bring it in order. 3. The shopkeeper told him that their weighing machine was ________ . The shopkeeper told him that their weighing machine was out of order. 4. I have received no letter from him _________ . I have received no letter from him to date. 5. This rule is ______ ; we must follow it. This rule is up-to-date; we must follow it. 6. That book was published ten years ago; it is completely _______ . That book was published ten years ago; it is completely out of date. b) Cake, bar, jar, carton, bag, roll, packet. Complete the following sentences using the words given above: 1. A _____ of soap -cake contains 144 soap-cakes. A cake of soap -cake contains 144 soap-cakes. 2. Please bring a ______ of Swat honey for me. Please bring a jar of Swat honey for me. 3. What is the price of one _____ of flour? What is the price of one bag of flour? 4. The price of a _____ of soap has increased by one rupee. The price of a bar of soap has increased by one rupee. 5. The shopkeeper charged me five hundred rupees for this ______ of cloth. The shopkeeper charged me five hundred rupees for this roll of cloth. 6. This chocolate is cheap at ten rupees a ____ . This chocolate is cheap at ten rupees a packet. 7. This _______ contains 25 biscuits. This carton contains 25 biscuits. c) Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions: 1.The driver brought the taxi ______ a sudden halt. The driver brought the taxi with a sudden halt. 2. He took ______ his old coat and put ______ the new one. He took off his old coat and put on the new one. 3. Please turn ______ the radio and turn ______ the TV Please turn off the radio and turn on the TV 4. Before leaving the kitchen she put _______ the fire. Before leaving the kitchen she put off the fire. 5. She turned _____ the cat and shut the door. She turned out the cat and shut the door. 6. My friend turned ______ late _____ the cinema. My friend turned out late at the cinema. 7.The watchman turned _____ to be the thief. The watchman turned out to be the thief. 8. The plane took _______ at 10 o'clock. The plane took off at 10 o'clock. d) a. Change the following into active voice: 1. He was robbed and beaten by some unknown persons. Some unknown persons robbed and beat him. 2. The field was ploughed, the seed was sown and the crop was harvested by the farmer himself. The farmer himself ploughed the field, sow the seeds and harvested the crop. (b) Change the following into passive voice: 1. She brushed, cleaned and ironed her coat. Her coat was brushed, cleaned and ironed by her. 2. I brought this news to him. This news was brought to him by me.

Comprehension-E

E. Composition: You go shopping for cloth for your school uniform. Write a dialogue with the shopkeeper of 10-15 lines. Answer: You: Good evening. Shopkeeper: Good evening. What do you want? You: I want to buy cloth for my new uniform. Shopkeeper: Ok! You are in which school? You: I study at Jamshoro High School. Shopkeeper: Look at this? Isn’t it the exact cloth you are looking for? You: Oh! Yes it is exactly what I want. How much is this? Shopkeeper: The full uniform costs you Rs. 1,000. You: It’s too expensive uncle. Shopkeeper: But look at the material, it’s very good and comfortable too. I’ll make it Rs. 900 just for you. You: Thanks. Do you know any good tailor in the market? Shopkeeper: Yes. Go straight and take left turn at the end there’s a tailor shop. You: Thanks a lot for your guidance. Shopkeeper: No problem. Come again, you’ll find every kind of good stuff at this shop. You: Sure. Thanks.

Comprehension-F

- To have the lion s share: to take the biggest share of something. Example:The stronger person generally gets the lion's share. Exercise:Divide the cake into equal slices and don't keep the biggest part for yourself.(Substitute the idiom). Answer: Divide the cake into equal slices and don't have the lion's share. - To save something for the rainy day: to keep for some future necessity which may arise. Example: Don't spend all your money. Keep something for a rainy day. Exercise: He wasted all his savings and has kept nothing for any unforeseen need which may arise.(Substitute the idiom). Answer: He wasted all his savings and has kept nothing for the rainy day. - To cry over spilt milk: To grieve over something uselessly. Example:There's no sense in crying over spilt milk. If the glass is broken, just buy another one. Exercise:The damage has been done, but instead of wasting time feeling sorry, do something to repair it.(Substitute the idiom). Answer: The damage has been done, but don’t cry over spilt milk, do something to repair it. - It's high time: the moment has already come. Example:The movie will start in fifteen minutes so it's high time we left. Exercise: The exams begin next month so you should have begun studying seriously by now.(Substitute the idiom). Answer: The exams begin next month so it’s high time for studying seriously by now. Read the full article