#Can You Grow A Grape Vine From A Grape Seed

[fatguarddog]

You’re a grape farmer for a winery, spending your days mostly alone and tending to the fields.

The god Dionysus takes a liking you you, such a plump figure taking such good care of one of his domains. How could he resist you? How could you resist him? The god of wine and pleasure, mesmerizing eyes and wandering hands undressing you in your fields. The smell of sticky sweet grape juice as he enters your cunt, bigger than any partner you’ve ever dared have and hitting your most sensitive areas with every thrust. Fucking you from behind, onto the ground as the heat takes over. He moans into your shoulder as he cums inside of you, you feel slightly taut from the size of his load.

Lord Dionysus is also a god of fertility after all, and as he pulls out and caresses your body you can already feel yourself changing. The seed he left inside of you fertilized and sprouting, growing rapidly in your womb.

You begin to moan again as the tendrils of a plant twist inside of you, growing longer and thicker with every moment. Not only filling the space they’ve been given, unfurling and expanding until you can see your belly growing to make room. Other tendrils- perhaps roots?- make their way down your cunt towards your entrance, getting thicker and thicker as they go.

The roots of a curling vine push out of you, and you can see past your growing stomach that they must each be a centimeter in length and only getting bigger, beginning to stretch your hole as they reach for soil.

Your lord has been stroking your body this whole while, watching the effect of his seed on such a faithful follower. He picks up your swelling body effortlessly, and you moan as all of the plant life inside you shifts with gravity. The roots dangle out of you, stretching your entrance to the size of a fist… but now displaced from the soil they were seeking. They hang heavy from you as your Lord walks off with you, the two of you disappearing to *his* garden for your vines to grow and root you into the soil. And so, of course, he can enjoy what his new pet grape boy will produce for him….

(No harm done, but not a fan of something aimed at me including references to a womb! Nowadays that language is a bit uncomfy for me and prefer just a vague kind of 'inside you' type thing)

Ooooo, turning into Dionysus' personal grape boy sounds wonderful~ Especially the idea of being rooted down through my cunt like damn... the stretch and writhing of those roots would feel amazing i bet, and I can only imagine what would happen to my body once I have been properly rooted

Would I swell overall huge and juicy like a perfectly flavorful grape? Or would I just become pleasantly swollen with big tits that leak wine and my belly still pushed out from all the vines inside me? Either way, what a blissful existence tended to under Dionysus' care

[soralinklokidottirofmirkwood]

Little flame: Daddy Diluc x toddler daughter reader x uncle Kaeya

Age:4 reader Chan is Diluc's toddler. She is an adventurous ball of energy that Diluc and Uncle Kaeya love to death until she got her vision. Outfit above is what your wearing.

You are in the grape vine field chasing the Anemo crystalflies. Your father is in the manor doing paperwork in his study while the maids are watching over you and hanging up laundry "Don't run of to far young Miss." Adelinde said "Ok Addy." You said continuing to chase the sky blue creatures "Hillie! Moco! I have to make lunch, can one of you watch the young Miss?" She asked "I'll do it." Moco volunteered "Ok! Moco is in charge of Y/N and Hillie just continue hanging up the laundry." Adelinde said walking into the manor to get started on making lunch.

After Hillie finished hanging up the last of the laundry she and Moco decided to gossip about what was in the basement of the manor unaware of you running farther from the manor grounds and towards a hilichurl camp with four Abyss mages doing a ritual (It would be awesome to have Electro mages in Mondstadt and Liyue.)

As you chased the crystalfly you saw that it got tired and disappeared into the air "Bye Bye crystawfwy." You said until you heard loud growling and saw the four mages appear in front of you. Getting scared you tried running but a Mitachurl grabbed you by the collar of your trench coat Adelinde made for you on your birthday "DADA! UNCWE KAE!" You screamed at the top of your longs but you knew nobody heard you when one of the mages floated over to you "She's one of them." It said in disgust conjuring a spell with its staff while doing the dance. You got scared and whimpered but a warm but comforting feeling came "Don't be frightened little one." A caring voice said to you as you felt a fire around you.

Soon all the enemies are dead and turning into purple smoke. You looked around and saw a vision on your hip just like your fathers "Brother I see her." You heard your uncle say seeing your scarlet hair as he and your father ran up to you "Y/N you can't be running off like that." Diluc said scooping you up into his arms "Sowwy Dada." You said melting his heart "It's alright little flame, you can't help your curiosity." He said hugging you closely "Looks like someone earned her vision today." Your uncle said pointing at the scarlet vision on your hip "Good job little flame and at four years old." Diluc sad hugging you closer until a dandelion seed flew past your nose making you sneeze causing a catalyst to appear "Looks like we have another mage in Mondstadt." Kaeya said patting your head "Just what we need! Another Klee." Diluc said as he and Kaeya make haste for the manor. Bye the time they got to the Manor they saw Adelinde Scolding Hillie and Moco who are both on they're knees while apologizing with bumps growing on their foreheads "I gave you one thing to do Moco! One thing." She said with flames in her eyes making her look scary even your father was scared "Let's just go to the good hunter." Diluc said grabbing Kaeya's arm "STICKY HONEY WOAST." You said excitedly making your father and uncle chuckle "Alright little flame." Diluc said adjusting you in his arms as you laid your head on his shoulder.

[smile-files]

okey dokey!!! my little object (?) world is still in development but i really should share it with you all... (especially @mumpsetc so i'm tagging you!!) here's a little blurb on botanica!!!!

so this is a peaceful planet filled with sentient fruit! yay!! if you'd like to learn more, read below :D

in botanica, as fruit ripen on their plants, the plant material grows inside of the fruit, as if a miniature version of the plant has grown into it - botanican fruit possess a circulatory system of xylem and phloem within their flesh, with stems and vines growing out to form appendages (fig 1). all botanicans have leaves on at least one appendage, which they use to photosynthesize. aside from this energy from the sun, botanicans also drink water, which is taken in with a root tongue, and consume soil, from which nutrients and moisture are absorbed in a stomach-like organ. in doing so, botanicans effectively keep themselves "fresh" and/or "ripe", meaning that the life of a botanican fruit off of the parent plant is longer than that of a corresponding fruit in our world. all botanicans do eventually pass, and when they do, their bodies decompose and the seeds within them have the chance of growing into plants that will create more botanicans.

botanicans, like our fruit, come in different species, but those species are grouped into four categories: roaming botanicans, which are vine fruits (melons, tomatoes, squash, grapes), coasting botanicans, which are tropical fruits (bananas, papayas, pineapples, starfruit), floating botanicans, which are berries (raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries), and soaring botanicans, which are tree fruit (apples, pears, peaches, cherries). citrus fruits are in a subcategory between coasting and soaring botanicans. (all of these category names are subject to change though!!)

roaming botanicans are quadrupedal (four vine legs) with a prehensile vine-and-leaf tail (fig 2a); they live in sibling herds (usually small, but can vary in size) and roam around the landscape, without any designated leader among them. most roaming botanican species follow the sun year-round, and so avoid winter; in their constant migration they periodically stop to rest at hills, under which they burrow to make a nest. after making a nest under a hill, a herd will stick a branch at its peak so, after they leave, other herds will know that that hill can be used as a nesting site (fig 2b). some roaming botanicans have evolved to have particularly thick rinds, and so are more cold-resistant, and so opt not to constantly migrate, instead living more sedentary lives with occasional migration.

coasting botanicans have a stem-and-leaf tail and two leaf fins (fig 3); they grow on land but live the majority of their lives in the water, where they spend their time in groups. these groups are more based on friendship ties than familial ties, considering how vast a domain these botanicans have (basically the entire aquatic realm). more so than others, coasting botanicans connect with botanicans of other species and categories, and spend most of their lives just exploring and meeting others. while usually surrounded by others, a coasting botanican might on a rare chance find themselves alone in the ocean, in which case the loneliness will cause them to act in a way abnormal for most of their category - they will become antisocial and will lose their desire to explore. there are few cases of this occurring, however, given how populated and lively most corners of botanica's waters are.

floating botanicans have four large leafy wings and six tiny stem feet (fig 4a); they are the most solitary of the four categories, being very individualized. they have a very strong connection to flowers, which they in fact pollinate - many cultivate their own gardens and end up specializing in a specific type of flower. floating botanicans can be very social at times, and often come together to form collaborative gardens and even breed flowers, but they do not live in groups. these botanicans, being so much smaller than the others, can often not safely drink out of rivers or lakes without falling in, and so have evolved a long root tongue to drink with (fig 4b).

soaring botanicans have two large, leafy wings and two stem talons (fig 5a); they tend to live in very large familial flocks, as fruit trees often produce mass amounts of botanicans. the first to ripen is usually the leader of the flock. these botanicans build nests in their family tree (get it?) using fallen sticks, branches, and other plant materials, which becomes the center of life (fig 5b). within a flock of soaring botanicans, many individuals are designated to explore the surrounding area for interesting additions to the nests (such as a foreign flower or a pretty rock). due to the large size of these groups, most individuals within a flock form a "twin" bond with another individual, which they spend more time with than others.

i don't think i ever came up with a name for the soaring-coasting subcategory, but in any event, these botanicans have a single broad leaf tail and two stem talons (fig 6). these botanicans are more closely related to soaring botanicans than coasting botanicans, but as they tend to live in more watery areas, they have many similarities to coasting botanicans and do not have the capability of flight. botanicans of this category live in large flocks in ponds, lakes, and rivers; many build small dams. unlike those of the typical flock of soaring botanicans, individuals within flocks of these botanicans tend to intermix more; they often make friends between flocks and so there seems to be some kind of broad botanican network from pond to pond, river to river, lake to lake. these botanicans, like coasting botanicans, are very friendly and carefree.

botanica is a peaceful, happy planet; basically every resource needed for survival is in abundance and there is no opportunity for greed and selfishness to even arise, so individuals are more often than not cooperative, kind, and generous. of course, as loss and loneliness are truths of life, no botanican life is free of all suffering altogether, and issues can arise - but given the warm, compassionate nature of the surrounding physical and social environments, individuals end up living happy, loving lives overall.

something interesting about botanican life is the complete disconnect between reproduction and relationhips - seeds are only spread after a botanican passes away, and those seeds grow into plants otherwise entirely disconnected from the botanican in question; then those plants are pollinated and new botanicans grow from them. in this way, botanicans have no real concept of sex, and often fall in love with and befriend members of different species (as there is no reason why this would be an issue; they wouldn't be reproducing with them anyway) (fig 7). while plant individuals sometimes have parts of a specific sex, most have parts of both sexes, and either way this has no impact on the mindset or behavior of the botanican as a whole creature (they technically have biological sex but they have no gender).

...so yeah, here's my silly fruit world!!! there's a lot of stuff left to talk about (with the gods of the world and everything) but this is good to start with :) i hope you like it!!!!

[syngoniums]

An unfamiliar grape I found at a cemetery. Mustang grapes (Vitis mustangensis) dominate this region, but they are very obviously different; larger in every way, with bigger clusters of fruit, and the backs of the leaves are white. The black grapes are also very tart and sting your mouth thanks to high quantities of oxalates. In contrast, the few edible-looking grapes on this vine were red and glaucous and quite mild and sweet, even though I don't think they were fully ripe. This offers us some constraints: extremely heat- and drought resistant, back of leaf not tomentose and same color as the front, smaller, palatable fruit, one large seed per fruit (collected three, 5-6mm long), grows on alkaline soil. There were other things I should have paid attention to, like the color of the bark and exact dimensions, and I should have collected a leaf for closer inspection of any small hairs, but I didn't.

I am very much not a Vitis expert, and admittedly haven't been paying much attention to them in general. There are a number of species in the area, including some Edwards Plateau endemics. The interesting thing about grapes, in contrast to the vast majority of plants, is that viticulture has neurotically picked over and assessed every North American species and natural hybrid for agricultural potential, no matter how obscure. You can find incredibly detailed charts for distinguishing one named cultivar from another. Theoretically this should make identification rather easy, but I'm still not certain. The five-lobed leaves suggest aestivalis, but the soil does not. Rotundifolia also excluded by alkalinity as well as the large size of its fruit. Berlandieri aka cinerea var. helleri seems like the most likely option, though I cannot find any indication it assumes a 5 lobed form. I suppose I can't eliminate Vitis monticola, but the same issue applies. It could be a hybrid with mustangensis, which does have an elaborately lobed form. It could be some manmade escapee. I'll go back at some point and take a better look.

[lovelyalicorn]

GUILD ME

Edgar Allen Poe

Ability: Black Cat in the Rue Morgue. Can make any book Poe writes a world that he can trap people in. You can only get out if he lets you out or you solve the mystery.

Book: Based on his short stories: The Black Cat and Murders in the Rue Morgue

Backstory: He was defeated by Ranpo in an investigation I think 6 years ago. Swore revenge by writing a book to trap him in. Possibly got Karl in that time. I personally headcanon that the Guild used him to “dispose” people and potentially as a way to get resources too.

Louisa May Alcott

Ability: Little Women. Slows time to 1/8000th but only when alone

Book: Little Women

Backstory: We actually don’t know. I know she found Lucy though. I think she was abused a lot though

Nathanial Hawthorne

Ability: The Scarlet Letter. Can manipulate his blood into long swords or fire letters made of his blood.

Book: The Scarlet Letter

Background: Not much again. He might have a past with Margaret Mitchell though

Herman Melville

Ability: Moby Dick. It’s a giant flying whale he can summon and control.

Book: Moby Dick

Background: He was the former leader of the Guild. Moby Dick used to be living before it was mechanized

Mark Twain

Ability: Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. This summons two little dolls he can attach to his bullets. He can also do long range surveillance as his mind is linked to them

Book: Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Background: Has sniped a lot, and keeps a list in his diary of successes

Margaret Mitchell

Ability: Gone With the Wind. It’s a weathering ability

Book: Gone With the Wind

Background: Joined the Guild in an attempt to restore her family’s honor

Lucy Maud Montgomery

Ability: Anne of Abyssal Red. She can create a dimensional space outside of current time. Anyone caught by her Anne is imprisoned there.

Book: Anne of Green Gables

Background: Grew up in an orphanage where she was treated really badly. Was used as a pawn by the Guild

John Steinbeck

Ability: Grapes of Wrath. He cuts a slit on his body and sticks a grape seed in there. He can then use the vine to fight or to attach to other plants so he can sense things through them or control them

Book: Grapes of Wrath

Background: He was a farmer from a poor, but large family

Howard Phillips Lovecraft

Ability: Great Old One. He can grow tentacles and become a eldritch horror capable of speedy regeneration.

Book: The Call of Cthulhu

Background: Lives underwater, immortal.

The lengths I go for you (affectionate. I wanted to rant about them)

[eggtrolls]

Spent my morning pruning hour at work on this groundsel bush (a native salt marsh species also known as Baccharis halimifolia) that was covered in porcelainberry (Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata), an invasive species of grape. Cherished mutual (of nine years! wow!) @islenskur mentioned not knowing much about the invasive species I work on so here's a little primer for anyone interested.

Porcelainberry is from eastern Asia and was imported to the United States in the late 19th century as an ornamental landscaping plant - it has since gone rogue and is all over the East Coast and has been found as far west as Iowa. The good people of the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Virginia said porcelainberry is "the most pervasive of all invasive plants" they are dealing with. It's a woody vine that can grow as tall as 20 ft, can grow in just about any environment include damp and shaded areas, and has a massive root system so it's also incredibly difficult to eradicate. It grows so quickly and so prolifically that it can easily shade out other plants in the understory and it will also easily cover an entire tree and engulf it -- if you find an undisturbed thicket of porcelainberry, it is probably a monoculture as it has killed or outcompeted everything in the area. Furthermore, since it can regrow from root fragments, it cannot be composted. As high risk of an invasive species as it is, porcelainberry is still sold in the horticulture trade, although it has since been banned in Delaware.

Porcelainberry seeds are spread by birds and small mammals like squirrels that eat the small, marble-like berries that form in the summer; they're actually really beautiful and vary in colour from a robin's egg blue to a deep midnight purple. While they are edible, they taste nasty, so if you like bland berries with a somewhat stinging aftertaste and a slimy texture, these are a perfect snack. The leaves are also edible and not disgusting (I've actually used them to make dolmades aka stuffed grapes leaves and the texture was no different than cultivated grape leaves) and they look quite lovely on a cast iron fence -- zoom in on the little tendrils that it uses to cling to itself and other objects to make a lattice and quickly grow upwards. These tendrils are a big tell for identifying porcelainberry in the winter when there are no leaves, as other clinging/climbing vines like Asian bittersweet, English ivy, and poison ivy have different ways of attaching to the trees.

As much as I hate dealing with it, I have to admit that this plant is incredibly good at thriving in adverse conditions.

Bonus: it can be hard to see how much is removed just from before-after pictures so here’s the cleanup result:

[thestudentfarmer]

Hello hello~

I've got some garden pic updates :)

New sunflower patch, I'm only doing a small patch here as It's to tide over till I get some more scaping/zoning planned up. These are from 4th gen mix seeds (I got them from some friends and classmates)

Same row, I purchased some jalapeno starts as the peppers I seed started are still super small currently.

Same tows, some super late starting spinach. I'm letting it grow to see if I can see what seeding for spinach is like and share that with you all :)

In the white line/square is a wild seeded chamomile plant. I pulled it and gave it to the chickens as a treat.

Further up is the remaining carrots and some tomato starts we purchased, now interplanted with them. There's 2 slicer types and a grape variety. I don't remember offhand if they are determinate or indeterminate. Unfortunately the ones I seed started died off once they were returned outside.

:( thankfully we've all agreed to go light on tomatoes this year due to that.

In ground some direct seeded squash, these are a patty pan/Starburst variety and a couple zuchinni. With luck this year we avoid the squash bugs!

The direct seeded nasturtium in the back and front is careless wildseeded chamomile (I swear it's the best way to grow it and will be sowing another patch like this)

The few eggplants I've left for now have flowers, pointed to by the white arrows.

And the broccoli currently, the seeds aren't ready quite yet, but I pulled a pod the birds got to to check them, still pretty green but the seeds are of good size. Still lots of lovely flowers for the various pollinators of the area. Unlike carrot flowers, broccoli seems to attract mostly bees (the honeybees) I haven't seen too many butterflies, moths, flies or otherwise.

Just a bee enjoying some broccoli pollen~

For pest report,

So far I've seen flies and stink bugs.

No ants, aphids and thankfully no squash bugs so far.

Beneficial bug report,

I did see some ladybird gators while doing maintenence cleanup. Some small soil roachs in a few of the beds earthworms while trimming off roots to old sunflower stems.

Mixed bugs:

What I believe to be praying mantis egg cases, I don't know how old or how new they are though.

Pillbugs in some of the beds.

Our parrot visitors have stopped coming by, unfortunatly we no longer have any sunflower heads available for them. When more sunflowers come in I hope they will visit again, or perhaps even when the hollyhocks start seeding. Plenty of the smaller birds of the area still visiting though. I find the thought they might get broccoli seed and wild seed it elsewhere very funny.

This week I plan to work on getting a water line in and some more deep beds set up for growing more sweet potato vines/spuds. As well as getting some melon seeds direct seeded if I can (I may need more soil first to refill the bed).

Started some new spuds to vine for the sweet potato's and ordered some sunchoke tubers and seeds to start out some new herbs/spices and teas.

That's it for today's post and update 😊

🌱🌻Happy homesteading and Urban Farming🌻🌱

3.21.2024

[frogonamelon]

Why the Sierra Nevadas?

Hi!

Something I didn’t explain in the initial post that I wanted to expand on is why I choose the Sierra Nevadas as my setting as opposed to more well-known American mountain ranges like the Appalachian and the Rockies.

It's the furthest western mountain range as well as the furthest from the budding America. The land is an unknown from their perspective and not as often mentioned as the other two. As far as I’m aware, it mostly comes up when talking about the California Gold Rush. 

But the biggest reason for why I chose this place however was the climate. 

From what I understand, the west Sierras to the coast of California has what's known as a ‘Mediterranean Climate’. Only existing five places around the world (the largest being its namesake), it is characterized by mild, wet winters and summers being hot and dry. 

Long story short, it's why grapes, figs, pomegranates, and olives (among others) are grown in California. Crops from the Mediterranean just grow better there.

The fruit (It really needs a name so I can stop calling it ‘the fruit/Adam equivalent’) is similar to a bunch of different mediterranean fruits. It would grow on vines like grapes but it would resemble pomegranates/ pomegranate seeds the most. You know… fruit of the underworld and all that. 

As for the story:

It could be interesting to see whether or not the city was noticed, by who, and what their reactions were. Do they get a new influx of civilians during the aftermath of the Gold Rush? Has the city already fallen by this point? Do the indigenous people that lived in the region have anything to say about the fruit/ Their ADAM equivalent or Elysium? Does anyone in the ‘modern’ day know about this place before the player character finds it?

[defendersalliance]

Letter from a Villain

for @flashfictionfridayofficial 's prompt #FFF162: The Letter. ~700 words.

I wrote this so it could be read alone, but it’s basically a follow up to this snippet which gives more context on Valentine’s job tracking down the villain

~

The villain’s letter landed on Valentine’s desk three days after he’d escaped custody.

“I’ve heard he can be…more annoying in writing,” Brontide warned. Valentine’s hero co-worker gave the envelope one last glance before returning to his desk.

Valentine sighed and grabbed the envelope. “Has this been checked for poison?” he called. Sure, their branch of the Defenders Alliance was lacking in funding, but that didn’t mean they had to throw caution to the wind.

“You’re the ex-assassin!” Brontide replied. He glanced back and flashed Valentine a grin. “Poisons should be your specialty.”

He did know a thing or two about poison. Probably the reason they’d assigned him Sundew. Unfortunately, carnivorous plants were less up Valentine’s alley, and the villain’s new acid trick had made escape easy when he’d finally been captured after a month’s pursuit.

Valentine gave the envelope a closer look. Its pale green color was unusual, but he couldn’t find any discoloration or warping to suggest the paper was carrying extra ingredients. Still, he slid on his gloves before drawing a letter opener from his desk and tearing in. A pale piece of paper came out with letters typed in dark green ink. 

My dear Valentine, Sundew had written.

Great start. Valentine wondered if it was too late to pick a new hero name. Sticking with the fake last name he’d used as an assassin was…not his first choice. But no one asked him what he wanted when he’d agreed to join the Defenders.

With a heavy sigh, he continued reading.

It was lovely finally seeing your place after so many failed attempts to catch me. But let’s arrange the next date somewhere that isn’t falling apart.

The jab at the West branch made Valentine roll his eyes. Flickering lights and strange puddles, sure. But ‘falling apart’ was a stretch.

An art museum could be fun. I think we have different ideas about what “enjoying a museum” entails, though. I am looking forward to adding to my collection this weekend. And now that I’ve said that, I’m looking forward to imagining you on the streets all night in hopes of running into me. Weather says it’s supposed to rain, and I for one would love to see you drenched and miserable.

With Valentine’s luck, that was exactly how he’d be spending his weekend.

Since I’ll be giving myself the gift of stolen art, I thought I’d give you a gift as well. These seeds are so easy to grow that an amateur like yourself should be able to manage. And before long, you’ll have tomatoes! Or pumpkins. I forgot what I put in the envelope.

Valentine, with the utmost caution, tipped the envelope over his desk. A few small seeds rained onto his paperwork stack. Unlike last time, they didn’t explode into vines or venus flytraps.

Sundew, apparently, anticipated his concerns. And relax. They are ordinary seeds. Not my creations. I grow normal plants, too, in my garden. And I make a pretty good grape wine I’d be happy to share sometime.

Despite the promise that the grapes were grown from the ground, Valentine figured he’d have to pass, given the risk. Sundew’s powers also let him generate plants laced with deadly poison. Or, worse, put people in a hypnotic trance.

Though, Valentine suspected he had a different idea of ‘worse’ than most people.

I’m sure you’ve got work to get back to. I do too. I haven’t forgotten my promise that I’d find your real name, Val. 

Catch me again, and I might grant you the privilege of calling me your rival.

Valentine tossed the letter back on the desk with a huff of annoyance. Why couldn’t his first job as a hero have been a villain with a little less…personality?

He eyed the seeds. They hadn’t been the only thing to fall from the envelope. A fine layer of dirt had scattered on his papers as well. And he’d had enough brushes with forensics to know the value of dirt. Intentionally or not, Sundew had just given Valentine a clue to the location of whatever mountain cottage he was shacking up in.

The question was whether it was an accident, or a trap.

[ihenvs3000w23]

Nature Interpretation & Science

This week we focused on nature interpretation through science. Now, this is something I am more familiar with as I am a student studying both biology and psychology. To be more specific, I have studied nature in ecological contexts throughout my time as a Gryphon. There are many ways that we interpret nature through science, whether that be the process that take place in nature or the patterns and relationships that take place. For example, gardening can be seen as a specific science known as botany which focuses on plants and their genetics and environment. Gardening is something I myself do not take part in, but my grandpa as I have stated before is consumed by gardening and crops. Since I was a little girl our home in Bosnia is surrounded by grape vines, cherry trees, figs, tomatoes, watermelon, etc. When I get there, all the hard work is already over and it is just harvest season. I did not witness the extensive work that was put into the proper growth of a crop. For example, in order for a fig to grow properly, the company of female bee’s is significant as they lay eggs inside the fruit in order for the fig to ripen. Sometimes, we have a habit of just looking at our surroundings in nature, but not understanding how these things come to be. Whether it be from a continental drift, a seed that grew into a tree, or a burrow that is a home to a groundhog. Another example that I would like to touch on is a waterfall that is right outside of my home in Bosnia. The waterfall/water is called Duman and according to my family it has always been there. It is one of the main water sources in Livno and is the best drinking water.

Even though Duman was not manmade, it is up to the people who visit and native people to the town who choose to keep it clean and take care of it. In other words, science is the explanation for the waterfall or magic as some may believe. Almost everything that exists has a reason for existing and can be explained through science, whether that be people or the reason for the weeds growing on your grass. Sometimes this can be evident when looking at a tree in a forest, it may have a spotted or moldy texture to it as it was affected by a fungus or disease. That can happen to things in nature just as it happens to us. Lastly, I want to make mention the relationship that humans and nature have with one another. When you look at a numerical scale of the human and of a plant, there are many similarities that we share. Whether it be the need for oxygen or the similar epidermal layer under a microscope, we would be unable to exist without nature. Thankfully, us humans are able to understand some of these similarities, differences, benefits, and precautions

[mothereliza]

I AM The True Vine - you, the branches (John 15: 1-8)

In John’s gospel, Jesus invites us to stay close to him as a branch to a vine; He emphasizes the importance of this connection: “If you abide in me, you will bear much fruit.”

The Old Testament writers used vines and branches as metaphors to describe Israel’s relationship with God. Psalm 80 says, “God brought the vine out of Egypt, cleared the ground, planted and filled the land.” The leaves were lustrous but yielded no fruit because Israel abused its prosperity for idolatry, so God took his grace from them. But Jesus said, “I AM THE TRUE VINE.” And we know that the branches of a vine are the life of its fruit. To survive, a branch must stay attached to the vine like the limb of a massive tree so the wind may not blow it off. That’s what Jesus desires for Christians – to hold on to the vine to be vibrant branches.

This means staying alert, hanging tightly, and getting busy, which is arduous work for Christians and it means consistent spiritual renewal.

            It's Spring and this is the time of year when gardeners at heart begin planting seeds and tending the shoots emerging from winter soil. We know that just because we want something to grow does not guarantee it will. We also know that getting our roses to bloom means cutting back the canes; encouraging the growth of the tomato plants means pinching off the gangly stems, and getting a second bloom from the impatiens, or the pansies and zinnias, means cutting back the early flowers. The short of this is if you love your garden, it will love you back. Love is practical when it is reciprocal.

Jazz music lovers may know the story of George Alexander Aberle. He’s an American songwriter and poet. He lived much of his life under the name Eden Ahbez. He was a forerunner of the hippie movement - a wandering advocate of love and nature. He spent much of his adulthood in California, at one point camping under one of the “Ls” of the famous Hollywood sign - a real “hippie.” He coined the line – “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return,” – which became a hit song made famous by Nat King Cole. (Check “Nature Boy” album).

Ahbez reminds us that while people busy themselves in pursuit of success and achievement, our true purpose and fulfillment in life are determined simply by love – and the most remarkable thing you’ll ever learn is to love and be loved in return”.

I see this in Jesus’ words: “Abide in me, and I will abide in you.” And he also said, “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit [God] takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he [God] prunes, that it may bear fruit.”

These verses signal that there will be a remnant—a faithful branch that remains connected. Most Christians are afraid of this pruning. I learned that when a vine grower prunes, it has a two-fold focus: cutting off the dead and trimming the healthy. If there is a useless branch, like the long leafless twigs that no longer produce, they are removed. The vine grower will lighten the vine of these useless branches. By removing the dead branches, the rest of the vine is strengthened.

But sometimes, even the living branches are pruned. For instance, the vinedresser may cut back some of the growth from the previous seasons, and in Spring, he may break off some of the new shoots. That’s because if there are too many clusters of grapes on a branch, it can weaken and even crack. It seems strange to prune a healthy branch and cut it back because the short-term solution produces less fruit. However, the vine grower is committed to a total and vivacious harvest, so the vine grower thinks longer-term. He knows that because of his pruning, the vine will become more robust and yield more grapes at harvest time. For us Christians, it may be intimidating to hear, but we rely on the work of the Holy Spirit to stay close to Jesus and assuredly continue to feed on his love without fear. Still, we must be careful about what clusters our spiritual life.

The Epistle in I John 4:7 teaches fascinating facts about the fear of love, which I want to emphasize: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear --- whoever fears has not reached perfection in love."

This reminds me of the Beatles song " All We Need is Love." Staying close to Jesus and sharing his passion for loving us means you can’t say, ‘I love God’ and hate your brothers or sisters (vv.19-21). Commit to your baptismal vows, love one another, strive for justice, bear fruit, and continue to make disciples for Christ.

May the Holy Spirit strengthen us to persevere in this commitment. AMEN!

[madraleen]

Bungo Stray Dogs - Kafka Asagiri/Sango Harukawa Volumes 5-6: Tainted Eyes, Cats and Dogs, and Me Simping for Dazai - A Commentary (*anime spoilers)

-i'm such a simp for dazai, i saw him on the cover and was so delighted. ridiculous

-kouyou and ranpo are the same age? KOUYOU AND RANPO ARE THE SAME AGE?

-in the excitement of the anime, i don't think i appreciated properly the strength of character and the sense of self of kyouka. her will to become something else, something less sinister.

-kenji-kun <3

-okay but why is lovecraft so relatable -.- not leaving home, not wanting attention...

-i love dazai, have i mentioned that lately

-dazai's neck bandages aren't missing as often now. and it feels like the character designs are more set

-NO, DAZAI, YOU'RE NOT IN THE "with yosano-sensei we can keep ourselves healthy, as long as we don't die" GROUP, DON'T SAY "WE," JUST BE CAREFUL, YOU FUCKING DUMBASS

-DAZAI-CHUUYA POSTSCRIPT, HELP ME. i'm imagining dazai has chuuya in a chokehold, judging from chuuya's reaction

-ahaha, according to harukawa-sensei, then dazai has mafia eyes with a tiny touch of a "chance to go back" from having a stained psyche. ahaha...hah... *sob*

-well, in this volume dazai's eyes get "tainted" ie all black when he's about to interrogate kouyou, so i'll assume he's the one whose eyes get a bit tainted once their true nature comes to the surface, but i will keep a close watch on eyes from now on. i've noticed from the start that dazai's eyes span the monochrome rainbow anyway

-akutagawa be tainted to the core eyes-wise

-so when akutagawa's eyes turn white, is he vulnerable and not his usual tainted self- ARGH, am i going to be over-analyzing eyes now?!

-akutagawa and nathaniel have turned into somewhat of literary poets in their encounter, they don't usually speak like this

-honestly, props to yosano for not lopping ranpo's head off when he says "war is so boring"

-CHUUUUUYA. tainted-eyed CHUUUUUYA

-i keep voting tanizaki for the mafia because he'd fit right in, but you know what, maybe we should send them kenji-kun. he'd make everyone insane in one week tops and the mafia would be disbanded

-kenji's wide-eyed sparkly-eyed "OOH!" at chuuya? that's me when i see chuuya

-"do you think the agency is some stray dog" fukuzawa says- okay, so if the agency isn't a dog, and the mafia are dogs, it makes sense for dazai and kyouka to dislike dogs, but it's interesting that akutagawa dislikes dogs, but also he doesn't like himself very much either, so- *DEEP BREATH* i must stop with the cats and dogs thing

-ranpo, my lil bb <3

-yes yes chuuya's bio, we know, you dislike dazai as he dislikes you. sure jan. also chuuya is older by almost two months and you can't convince me they've never used that in an argument

-"dazai-san told me" DAZAI-SAN HAUNTS EVERYONE'S THOUGHTS, EVEN NAOMI'S!

-my my, what big tainted eyes you have there, mr lovecraft

-margaret's skill "able to make things wither away by exposing them to wind"?? we've barely seen that, i hope she gets to do more in the future

-i mean, kunikida my man, mr grape of wrath literally sticks seeds in his neck and grows vines, what's "simply bizarre" about lovecraft's tentacles? what, the transformation? your jinko literally transforms into a tiger

-yes, for tanizaki, naomi comes FIRST, before the agency, before good or evil or morals. to the rest of the agency, arguably the agency comes first. my man tanizaki, let me show you the way to port mafia. please child, relieve my fears. HE EVEN GOT TAINTED BLACK PUPILS FOR A BIT THERE, FFS

-me reading bsd: "mmhmm. mmhm, i see. mmhm." me reading bsd when dazai: "mmhmm :). mmhm, i see :))). mmhm :)))))."

-ONE MINUTE OF SCREEN TIME! IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN ONE MINUTE TO INCLUDE DAZAI TEASING THE DOG IN THE ANIME

-yes so, if the port mafia are dogs, and this dog barks at dazai, then dazai is a cat, and if a tiger is a cat, and natsume cat started the agency, and atsushi belongs to the agency, and the agency are the "foes" of port mafia, the agency are cats, cats vs dogs, and if dazai is a cat, then dazai decidedly belongs to the agency, do you see where i'm going with this

-aaand dazai continues to eat dog treats as though they're popcorn. okay sure

-dazai be like "only three plans? three HUNDRED plans, who do you think we are"

-dazai's "war is a living creature" fits very well with how he overpowers fyodor in the "end," with fyodor "losing" because dazai constantly readjusted his plans and improvised as things unfolded

-dazai be like "my mafia senses are tingling" when he ditches atsushi

-i'm sorry, but my man dazai is so beautiful. such a pretty man. such a pretty princess. i cannot.

-my girl higuchi doesn't have tainted eyes

-look at that man. look at that whole man. (*dazai. obviously)

-dazai is so wtf about mori-san's proposal to his returning to the port mafia that his eyes became untainted for a sec there.

-HAHAHA that's where you left the chapter?!?! WITH MORI'S QUESTION?! FOR A MONTH?! nooo!

-the bits about the actual authors are so interesting. higuchi feels nothing like the real higuchi. she feels more like her sister tbh

-re: "the heartless cur": I LOVE IT OMG. THE DAZAI-AKUTAGAWA MEETING STORY IS SO INTERESTING AND I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR IT FROM THE ANIME FOR AGES

-THE FRINGES OF AKU-KUN’S OUTFIT WOULD APPEAR TO SPROUT FLOWERS?!?! F-FLOWERS?!

-re: dazai's reputation: "he would kill his own parents in a second, take down buddha himself at first glance, and laugh it all off with cold cruelty afterward." TELL ME MORE

-dazai has a habit of letting his kouhai try to kill him before he adopts them, huh? a ceremonial ritual if you wish

-AKUTAGAWA WAS GIVEN AN ACTUAL HONEST CHOICE BY DAZAI! he would literally have provided for him and gin and then disappeared! but aku-kun chose differently!

-AND GOING BACK TO MY CATS-DOGS THING, mafia akutagawa "the heartless cur," "the silent mad dog"?? hello??

[healthoncheck]

Best Hair Oil For Your Hair Type – How To Find The Right One?

Hair oils are essential to your hair care routine; however, knowing your hair type and needs can help you choose the ideal oil for your hair. Read on to know them all.

Almonds, sesame, grape, grapeseed, jojoba, coconut, and argan are all found naturally and are the most outstanding oils for promoting healthy hair development. They are safe to use on both the hair and the skin without any pre-treatment. In addition, essential oils like lavender and citrus have several beneficial properties to the hair. These are the finest oils for your hair; they not only smell fantastic but also have practical benefits for your hair.

Coconut Oil

Lauric acid, a medium-chain triglyceride found in coconut oil, is an essential nutrient (Saturated fat). It’s easy for the body to absorb and utilize. That’s why this oil doesn’t just coat the hair; it penetrates it. Coconut oil comes in several forms, including refined, unrefined, & extra-virgin. When applied to the skin, coconut oil helps lock in moisture and prevent dryness. The hair is more manageable because of the added elasticity and smoothness. In addition to preventing heat damage, this oil regularly stimulates hair growth while nourishing the scalp.

Brigandi

The herbs used to create brigandi hair oil are extracted into pure sesame oil & milk. The oil is a blend of several different substances, such as sesame seeds, Bhringraj & Balloon Vine, and the herbs Indigo, Gooseberry, and Eclipta Alba. Everyone may use this oil since it effectively treats various hair issues. The oil helps prevent further hair loss by fortifying the follicles. In addition, brigandi hair oil is effective against both fungal and bacterial infections of the scalp. Also, the aroma is comforting and earthy, which helps calm nerves and elevate spirits to prevent emotional stress from contributing to hair loss.

Almond Hair

The oil in almonds comes from the nuts within. Edible almonds are cultivated for their naturally sweet flavor, and this oil is extracted from them. Hair treated with sweet almond oil is hydrated and safer from pollution. Hair loss and split ends would both be avoided. You may expect your hair to grow faster and fuller by using it regularly.

Olive Oil 

Once again, olive oil’s adaptability means it may be used in many different contexts. Olive oil, obtained by pressing olives, is known for protecting and moisturizing. In addition, olive oil’s ability to form a barrier around the hair shaft makes it a valuable tool in the fight against pollution. Did you know that olive oil may restore color and heat-treated hair? Olive oil is an excellent choice if you’re in the market for oils that may promote hair development while protecting your hair from environmental damage. Hair treated with olive oil feels healthier and sleeker with only one treatment.

Grapeseed Oil

Did you know that hemp seed oil is packed with components like liquid and Vitamin E that are essential for hair and skin growth? Grapeseed oil is an excellent moisturizer and conditioner for dry hair. It promotes the growth of strong, healthy hair. It may even prevent the development of split ends and tame the frizz. It’s good news that grapeseed oil can inhibit the synthesis of the hair-loss-inducing hormone DHT.

Source: https://www.healthoncheck.com/best-hair-oil-for-your-hair-type-how-to-find-the-right-one/ 

Read About the Best Hair Oil For Your Hair Type – How To Find The Right One?

About The Health on Check In a world drowning with an overload of digital information, healthoncheck.com brings a sense of calm to the cacophony. It is a leading content platform that provides engaging content across verticals like health, fitness, wellness, lifestyle and relationship among others. Our fresh take on a diverse range of topics spanning multiple verticals keep audiences of varied interests engaged with our infotainment content.

[philodendronforming]

Grapes

Grapes

Grapes are a sweet fruit in the summer season. Grape plants are grows like a vine which are found in many colors such as purple, red and black. Grapefruit is typically in ellipsoid shape. Grape is the one of the deciduous and refreshing fruit.

Types 

Grape has more than 10,000 different species some of them are listed below, there are moon drops grape, concord grape, cardinal grape, green grape, and blue grape.

Moon drops grape

Moon drops grapes are a seedless variety which is tubular in shape. Another name for this variety is sweet sapphire grapes. Grape fruit has dimples at the bottom. Well, mature grape fruits have a crisp texture and juicy flavour.

Concord grapes

Concord grapes can adapt to all ranges of soil and climatic conditions. This variety mainly grows for economic purposes. This fruit has a thick skin which is too shiny. Another name for this variety is fox grape.

Cardinal grape

This grapes plant is highly produced in California. It has a large fruit which bears black seed. The study of growing grape plant is called viticulture. Grape leaves alternate and palmately lobed. This fruit has a strawberry taste.

Green grapes

Green grapes prefer loamy and sandy soils. Fruit plants climb woody vines and they grow with the support of a trellis. It has greenish heart-shaped leaves. Green grapes produce fragrant flowers. Commonly known as white grape plant. This is a non-climacteric grape fruit plant and cross-pollinated crop.

Blue grapes

Blue grapes are too deciduous. Cluster-like appearance is good to see. Blue grapes mainly used for making juice, and wine preparation. After attaining better growth of the blue grapes plant, the vines will be fixed to the pole so that they can grow vertically. 

Soil

Grapes grow soil with a pH range of 6.5-7.5. Use coconut fibre cover over the soil, the coir helps maintain the moisture and also prevents the beetle from laying the egg. It performs best in deep medium textured soil.

Watering

Grape are fruit tree that needs regular watering throughout their life cycle. During the hot season, a mature vine needs about 8 to 10 gallons of water per day. At the time of berry development, irrigated at weekly intervals.

Sunlight

Grapes require 7 hours of direct sunlight per day. It promotes high yield and has an economic purpose. Overexposure to the sun can lead to fruit burn. This fruit plant also requires good air circulation.

Fertilizer

Best to use mulch to maintain soil moisture. Application of banana peels, bone meal, wood ash, and well-decomposed manure can enhance the new vegetative growth. 

Repotting

Early spring season is the best time to transplanting. Loosening the roots before planting enables the roots to spread out and grow in all directions. 

Pruning

Plant vines will have their entire branches pruned and new branches will grow in the spring season. Prune the side branches and any off-shoots. Only allow one or two main stems for the first year. When the plant reaches pencil thickness, it is time to prune all the leaves and trick the plant into winter mode.

Benefits

Good source of vitamins and minerals. Grow on a creeper in large numbers.

Advertisement

It contains minerals and vitamins including vitamin A and vitamin C.

Grape fruit has low-fat calories and a well-balanced diet.

All parts of the grape plants used as medicine.

The identification of locally suited multipurpose varieties which can be used for table, wine and raisin production is desirable, as this would improve the economic stability of grape growers and hence industry viability.

Go green! Green goes with everything, you know

Grapes fruit plant

Blog created by: Santhionlineplants

[philoldendronindoor]

Grapes

Grapes

Grapes are a sweet fruit in the summer season. Grape plants are grows like a vine which are found in many colors such as purple, red and black. Grapefruit is typically in ellipsoid shape. Grape is the one of the deciduous and refreshing fruit.

Types 

Grape has more than 10,000 different species some of them are listed below, there are moon drops grape, concord grape, cardinal grape, green grape, and blue grape.

Moon drops grape

Moon drops grapes are a seedless variety which is tubular in shape. Another name for this variety is sweet sapphire grapes. Grape fruit has dimples at the bottom. Well, mature grape fruits have a crisp texture and juicy flavour.

Concord grapes

Concord grapes can adapt to all ranges of soil and climatic conditions. This variety mainly grows for economic purposes. This fruit has a thick skin which is too shiny. Another name for this variety is fox grape.

Cardinal grape

This grapes plant is highly produced in California. It has a large fruit which bears black seed. The study of growing grape plant is called viticulture. Grape leaves alternate and palmately lobed. This fruit has a strawberry taste.

Green grapes

Green grapes prefer loamy and sandy soils. Fruit plants climb woody vines and they grow with the support of a trellis. It has greenish heart-shaped leaves. Green grapes produce fragrant flowers. Commonly known as white grape plant. This is a non-climacteric grape fruit plant and cross-pollinated crop.

Blue grapes

Blue grapes are too deciduous. Cluster-like appearance is good to see. Blue grapes mainly used for making juice, and wine preparation. After attaining better growth of the blue grapes plant, the vines will be fixed to the pole so that they can grow vertically. 

Soil

Grapes grow soil with a pH range of 6.5-7.5. Use coconut fibre cover over the soil, the coir helps maintain the moisture and also prevents the beetle from laying the egg. It performs best in deep medium textured soil.

Watering

Grape are fruit tree that needs regular watering throughout their life cycle. During the hot season, a mature vine needs about 8 to 10 gallons of water per day. At the time of berry development, irrigated at weekly intervals.

Sunlight

Grapes require 7 hours of direct sunlight per day. It promotes high yield and has an economic purpose. Overexposure to the sun can lead to fruit burn. This fruit plant also requires good air circulation.

Fertilizer

Best to use mulch to maintain soil moisture. Application of banana peels, bone meal, wood ash, and well-decomposed manure can enhance the new vegetative growth. 

Repotting

Early spring season is the best time to transplanting. Loosening the roots before planting enables the roots to spread out and grow in all directions. 

Pruning

Plant vines will have their entire branches pruned and new branches will grow in the spring season. Prune the side branches and any off-shoots. Only allow one or two main stems for the first year. When the plant reaches pencil thickness, it is time to prune all the leaves and trick the plant into winter mode.

Benefits

Good source of vitamins and minerals. Grow on a creeper in large numbers.

Advertisement

It contains minerals and vitamins including vitamin A and vitamin C.

Grape fruit has low-fat calories and a well-balanced diet.

All parts of the grape plants used as medicine.

The identification of locally suited multipurpose varieties which can be used for table, wine and raisin production is desirable, as this would improve the economic stability of grape growers and hence industry viability.

Go green! Green goes with everything, you know

Grapes fruit plant

Blog created by: Santhionlineplants

[philodendronleaves]

Grapes

Grapes

Grapes are a sweet fruit in the summer season. Grape plants are grows like a vine which are found in many colors such as purple, red and black. Grapefruit is typically in ellipsoid shape. Grape is the one of the deciduous and refreshing fruit.

Types 

Grape has more than 10,000 different species some of them are listed below, there are moon drops grape, concord grape, cardinal grape, green grape, and blue grape.

Moon drops grape

Moon drops grapes are a seedless variety which is tubular in shape. Another name for this variety is sweet sapphire grapes. Grape fruit has dimples at the bottom. Well, mature grape fruits have a crisp texture and juicy flavour.

Concord grapes

Concord grapes can adapt to all ranges of soil and climatic conditions. This variety mainly grows for economic purposes. This fruit has a thick skin which is too shiny. Another name for this variety is fox grape.

Cardinal grape

This grapes plant is highly produced in California. It has a large fruit which bears black seed. The study of growing grape plant is called viticulture. Grape leaves alternate and palmately lobed. This fruit has a strawberry taste.

Green grapes

Green grapes prefer loamy and sandy soils. Fruit plants climb woody vines and they grow with the support of a trellis. It has greenish heart-shaped leaves. Green grapes produce fragrant flowers. Commonly known as white grape plant. This is a non-climacteric grape fruit plant and cross-pollinated crop.

Blue grapes

Blue grapes are too deciduous. Cluster-like appearance is good to see. Blue grapes mainly used for making juice, and wine preparation. After attaining better growth of the blue grapes plant, the vines will be fixed to the pole so that they can grow vertically. 

Soil

Grapes grow soil with a pH range of 6.5-7.5. Use coconut fibre cover over the soil, the coir helps maintain the moisture and also prevents the beetle from laying the egg. It performs best in deep medium textured soil.

Watering

Grape are fruit tree that needs regular watering throughout their life cycle. During the hot season, a mature vine needs about 8 to 10 gallons of water per day. At the time of berry development, irrigated at weekly intervals.

Sunlight

Grapes require 7 hours of direct sunlight per day. It promotes high yield and has an economic purpose. Overexposure to the sun can lead to fruit burn. This fruit plant also requires good air circulation.

Fertilizer

Best to use mulch to maintain soil moisture. Application of banana peels, bone meal, wood ash, and well-decomposed manure can enhance the new vegetative growth. 

Benefits

Good source of vitamins and minerals. Grow on a creeper in large numbers.

It contains minerals and vitamins including vitamin A and vitamin C.

Grape fruit has low-fat calories and a well-balanced diet.

All parts of the grape plants used as medicine.

The identification of locally suited multipurpose varieties which can be used for table, wine and raisin production is desirable, as this would improve the economic stability of grape growers and hence industry viability.

Go green! Green goes with everything, you know

Grapes fruit plant

Blog created by: Santhionlineplants