#Care Tips for Summer Container Gardens | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

sleepingdeath-light · 1 year

Text

darling ; 18+

requested by ; an ao3 user (20/06/23)

word count ; 1344

content ; painting as foreplay, praise, sort of sensation play, implied sex

fandom ; welcome home

pairing ; wally darling x female reader

read also on ; ao3

note ; playfellowxxx is the tag created by clown and the team for nsfw content — please block it if this isn’t something you want to see

additional note ; potentially ooc wally as this is my first smut shot featuring him lol — this was also written at like 8am over 30 mins so that might have contributed

minors and ageless blogs will be blocked

Being vulnerable with your partner came as easily as breathing to you — his gentle words and soft gaze as natural and soothing as a cool, babbling brook on a hot summer day or as welcomingly as a warm blanket on a cold winter evening. He was an artist and saw beauty in everything — from the fluttering wings of the butterfly that flitted in front of your faces to the curve of a friends’ smile to something as small as a fingerprint.

And never before had this trait of his been as obvious and endearing as it was now. Now that you were laid bare before him, nude body sprawled out on a blanket that neither of you minded losing, whilst he hummed in that same old way and mixed some body safe paints onto his palate. You’d seen him carefully pick up and inspect each bottle before picking out what he deemed as the most acceptable shades and turning to you — that same old smile on his face that never failed to leave your stomach fluttering with those butterflies he loved to paint.

‘I think I’ll start from the top,’ he mused, more to himself that anyone else, before kneeling down beside your head and smoothing out your hair, ‘are you okay?’

You hummed in approval and smiling against his lips when he leaned down to give you a chaste kiss — a smile that remained even as he pulled away. He had always been a worrier, even when you had been the one to propose something (as you had this), so his questioning was far from a shock — in fact you’d almost been expecting more of it.

Though, thankfully, your Darling wasn’t in much of a mood to delay your fun and quickly began to mix up his paints — and you were barely able to contain your excitement.

—————

An ocean of asters sprung up from the edges of your lips and wormed their way up above your eyes with intricate interlocking stems that you could barely feel as they were painted. A garden of purple buds and blossoms that was quickly framed by a chain of baby’s breath that dipped in and out of your hairline.

Then he moved on to your throat: splotches of daintily dotted white popping like fireworks against the sky of your skin. His brushwork more dotty than consistent as he didn’t bother drawing their stems, instead focusing on the blossoms himself as he adjusted the colours with each new press of the tip against your neck.

After that came your chest and collarbone, with which he took great care. Mixing calla lilies with camellias of pink, red and white — a bouquet of attraction that sprouted from the swells of your breasts and wound upwards and over your collar and shoulders. A display that left no skin uncoloured, undecorated, unloved whilst he offered more and more praise with each stroke of the brush.

‘I love you,’

‘You’re so beautiful, did you know that?’

‘Perfect,’

‘You’re doing so well,’

And, when you whimpered at the innocent brush of his fingertip across your nipple when he went to correct the paint, he smiled and chuckled. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you when we’re finished,’

Your stomach and sides were adorned with blossoming carnations — wedding white that faded into pink and then deep red as he approached the apex of your thighs. Pure love to a promise of remembrance to a deep love that echoed through his sweet touches and his reassuring words — promises you knew he’d keep (he always did) but that left you terribly wanting nonetheless.

Words crafted as beautifully, as intentionally, as the artwork that now adorned your body that was growing and twisting and almost taking on a life of its own as he continued to work and promise and praise and touch. Leaving no room for doubt as he decorated you.

‘You can ask me to stop if you’d like. Hm? No? Alright, but remember that you always have the option,’

‘Your beauty is astounding,’

Explaining the meaning of each flower as he painted its petals upon your flesh — your stomach, then your thighs. Leaving your head spinning, chest heaving, as he was so close — so very close — and yet still he made you wait. Making you listen to his adoration as he illustrated his affections onto your body itself.

If you’d have been a bit more patient then the romance of the gesture would have left you speechless.

—————

Red chrysanthemums; I love you. He had those flourishing in the depths of your stretch marks.

Daisies; loyal love. Those decorated the circumference of your thighs in delicate chains that tickled as they were applied.

Gardenias; you’re lovely. Their blossoms, detached, free-floated around your knees.

Heliotrope; devotion. Deep purple splotches nestled into the crease where your legs met your body, tantalising centimetres away from where you needed him.

Morning glories; affection. Dotted along the inner side of your calves, each placed on a spot he kissed as he made his way further and further down your body.

Red tulips; passion. He dotted them around your ankle, their stems intertwined with yellow tulips (sunshine in your smile) and yarrows (everlasting love) for good measure.

Red salvias; forever mine. The final flowers he painted, which decorated the outline of your sex with a beautiful array of peaking blossoms and buds that made you giggle and keen as they were applied to your sensitive skin.

Then, finally complete, Wally placed his palate to one side and stood back to admire his handiwork whilst you admired him in return: blue hair dishevelled and partially hanging over his face in tendrils of deep beautiful blue that he hadn’t bothered to put back in place; cardigan discarded and white sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his wrists and hands covered in splotches of colour that matched the mess made of his striped pants; the satisfied smile on his face as his eyes looked you over from ankle to crown — lingering on your exposed, decorated pussy for a few beats before moving upwards once again to meet you own needy, inquisitive gaze.

‘You look amazing,’ he finally offered, his words making you smile as you ushered him over.

‘Thanks to you,’

Once he was close to your level, you grasped his collar and pulled him into a kiss so passionate that it stole the breath from his lungs and neatly had him stumbling over his own legs as he hurriedly knelt down to meet you. You felt him gasp against your lips as he took a moment to adjust before he tilted his head to the side and deepened it — one paint covered hand flying to the back of your head as his fingers tangled themselves in your hair, his other reaching down to both steady you at your waist and keep himself up right as he shuffled between your spread legs.

For a moment you almost felt guilty about so many hours of work going to waste — you’d seen your reflection, after all, and Wally had done a fantastic and very detailed job. But that guilt evaporated mere moments later when you were forced to break the kiss and you saw how worked up your beloved had gotten: dilated pupils, panting breaths, parted lips and a string of saliva connecting you two that broke the moment you rushed forwards and captured his lips in another, even messier kiss.

No longer guilty about the paint not having the time to dry as he lowered you down to the floor and settled between your decorated thighs. No longer guilty about the amount of paint you were sure to get on his clothes as he rubbed his hardening dick against your wet, neglected pussy and you both moaned. No longer guilty about the artwork only lasting a matter of minutes when one of his hands left your hand reached between you to start clumsily rubbing at your clit.

No longer guilty because it was clear that he wanted to make a mess as much as you did.

#sleepingdeath #playfellowxxx #female reader #female reader smut #smut #welcome home smut #welcome home x reader #wally darling smut #wally darling x reader #minors dni #minors fuck off #minors don’t touch

129 notes · View notes

rouecentric · 1 year

Text

BOUQUETS MADE OUT OF LOVE

SYN. tsukasa finds himself being charmed by the florist that happens to be around his age.

CHARS. tsukasa tenma, reader, saki tenma (mentioned).

CONTAINS. fluff, pretty bad floriography, mentions of hospitalization, probably ooc bc GOD.

LETTERS. AAA this is borderline gibberish and NOT proofread..

YOU loved flowers, they've been a part of your life ever since you were little, as your mother was a florist and your father would take up gardening as a hobby.

you'd always help your mother with her shop during the summer, be it by helping her grow her flowers or bring her whatever she needed at the moment.

eventually over the years, you started to actually work at her store when you became old enough to take care of yourself, usually working as a clerk during the summer.

during your months working there, you would always meet uniquely different people, be it a small child wanting to buy their parents flowers, a teenager wanting to buy a bouquet for their partner, or an elderly person wanting to buy a bouquet for their grandchild that is graduating.

although they wouldn't compare to the teenager that was in front of you— his short scruffy blond hair that faded into peach tips were now slightly disheveled by the way he almost in a hurried pace into the store, his amber eyes and seemingly naturally bright smile would've put you in a haze if you were caught off guard for long enough, but quickly regained composure to give him your signature customer service smile.

"excuse me-! do you have any flowers that would be perfect for giving someone who's in the hospital? i don't have any specific flower in mind.." the blond asked, slightly looking around the store, observing any of the flowers that stood there as decorations for the store.

"alright! please wait here while I go get the flowers, then." you nodded before quickly going into another room to retrieve the flowers you had thought of, not feeling the slight heat creep up onto your face.

tsukasa liked flowers, despite not getting the appeal about it. sure, some smelled nice, looked pretty and made great decorations, but he never really seemed to understand why a lot of people would be almost obsessed with them.

saki liked them, though, so that's why he was in the florist's, watching as the store clerk hurriedly came back with a bouquet of pink tulips, petunias, and yellow roses, intricately decorated and tied together with a pale yellow cloth wrapped around the flowers, a pink bow tied around them to pull off the look of a neat bouquet.

as the worker reached out their arms to hand him the bouquet, he subconsciously fixated on their face— they looked around his age, and not to mention, they looked really pretty.

"oh, right! here's your money, goodbye!" he exclaimed, shoving the money in their hands before rushing off with the bouquet in hand, his face being redder and redder as he processed his nonchalant thought.

he could hear the teenager try to call out for him— probably because of him giving them too much money, but it was too drowned out by his surroundings to make out what they said, tsukasa instead focusing on not tripping over anything and get to the hospital to meet up with saki to check in on her, clutching the bouquet to make sure it wouldn't fly out of his hands.

he definitely will have to visit that flower store again.

74 notes · View notes

lookclike · 3 months

Text

a bit of earth...

task: an early memory at woodrow house when: 1988, shortly after eliza's 8th birthday

on her eighth birthday, eliza got an assortment of things: a summer dress and accessories for her samantha doll, a stuffed rabbit, various vhs tapes of disney movies. the most inconspicuous was perhaps a copy of the secret garden, bound in green cloth with golden detailing. as things tend to go when you’re a little girl, it immediately filled eliza’s mind with ideas about old abandoned victorian manors and beautiful gardens. when waiting for a robin to show up outside and guide her to a magical hidden place didn’t work out, she decided to content herself with the next best thing: her own little garden.

she could probably just claim a small part of woodrow’s gardens as her own. no one would care much about that or bother her. in fact, mrs. tristan would probably be happy if she was contained within a smaller part of the propriety. but eliza wanted to make things in the right way, and such she marched into richard’s office with all the determination of the world.

“might i have a bit of earth?” she asked richard, who immediately laughed at the quote taken verbatim from the book. eliza frowned. it was quite a serious request.

“you can have as much earth as you want… but maybe we should ask mr. davis for some help?” that would be good, eliza supposed. the secret garden filled her with enough excitement, but no actual tips on how to garden.

“may i grow roses?”

“and whatever else you’d like.”

“may i have a piece of candy now?” the amusement in richard’s eyes as he gave her a piece of toffee was clear even for a child.

that’s how eliza found herself deep in dirt the next day, helping mr. davis dig holes with a child sized trowel.

“now, most flowers are best planted during autumn, but we can still seed some stuff right now. marigolds, primroses, pansies-”

“and roses too?” asked eliza excitedly. mr. davis laughed good-naturedly.

“yes, roses too. though they may not bloom the way they would later in the year.”

eliza barely heard the warning, already dropping seeds in their respective holes and humming a song. she wrote the names of each flower in little plaques with the loopsides writing of a primary schooler, doodling little representations of them.

mrs. tritan’s mouth was a tight line when she saw eliza in the entry hall covered head to toe in dirt, her pastel yellow overalls almost brown. “i’m growing roses.” she said proudly and the woman sighed.

“i suppose that some manual work outside is good for you.”

eliza spent the rest of that summer focused singularly on the small patch of earth that she thought of as her garden, watering, weeding or just observing very carefully, as if she would one day see the flowers erupting from the ground magically. in a couple of weeks, there were some small green plants emerging. in a couple more, a shy combination of yellows, purples and pinks. one day, eliza took a polaroid camera to the garden (that probably belonged to one of her older siblings) and took a dozen pictures of her flowers to display proudly in her room. there was just one problem…

“no roses.” she said morosely to mr. davis as he taught her how to identify what is a weed and what is a flower. he simply smiled at her.

“just give it time.”

eliza gave it as much time as a child is able to - three more weeks, just one week before school was set to start again and her time would not be spent entirely on the garden anymore. by then, the entire gardening project seemed hopeless. why have any garden at all if she couldn’t grow roses, the one plant every proper garden seemed to have? that night, instead of going to dinner, eliza hid outside, petulant and childish and heartbroken over what seemed like a lost summer.

the sun had already set down when richard found her by the swings, tear streaked face staring into the pond.

“you know, my mother also loved roses.” said richard, sitting by the second swing. eliza didn’t acknowledge him, though her frowned deepend a bit more. “she was a very good gardener, but i don’t think that’s why her flowers always grew impossibly tall and beautiful. it was because she loved them, and because she loved this place, as much as you do. just let things grow in their own time, lizzie.”

she sniffed loudly, and threw herself at richard muttering little sorries and let’s go home now.

that night, richard was the one who put eliza to bed, turning on the bedside table’s lampshade and pulling out the green book wordlessly before he started reading it. "a bit of earth," he said to himself, and mary thought that somehow she must have reminded him of something. when he stopped and spoke to her his dark eyes looked almost soft and kind. "you can have as much earth as you want," he said. "you remind me of some one else who loved the earth and things that grow…”

eliza fell asleep quickly, though something about the story falling from richard’s lips tugged at her tiny heart. in her dreams, she saw herself as mary lennox, crying in archibald's arms, in a garden not unlike that of woodrow. you remind me of someone else who loved the earth…

#in which eliza doesn't have a green thumb but it turns out okay #* ˖ ✰ development.#wrhq.task #inspired by the dinner threat with natalia hehehe

8 notes · View notes

tortugatalks · 2 years

Text

𝗖𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗞 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗗𝗼 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵/𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗦/𝗢|ᴴᶜˢ

𓆉 gender neutral reader

𓆉 established romantic relationship

𓆉 no warnings!

Martin Kratt

━ he loves beachcombing with you! (with care and in moderation!!) there's something so sweet about walking along the shore line with you and picking up pretty shells and rocks. you'll hold hands, but it won't be long before he's run off picking up an empty shell, observing it and informing you about its cool features and the little critters that could've inhabited it. all this before he gifts you it, telling you with a bright smile that it reminded him of you— a wondrous find he's lucky to call home.

━ insists that you name some of the baby animals the wk crew meet along the way. doesn't matter if youre not the creative type! whatever name you choose, he's more than happy with it. you need only say it once and that's all it takes for him to roll it off the tip of his tongue so endearingly! on occasion, you two brainstorm names together and get so into it that you briefly lose track of time and get side-tracked. not like you two mind, however. you could do this all day!

Chris Kratt

━ titles you his official "lab partner" when he's in the mood for one of his infamous experiments. these "experiments" usually just involve inconveniencing martin, but hey! you get results and you two admittedly get a kick out of watching the ordeal spiral into chaos. even when he's apart from you, you're the first person he thinks of and is quick to pull out his creature pod and contact you to fill you in on his thoughts and ideas. he listens to your hypotheses too and is more than willing to help execute them! it comes to a point where neither of you have to say anything and just give each other a "look" that his blue brother dreads every time.

━ organizes your belongings without you having to even ask. lose a disc? lose some gear? dw abt it! hes five steps ahead of you and knows exactly where your things are. mans has a system for practically everything and is always prepared for anything you may need. he pays heavy attention to your wants and needs, so whenever you run out of things, he just so happens to have a spare in his backpack or pocket.

Aviva Corcovado

━ adores it when you two share stuff about your families and childhood. she could talk about how she loves her grandmami for hours and is so ecstatic when she gets to proudly show you the items that have been passed down to her. she takes extra care of her family's possessions and the stuff she personally treasures, but her trust in you is so immense that she let's you hold on to them for a bit. atp in your relationship, her heart is full access to you. so much so that she considers you close family! gift her something that you treasure deeply and she'll feel so honored. will cherish it forever and makes sure no one else will ever get their hands on it.

━ goes without saying, but she'll most definitely invent cute little things for you! everything she makes is personal and thoughtful. if there's anything you need to make your life a little easier, just say the word and she'll boast about how you've reached the right person for the job! or she'll do it for you as a surprise!! there are times when some of the things you recommend she makes sound utterly ridiculous to her, but its not like she could ever say no to you. she spoils you rotten—and not a word of this to the others!!

Koki

━ gardening has gotta be one of her favourite pastimes with you! there isn't really much of a garden in the tortuga, so you two typically go out into town to buy some potted plants. she's rather fond of growing summer squashes and it's very convenient for if the wk crew wants to eat a healthy snack. that and you two are always collecting seeds from different continents—even indulging in planting them whenever it seems like a place needs serious vegetation! cue the relaxing lemonade breaks out in the sun <3

━ has a little usb containing pictures/videos of you. she loves documenting your dates with her creature pod and keeps them as mementos of your day to day life! she's very open about it and wouldn't deny you from accessing them at all. if you take a closer inspection into her files, you'll see that she has an entire album dedicated to funny and rather "unflattering" shots of you. much to your dismay, she insists behind raspy chuckles that you look "picture perfect" (no, she will not delete them!)

Jimmy Z

━ enjoys developing fun little game demos with you based on your guys' interests! if youre not the programming type, you better believe you'll be involved in the creative process. its a "together" effort and whether it be concept art, plots, the ost or ideas for game mechanics, he's always taking your thoughts into deep consideration. he'll definitely find a way to implement them into production. once a demo is completed, it's a full on game date night, baby!!

━ gives you piloting lessons! only when the rest of the gang isn't around though, haha whoops! although not being the boldest out of the crew, hes epecially confident in his aviation skills. he holds so much patience and is really good at easing you through the process. stars form in his eyes whenever you do a successful landing and he's extremely vocal with his praises. fist-bumps, pats on the back, tiny dances, you name it! he is extremely proud of you and wait, whats that? celebratory pizza!?

#wild kratts x reader #martin kratt x reader #chris kratt x reader #aviva corcovado x reader #koki x reader #jimmy z x reader

106 notes · View notes

cleaning-nature · 4 months

Text

Litter picking tips! 🚯

Figured I'd write down some things that are good to know for beginner litter pickers! These are in no particular order. 1. Use sturdy bags. Those cheap see through ones WILL break. 2. Litter picking on very windy days is no fun, so avoid that if you can. 3. Only use gardening/construction type gloves, not disposable ones. Latex/vinyl gloves just get sweaty and uncomfortable, and they won't protect you very well. 4. This obviously varies depending on where you live, but for us in Sweden, the ideal time to litter pick is during spring before all the vegetation comes up. This is the best time to get into areas like bushes that are normally hard to reach during the summer. 5. If you're walking on a street, it's good to only focus on one side, and then do the other as you're walking back. That way your attention won't be all over the place and you won't have to run across the street all the time. It's also good to go over an area twice, once in each direction. It can be easy to miss some things from one direction, while from the other direction they're very easy to spot. 6. This is an obvious one but, be careful around roads! Wear reflectives if it's dark. High vis vests are also a good idea. Don't litter pick around highways, leave that to people who are actually trained to do that. 7. Bring hand sanitizer, wet wipes are also good. 8. Clean your tools!!!! Even if you're not picking up things with your gloves, sweat and dirt will build up. You do not wanna know how long it took me realize I have to clean my gloves... Litter pickers don't necessarily need to be cleaned after every use unless you've been picking up some real nasty stuff. I still give mine a quick clean every time just because it's nice to use a clean tool + it feels better to store it knowing it's somewhat clean. 9. Use a separate bag for recycling if you're finding a fair amount of it. You really don't wanna go digging for the recycling later on. It might be a bit hard to manage two bags, but it's worth it. 10. If you're throwing your bag in a smaller bin, and the bag isn't full to the point of bursting, tie it up and push out the air from it before throwing it away. Just remember to turn your face away lol. 11. Bring several bags with you. Even if you're not necessarily planning on picking up a lot of trash, you never really know how much you'll find. And you might find things you have to take home (like the time I found a license plate) or things like recycling that should be separated from the main bag. 12. NEVER EVER TAKE YOUR FILLED TRASH BAGS INDOORS!!!!!! I cannot stress this enough!! You have no idea what that bag actually contains. It is going to smell, and it probably contains bugs. I once brought a full bag into my apartment after a litter picking session, thinking I'd just throw it away later because I needed a break. Well, after a little while, I saw lots of earwigs and other bugs crawling on/around the bag and it smelled really bad. If you are unable to throw it away right after your litter picking session, leave it outdoors.

#not picking any litter while its this hot outside #so have this instead #litter picking #litter txt

6 notes · View notes

bumblebeeappletree · 3 months

Text

youtube

Moving closer to a dense urban area often comes at the cost of garden and green space. But with creative planning, you can still have a productive and beautiful patch, even when you haven't got a lot of room to move.

Hannah visits self-taught gardeners in South Hobart who have made the most of a small urban garden, producing food year-round.

Vivienne Luke and partner Des moved here nine years ago after a decision to downsize from a larger property twenty kms out of town. “We were faced with the conundrum; how do you make a garden in a space like this?” says Vivienne. The previous garden was much bigger, with rich soil, flat aspect, and lots of sun. “It was wonderful... (Moving here), we wanted a vegetable garden, some fruit trees and a native garden, but we didn’t know what was possible.”

The outdoor space that wraps around Vivian and Des’ unit is only 150 square meters. The narrow sides are jam-packed with raised and inground vegie beds, climbers up the wall, fruit trees and a lovely native corner. And the unit balcony is now being consumed by pot plants. “I really got into pot plants because I ran out of space, and I wanted more space.” The original planting was hedges of camelias, which were removed in favour of raised vegie beds with inbuilt sitting space. “The height was really important to make it easy for me to use, but also the indentations in the beds make it just so much easier to reach each bed,” says Vivienne of the raised beds which are netted and protected from local pests.

The raspberries are Des’ domain "he isn’t really interested in the rest of the garden, but he loves his raspberries. I call him my sous chef... he gives them tender loving care all year round,” says Vivienne. Des harvests about one punnet a day in the summer and has built the raspberry bed against a Rio mesh structure. Des says, “it’s a very narrow bed, so we have to work hard at keeping them contained.” Vivienne adds, “(raspberries) are invasive, you have to control them, they even pop up in vegetable beds.” To maximise their produce, they’re using all the vertical space. “The beans love it there with the sun. And I discovered you can grow cucumbers vertically, so that’s been a great success,” says Vivienne. This garden has identified and utilised every microclimate that is available. Even the tomatoes are nestled up against a northeast-facing wall, soaking up the warmth.

Vivienne says, “it was one of my dreams to have a Tassie native garden... it’s a lovely place to come for quiet time” and is inspired by the variety of native flowers, perfumes and the symbiotic relationship between plants and birds. “Even just the smell of the leaves, there’s just nothing like it” says, Vivienne. The garden includes Banksia marginata, leptospermums, Pomaderris, Allocasuarina, low growing correas and a Eucalyptus caesia all designed in a layered wild planting for maximum impact and seclusion.

With tips on how to best use a small space for gardening, Vivienne says, “one of the crucial things is the orientation of the property, to maximise the sun. The other is spacing, and most important of all, grow what you want to eat. The things that you love are what you need to grow, it’s life-giving. I love getting out in the garden, I love watching it evolve... I can disappear into this space for hours and feel a lot better at the end of it.” It's important with limited space like this to do some planning around the amount of soil and sun you have, and to choose the right size plants so you can have easy access. And if you do happen to have a few failures along the way, don't worry. You’re still another step towards garden glory.

#gardening australia #solarpunk #australia #city #garden #gardening #urban gardening #urban garden #South Hobart #Youtube

4 notes · View notes

heavensentofficial · 8 months

Note

Hello Lettie,

I've seen you a couple of times at the Hospital. I have heard that you have taken on the role as Temple Leader in Jordan's absence. I hope you aren't overworking yourself on your duties. If you ever feel unwell, please feel free to stop by the Hospital.

On a slightly less professional note, I have visited the Temple Gardens and they are quite lovely. I wonder if I can try to grow some of the plants from there, and if you have any tips on how to take care of them.

Sincerely, @hanshospitality

Hans, right? Hello! c:

Yes, I am quite a frequent patient of Doctor Harper's... We still haven't gotten to the bottom of what is actually wrong with me, but I'm there enough for your name to ring a bell! Um... If I'm to be completely honest, I have been overwhelmed, even with the efforts to limit physical exertion. Jordan's duties paired with my own is quite a lot. However, I generally already know how to deal with my flareups I think and I keep medical supplies in my room - so unless something is severe or out of the ordinary, I probably won't need to burden the good doctor. I hear you are quite understaffed there, after all...

Although I can't help but wonder... Is this you asking, or did he request you do so? ... I suppose it doesn't matter! In any case, I'm thankful for the concern. I'll try to be sure I take care of myself. It would be problematic if I got especially ill at the same time as Jordan, after all.

As for the gardens, hearing you say that made me smile c: I haven't been able to be as hands on as I'd like with the efforts to get them in order (Though I rarely am, really.) I've been trying a combination of rewarding people for helping and telling them about the plants, their symbolism in scripture and what we use them for, in an effort to get everyone to feel more, ah... Attached to the garden I guess? If they better understand the work and care more about it, maybe they'll be more inclined to uh... Do it! I sure hope so. I'd be happy to talk more about some of the plants we have here under the cut! We did have to order these online, though. I don't think most of them are available here very easily. I'll throw in some extra information about how I use them too, just for fun. Even if you happen know a lot of it, maybe other people will find it helpful or entertaining?

Firstly, Lavender ^^

Our main concern currently has been trying to get the lavender we already have under control - it gets so wild and woody when it's left to its own devices, but it's really best to trim lavender in late summer. We just uprooted some of the problematic ones (I could probably give you some to propagate if you would like?) and made sure to cover it in a protective fleece from the frost. I think they sell plastic ones? But I can make fleece winter-covers easily.

Lavender really likes sunny spots and fast draining spoil. When you first plant it, it'll be thirsty and want to be watered plenty - but once it's established you really don't want to unless it's been drought-y (Unless it's in a container I suppose?)

They make a great companion for cabbages and tomatoes. They like similar conditions and repel bugs that would want to eat your food without anything having to be harmed c: At the same time, bees and butterflies love it! You can even put the seeds into a bird feeder. ^^

Oftentimes, we use lavender in purification and healing ceremonies. (It's useful enough to keep on my person most of the time when I'm working! Sprigs of it, lavender-oil, anything really.)

Also it's delicious in tea and soothing for your muscles when you put it in a bath - and inhaling the resulting steam often alleviates my headaches. Applying lavender oil or salve to bandages helps wounds close faster, too! ^^ Accidents happen ahaha...

Uhh... Then there's roses, we have quite a few of those. When I first saw mentions of someone called Briar, I must admit, I thought Jordan was upset about tearing their robes on all the briar bushes. They were so wild before...

This time of year is a fantastic time to plant bare-root roses! As for roses you already have though, they'll be just starting to come out of dormancy right around now, so it's a good time to prune them, so they're nice and prepared for the coming year ^^ When you cut roses, try to make sure you're cutting just a little above a bud at an angle, to encourage new growth.

Roses like similar spots to lavender, but they'll want to be watered more often. Moist, but not wet. Try not to water the leaves, naturally... Roses will also appreciate being fertilised regularly.

Roses don't like much competition and it's important to make sure they have plenty of space to get some air, but with that in mind, alliums, geraniums and marigolds will protect your roses from pests. At the temple, we've been using garlic and onions. (Any opportunity to grow more of our own food is welcome. Some level of self sufficiency is sort of part of the whole... Monastic Lifestyle thing...)

If you want roses that will attract pollinators, go for a single or semi-double bloom so that bees can have easy access. This year, we planted Lady of the Lake roses, which are a pale pink/off white sort of colour with a citrusy scent to them (I'm excited to try eating them ^^) Maybe if we grow enough of these, the lady I sometimes see at the lake will give me a sword? (Kidding~)

In scripture, red roses are symbolic of blood and sacrifice and white of purity. (I'm curious about those two-tone red and white roses... I always have liked them a lot. Maybe I can try growing them, one day, even if only in a pot in my room...) Roses in general also have connotations with the afterlife. I also know Jordan has a rose-based concoction they sometimes use for purification ^^

As for myself, I sometimes use rose water for my skin - and similar to lavender, to make wounds heal faster - and also as a wound wash. (Very helpful to have on hand, especially if an initiate gets hurt while doing their duties! Never good.) I also try to stay stocked up on rosehips. The tea's useful to have while recovering from illnesses and for certain kinds of pain. c:

I think Cyclamen are a pretty common sight in churchyards, but I think that's for good reason

For starters, it's always nice to have flowers that are actually in bloom in the winter! I think these might be the main one you've seen as of late, aside from the rosehips? I also planted some around the general area of the cemetery recently, though that was before I was left in charge. I can't say for sure how much the dead care about having flowers near their bodies, but I don't know that they don't... Maybe I could plant some near the lake, too... Around this time of year, when they're in full bloom, watering them correctly is important, since the roots are so susceptible to rot. You sort of want to wait until the leaves look like they're beginning to droop and the earth feels dry. If it's very rainy, I like to give them some shelter.

Cyclamen like partial shade. We have them mostly near the outskirts of the garden, where the canopy from the forest will sort of protect them from the elements. They're happiest in well-draining, rich, acidic soil, so giving the soil a little snack is sure to be appreciated. c:

They pair well with most woodland plants, really! Snowdrops, primroses and ferns come to mind. Ours are hanging out with primroses. (Lonely plants are kind of sad...)

Like I mentioned with the cemetery thing, cyclamen are super commonly used as memorial flowers! We use them a lot as altar decorations for funerals and certain holy days. They're also used in certain types of incense! (Not all of it. Just some!) They look like they have little bowing heads, so I think they bring kind of a sense of piety to mind for some people? I think they are adorable.

I think there's a way to prepare them that helps with sinus issues, but I don't really bother to. In the past, people ate them to ease menstrual pains and some other stuff, but even if they work, they do also cause a spot of convulsing, vomiting and dying, so... Whether it's worth it, you be the judge! You're the medical practitioner. I just like reading and experimenting. ^^;

It was roughly around this point when I remembered that I'm meant to be responding to somebody's message (and that most of this was completely unasked for ahaha... Oh well...) I think I got a little overexcited at the chance to talk about a thing I'm interested in, my apologies.

Thank you again for reaching out to me ^^ Even if I don't feel great for a bit, I'm likely to be fine ultimately.

#((“Thank you for your concern but I'm Not in the mood to deal with Doctor Hamster at the moment. I'll come in if I think I'm dying.”))#((“Btw are you asking on your own or does he just want to get me at the hospital so he can be a headfucking creep?”))#((Also! I loved this ask plants are one of my main special interests so getting to make Lettie infodump abt #her temple garden planning stuff was very fun <3 ))#((As was getting to research all the biblical connotations of the plants))#((Lettie in Charge arc))#RP Blog

7 notes · View notes

gardeningforfun0714 · 4 months

Text

Hi everyone,

For those that may not recognize my username, I’m Maisy. My main blog is @mabrego0714 I’m an artist and often post Star Wars art (along with other fandoms). I also have a writing blog @writingforfun0714 where I write fanfics (I’m not a writer and just do that for fun).

Now I’d like to start a gardening blog where I basically just journal what I have, what I use for my plants, harvests, and maybe even share some garden/plant art as well.

I AM A NOVICE/BEGINNER. I’m still learning and am definitely open to any tips, tricks, and/or hacks to any of my plants but full on hate/condescension/general assholery will not be tolerated because I want this to be a safe space for everyone including:

—disabled/nd folks

—minors

—other beginner gardeners

—literally anyone interested in gardening

So here’s some info about my garden/area.

USA: Zone 9 (a)

Normal climate on an avg day: warm to hot/dry/arid with few days of rain though we’ve gotten more rain than normal this year. Can get windy. I do get hurricane and tornado warnings during those respective seasons.

Soil in my area is incredibly rocky and clay-like so my garden is split into 2 parts: direct-sow and container garden. Also I’ve had plants that require full sun in my yard die due to the intense heat of summer and fall. So that means some full sun plants might need protection and/or partial sun in my area.

Both gardens get sun but direct-sow garden is full sun. Potted plants get morning sun along with partial afternoon shade thanks to my house.

Now for the fun, listing what I already have and the status of them as of this post 6/4/24:

Container garden:

Apple tree—new tree/adding new growth and is currently ~7-8ft tall.

Peach tree—new tree/ has 4 small golf ball sized peaches and is currently ~6-7ft tall.

Olive tree—new tree/new growth and is ~4.5ft tall.

Fig tree/bush?—small but new growth.

Blueberries—I have 4 blueberry plants that range from a small fruiting bush to plants that are recovering from a fungal infection. I originally got 3 of them when they were packed in clay soil and developed blueberry blight (they were on clearance) and thought I could save them despite no knowledge of gardening/taking care of any kind of plant. I got some organic fungicide and changed the soil, adding in organic soil acidifier. They are currently recovering and adding new growth which I’m extremely proud of cuz I thought they would all die—which led me to buying the 4th one just in case the others didn’t make it. I’ll make a whole post about them later.

Raspberries—new plants with small buds growing. Currently ~2ft-3ft tall. I have 2 for pollination.

Blackberries—thorny vine producing fruit. I also have a thornless variety that is a small plant with new growth on it.

Elderberries—small bush that hasn’t flowered despite it being 2yrs old. Maybe it needs a pollinator?

Potatoes—I have 2 5gal buckets of potatoes. One has the plants yellowing/dying off and almost ready to harvest while the other bucket still has new growth.

Tomatoes—Lots of varieties that range from seedling, new growth to producing. Will make a tomato post as well.

Carrots—new growth and all carrots have their secondary leaves.

Onions—Chives specifically, rather small but still green and healthy.

Peppers—seedlings (we grew all our peppers from seed this year which takes longer and my dad and I started a bit late).

Chile pequin—established, flowering and producing small bush. Native plant in my area.

Green beans—producing

Cucumbers—flowering, about to produce

Native wildflowers—just past seedling, also doing great since I planted these way too late.

Daisies—seedlings

Radishes—They were doing well but we had high winds recently that wrecked them so I’m hoping they’ll come back.

Grapes—1 small 4ft vine from an online nursery and 2 fruiting vines about 6ft-7ft tall from Lowes. All green grapes.

Direct-sow/Ground Garden:

Corn—new growth, ~2ft tall with 1-inch thick stalks.

Tomatoes—Lemon boy hybrid, Super Sweet 100 hybrid, that are both flowering.

Pole beans—producing

Yellow Lantana—FLOWER. it migrated and exploded in my direct-sow garden. Doing great.

Melon patch—Mostly watermelon with cantaloupe. Everything is doing incredibly well and the watermelon have started to vine. I’ve got classic red sugar baby watermelon along with orange watermelon and yellow golden honey watermelon. Different color watermelon is common where I’m at. Will make a separate post for my melon patch too.

Exotic/Tropical/Cacti and Succulents/Unusual: I believe zones 9+ can grow lots of tropical fruit (but not all)

Pineapples—grown from tops. New growth but no flowers. All 3 are in a clay pot.

Pink Lemonade Blueberries—small plant with new growth. No flowers. Bought from online nursery early May ‘24.

Golden Raspberries—small plant with new growth. No flowers. Bought from online nursery early May ‘24. I have 2 for pollination.

Papaya—new tree with new growth but no flowers. ~3ft tall. I have 2 for pollination.

Pink Guava—new tree with new growth but no flowers. ~3ft tall. I have 2 for pollination.

I believe that’s it. So I think that’s all the important stuff I’ll include for my intro post but feel free to message me if you have a question or just wanna talk about gardening🌱🌿💚

Have a pic of one of the big grape vines I have. For reference it’s taller than me (I’m 5’3”). I will make posts about each plant this summer so get ready for that. If anyone has something they wanna see from the list, lemme know💚

Below the cut is a bit about me, how I got into gardening, why I’m doing it now, what I hope to achieve and future plans for my garden. Thanks to those that like/reblog this and it’s never too late to plant. Happy gardening🥰

I was lucky enough to grow up with a garden during my early childhood years thanks to my dad. My dad had me late in life (he was 45) and he grew up around his farmer grandparents, and his green-thumbed mother who could make anything grow but mostly grew flowers in her garden. Our garden wasn’t much but it produced a lot. It consisted of cherry tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers and corn, at least at first. Then my dad added sunflowers, melons, and peppers. It was great and I loved going out with my dad and helping him. Sadly life got in the way when I was 7 and I experienced a lot of trauma. My parents divorced and that was the end of the garden because my mom had no time or interest in the upkeep of the garden. I had tried myself but things started to die one by one.

Years and years would pass that I wouldn’t even consider gardening. I was too busy with trauma/family/school etc to focus on gardening. It wasn’t until I graduated high school that I really started to think seriously about gardening to produce food to survive. In college I started to research gardening in my spare time (being an artist, I was in school for animation and illustration) and after dropping out, I decided to pursue gardening as a way to get up and outside especially with the pandemic.

I think around the time of the pandemic, I started researching different kinds of gardens and fell in love with the idea of a food forest. I told my dad about my new interest in gardening and I think that also inspired him to also get back into it as well and now it’s our shared activity we do.

I’d love to eventually get a large enough harvest to share with friends and family and I will definitely be expanding my garden this year as well. There was lots of construction last year in my neighborhood which drove all the pests and insects towards my garden and discouraged me so lots of my plants (all the trees/most of the berries) I bought this year are new and I haven’t grown 95% of what I have now so I’m super excited.

#garden #my garden #gardening #gardeningcore #vegetable gardening #fruit garden #fruit gardening #intro post #day one #cottagecore #?#totally forgot to mention the studio ghibli influence on my interest in gardens #like as an artist #ghibli gardens are peak #and I wanna live in one #so I’m making it

5 notes · View notes

braveclementine · 4 months

Text

Chapter 2

Warnings: None. However, future chapters will contain sexual content so readers that are under the age of 18 may have to skip those chapters (However they are very few so those under the age of 18 can still read a majority of this book. However please keep note of the warnings).

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡

𝕴 𝖜𝖔𝖐𝖊 𝖚𝖕 around 7:30 and I quickly jumped out of bed. I looked in the mirror, washed my face, put my hair in a ponytail, and got dressed as quickly as possible. I grabbed my broom and rushed down the stairs.

Dad was already downstairs, having a cup of tea with Sirius and Uncle Moody. Mrs. Weasley was up and she looked up when I entered. "Want anything to eat, Elizabeth?"

"No." I said quickly. "Dad, c'mon."

Dad sighed and got up, "Alright, let's go."

I left without saying anything to any of the other people in the kitchen. While I wasn't really angry at Dad, Sirius, or Uncle Moody for not letting me into the meetings. . . I was showing that I was angry. Maybe it would amount to something.

"Can I stay at Trang's for a week?" I asked as we walked down the hallway.

"A week?" Dad asked, his face stoic. "Why?"

"Well, it's not like I'm needed here or anything and I figured you wouldn't have to come back until next Sunday." I said. "Besides-"

"What about your birthday?" Dad asked. "You want Trang to be here for your birthday still, don't you?"

"I thought she wasn't allowed to come here." I said lightly.

Dad frowned at me. "Dumbledore would rather Trang come here for your birthday than all of us go somewhere."

Dad grabbed my arm and apparated to the garden in the back of our house. "Well." I said. "I wasn't going to have a lot of people celebrate anyways. Just me and Trang and you. Like we've always done it in the past."

"Sirius and Uncle Moody will want to celebrate as well." Dad said quietly.

I gritted my teeth, turning my head from Dad. "It's not like I'm going to spend the whole day with Trang, dad. Just the morning and afternoon-"

We cut off our conversation as we reached the front of the house. Trang was already waiting there, looking expectant, her broom across her shoulders.

Trang had gotten very beautiful over the past year. She had long, skinny legs and thin arms and shoulders. Her face was oval shaped and her large black eyes were framed behind glasses. Her black hair was died a green-gray near the tips now instead of gold. She was Vietnamese and her skin tone matched her eyes perfectly. It also helped that she'd grown over the summer.

"'Bout time Elizabeth." She said, grinning. I was on time.

"Let's go." I said.

"Hi Mr. Lupin." Trang said.

"Hello Trang." Dad said, doing his best to sound normal. "I hear Elizabeth wants to spend a week with you?"

Trang nodded. "I asked. Cause I know she's not really doing anything there and figured it would give us something like a normal summer."

Dad sighed, running his hand through his red-brown hair. Sometimes, I thought I looked more like him than either of my biological parents. "Fine. Elizabeth, you can stay. But I still haven't decided about your birthday."

"Thanks dad!" I chirped happily and kissed his cheek.

He glared at me. "Blackmail." he muttered under his breath and I grinned. He rolled his eyes and kissed me cheek and Disapparated.

"You guys fought again?" Trang asked the minute he was gone.

"I don't try to fight with him." I said grumpily as we made our way into the forest where we were going to fly. "But he's being stingy about things he literally never cared about before."

"Well, times have gotten dangerous, haven't they?" Trang asked seriously. "I mean you were tortured last year. And you have important visions. I mean Voldemort wants to get to you and your brother. I can understand your dad's point even if I don't like it."

I sighed. "I know and I'm not really mad at him. . . I'm just frustrated. I could've prevented Cedric's death, you know? I should've planned it better, that's all." I choked up and I swallowed hard and coughed and continued, "And then Harry's not allowed to know anything even though he escaped Voldemort. Everything's just fell upside down."

Trang put a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. Then, we both put our legs over our brooms and flew upwards. I left my worries on the ground.

Over the next week, Trang and I talked, flew our brooms, or read magical books. We even went on a trip to Diagon Alley. Unfortunately, Kingsley happened to be in Diagon Alley when we went into the bookstore and he approached Trang and I.

Trang seemed intimidated by Kingsley and he smiled gently at her, relieving her a great deal. Then he turned to me and said, "Does Remus know you're here?"

I scowled. "I've never had to ask him for permission to come here before, why should I start now? It's not like Voldemort's going to miraculously show up."

Kingsley sighed.

"Er- who are you?" Trang asked, still sounding nervous.

"Trang, this is Kingsley Shacklebolt. He's an Auror. He's going to be the Minister of Magic one day." I announced.

Kingsley rolled his eyes and shook hands with Trang. "So she says." he said with a wink and Trang grinned. Then Kingsley turned to me and said, "You know perfectly well your father wouldn't be happy knowing your here with no supervision. Voldemort is back, you ought to act like it."

I scowled again. "Fine, we were just leaving, alright?"

He accompanied us back to the Leaky Cauldron where Trang and I took the floo network back to Dad's house. "Let's go to your house." I said, wanting to get away from everything magical for some time.

🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡

𝕬𝖙 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖊𝖓𝖉 of the week, a day before my birthday, Dad came to pick me up. He didn't say anything about my birthday or Diagon Alley so I supposed Kingsley hadn't told dad.

Dad said that Dumbledore was adamant about Trang coming to 12 Grimmauld place. I reluctantly agreed. I had really been hoping for the zoo.

Sadie had come back about four days ago and I took Harry's reply. Then, I'd sent Sadie off with Harry's birthday card saying I'd see him before August 12th along with a bar of chocolate and telling him he was going to regret it if he threw out Ron and Hermione's chocolate because his aunt was going to serve salad on the night of his birthday.

The following day was my birthday and I would've stayed in my room all day if it'd been up to me. As it was, early in the morning, around 8:30, I got a surprise visit from Severus. He shut the door tightly behind him and came over to me. I pressed my lips to his eagerly.

"Happy Birthday Elizabeth." He mumbled against my lips, wrapping his arms around my waist.

"It's been good so far." I whispered as he moved his mouth down my neck lightly. He chuckled, his breath tickling my neck.

"Has it now?" he was in a very good mood.

"Well I've only been awake for ten minutes." I gasped as he tightened his arm around my waist. "I suppose it could get worse-"

He pressed his lips to mine again and I melted into the kiss. A few minutes later, my stomach growled. He grinned, pulling away. "Hungry?"

"No." I said stubbornly, reaching up and putting my arms around his neck and pulled him back in.

"No complaints here." he muttered.

There was a knock at the door and we jerked apart. I stared grumpily at the door, sliding out of bed to go near it. Snape laughed lightly, ruffling my hair, and I called out, "Who is it?"

"I'm going to get Trang. Elizabeth, wake up!" Dad shouted through the door.

"I'll work on it!" I shouted back, my heart beating double time cause if dad came in here, he'd see Severus, "I'll be up by the time you get back."

I heard dad's footsteps fade and I turned to see Severus laying on my bed, staring up at the canopy. His traveling cloak was over a chair. His long black hair that framed his face was spread out on the pillow. I grinned, walking back over to the bed.

"I suppose you had a late night?" I asked, climbing onto the bed next to him.

"A little bit." He said, reaching up and tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"I want you to work on Occlumency this year with me." I said, taking his hand in mine.

He frowned up at me, "You've already mastered it with. . ." he drifted off, anger coming over his face. He couldn't say Crouch Jr. without breaking something. He inhaled sharply through his nose now, scowling.

I shook my head, "Not really. If I had mastered it, he never would've been able to get into my mind in the first place."

"Elizabeth. . . I don't know." He said hesitantly.

"Look." I said, a bit impatiently but trying to not to get angry, "He's after me, you know that, you're with him. And if he gets a hold of me-"

"Which he won't." Severus growled.

"-then I need to be able to keep him out of my mind, no matter what." I finished, ignoring him.

"He's not going to get anywhere near you." Severus glared at me.

"You don't know that." I whispered, "And even I don't know that because I can't see anything about myself as you fully well know. There are no guarantees." I put a hand on his face, "Please?"

He groaned, pulling on top of him and hugging me, "You make it so hard to say no to you, you know that right?"

I grinned, kissing his cheek. "It's a good quality to have, persuasion."

He rolled on top of me and pressed his lips to mine. "Fine." he said. "I'll teach you properly."

I let out a giggle and he blushed and muttered, "You and your mind."

Then he sat back off me and reached into his pocket and said, "I got you something by the way." He glanced at my face and then laughed. "You look shocked."

"I didn't expect it." I said honestly.

He pulled out a small box. I kept my expression controlled. "I know that you don't have pierced ears so I got these for you." He said, opening the box. Inside were clip-on earrings with paste sapphires.

"Oh!" I breathed. "They're so pretty!" I got up off the bed and went over to the mirror and carefully put them on. "And they match the necklace dad gave me for Christmas some time back!" I said happily. Privately, I thought they sort've look like Firenze's eyes. Grandfather had given me earrings that looked similar to this last birthday, before he passed away, but they were the kind meant for pierced ears so I never wore them.

I turned around as he approached and he lifted my chin with a finger and said, "They look lovely on you." He leaned in to kiss me.

Then the door banged open, he dropped his hand, and I spun around. Trang had rushed into the room, looking amazed at everything.

"Elizabeth!" She squealed, throwing her arms around me and I hugged her back, smiling.

"Hey Trang."

"Who's this?" She asked, looking from me to Severus.

"This is Professor Snape." I said motioning to Severus. "Professor, this is my friend Trang."

"Hi." she said and Snape nodded at her with a strained smile.

"I should go down and give my report." he said in a more professional, curt manner to me.

"Of course." I said in the same tone and his lips twitched. He quickly picked up his traveling cloak and went out the door.

Trang goggled after him as he left and turned to me and hissed, "That's one of your Professors?"

"He's hot, ain't he?" I asked.

Trang erupted into nervous giggles, "If you say so." Then she sighed, looking around, "This place is. . . well creepy is a word for it."

"It used to belong to Dark wizards and witches." I said with a shrug. "We've been cleaning it out to make it livable. It's been abandoned for nearly 14 or 15 years."

"Yeesh." Trang said and then she handed me a bag. "This is for your birthday."

I grinned and brought it over to my bed. "You're wearing earrings." Trang said in surprise. "And where are your glasses?"

I pointed to my bedside table while I dumped out the books she'd brought. "Professor Snape gave me the earrings, but keep it on the down low okay? Dad'll be mad if he finds out and I don't want to fight with him again."

"He doesn't know that you two are together?" Trang sounded absolutely astounded.

I shook my head and glanced over at the closed door. "He knows I had a vision that we got married, but he doesn't like it. Professor Snape and him were enemies at school. Another reason is simply because they went to school together- he's dad's age."

"Oh wow." Trang whispered, pushing her glasses up on her nose. "Doesn't the age difference feel weird to you?"

I didn't answer as I checked out the book titles: The Golden Compass, Wicked, Independence Day, and Old Yeller. "Not really." I finally answered. "To be completely honest, I don't really think about it. He makes me. . . he makes me happy Trang. And I don't feel happy often, which is a horrible thing to say, but I lost Cedric, you know? And I'm trying to keep a happy face despite everything. It tortures dad to see me upset so I hide it. And when I'm with you and him, I feel happy. I can forget about all the horrible things happening in the other world for some time. And there are times, that I can feel like that here. But when I'm cleaning the damn house- I hate cleaning in the first place- all I can think about is Cedric and Voldemort and how my brother's in danger and I can't even say he's my brother yet for some reason. It's stressful, ya know? But I can't complain I guess. Voldemort wants Harry before me. And I guess I'm lucky in a way. Voldemort doesn't want to kill me."

Trang looked at me with wide eyes and then looked thoughtfully around the room. "You know. . . I always thought the magical world was a happy place. I guess because Muggles, we think that's how it should be. Rainbows and butterflies and zero problems. But it's really just like the Muggle world, isn't it? Just, really, really, more dangerous."

"Trang." I blurted out, turning to her very seriously. "I need you to do something."

"Okay?" she asked hesitantly, pushing her glasses up on her nose again.

"When you go to America this year, don't come back." I said firmly. "Just stay there for the summer and the next couple of years until we sort this out. Don't send letters or owls. The next time you get a letter from me will be telling you that it's safe to come back to Britain."

"Elizabeth! I don't think-" Trang started, flustered.

"Trang listen to me." I said, taking her hands and making her sit on the bed. "You are the only friend who's stuck by me through everything since we were practically born. I have trusted you with every secret I have and you have done the same. Voldemort does not care about your life, all he cares about is getting to me. If he were to get ahold of you, I would come running immediately. It will only be a matter of time before a Death Eater finds out about you and starts looking. They can't touch in America- I hope. So please, when you leave Europe in a few weeks, stay there. Make excuses. A job, a boy, an internship, anything. You can not come back."

Trang looked at me steadily and then she nodded, "Of course." she said strongly. "Of course I'll stay in America."

"Thank you." I whispered.

"What about. . . what about my parents?" Trang asked hesitantly.

I hesitated. "I don't think Voldemort will care. I think dad can keep an eye on them from time to time."

Trang swallowed hard, looked around and then muttered, "Mum and dad are leaving on vacation tomorrow. I'm going to search the house."

"Why?" I asked, frowning.

"Well. . ." she hesitated, "They've been acting funny. . . secretive almost. Whispered conversations behind closed doors. They seem to think we're in danger and with Voldemort rising and stuff. . . I almost wonder if they know. . ."

"But they can't?" I said, frowning. "They aren't a witch or wizard so unless you told them. . ."

Trang shook her head. "I haven't said a word to them of course."

We sat there puzzled and then Tonks stuck her head into my room. "Come on down girls! Happy Birthday Elizabeth!"

"Thanks Tonks." I said. "Come on Trang." I said and got up. I brushed my hair in front of my shoulders, covering my ears and stuck my glasses on and we went downstairs.

Severus had already left, judging by his absence. There was a stack of presents that I glared at as I entered the kitchen.

"Happy Birthday Elizabeth!" Sirius said, grinning at me and winking at Trang.

"Thanks." I muttered, sitting down at the table.

Fred and George apparated next to me, scaring Trang horribly, and she jumped in her seat.

"Happy Birthday Elizabeth! Hi Trang!" Fred announced, "How's Oliver?"

Trang blushed red and I looked at her incredulously. "Oliver Wood?" I hissed at her. She blushed darker under her dark pigment. I looked up at Fred. He winked at me.

"Nice earrings Elizabeth!" Tonks said cheerfully from across the room and I looked at her startled, my hand reaching up to touch my ear. "Where'd you get them?"

I blushed pink and opened my mouth and Trang said, "Oh, I gave them to her for her birthday."

"That's nice." Dad said coldly. I think he suspected Severus had given them to me.

Uncle Moody stomped into the kitchen at that moment. He glanced at Trang and nodded at her and then sat down in a chair. Breakfast was finished and Mrs. Weasley handed out sausages and bacon and eggs and toast and various other foods. I noticed an extra plate with crumpets on it and noticed that they were cooked differently. Dad had made them.

"Thanks Dad." I said, giving him a smile and pulling the crumpets over.

"No problem sweetheart." He said, much softer than he had earlier.

They all pressed me to open presents and I found that I had many books. I noticed Fred had refrained from giving me a charm this year. I wondered if he thought giving me one would bring back horrible memories. I wondered if he was right.

I had various books, both muggle and magical, along with lots of candy.

Trang, Hermione, Ginny, and I went up into my room to spend most of the day in there before dinner. We played card games and they looked at my artwork and we gossiped about both the Muggle and magical world. Then, we went down to dinner.

Halfway through dinner, I froze, a scene coming into my mind and my sight left the kitchen and was transported so that I was with Harry. Not really, of course, but it was what I was seeing. There were two dementors at the end of an alleyway and even though I wasn't actually there, I felt very cold. "DUDLEY!" Harry was screaming. I noticed a large shape, my cousin Dudley, running towards the dementors. Stupid! I thought in my head. But where was Mundungus? He was supposed to be on guard duty for Harry tonight, I knew that much. Harry pulled out his wand and I wanted to tell him not to- that he wasn't supposed to use magic.

"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" I woke with a start. Dad, Sirius, and Uncle Moody were all kneeling down next to me. Trang stood by Sirius' shoulder. Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Bill, Tonks, and Mrs. Weasley were nearby.

"What'd you see Elizabeth?" Uncle Moody growled.

"Harry." I said, sitting up. "Mundungus left, Harry's going to use magic."

"Oh that damn fool!" Mrs. Weasley sputtered.

At that moment, Mr. Weasley came rushing into the kitchen, not even seeming to notice me he said, "They're going after Harry's wand! He apparently just used the Patronus Charm. Mundungus-"

Dumbledore came in the kitchen now and spotted me on the floor, "What did he do?" He asked with blazing eyes, helping me to my feet. Mundungus Fletcher was behind him.

"Patronus Charm. There were two dementors." I said, standing up.

"Right." Dumbledore said furiously. "I'm off to the Ministry. Mundungus, you stay here."

Mr. Weasley was writing a note furiously with his quill. Mr. Weasley sent his note off with an owl. Sirius grabbed the quill from him.

"Elizabeth, where are you going?" Dad asked as I started down the hall.

"Upstairs, I'll be right back, okay?" I said, dashing up the stairs, trying not to make to much noise.

I rushed over the desk and got out parchment and ink and a quill.

Harry, First off, well done with your Patronus Charm. Splendid really. You did well against the two dementors. I know you're going to be very frustrated with everyone right now for not giving you any information so I'm here to give it to you. Dumbledore's at the ministry right now, trying to sort things out. I'm foreseeing that they will undo their proclamation to expel you and snap your wand. They will still give you a trial however. Next, don't leave the house. I know Mr. Weasley and Sirius are both already telling you this but it really is of the utmost importance you don't leave, okay? I know that sucks and I'm right there with you. I wish I could've told you about M and Mrs. F but I didn't want their names out there if the owl was intercepted. But it's probably alright now. I will see you soon. Hopefully dad lets me come when we come to pick you up. I think he will. I don't see the exact date but it's within a few days- I know that much. Just be a little patient. I love you. Love, Elizabeth

Sadie was sleeping in her cage with the door open and I knocked on the bars softly. "Hey." I said as she hooted and flapped her wings, "Can you take this to Harry please? It's very important." She stuck out her leg dutifully and I tied it quickly and tightly. "Thanks Sadie." I said, kissing the top of her head and bringing her to the window. She flew off and I felt a lighter feeling on my shoulders.

I went back downstairs where the others were conversing with Mundungus. Mrs. Weasley was furious, of course.

On the side, Mundungus slipped me three Mandrake leaves. I slipped 12 galleons into his hands. A lot for three small leaves, but I was desperate. I pocketed them quickly before anyone noticed the interaction.

"Everyone to bed!" Mrs. Weasley said in a foul mood. Kingsley had showed up at some point and handed me a wrapped gift and whispered "Happy Birthday," in my ear. I thanked him.

"Dad," I whispered, pulling him aside. Ginny had taken a majority of my presents up with her to my bedroom. The rest were in my arms. "Are you taking Trang home tonight?"

He nodded, looking tense. "We'll get all this settled. I'll get her home safely too."

"Great." I said and kissed his cheek. I hugged Trang good-bye. "Sorry this wasn't the best birthday I've had." I admitted. "But I'm still glad you were here."

"The cake was good." Trang said, smiling mischievously. "That's the only reason I came anyways."

We laughed and then Trang hugged me again. "I probably won't see you again, but try to come this last weekend, okay?"

"She'll be there." Dad confirmed. "But it will be her last weekend."

I nodded and said, "I'll see you Saturday, okay?"

She nodded and her and dad left. I trooped up the stairs and dumped the rest of the stuff in my room. Hedwig swooped into my room, carrying four letters, dropping one on my lap and then flying through my open door with the other ones.

I opened it up.

Elizabeth, Thanks for the information. You're really the only one who tells me anything. I know you said you don't know the exact date that I'm getting out of here but considering my problems seem a bit worse, I'd really like if you could get as close as possible. I've sent letters to Ron, Hermione, and Sirius too but Hedwig's to peck them to death until I get adequate answers from them. But I don't think you need motivation so you'll be peck free. Thanks, Harry

I smiled and quickly got out another piece of parchment and wrote:

Harry, Thank you for sparing me from the punishment of being pecked to death by Hedwig. No, I don't know the exact date. However, I would reckon you won't be there for more than 4 or 5 days more. Dumbledore will want you here before the trial. I think Mr. Weasley will take you. You should get another letter from the Ministry soon. . . I think it's been 22 minutes already. I'm not sure how close the houses are or how fast Sadie and Hedwig fly. If it puts your mind at ease, I can foresee bits of the trial and I'm 80% sure you'll get off with zero punishment whatsoever. Dumbledore's furious with M of course. Of course, not as angry as he was in Crouch Jr.'s office last year, but extremely angry. Eyes were supposed to be on you at all times. Stupid really, I know you can take care of yourself. The only thing though was mostly to keep you from doing magic. Moot point now. I'll see you soon, Elizabeth

Sadie had just come back through the window with no letter, looking annoyed. I guess Hedwig had taken her letter from her.

"Can you go back out one more time?" I asked and even though I was trying to stay calm, my voice shook. Sadie hooted and nibbled my ear, trying to comfort me, and flew back out with the second letter.

I paced back and forth until the time started to get late and then climbed into bed. I wished briefly Severus was here and then rolled over and fell fast asleep.

⬅️➡️

6 notes · View notes

ejenvs3000semesterf23 · 1 year

Text

Blog 1

I have always had an interest and need to connect with nature ever since I was a child but my care for it has evolved over the years. My earliest memories interacting with nature were when I started collecting snails and caterpillars at probably just 4 years old. My mom would buy me small plastic containers for me to house the critters I collected. One of my favourite things to do with the snails was poke their little eyes on the tip of their stalks and watch as they recede into the body of the snail. It is funny to look back and think how interested I was in such a small uncleanly creature. I would put grass and rocks in the container hoping that it would make the space more comfortable for the snails or to provide food for them.

When I was in grade 6 I decided to go vegetarian as I could not deal with the ways that animals were killed for food. I later learned how much the meat industry impacts the environment and specifically land usage. I wish the world could be like it was before humans urbanized the planet, but nature could have so much more room if people just changed their diet.

The summer after grade 10 I worked as a gardening assistant at a food centre. At this point in my life I hadn’t put in an hour of gardening so this was a learning curve. I not only learned what plants look like before we consume them, but I also learned the diseases they interact with and the pests that consume them. Gardening isn't as simple as one might think, you have to work with nature and respect its boundaries. My relationship with nature became more spiritual with this job. The energy moves through the soil and into the plants and then we eat these plants as the final process. Those cells are broken down and become part of our cells, we make DNA out of their DNA, it is quite fascinating.

On my trip to Hawaii this year I was able to connect with nature in a different way than before. I spent many hours snorkelling on the surface of the ocean just staring down at the reef which was teeming with life. There were so many different kinds of corals and sea stars that I have only been able to see in an aquarium but here they were out in nature where they may have been for millions of years. I found myself drifting over the reef in awe every time I went snorkelling.

Throughout my life, my dad has offered me a sense of place in nature. He has always loved going on family hikes and sharing his knowledge about the surrounding area. I remember one time we walked past this giant boulder at the bottom of a hill in a forest and he described how it would have been brought there by a glacier.

7 notes · View notes

bharatvarsh22 · 8 months

Text

Create a vibrant summer garden with container gardening. Choose heat-tolerant plants for pots and planters to bring beauty and freshness to your space.

Do Visit: https://bharatvarshnaturefarms.com/container-gardening-for-summer-choosing-heat-tolerant-plants-for-pots-and-planters/

1 note · View note

bogwitchlesbian · 1 year

Text

My biggest regret in life is not blocking my fathers number, moving out of my mothers house, or losing contact with my brother.

My biggest regret in life is saving a baby bird.

I’ve saved many from my cats. Sometimes the rspca would take them. Sometimes I’ve had make them a nest in a tuppaware container and sit with them in the garden all night because my mother wouldn’t let them In the house.

They all made it. I let them go in the morning after letting them sleep safe and fed in the warmth of my mothers purple tea towel.

The baby was a blackbird. It was so tiny it fit in the palm of my hand. It was so scared as I shooed my cat away from it in the garden. I picked it up with the purple tea towel, and it snuggled right in.

I couldn’t bear to put it in the tuppaware so I just held it. It was a warm summer evening. I cradled this baby in my hands. It looked at me with what I would have called curiosity, but it’s a bird so what do I know.

It wasn’t injured from what I could see, just small and scared and likely missing it’s mother. My cat stared from behind the French doors.

We sat together in my garden for a few hours. It was 3 am and my legs were dangling off the garden wall above my lawn. The baby was tucked in carefully and I was singing quietly.

I was at that point babysitting my nephew regularly. He was 7 months old and I’d taken to singing elvis to him to rock him to sleep.

The baby seemed to like elvis too.

My mother was asleep, but my dad was working a night shift so I asked him what I should do with the baby, and he said to leave it on the green, a decorative patch of land across the road.

I didn’t want to. I knew the cat would just beeline straight for it.

He told me I had to. That I couldn’t keep the baby and my mother would be mad if she found out I’d stayed up all night with a baby bird in the garden.

I took the baby to the green. I watched my cat slink out to watch us from the garden fence.

The baby refused to leave my hands. I had to tip it out onto the grass.

I was crying.

I apologised.

I left the baby in the cold wet grass at 4am, grabbed my cat and didn’t sleep.

I went to see it in the morning.

I found it in pieces, and I wept.

I think about the baby every week.

How it so clearly had trusted me, and felt safe with me and I let it down.

I love my cat, but I will look at him sometimes and wonder how much of a joke our naming him “evil kitty” was.

How much is nature and how much is willful destruction.

He is sweet, loud, and comforts me when I am sad.

He is also a predator, and I am forcibly reminded of that in ways I do not wish to be.

I think sometimes that if I were catholic, and I was asked to confess, I would confess about how I let that baby die.

How I betrayed it, and how I will think of it forever.

I think I would beg god for that baby back. So I could hold it again and not care more about my mothers words than a living creature.

I would cry and beg for forgiveness but I would never accept it even if it was given, for I cannot forgive myself.

If I go to hell, I know what it is for.

#so often I see myself trying desperately to get the baby to leave my hands #it just wouldn’t go #I’m so sorry #poetry #tw animal death #two headed calf #personal

2 notes · View notes

tooplantnet · 2 years

Text

How to Care for Begonia Rex?

Begonia Rex is a subtropical, perennial plant that is usually kept in pots as a houseplant. The species that are widely sold worldwide as Begonias are modified species of East Asian Begonias.

Of all the begonias, Begonia Rex is one of the most beautiful plants. It is sometimes called painted leaf Begonia or fancy leaf Begonia. Begonias also bloom, but because they are small, gardeners usually separate them from the plant to make the leaves stand out better. Some types of Rex Begonia go into hibernation during the winter.

This plant is propagated because of its attractive leaves. Begonia Rex has colorful heart-shaped leaves that give a special effect to the environment and is a hardy plant that does not require much care. Only indirect sunlight and occasional pruning are sufficient for Begonia.

Begonias also bloom, but because they are small, gardeners usually separate them from the plant to make the leaves stand out better. Some types of Rex Begonia go into hibernation during the winter.

Essential Tips to Care for Begonia Rex

The best methods of how to care for Begonia Rex include as follows:

What light is best for Begonia Rex?

One of the best places to put begonias is near an east/west window in the house. Rex Begonia house plant receives enough sunlight well and without damage in such a place. If you live in a place where spring and summer are not too hot, near a sunny north window is also a good place to be.

Rotate the plant pot every week so that all parts of it receive the same amount of sunlight. If you have a lack of natural light, you can get help from fluorescent lamps. Begonia Rex indoor plant grows well under this light, thus providing you with more options for home storage.

If the edges of the leaves turn brown and look burnt, it means that the begonia is too close to the window. If it has an unbalanced growth and its leaves are too long and inclined towards the light, it means that the light received for it is low.

How often should you water a Rex Begonia?

In the rest, concerning the tips of caring for a Begonia Rex, it is better to know that determining when a plant needs watering is almost simple. However, the plant probably needs weekly watering, especially during the growing season. In this way, to care for Begonia Rex, watering is considered to be of great significance.

The water given to begonia should not be too salty and use water such as rainwater, distilled water or water that has been resting for a few hours. Do not forget that if you always keep the plant soil moist, it will cause it to rot, and on the other hand, if you constantly leave it thirsty for water, it will wither. Yellowing or browning of the leaves is a sign of overwatering.

If you are using a pot for the plant, after all the excess water has accumulated in the pot; Empty it. You can also fill the pot with pebbles to absorb excess water and save the plant from getting wet. At the same time, its moisture is maintained and some of it is given to the ambient air.

What is the best soil for a Begonia Rex?

Intending to care for Begonia Rex, the other crucial matter is soil. The best composition for Begonia Rex is soil containing lots of perlite, fiber and other lightening compounds. Coal-based soil is better for Rex Begonia. If you can not find such soil, use a multi-purpose plant-based combination.

What is the best fertilizer for a Rex Begonia?

imultaneously with the resumption of plant growth in the spring, choose a multi-purpose fertilizer, water solvent for houseplants and add it to the plant with a quarter of the recommended strength. During this time, repeat this every two weeks.

You can also use multipurpose fertilizers with gentle release. In this case, you should renew the fertilization every three months.

With the arrival of autumn or early winter due to the plant entering dormancy, stop the fertilization process.

We recommend washing the plant soil thoroughly with clean, fresh water every three to four months. This washes away the salts that have accumulated in the soil due to fertilization and lightens the soil.

How Do You Care For Rex Begonia In The Winter?

If you keep Rex Begonia outdoors in the garden during the winter, you should remove it from the soil and wrap it in a tissue or newspaper, then store it in a box in a cool, dark place to plant it again in the next season.

But if you keep Begonia Rex in a pot, you can keep it indoors at room temperature during the winter. Just because of the heating devices, you should be careful about the dryness of the indoor air and try to keep the area around the plant a little moist

This plant contains calcium oxalate, a compound that is toxic to dogs and cats.

#houseplants #houseplant #houseplantcare #houseplant_care #careforhouseplants #care_for_houseplant #care_for_houseplants #care_of_houseplant #take_care_of_houseplants #takecareofhouseplants #plants #plant #Begonia_Rex #caring_for_Begonia_Rex #care_for_Begonia_Rex #take_care_of_Begonia_Rex #Rex_Begonia #care_for_Rex_Begonia

2 notes · View notes