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#Hairy Golden Aster
rabbitcruiser · 1 year
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Scenic Overview, Ridgway (No. 5)
The Sneffels Range, regionally conterminous with San Juans, is a young, prominent, and rugged range of mountains in southwestern Colorado of the San Juan Mountains. The Sneffels range form the southern border of Ouray County and run west to east.
The Sneffels Range can be viewed from as far as the La Sal Mountains in eastern Utah and is very prominent from most vantage points of the Uncompahgre Valley. The most prominent peak of the Sneffels Range is Mount Sneffels reaching 14,158 feet (4,315 m).
Source: WIkipedia
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toadstoolgardens · 6 months
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Foraging for Goldenrod (Solidago)
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Goldenrod or Solidago blooms in late summer/early fall across much of North America. It's beautiful golden flowers reflect the golden sun of late summer. Goldenrod is edible and medicinal and can be used as a natural dye!!
Identifying Goldenrod
Goldenrod is a member of the Asteraceae or sunflower family and likes open sunny areas like meadows, fields, and forest openings. The stems are tall and stiff with tiny golden-yellow flowers in a dense, pyramid-shaped, pluming cluster. It's a prolific perennial and can grow 0.5-2m tall.
The leaves vary slightly depending on the species of goldenrod, but they're long, narrow, and taper to a point. The edges can be smooth or slightly toothed, or slightly hairy on the underside depending on species.
Goldenrod in my area likes to grow alongside New England Aster. They make such a beautiful combination of purple and yellow and can aid in identification. If you see one you just might see the other!
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Look-Alikes
Goldenrod can sometimes be mistaken for Senecio species like ragwort (left) and groundsel (right). Some Senecio species contain TOXIC pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause liver damage. As always please be 100% certain of your identification before harvesting!! That said, senecio's flowers are generally much larger and much fewer than goldenrod's many tiny flowers. They also tend to bloom earlier in the season than goldenrod.
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Harvesting Goldenrod
All of the above-ground parts of goldenrod are edible! Harvest by snipping the top of the stems, leaves, and flower heads with scissors (about the top 1/3rd of the plant). The earlier in the blooming season the better! The later blooms tend to be more bitter and can fluff up like dandelions if you want to dry them.
If you're worried about seasonal allergies you should be safe with goldenrod! Goldenrod is insect pollinated so it doesn't need to release pollen into the air.
Whatever you do DO NOT pull up entire goldenrod plants!!! Goldenrod is a massively important plant for hundreds of pollinators including bees, butterflies, beetles, and wasps. Harvest sustainably, no pulling up by the roots, and only snip the tops you'll use!!
You can use goldenrod fresh or dry it by hanging it upside down for about a week (spread it out for adequate airflow!) or in your kitchen oven by spreading in a single layer on baking sheets and baking 4-5 hours at 170F/76C. Store dried goldenrod in an airtight container.
Goldenrod Uses & Benefits
Goldenrod as an herbal remedy is highly anti-inflammatory, great for the kidneys (prevents and flushes kidney stones, helps relieve minor bladder infections), helpful for minor respiratory issues like seasonal allergies and colds, and helps heal minor wounds and swelling when used externally. It's also edible raw or cooked! The leaves can be cooked like spinach or used in lots of tasty fall recipes like this goldenrod cornbread?!? I need it.
Safety Note: Goldenrod has been traditionally used as medicine and is regarded as very safe. That said, goldenrod taken internally has a diuretic effect. If you have any problems with the urinary system or take a diuretic already, PLEASE ask a medical professional before using. Don't use herbal medicines to treat serious health issues or in fragile populations like babies or the elderly without consulting a doctor. I AM NOT A DOCTOR I JUST LIKE PLANTS.
To use your goldenrod medicinally you can make it into tea, tincture, or infused oil. You can also make a goldenrod salve to apply externally!
Goldenrod Tea:
Add 2tbsp of fresh flowers OR 1tbsp of dried flowers to 8oz hot water.
Cover and steep 15-20 minutes before straining.
This tea can be slightly bitter with a sort of anise/licorice flavor. It's great sweetened with a little honey!
Goldenrod Tincture:
Fill a small jar 1/3 - 3/4 full with chopped fresh goldenrod flowers OR 1/4 - 1/2 full with dried goldenrod flowers.
Fill jar with high-proof (40-60%) alcohol like vodka or brandy.
Cap, label, and store out of direct sunlight at least 4-6 weeks. Strain before using.
Your tincture should be good for a year or more. Take a few drops mixed with a spoonful of honey or water. Can be taken up to 3-5 times daily or as needed.
Goldenrod Infused Oil:
Fill a jar 1/4 - 1/2 full with dried goldenrod flowers.
Pour an oil (sunflower, sweet almond, or olive are good options) over the flowers until the jar is full.
Infuse one of 3 ways:
Slow Way - cap jar and place in a dark, cool spot like a cabinet for 4-6 weeks. Strain.
Solar Way - instead of capping the jar cover it with a piece of cheesecloth or scrap of old t-shirt. Set your jar in a sunny window for a few days up to a few weeks. The sun's heat infuses your oil faster! Strain.
Speedy Way - don't cap your jar and set it uncovered in a saucepan containing a few inches of water. Heat on low for 2-3 hours, watching it carefully!! Strain.
Goldenrod Salve: if you made infused oil you can easily make it into a salve!
Add 3.5oz (100g) of your infused oil and 0.5oz (14g) beeswax to a small jar.
Place the jar into a saucepan containing a few inches of water. Heat over medium low until the beeswax melts.
Let cool and apply to minor wounds, sores, swelling, aches & pains.
You can also make a gorgeous yellow or green natural fabric dye from goldenrod!
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4
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pcttrailsidereader · 1 year
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Super Bloom 2023?
Here is the Wildflower Update from the US Forest Service dated January 27,2023 in response to the above question.
Will there be a superbloom this year? The short answer- maybe. It is still too early to predict if the storms from the summer 2022 monsoon season will lead to a showy 2023 spring bloom. Generally, superblooms are preceeded by fall/winter rains, which we did not receive. Sprouts of many wildflower species have been seen popping up on alluvial fans, in washes and around Furnace Creek Visitor Center but whether they survive will depend on many factors including wind, additional precipitation and temperature. Right now we are anticipating an average to above average bloom this year, but it remains to be seen if there will be a full superbloom. See "Predicting a Good Bloom Year" below to learn more. 
Predicting a Good Bloom Year
A good wildflower year depends on at least three things:
Well-spaced rainfall throughout the winter and spring
Sufficient warmth from the sun
Lack of drying winds
Rain is Key
Gentle rain that soaks deeply into the soil is essential for a desert floral display. To begin, a rainstorm of a half inch or more is needed to wash the protective coating off wildflower seeds and allow them to sprout. For plants to continue growing, rainstorms must come at evenly-spaced intervals throughout the winter and spring. The best blooms are triggered by an early, winter-type rainstorm in September or October, followed by an El Niño weather pattern that brings above average rainfall to the Desert Southwest.
Warming Things Up
Wildflower seeds that sprout with cool winter storms often remain small and low to the ground until the springtime sun starts to warm the soil. They may not look like they are growing, but a strong root system is developing below the surface. As the temperatures get warmer, the well established plants then put on a growth spurt and start to bloom.
Harsh Desert Wind
Frequent springtime windstorms without additional rain can bring about a quick end to the spring bloom or even prevent it from happening by killing off delicate sprouts. Dry, moving air dehydrates exposed surfaces of all living things, including human beings. Desert plants often have waxy, hairy, or spiny leaves to baffle the wind and retain precious moisture. Humans can carry and drink water as needed, but the wildflowers must grow and bloom before they dry out, or late-spring heat arrives, in order to leave seeds scattered on the desert floor to produce the next generation.
When Wildflowers Typically Bloom
Mid February to Mid April
Where: Lower elevations on alluvial fans and foothills.
Wildflowers: Desert Gold (Geraea canescens), Notch-leaf Phacelia (Phacelia crenulata), Caltha-leaf Phacelia (Phacelia calthifolia), Golden Evening Primrose (Camissonia brevipes), Gravel Ghost (Atrichoseris platyphylla), Bigelow Monkeyflower (Mimulus bigelovii), Desert Five-spot (Eremalche rotundifolia)
Early April to Early May
Where: 3000 to 5000 feet elevations, upper desert slopes, canyons, higher valleys
Wildflowers: Desert Dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata), Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa), Princesplume (Stanleya pinnata), Desert Paintbrush (Castilleja chromosa), Fremont Phacelia (Phacelia fremontii), Mojave Aster (Xyloriza tortifolia), Bigelow's Coreopsis (Coreopsis bigelovii), Indigo Bush (Psorothamnus arborescens), Desert Globemallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua)
Early May to Mid July
Where: 5000 to 11,000 feet elevation on mountain slopes, pinyon pine/juniper woodlands
Wildflowers: Desert Mariposa (Calochortus kennedyi), Purple Sage (Salvia dorrii), Rose Sage (Salvia pachyphylla), Panamint Penstemon (Penstemon floridus austinii), Magnificent Lupine (Lupinus magnificus), Inyo Lupine (Lupinus excubitus)
Fleeting Beauty
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NPS / E. Hoerner
Past Wildflower Seasons
2022
Although we received rain in July, it came too early; rain is usually required in the fall to produce a large bloom. This fall was not only dry, but also hot, with above average temperatures in November. However, several rain events in December thoroughly wet the soil, which was good news for wildflowers, leading to an average bloom (not a super bloom) this spring.
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scriptflorist · 2 years
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Hey! I love your blog so much, and I'm so happy that I found it (it's helped a lot)! I was wondering if you could do a list of flowers that mean (or fall into the category of/are similar to): Obsession, Obsessive love, 'til death do us part, I want your attention, I belong to you, you belong to me, etc., etc. Along with this, I'd also like to know what flowers are native to New Jersey (And also which ones bloom in the fall, if any?) Thank you, and have a lovely day!
That should be possible with some creativity given that obsession and bonding don’t exist as meanings themselves, but it leans well enough into the Victorian flower language to get something out of it still. Hope there’s something in here that works for your story.
arbor vitae – live for me, unchanging friendship
baby’s breath – everlasting love, innocence, pure of heart
bay leaf – I change but in death/dying
broom-rape – union
carnation (pink) – I will/I’ll never forget you, women’s love
cedar leaf – I live for thee
clover (white) – think of me
columbine – I cannot give thee up, folly, desertion
columbine (purple) – resolved to win
cowslip (american) – divine beauty, you are my angel, you are my divinity
currant – thy frown will kill me, thankfulness
daisy (double) – affection, I reciprocate your affection
daphane (rose) – I desire to please
eschscholzia – do not refuse me
euphorbia – persistence
fleur-de-lis – I burn, flame
foxglove – I am not ambitious for myself but for you, a wish, stateliness, occupation, insincerity, youth
furze – love for all seasons/occasions
gladiolus – you pierce my heart, generosity, I’m sincere, flower of the gladiators
heart’s ease – you occupy my thoughts, forget me not, think of me, thoughts
heart’s ease (purple) – you occupy my thoughts
hemlock – you will be my death
honeysuckle – generous and devoted affection, bonds of love, the bond of love, devotion, I would not answer hastily, fidelity
honeysuckle (coral) – the colour of my fate
honeysuckle (wild) – generous and devoted love
japonica – sincerity, symbol of love
jasmine (indian) – I attach myself to you, attachment, separation
laurestine – a token, I die if neglected, delicate attention
mallow (syrian) – consumed by love, persuasion
rose (carolina) – love is dangerous
shepherd’s purse – I offer you my all
spindle tree – your charms are engraven on my heart
tulip – (a) declaration of love, perfect lover, fame, beautiful eyes
tulip (red) – declaration of love
virginia creeper – I cling to you both in sunshine and in shade
Plants native to New Jersey that bloom in fall/autumn:
allegheny monkey flower
american angelica
american arrowhead
american blue vervain
american lotus
american water-willow
ashy sunflower
bigleaf aster
black-eyed susan
bluebell
blue bead lily
blue cohosh
blue mistflower
blue star
blue wood aster
bottle gentian
bowman’s root
brown-eyed susan
bunchberry
bushy aster
canada goldenrod
canada wild ginger
canadian violet
cardinal flower
carolina geranium
caroline redroot
closed bottle gentian
coastal plain joe-pye weed
common boneset
common evening primrose
cow parsnip
crooked aster
cutleaf coneflower
cup plant
downy skullcap
early goldenrod
false aster
false sunflower
field thistle
flat-topped white aster
foam flower
fringed bleeding heart
fringed loosestrife
gayfeather
golden crownbeard
grass-leaved goldenrod
grassy arrowhead
gray goldenrod
great blue lobelia
hairy aster
hardy hibiscus
heath aster
hoary vervain
horizontal calico aster
jerusalem artichoke
joe-pye weed
late boneset
marsh betony
maryland golden aster
maximilian sunflower
meadow phlox
narrowleaf mountain mint
new england aster
new york aster
new york ironweed
nodding lady’s tresses
orange fringed orchid
orange jewelweed
patridge pea
pearly everlasting
pink tickseed
prairie sagebush
purple-head sneezeweed
purple mountain saxifrage
red baneberry
rock harlequin
rough goldenrod
salt heliotrope
sawtooth sunflower
scarlet bee balm
seashore mallow
seaside goldenrod
selfheal
showy black-eyed susan
showy goldeneye
showy goldenrod
showy tick trefoil
slender buch clover
slender dayflower
smooth beggartick
smooth blue aster
sneezeweed
spotted joe-pye weed
stiff goldenrod
stiff sunflower
swamp sunflower
swamp thistle
sweet goldenrod
sweetscent
sweet-scented joe-pye weed
tall boneset
tall cinquefoil
tall goldenrod
ten-petaled sunflower
threadleaf coreopsis
tickseed
virginia meadow beauty
water arum
western sunflower
wild bergamot
wild cucumber
wild potato vine
wild senna
wingstem
white baneberry
white goldenrod
white panicle aster
white snakeroot
white turtlehead
white wood aster
whorled milkweed
woodland sunflower
wreath goldenrod
yellow jewelweed
yellow pond lily
This website gives a breakdown by county in form of excel lists, albeit it doesn’t say whether the plants bloom in fall or not.
https://npsnj.org/native-plants/where-to-buy-natives/plant-lists/
– Mod Jana
Disclaimer
This blog is intended as writing advice only. This blog and its mods are not responsible for accidents, injuries or other consequences of using this advice for real world situations or in any way that said advice was not intended.
https://www.gardenia.net/native-plants/new-jersey
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thalkons-garden · 1 year
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Tansy Plant
Scientific Name:  Tanacetum vulgare
Plant Family: Asteraceae or Aster family
Common Name: Common Tansy, Bitter Buttons, Cow Bitter, Golden Buttons
Origin: Europe and Asia (brought to the states as a medicinal/ornamental plant, it has an invasive attitude and can choke out local plant life, grow with caution)
Description: 
- Height: Can grow 2 - 5 ft in height, 12 - 18 in. wide. 
- Fruit: 5 brownish angled achenes in the fall (one plant is capable of producing 50,000 seeds per year). The seeds tend to drop around the plant but can become airborne as well.
- Flowers: Golden yellow button-like blooms that appear in clusters of 20-200 flowerheads. Flowers measure from 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide. Similar to tiny disc flowers of a daisy but have no flower petals. Flower clusters can measure up to 4 inches wide and typically bloom from July to September. The flowers can be considered “showy” for gardners. (Flower Inflorescence: Corymb) Scent is similar to camphor with hints of rosemary. 
- Leaves: Leaves are green and have a camphor-like odor when crushed. They are arranged alternately. There are basal and cauline leaves. The leaf blades are oblong or elliptic in shape and pinnately lobed. The leaf is deeply divided into narrow segments. The margins are dentate, and the surface is glabrous to sparsely hairy. The leaves measure from 2-6 inches, and up to 12 inches long, and 4 inches wide.  
- Stem: The stem is erect, branched (3 - 6 stems), and glabrous to sparsely hairy. Coloring can vary from brown to reddish-brow or purplish-red at the base. Branches out near the top.   
- Roots: rhizomatous root system
Growing Conditions: Prefers moist, humus-rich soil, it can grow in a wide range of soils, including dry, poor, and disturbed soils. They thrive in areas that get at least 6 hours of sunlight. Once established it is fairly drought tolerant. If growing from seed it is suggested to plant in the fall in well worked soil. This plant can form a dense cover which can choke out native vegetation (one plant can produce more than 2,000 seeds).
Removing the plant: Individual or small patches of the plant can easily be removed with the help of a shovel. The roots tend to be grow deep, and all roots must be removed in order for the plant to be properly removed. It is advised to wear gloves when removing Tansy, as the leaves can cause contact dermatitis.
Broad-spectrum herbicide should only be used if the infestation is so large it cannot be managed by manual removal. Mowing an infestation can be an effective way of weakening the plants before applying herbicide to the regrowth. It also requires less herbicide than when treating full-sized plants.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant has no serious pest or disease problems. Spider mites can be a problem in some areas. The Tansy Beetle (Chrysolina graminis) has resistance to the toxins and subsist almost exclusively on this plant. 
Plant History: 
- First historical records of cultivation for medicinal purposes involved the ancient Greeks. 
- In 8th century AD Tansy was grown in the herb gardens of Charlemagne and by Benedictine monks of the Swiss monastery of Saint Gall. 
- Historically used to treat intestinal worms, rheumatism, digestive problems, fevers, sores, ulcers, constipation, hysteria, jaundice, gastrointestinal problems, and to bring out measles. 
- In the Middle Ages and later, high doses were used to induce abortions, but on the other hand was used to help women conceive and to prevent miscarriages. 
- 15th century Christians began serving tansy with Lenten meals to commemorate the Passover bitter herbs eaten by the Israelites (Tansy was thought ot have the added benefits of controlling flatulence and preventing the intestinal worms that was believed to be caused by eating fish during Lent). 
- In the 19th century, Tansy was used as a face wash and was reported to lighten and purify the skin. Irish folklore suggested that bathing in a solution of Tansy and salts would cure joint pain. 
- Corpses were wrapped in Tansy to prevent rapid decay (the first president of Harvard Univeristy, Henry Dunster, was buried wearing a tansy wreath in a coffin packed with tansy; when the cemetery was moved in 1846 the tansy had maintained its shape and fragrance, helping to identify the president’s remains). 
- During the American colonial period, the leaves were used to repel flies, ants and fleas around meats and to delay spoilage.
- In the 1940′s distilled tansy oil mixed with fleabane, pennyroyal and diluted alcohol was a well-known mosquito repellent (current studies have found that Tansy DOES repel mosquitoes, but it isn’t nearly as effective as products containing DEET).
Quick Facts: 
- Considered one of the worst invasive plants in North America
- Prohibited seed selling in Montana and Wyoming
- Prohibited selling or growing of plant in Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming, parts of Washington state, the the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia
- The genus name, Tanacetum, is derived from the Green word, “Athanasia”, which means “immortal”. The species name, vulgare, is Latin and means “common”.
- To slow the Tansy takeover, it is suggested to deadhead the blooms as they fade to reduce the number of runaway seeds in your garden. 
- Has a rhizome type root system, which can be hard to be rid of once established. 
- Sheep can possibly get “high” off this plant. (source)
Companion Planting: Can be planted with all types of vegetables, the Tansy plant will chase off pests while adding potassium to the soil for other plants to benefit from. It is planted alongside potatoes to repel the Colorado potato beetle. Plant Benefits: Adds potassium to soil, while repelling several insect species. Reseeds itself easily. Attracts honeybees and ladybugs (the ladybugs have a high chance of laying their eggs on this plant). 
Plant Not Benefits: Can attract “pest” bugs such as Bracanoid Wasps (source) and Pirate bugs. Tansy leaves contain an oil known as “thujone” which can cause skin irritation or contact dermatitis. Thujone in excess amounts be toxic to horses, cows, and humans, although sheep and goats can tolerate the plant and have been used to control the weed. (source) Thujone can also cause convulsions along with liver and brain damage when consumed in large amounts. (source) 
Uses: Flavor stews, salads, omelets and more. Useful as a natural textile dye. Can be used in everlasting bouquets, as the heads retain both color and shape. Made into insecticide via the essential oil in the leaves (source) Can be placed on window sill to repel flies; sprigs placed in bed linen to drive away pests, and can be used as an ant repellent.
Similar Looking Plants: Tansy Ragwort -  the flowers are similar, except Tansy Ragwort looks closer to a daisy. The flowers have 13 ray petals and yellow centers (this plant is also considered a noxious invasive weed).
Alternatives to this plant: Yarrow, Goldenrod, or Golden Alexander all have bright yellow flowers that bloom in the summer. 
Sources: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/tansy/growing-tansy-herbs.htm
https://www.growveg.com/guides/why-you-should-and-shouldnt-grow-tansy/
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/tanacetum-vulgare/
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crudlynaturephotos · 7 years
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cedar-glade · 5 years
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Prairie Problems?
Went hiking with my friend Solly who is the mastermind behind Indigenous Landscapes yesterday up at Caesar Creek and also at Fort Ancient National Heritage Site and Nature Preserve to see if we could collect ephemeral seeds and slowly realized how the only way to collect these seeds is to bag tie them. We quickly gave up hope on most of them with the easiest seeds being that of wild columbine. I grabbed some left overs from the large flowering valerian there and now I completely understand why that seed is so expensive. Its like you get 15-20 seeds max from each individual plant if the plant was fully pollinated. I made off that day with 10 large flowering valerian seeds total. Anyway, right now he is trying to write another book, or rather write a research piece, on the native prairie thicket species of or section of Ohio that have been displaced. He has already wrote some fairly intensive and delineate restoration methods and is using each project from Indigenous Landscapes as an experiment. One of the things he brought to my attention is the issue with our state being out of grazers and having no open cattle grazing policies. We end up following suite on restorations with plugging in 30-50% graminoids(grasses) into our restoration mixes, and those graminoids end up never getting grazed. One suggestion to fix these grass lands and re-restore the forbe diversity is to broadcast a large quantity of hemiparasitic species that specifically specialize on grasses, like indian paintbrushes. They would be sewed in right after a heavy burn, and cold strat would be done in a wet sand fridge. 
It got me thinking about the issues behind modern prairies, the loss of grazing macrofauna and their predators. If you are going to be making a prairie mixture for a large project, and you live in an area of the midwest with no-open grazing laws, that is caddle can’t freely roam. Stick to 2% graminoids and the rest forbe diversity. Collect mainly from your ecotype if possible. My friend Chris has issues with aster species he ordered already blooming in June because they are the Minnesota ecotype and not the Ohio one. Anyway, here are some photo examples of bad vs good attempts. 
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these are great attempts, the predominant species associated with this involve mostly rattlesnake master and low lying mint species. We found 3 different golden alexander species, very few grasses, a but load of spiderwort, baptisia, 5 Penstemon species. and all sorts of composites as well. It’s mostly forbe dominated and has sporadic spacing instead of clumped mono-culture spacing. very rarely is an individual of the same species touching basal stalks with another individual of the same species.  
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Now for the bad
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It’s still a decent attempt, do not get me wrong; but without strong burns and proper seed mixes the canada goldenrods and the hairy sunflowers are bumper to bumper and running. Taking over large patches as they grow wild, essentially leaving little room for diversity. Not enough pollination is occurring this time of year because the overall diversity is low. The grasses that are mixed in here are clumping together and vast; it’s essentially a better looking old field succession prairie. 
What should be blooming right now in the average prairie reconstruction- Climbing Rose, Fox Glove Beardtongue(still), Giant SolomonSeal, Phlox stolonifera, Purple Rue, Tall Meadow Rue,  Field Flea Bane, Virginia and Ohio Spiderworts. Purple Cone Flower, Downy Mint, Butterfly Weed, Tickseed Coreopsis, Painted Coreopsis, and a few other Helianthus species like early and rough sunflowers. 
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10:24 PM on Tuesday, June 20, 2017.
Sorry there is not more notice for this event!
“Bluebells are coming,” sing the Imp and the Elf, and so they are, and with the blue-bells comes Summer.” Arthur Ransome
.
Spring with its yellow Buffalo Bean, the pale aspen wearing their new bright green dresses. For now it is summer and the whole forest will be green. For in summer, the prairie clover reaches high above the flowering grasses. Summer is prime to sight the Sharp-tailed Grouse, and Ruddy Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, and American White Pelican. ill you, this summer spy a Kildeer, Black Tern or Mourning Dove? Downy Woodpecker, and Northern Flicker visit all year long, yet the Least Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Western and Eastern Kingbird will only appear for the summer months.
“You may say you won’t interfere with another person’s soul, but you do—merely by existing. The snag about it is the practical difficulty, so to speak, of not existing.” ― Dorothy L. Sayers
July brings the bright rays of the Gaillardia, a striking contrast to the delicate flowers of the Northern Bedstraw. Harebell alongside Slender Beard-Tongue adds a hint of blue and lavender to the prairie biome. The Silver-leaf Psorlea tall and elegant, leaves a dash of blue like a hint of spice, The Purple Prairie Clover begins its dance with whorls of colour starting at the base of its dress, blooming ever higher. The Western snowberry shows off with its amazing pinkish white bells. Keep your eyes peeled for the Skeleton Weed, Hairy Golden-aster and White Cinquefoil painting the grasslands with delicate bursts of colour for those sauntering through the open prairie.
“Two things never mix: one is enchantments and the other is meddling with them.” ― Lloyd Alexander
Tell us what Summer is like for you.
What are the things we know summer by? Perchance summer dresses, and tailored shorts, toques give way to summer hats. Finding a cool, comfortable place, and do tell of those things which make the forest prairie so delightful.
The holes are full of rabbits, and the summer grass grows high. You know thistles and dandelions, of course, but I wonder if you know the wild orchid when you see one? What will you do these long summer evenings? The scenery is peaceful, foliage of the groves and forests verdant, and rich beyond compare. Have you tasted summer? Warm, mellow summer with glowing sunbeams to make every nerve tingle. Have you made acquaintance with the little bird which flits around the branches of the shrubbery? This little brown job flits in and around the branches of the buffaloberry and snowberry bushes. Playing and dancing on the wind in a frisky way, sure to attract attention, then behind a leaf and it is gone.
” Every morning, arising from the death of sleep, the happy plants and all our fellow animal creatures great and small, and even the rocks, seemed to be shouting, “Awake, awake, rejoice, rejoice, come love us and join in our song. Come! Come!” John Muir.
Summer solstice 10:24 PM on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 come out and savour the first moment of summer.
“Never stand in the way of letting God use people’s actions, in order to solve a greater issue in the world.” ― Shannon L. Alder
For more information:
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, SK, CA north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map Facebook: StBarbeBaker Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Facebook: South West OLRA Contact the Meewasin Valley Authority as the MVA has begun a Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area trust fund. If you wish to support the afforestation area with your donation, write a cheque to the “Meewasin Valley Authority Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area trust fund (MVA RSBBAA trust fund)” .
“Justice means minding one’s own business and not meddling with other men’s concerns.” Plato
“Meddling is what we do. It’s what defines us. ” ― Alastair Reynolds
Must See Event. 10:24 PM on Tuesday, June 20, 2017. Sorry there is not more notice for this event!
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fidgemimic · 5 years
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Also! The seeds I got were Hairy False Golden Asters, Field Cerastium, Harebells, and Deerhorn Clarkia and idk how to grow things but I'm sure as shit gonna try!!!!
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writerleo86 · 3 years
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Armor Champions Super R - Episode 154 (Do Not Copy)
   At the beautiful backyard of the old mansion, the questioning boy Nemo stood by the door. He watched the reformed Ronan attack the two enemies -- Muiten and Jester -- by blowing out many spheres of red energy from his hands.
   Then Kody of the HardRock turned and cried in fear "Nemo!"
   That was when he felt a mild pinch on his right shoulder. And the unconscious Nemo fell onto the arms of the undead nobleman, Agis Basileus.
   It was the mysterious figure with a small syringe held with his right fingers. He wore a long dark coat with a hood over his head, tight dark pants, and black boots.
   "The mission has been accomplished," said Basileus.
   He soon found Ronan and Misha standing among the armored heroes.
   "But..." He implied. "...it appears that we were betrayed at the last moment."
   Ronan stared at him in disgust and Basileus replied "No matter. As if you will be able to hinder our lord from rising from his imprisonment."
   "You bastard!" yelled Ronan.
   Finally, the nobleman Basileus gave out a loud laugh until he disappeared along with the hooded person and the defenseless Nemo. And the other villains -- Jester and Muiten -- vanished as well.
   "No!" Kody yelled. "Nemo!"
Armor Champions Super R -- Episode 154:  The Fallen Angel Arc -- The Vessel
   Later, everyone stood in the backyard of the mansion along with both Ronan and Misha. The other champions -- Billy of the IceDome and Aaron of the SilverLight -- were also present. And two more flew down -- Nina of the GreatRose and Gei of the RedPlanet.
   Another who came with them was a worried Eiri Allazar. She had on dark-brown eyeliner and peach lipstick. And her long hair was tied into a high pony-tail. She wore a pale-brown blouse with short sleeves, tight white pants, white socks, and gray shoes.
   Eiri walked toward him and slapped the left side of Ronan's face using her right hand.
   "You let them take him!" She cried.
   Ronan kept his face turned away as he reported "I did what I was able. But we were deceived, again by Agis Basileus."
   "Ronan is not to blame," Jede informed Eiri. "Someone else appeared at a sudden point and help Agis capture Nemo. It was as if time had worked against us."
   "Someone else?" cried Eiri.
   "We have no idea who this guy was," Joey reported. "He had a hood over his head."
   And Desoto cried "Dat guy just came outta no where! We weren't able to get to yer little guy in time!"
   Eiri lowered her head and told Ronan "I'm sorry. I guess you were doing what you can for him."
   "How do you and Ronan know each other anyway?" asked Aaron.
   Misha with a short grin lowered her head and said "This is awkward."
   Then Kody of the HardRock thought to himself for a moment.
Kody's thoughts:
During one bright morning, two small boys had played at a small park that was somewhere on the planet Terravenger.
One of them was a younger Kody Perez with pale skin, light-brown eyes, and short dark hair. He wore a light-orange T-shirt, gray shorts, white socks, and orange shoes.
The other was Nemo with fair skin, green eyes, and short brown hair. He had on a red shirt with short gray sleeves, gray shorts, white socks, and brown shoes.
The pair ran toward a small pond. Then Kody slipped and fell face down into the green grass. And he spotted someone after he lifted his head.
It was a middle-aged man with dark skin, brown eyes, and short dark hair. He wore a collared white shirt that showed his hairy chest. He had on a pair of leathered black pants and black boots. And he had worn a collared blue coat.
The man turned his head to look at him. And Kody noticed the sorrow in his eyes.
   After that, Kody walked toward Ronan and gave out a soft smile.
   "You were the man," Kody implied. "I saw a man watching the two of us play at a small park in California City many years ago. I tried to find either Eiri or another adult. But once Eiri appeared, the man had vanished."
   "I always thought you were making that up," Eiri commented.
   And Kody replied "Ronan. You are him... You are Nemo's biological father."
   "Wat!" cried Desoto. "Dis guy? He's been afta dis kid forever!"
   "No way!" yelled Aaron. "Are you sure, Kody?"
   Ronan stared into the eyes of Kody and said "I do recall that day. It was by chance that I would meet the child who has connected with Eiri and her child."
   And Eiri gave out a relieved smile as Ronan announced "I am... I am indeed the father of Nemo Allazar. My original name is Aster Raudonas."
   "Aster Raudonas?" Jede repeated.
   Eiri shook her head and responded "Aster and I met up when I still lived on Terravenger. It was as friends at first. Then we started dating. We had Nemo later."
   "But the leader of this cult at the time," Ronan explained. "Once he heard about Eiri's pregnancy, he was shown that the child was to be sacrificed by the Devil's Blade -- or the Fallen Angel rather."
   Eiri lowered her head and informed everyone "Aster was the one who told me about the cult's plan. He did what he could to run interference while I escaped with our boy. Then we were found by Lady Mystic."
   "Before she left with the baby," Ronan told them. "I informed Eiri to leave her old life behind."
   "And that was when we came up with the name Roth," Eiri replied. "Once he escaped, Aster was going to find us."
   "But..." said Ronan. "I was delayed. I was confronted by him, Agis Basileus. I did everything I could to elude. But it was he who overwhelmed using his own skills. He with the aid of the Devil's Blade had placed me under a type of hypnosis. Agis made me forget everything that was precious to me, including... Including my devotion to Eiri and our child. I was at the mercy of the Fallen Angel."
   "It was Agis Basileus who drove you away from your own son," Jede implied. "He was the cause of this mayhem."
   "Damn it!" Desoto yelled. "Another reason to hate dat fancy-haired vamp!"
   "Agis Basileus is but one of our greatest threats before Azazel himself," Kody implied. "We still have Muiten to stop."
   "And the hooded bastard that took Nemo," added Billy.
   "The others..." Misha informed everyone. "Turbo and Jester will not be part of that problem. They are the easiest to beat."
   "Correct," Ronan replied. "Turbo and Jester were only hired to protect their employers from harm. They both use weaponry to boost their styles."
   "Are you sure?" asked Joey.
   "Oh I am certain of it," Misha responded. "I was the one that gathered information before Ronan hired Jester. And I have seen Turbo battle a few times. Neither of them use Nature Energy."
   "Well, that's a start," Aaron implied. "Muiten and Basileus are the only ones we have to worry about before we can even reach Azazel."
   Then Desoto asked Ronan "Wat do ya'll know about dat guy in da hood?"
   "Not much," Ronan answered.
   Misha told him "He is merely a scientist of sorts. But he is able to hold his own in a fight. So far, I have not seen any of his hidden techniques."
   "Basileus has more abilities than we have ever seen," Carla implied. "He will definitely not be easy to defeat."
   "I know for certain..." Ronan told them. "...that he was not picked by Azazel only because he is a skilled swordsman. No. There is more from the White King that we have not yet seen."
   "Then, in order for us to succeed," Jede replied. "We must go forward and battle with these enemies, but as a team. We all must be on the same page. That, and we will be able to defeat not only them, but the Angel of Chaos himself."
   "That's good Jede," said Relena. "We all need to work as a team -- us and Ronan."
   "Then I'm coming too," Eiri told them as she held her right fist near her.
   "No," Ronan told her. "You will stay behind. I refuse to let anything else happen to you."
   "My boy's out there, Aster!" Eiri cried. "I am going!"
   Gei walked toward them and said "I cannot believe I am saying this. But I agree with Ronan. You are staying put, Eiri."
   "You haven't fully recovered from your present injuries," Nina responded. "You must stay and rest, Lady Eiri. Meanwhile, we all will go and bring Nemo back. You have my word as a soldier of the red planet."
   In a place filled with black rocks and pure darkness, Agis Basileus once again stood before the large cocoon that shined a bright but cold blue light.
   "We have retrieved the vessel, just as promised to you milord," Basileus reported. "It will not be long until we have located and secured the treasure that was blessed by Hypnos himself."
   "That will no longer be necessary," The male voice informed him. "I now have the god's gift in my possession as well."
   "Truly?" asked Basileus.
   The voice responded "You were not told of why I have chosen to be my vessel, the offspring of the Allazar maiden and our former champion. Before the child was conceived, I had a servant give something to his mother. But this was no mere liquid. My loyal priests had performed what they were willing until they had found the Golden Eye of Hypnos."
   "We had the sacred treasure all along?" questioned Basileus.
   "I gave false instructions to Ronan," The voice continued. "My followers had to dissolve the treasure entirely, and the remains were made into an elixir which I had the servant give to Eiri Allazar while she was within our walls. And the remains of the treasure had become a part of her child. The boy... He was the main which would return me to this land from my prison."
   "The remains of the god's most sacred tool..." Basileus replied. "They were merely transferred into the vessel? I understand clearly. You had a reason why asking for the boy as a priority."
   "And now I have him," The voice said. "The boy is my true vessel. He shall be the sacrifice. And I will have possession of the power that is able to restore the world as I have envisioned."
   The mysterious man covered in a hood had entered the room and the voice ordered him "You will bring the vessel at once."
   The hooded figure gave a bow and said "Yes milord."
   "The ritual must be done at once," The voice implied. "The blood of the vessel is to be spilled for me to be released. And I shall bring my wrath on those who have locked me in this damned cocoon. Then... I shall resurrect this entire realm, but in my image. All shall worship me. And the others... They shall fall before me."
   Inside a small room was the unconscious Nemo Allazar. He wore nothing but a long white robe and brown boots. And he laid on a large chair that was made of black stone.
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lenoirlivre · 7 years
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Zodiac signs plants correspondences
Each of the 12 signs can benefit from the properties of certain plants which may resonate better or carry the qualities of the corresponding sign.
Aries ♈ (March 21 - April 19)
Aries is a Fire sign ruled by the planet Mars. Plants associated with this sign have bright colors and spicy flavors and may have thorns.
Fruits and Vegetables: Chinese cabbage, mustard, horseradish, onion, garlic, leeks, red pepper, rhubarb, chives, radishes
Flowers: Calendula, geranium, anise hyssop, poppies, red roses, tulips, amaryllis, hollyhock, cowslip, tiger lily, impatiens
Herbs: Nettles, burdock root, cayenne, red clover, yellow dock, yarrow, St. John’s wort, hops, marjoram, milk thistle, wormwood, gentian, sarsaparilla, tarragon, ginger, coriander
Taurus ♉ (April 20 - May 20)
Taurus is an Earth sign ruled by the planet Venus. Venus is the planet that represents desire and beauty, so Taurus plants often have gorgeous flowers and enticing fragrances.
Fruits and Vegetables: Spinach, peas, potatoes, sweet potatoes, gourds, artichoke, olive, grape, apple, fig, apricot, pomegranate, strawberry
Flowers: Daisies, lilac, aster, lily of the valley, sweet pea, lilies, larkspur, columbine, violet, foxglove, rose, sweet William, daisy, geranium
Herbs: Licorice, fenugreek, slippery Elm, anise hyssop (Venus), mallow, lavender, dandelion, marshmallow, sage, vervain, feverfew, thyme, angelica, yarrow
Gemini ♊ (May 21 - June 20)
An Air sign ruled by the planet Mercury. Plants associated with this sign usually feature finely divided leaves or stems, hairy or fuzzy leaves or subtle odors.
Fruits and Vegetables: Endive, carrots, parsnips, oats
Flowers: Orchid, chrysanthemum, lilac, azalea, daffodil, Lily-of-the-valley, honeysuckle
Herbs: Mullein, hyssop, lemon balm, lobelia, elecampane, vervain, woodbine, yarrow, meadowsweet, dill, fennel, skullcap, lavender, fenugreek, licorice, valerian
Cancer ♋ (June 21 – July 22)
Because Cancer is a Water sign and is ruled by the Moon, Cancer’s plants generally have soft or Moon-shaped leaves, contain a lot of moisture, or are found near water. Oftentimes they are white in color, or have white or pale yellow flowers.
Fruits and Vegetables: Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, endive, kale, lettuce, watercress, kohlrabi, mushroom, turnip, sweet potato, cantaloupe, cucumber, gourds, watermelon, pumpkin, squash, seaweed, mango, banana, apple, pear
Flowers: Daisy, water lilies, jasmine, hyssop, morning glory, geranium, lily, lotus, white roses, opium poppy
Herbs: Peppermint, spearmint, papaya leaf, agrimony, lemon balm, parsley, verbena, chickweed
Leo ♌ (July 23 - Aug. 22)
Leo is a Fire sign ruled by the brilliant Sun. Plants associated with this sign are usually large and gold or orange in color, or have heart-shaped leaves or a radiating shape.
Fruits and Vegetables: Chinese cabbage, corn, collards, mustard, Swiss chard, okra, peppers, pineapple, orange, grapefruit, olive, coconut
Flowers: Marigolds, anise hyssop, sunflower, dahlia, larkspur, aster, passion flower, heliotrope, poppy, peony, calendula, crocus
Herbs: Borage, hawthorn, motherwort, rosemary, celandine, mint, lavender, parsley, dill, fennel, chamomile, St. John’s wort, angelica, eyebright, anise, ginger, saffron
Virgo ♍ (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22)
Virgo is an Earth sign ruled by the planet Mercury. Plants associated with this sign often have finely divided leaves or stems, subtle odors, or small, brightly-colored flowers.
Fruits, Vegetables and Grains: Endive, carrots, parsnips, barley, oats, rye, wheat, millet 
Flowers: Narcissus, chrysanthemum, aster, violet, all brightly colored small flowers (particularly blue or yellow)
Herbs: Dill, fennel, blackberry (leaves and root), plantain, St. John’s wort, skullcap, woodbine, valerian, lavender, marjoram, licorice, parsley, fenugreek, dill
Libra ♎ (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22)
Libra is an Air sign, and is ruled by the planet Venus. Because Venus is the planet of beauty and love, Libra’s plants often have light, lovely flowers and gorgeous scents.
Fruits and Vegetables: Broccoli, eggplant, spinach, peas, sweet potato, artichoke, watercress, pomegranate, apricot, apple, fig, plum, grape, strawberry, olive
Flowers: Orchid, gardenia, tea roses, tuberose, freesia, gladiolus, aster, hydrangea, daisy, nasturtium, rose, violet, primrose, pansy, columbine
Herbs: Parsley, cleavers, juniper, corn silk, uva ursi, mint, thyme, yarrow, angelica, vervain
Scorpio ♏ (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)
A Water sign ruled by both Mars and Pluto, Scorpio’s plants are often found in remote places or underground. They will likely have thorns, be red in color, and grow under adversity.
Fruits and Vegetables: Mushroom, peppers, rhubarb, leek, onions, chives, pepper, garlic, horseradish, radish, mustard
Flowers: Calendula, rhododendron, geranium, holly, black-eyed Susan, scarlet monkey flower, anemone, heather, gardenia, honey-suckle, peony, hibiscus
Herbs: Aloe vera, ginseng, pennyroyal, raspberry leaf, saw palmetto, cramp bark, basil, gentian, wormwood, ginger, coriander
Sagittarius ♐ (Nov.  22 - Dec.  21)
Sagittarius is a Fire sign that is ruled by the planet Jupiter. Plants associated with this sign tend to be large in size and fairly conspicuous, with a pleasant odor.
Fruits and Vegetables: Asparagus, endive, rhubarb, beets, tomato, turnip, watercress, olive
Flowers: Red roses, calendula, anise hyssop, pinks, carnations, clematis, peony, crocus, jasmine
Herbs: Dandelion, horsetail, Oregon grape root, wild yam, sage, feverfew, sage, anise, nutmeg, mint
Capricorn ♑ (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19)
As an Earth sign ruled by the planet Saturn, Capricorn’s plants usually have few flowers, are knobby or woody, and may have an unpleasant smell or taste. Saturn rules plants with long lives and slow growth.
Fruits and Vegetables: Spinach, mushroom, beets, parsnips, barley, rye
Flowers: Calendula, black poppy, henbane, nightshade, African violet, snowdrop, jasmine, love-lies-bleeding, pansy, baby’s breath
Herbs: Comfrey, sarsaparilla, rue, kava kava, mullein, thyme, horsetail, shepherd’s purse
Aquarius ♒ (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18)
  Aquarius is an Air sign ruled by the planet Uranus. Plants associated with this sign will often grow in unusual places and may vary in appearance.
Fruits and Vegetables: Spinach, beets, rye, barley, parsnip
Flowers: Bird of paradise, orchid, gladiolus, trillium
Herbs: Chamomile, catnip, skullcap, passion flower, valerian, hops, aloe, myrrh, frankincense, spikenard, kava kava, comfrey, cinnamon, cloves
Pisces ♓ (Feb. 19 - March 20)
As a Water sign ruled by both Jupiter and Neptune, Plants associated with this sign are often large but hard to find, and may grow near the ocean.
Fruits and Vegetables: Asparagus, endive, mushroom, rhubarb, beets, tomato, seaweed, watercress, olive
Flowers: Calendula, anise hyssop, jasmine, lilac, narcissus, water lily, poppy, clematis, wisteria, lilac, orchid
Herbs: Golden seal, Echinacea, chaparral, eyebright, mugwort, kava kava, yarrow, skullcap, oatstraw, nutmeg, anise
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rabbitcruiser · 1 year
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Vernal/Spring Equinox
The March Equinox is an annual celebration that occurs on March 20. In the Northern Hemisphere, the March Equinox is referred to as the vernal equinox. It marks the start of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the autumn season in the Southern Hemisphere. It marks the Sun’s crossing above the Earth’s equator, moving from south to north. Like all equinoxes, the March equinox is distinctive in that it has almost exactly the equal amount of daylight and nights across many latitudes of Earth.
History of March Equinox
Wherever you may be on Earth, the equinox brings us several seasonal effects which have been noticeable to nature lovers around the globe for years. The word ‘equinox’ originates from two Latin words: ‘aequus’ meaning equal and ‘nox’ meaning night. The literal meaning is ‘equal night.’ Our ancestors, who had far less precise timekeeping than we do, believed that night and day were equal. But today we know this is not true.
People have been celebrating the March Equinox for centuries and since it is associated with spring the festivals tend to celebrate fertility and agriculture. The Romans used this day to celebrate their goddess Cybele who has driven around in a chariot drawn by lions. Ancient Persia in roughly 550 B.C., celebrated the vernal equinox as Nowruz, their New Year. Modern Iranians still celebrate this time as their New Year. During the era of the Shang Dynasty, which ruled China from 1600 to 1046 B.C., it was believed that the spring equinox marked a mythic beginning, a type of ‘start of their line.’ Jews in the 12th Century believed that the spring equinox marked the day in the year in which the Biblical plague that turned Egypt’s water into blood occurred.
The festival of ‘Holi’ is the March equinox festival in India. This is celebrated in honor of various Hindu deities and legends. It signals the triumph of Good vs Evil, the most notable being the legend of Krishna and Rhada. Ancient cultures had great awareness of nature, the seasons, and the movement of the celestial bodies. Many built sites that had a glaringly obvious use: that of a calendar. These were often aligned to display shafts of sunlight during solstices and equinoxes. Examples of these are Chichen Itza in Mexico, Mnajdra Temples in Malta, and Stonehenge in England.
March Equinox timeline
Before the year 68 B.C.The Sun Lines Up in Aries
The sun lines up with Aries on the spring equinox but in 2567 the sun will line up with the constellation Aquarius.
2700 B.C.The Egyptian Easter Monday
Sham el-Nessim is an ancient Egyptian holiday that can be traced back to 2700 B.C.
1582The Gregorian Calendar Created
The Gregorian calendar is created and is based on the March equinox, falling from March 11 to March 21, the date it occurred in 325 CE.
1948Japanese Make Holiday Secular
In Japan, those who practiced Shintoism used the March equinox to honor their ancestors.
March Equinox FAQs
What happens during the March equinox?
During this time the Sun will cross the celestial equator from the south to the north.
What is the spiritual meaning?
Tradition states that this is the time to cleanse out old energy at home and with oneself.
Why is equinox important?
Equinox is important because it points to changing seasons.
March Equinox Activities
Spring Clean
Do some gardening
Visit ancient sites
The March equinox is the perfect time to give your house an overhaul. Start by decluttering your house.
Growth symbolizes triumph over death and being reborn therefore it has become a tradition to plant seeds at this time of the year. Add some colorful flowers to your garden to celebrate spring.
Various ancient sites are linked to March equinox celebrations and traditions. Pack a bag, call a friend or two and set out on an adventure.
5 Facts About The March Equinox
The sun rises and sets the fastest
Spring occurs on two different days
It’s Mother's day
It marks the middle of Spring
It signals the start of a festival
The fastest sunsets and sunrises occur during this time of the year.
There are two different calendars: the astronomical and the meteorological calendar. If we go by the astronomical calendar, spring will fall on March 20 but if we go by the other, spring will occur on March 1.
In Arab countries, Mother's Day is often observed on the March equinox.
In East Asian countries the March equinox marks the halfway point of spring.
Boatyard employees and sailboat owners in the U.S hold the Burning of the Socks festival where socks are burnt to celebrate the warmer weather.
Why We Love March Equinox
It is celebrated around the world
It signals new beginnings
Days are longer
The March equinox is celebrated by many cultures around the world. We love that it has a unifying factor.
The March equinox symbolizes growth and new beginnings. It is a clear marker of the change from winter to spring.
Along with longer days, the weather starts to warm up as well. Nature reflects this change with the blooming of new flowers and plants.
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kevinscottgardens · 4 years
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15-28 June 2020
It’s been a busy two weeks. Ann, Kitty and Chipette drove to France and Ann and Chipette will be staying until autumn. Kitty will be back for work in early July. The night they left I also had the absolute most excruciating bout of food poisoning of my life. I wanted to die. It was a bean salad I was finishing off after eating it twice earlier in the week, and it tasted perfect; however, by the time I finished washing the dishes, the pain started and only worsened over the next eight hours until I was able to vomit it all up and start to feel better. It wiped me out Friday, when, thankfully, I was working from home. I also worked that weekend, 20/21 June, which meant I had a short working week and a four-day birthday weekend! Saturday night I went to see Maarten, Mark and Mike in Kingston for dinner, the first meal I’d eaten since Thursday night, and it was delicious.
We’re making good headway in the garden and things are being brought back into order. I finally had my week in the glasshouses with Jess. I worked all week in the tropical corridor. I did a lot of planting, pruning, and pest eradication (mostly mealy bugs and aphids). We’ve been enjoying perfect summer weather too.
This week, I spent Monday and Tuesday cutting hedges which resulted in my back screaming and threatening to cramp. I cut the Elaeagnus × submacrophylla hedge with electric hedge cutters. It was the 400mm high Buxus sempervirens hedges that I cut back with sheers that hurt my back.
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Thursday night I went to Elizabeth and Rob’s and we had a very nice evening which of course included some time in the jacuzzi. Dinner was duck with a sauce of grilled cherries and nectarines - delicious. I was still there at midnight so my first birthday toast! Friday evening I headed to Denis and André’s and we ate a succulent pot-roasted chicken and enjoyed a bottle of Jacquesson, my favourite Champagne. I blew out the candles with a hair-drier in light of the current precautions not to blow on food.
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Saturday I made my way across London to visit Alexander and Stefan for our first catch up this year. Alexander made a delicious fish pie, one of my favourite meals. Sunday Susie and Louis came over and we enjoyed Negroni fizz and a leisurely afternoon of eating and drinking. Susie made one of her infamous risottos and a roast chicken. She also made Negroni cupcakes!
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I’m very excited because I also received my invitation to Bruno et Stéphane’s wedding in December. I’m going to be Stéphane’s witness. I almost died laughing when I saw the photo...
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Plant of the week 21 June
Verbenaceae Petrea volubilis L.
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common name(s) - purple wreath, queen's wreath, sandpaper vine, sand paper synonym(s) - Petrea amazonica Moldenke; P. arborea Kunth; P. arborea f. albiflora Standl.; P. arborea var. broadwayi Moldenke; P. arborea f. broadwayi (Moldenke) Moldenke; P. arborescens Archer ex Moldenke [Invalid]; P. aspera Turcz.; P. aspera f. albiflora Moldenke; P. atrocoerulea Moldenke; P. colombiana Moldenke; P. erecta Lodd. [Invalid]; P. fragrantissima Rusby; P. kohautiana C.Presl; P. kohautiana f. alba (G.F.Freeman & W.G.Freeman) Moldenke; P. kohautiana var. anomala Moldenke; P. kohautiana var. pilosula Moldenke; P. mexicana Willd. ex Cham.; P. nitidula Moldenke; P. ovata M.Martens & Galeottip; P. racemosa Nees; P. racemosa f. alba (Kuhlm. ex Moldenke) Moldenke; P. racemosa var. alba Kuhlm. ex Moldenke; P. retusa C.Presl; P. riparia Moldenke; P. rivularis Moldenke; P. serrata C.Presl; P. stapeliae Paxton; P. subserrata Bárcena; P. subserrata Cham.; P. swallenii Moldenke; P. vincentina Turcz.; P. volubilis var. alba G.F.Freeman & W.G.Freeman; P. volubilis var. albiflora (Standl.) Moldenke; P. volubilis f. albiflora (Standl.) Standl.; P. volubilis var. mexicana Cham.; P. volubilis f. pubescens (Moldenke) Moldenke; P. volubilis var. pubescens Moldenke conservation rating - none native to - Mexico to Brazil location - tropical corridor, accession 1985-0696 leaves - rough, elliptic, dark green, paler beneath flowers - from spring into summer, sometimes again in autumn, erect or arching panicles of small, salver-form, purple flowers with prominent, lilac calyxes; tubular blue flowers only last a few days but the larger and more showy bluish purple calyces (see photo) remain, fading first to blue and finally to a pale grey colour habit - tender, vigorous, twining, semi-evergreen climber to height of 12m and a spread of 6m habitat - seasonal evergreen forest along streams, roadsides, steep limestone walls in dry forest, limestone outcrops, pastures on clay and rocky soil, and on rock pests - glasshouse red spider mite , red spider mite (box and other), scale insects disease - generally disease-free hardiness - to -5ºC (H3) soil - fertile, moist but well-drained soil in a sheltered position sun - full sun propagation - layering, semi-hardwood cuttings pruning - late winter or early spring nomenclature - Verbenaceae - verbena - sacred-bough, from the Latin name, verbena, verbenae, for the leafy twigs carried by priests, used in wreaths for Druidic ritual and in medicine, used by Virgil and Pliny for vervain, Verbena officinalis, Celtic, ferfain; Petrea - honours Lord Robert James Petre (1713-1743), of Ingatestone Hall in Essex, English patron of botany and horticulture; volubilis - twining NB - harvested from the wild for local medicinal use: flowers are combined with those of Chiococca alba to make an abortifacient tea, combined with Xanthosoma sp., Myrcia citrifolia and Capraria biflora to make an infusion that is used to treat diarrhoea; leaves are used in the treatment of diabetes; a methanol extract of the leaves (tincture) has shown hypoglycaemic activity; the crude sap obtained from the grated or macerated stem is used as a resolutive to soothe wounds and burns.
References, bibliography:
Gledhill, David, (2008) “The Names of Plants”, fourth edition; Cambridge University Press; ISBN: 978-0-52168-553-5
IUCN [online] http://www.iucnredlist.org/search [30 Jun 20]
Missouri Botanical Garden [online] http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a539#AllImages [30 Jun 20]
Plant List, The [online] http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-150919 [30 Jun 20]
Plants of the World [online] http://plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:330591-2 [30 Jun 20]
San Marcos Growers [online] https://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=1221 [30 Jun 20]
Shoot Gardening [online] https://www.shootgardening.co.uk/plant/petrea-volubilis [30 Jun 20]
Useful Tropical Plants [online] http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Petrea+volubilis [30 Jun 20]
Plant of the week 28 June
Asteraceae Urospermum dalechampii (L.) Scop. ex F.W.Schmidt
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common name(s) - smooth golden fleece, sheep's beard; français : chicorée amère, morre de porc, groin de porc, grimace synonym(s) - Arnopogon dalechampii (L.) Willd.; Tragopogon bicolor Moench [Illegitimate]; Tragopogon dalechampii L.; Tragopogon laetus Salisb. [Illegitimate]; Tragopogon verticillatus Lam. [Illegitimate]; Urospermum grandiflorum St.-Lag. conservation rating - not on IUCN list native to - west and central Mediterranean location - dicotyledon order beds, accession 2010-0428 leaves - neat rosette of wavy-edged leaves with a ruff of hairy leaves half way up the flower stems flowers - black-eyed, soft lemon-yellow habit - perennial to 450mm tall, slowly spreading into clumps, with a single or branched stem habitat - roadsides, dry grasslands or wastelands to 1,200m pests - no information found disease - no information found hardiness - to -20ºC (H6) soil - well-drained sun - full sun propagation - seeds best sown in winter or early spring to benefit from a cold spell in the wet compost to break their dormancy; may still take many months to appear, so never discard pruning - none nomenclature - Asteraceae - aster - star; Urospermum - tailed-seed, the beaked achenes; dalechampii - for James Dalechamp (Jacques d’Alechamps), 1513-88, French physician and botanist, author of Historia generalis planatarum 1587. NB - a very bitter almond taste, rosettes and young shoots are eaten in salads; cooking: rosette or young leaves in salad; harvest: rosettes from September to April.
References, bibliography:
Garrigue Association Gourmande [online] http://garrigue-gourmande.fr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1121&Itemid=102 [1 Jul 20]
Génial Végétal [online] https://www.genialvegetal.net/-Urosperme-de-Dalechamps- [1 Jul 20]
Gledhill, David, (2008) “The Names of Plants”, fourth edition; Cambridge University Press; ISBN: 978-0-52168-553-5
Hardy Plant Society [online] https://www.hardy-plant.org.uk/about-plants/seed/seed-list/simple-seed-list?id=1846 [1 Jul 20]
IUCN [online] http://www.iucnredlist.org/search [1 Jul 20]
Plant List, The [online] http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/gcc-97599 [1 Jul 20]
Plant World Seeds [online] https://www.plant-world-seeds.com/store/view_seed_item/4461 [1 Jul 20]
Plants of the World [online] http://plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:257064-1 [1 Jul 20]
Wikipedia [online] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urospermum_dalechampii [1 Jul 20]
SARS-CoVid-2 update
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dire-kumori · 7 years
Text
The Long Road: Chapter 1
Through the Looking Glass
Rated: T
Pairing(s): hijack
Story summary: When a distress call from Father Time turns out to be a trap set by Pitch, Jack ends up lost in a time before the Guardians with only Baby Tooth at his side. The two immortals are lucky enough to be found by a group of (somewhat) sympathetic teenagers whom they quickly befriend, including the awkward and funny leader of Berk's Dragon Academy. Before long Jack finds himself assimilating into Berk's culture and way of life. Even though he is effectively stuck, with new friends by his side Jack finds he doesn't mind taking the long road back to the present.
((We need seventy-four more gallons of paint on the floor, pronto!))
((Project four-hundred and sixty-three finished! Next group!))
((Get out of the way you little pests!))
((The model's melting! The model is melting!))
Ice blue eyes glanced up from time-worn pages as deep, guttural voices rang through the air spouting out orders and complaints as surprisingly dexterous hands quickly and efficiently assembled hundreds of delicate moving parts with skill that the modern world's most technologically advanced automated factories would never be able to match. Hundreds of thousands of toys, both simple and complex and each one bearing a touch of the workshop's magic were being assembled by the hairy hands of the bestial yetis even now, a mere month after Christmas had ended. The workshop was a wonder, polished red wood and wrought iron and gold hold seven floors of furious activity, magic and technology blended seamlessly into a sprawling atelier, the heart of which was the massive Globe of Belief.
The Globe itself was a work of art; cobalt seas parted gold wrought continents shimmering with millions of tiny, brilliant lights. It stood at the dead center of the workshop, visible on all levels including the high balcony where Jack Frost was perched, one leg swinging over the railing and shepherd's crook leaning against the wall within arm's reach. In his lap he held a large, leather-bound tome with an ornately stitched cover and yellow pages that smelled of herbs and ink. Every so often his eyes would flicker from the delicately penned script towards the Globe and the magically formed aurora borealis radiating from the gilded spire at its top.
It had been a fortunate coincidence that Jack had already been inside the workshop - Tome of the Guardians in hand - when North had sent the signal, though the old Cossack had yet to inform the youngest of their fold of the nature of the summons. The flurry of activity in the workshop never ceased, and as the rest of the Guardians had yet to arrive Jack had decided to finish reading the chapter he had been in the midst of when North had come bursting out of his office, cursing in Russian and activating the Northern Lights.
((Wrong, wrong, wrong! You got the wiring all mixed up! What will the boss say when he sees this, eh?))
That proved easier said than done, however. In the three years he had been a Guardian of Childhood Jack had grown used to the constant noise of the workshop. What he had yet to get used to was hearing the yetis' guttural language being translated directly into his head.
((Love? Jackie?))
Again, Jack's pale blue eyes left the tome in his lap, this time to meet the mismatched eyes of the tiny, humanoid creature perched comfortably atop his shoulder. Donned in sapphire blue feathers, the creature, much like Jack himself, radiated an aura of cold. Tiny crystals of ice decorated her already beautiful down and clung to her long, needle thin beak. A single white plume adorned the creature's forehead, complemented by thin, opalescent wings like those of a dragonfly.
((You haven't turned the page in a while.))
"Oh." Jack's eyes scanned the page. Ten minutes had passed since he had finished reading the text, yet none of it stuck. "Sorry Baby Tooth. It's kinda hard to concentrate with all the," he paused, making a vague gesture with his free hand towards the workshop floors below, "noise."
Nuzzling his cheek, the snow-fairy dubbed Baby Tooth assured Jack, ((You'll learn to tune it out eventually, Love.))
This earned a smile from the frost spirit and he stroked his companion's silver feather with his forefinger, much to her delight. Just as he was about to return to his reading, however, the main doors to the workshop burst in, a flurry of ice and snow flying in along with a blur of grey and white fur. A pair of yetis rushed to close the doors even as the seven-foot-tall humanoid rabbit - Pooka, Jack corrected himself - raced up the spiraling ramps towards the balcony where Jack made his perch, and the large fireplace that made up the larges part of the far wall.
"Hey Cottontail!" Jack called out, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth, "Nice weather, huh?"
The Pooka, one E. Aster Bunnymund, sent Jack a withering glare as he came to a stop before the fireplace. Standing on one great paw, he held the other to the warm flames, massaging it gently but frantically in an effort to drive away the biting numbness. "Oh stuff it, Frostbite."
The twittering of wings announced a second arrival. Baby Tooth perked up as her mother, the fairy queen Toothiana, arrived with three mini-fairies in tow. The mini-fairies immediately rushed to Jack's side, chirping in greeting, fawning over his teeth, and exchanging hugs with their frost-imbued sister. Their feathers, emerald and gold where Baby Tooth's were sapphire and silver, sparkled under the brilliant glow of the Globe of Belief making them appear as though they had been draped in gemstones.
"Oh Jack! You're early!" Toothiana cried as she descended through the roof. She was at Jack's side in an instant, throwing her arms around his slender shoulders in a warm embrace, mindful though of the mini-fairies. Toothiana, as opposed to the fairy armies she commanded, stood no smaller than a human woman, though her body was draped in the same jewelescent feathers as her girls. Her eyes sparkled like a pair of amethysts and her head was crowned in blue and gold and green feathers.
"Eh, I was already hanging around," Jack replied with a halfhearted shrug. "Any idea what's going on?"
Toothiana replied with a mere shrug while behind her Bunny began to rant under his breath. Jack could only make out a few words, those few being 'blowhard,' 'freezing,' and 'belly,' along with several words a Guardian of Childhood had no business repeating.
"Whoa Bunny! You don't hang around kids with that mouth, do ya?"
"Rack off."
"Make me."
"Boys, enough!" Toothiana hovered between the two of them, never mind the fact that neither of the pair had moved from their spots on opposite ends of the balcony. Bunnymund rolled his verdant eyes and settled down before the fire, back turned quite deliberately to the youngest Guardian. Jack, similarly, turned his eyes away from the Pooka, returning his attention to the tome in his lap. He was unable, however, to stop his lips from curling into a wicked smirk as his eyes swept across the page.
"Hey, Bunny."
Bunnymund's ear twitched, but he otherwise gave no indication that he'd heard Jack.
"Did you really look like this way back when?"
Suddenly the Easter Bunny was alert, leaping to his large feet with his ears rigid and spinning to face Jack. His eyes widened in horror as he took in the sight of Jack holding the Tome of the Guardians open to a very detailed sketch of Bunnymund draped in a thick, ornate lab coat with spider-like optical lenses strapped to his head.
"Oi!" With an indignant cry the Easter Bunny launched himself at Jack, though the snow sprite had been expecting such a reaction. With a playful laugh Jack snatched his staff from its resting place before propelling himself over the edge of the balcony, tome tucked safely under his arm. The Wind caught him before gravity could and carried him just out of Bunnymund's reach. Jack laughed again Bunnymund slammed his stomach against the rail in his frantic attempt to capture Jack and retrieve the tome. "Can ya go five minutes without being a bloody nuisance ya gumby?"
"I'm the Guardian of Fun. You do know what fun is, don'tcha Bun Bun?"
"Enough, you two!" Toothiana's wings beat furiously as she hovered between the pair of bickering Guardians, silencing both Jack's laughter and Bunny's grumbling. Fixing the former with a pointed glare Toothiana held out one delicate hand. "Now Jack, if you aren't going to settle down and read..."
With a sigh Jack handed her the tome, much to Bunnymund's visible relief.
"And Bunny!" His ears snapped up as he went stiff once again. "Cursing in front of a child? Shame on you," Toothiana scolded before flying off to return the tome to North's library. She remained unaware as Jack smirked at Bunnymund behind her back, mouthing the words 'shame on you' in parallel.
The Easter Bunny seethed in silence, turning his back once again to Jack Frost and the snickering fairy perched atop his shoulder.
The Sandman was the last of their fold to arrive. Like Toothiana he had traveled to the workshop via air, descending into North's realm in a massive hot air balloon crafted of golden dream-sand. The construct dissipated as the Guardian of Dreams touched down on the balcony alongside Bunnymund, Toothiana and Jack, each of whom welcomed him eagerly. The humanoid star answered each of them with a beaming smile and shifting shapes above his head written in his sand; a box topped with an elaborate ribbon, a long, smooth rod, and a question mark.
((North-pole-why?))
Jack struggled to keep his face neutral, though with everyone's attention on the fallen star not a one would have noticed his discomfort anyway. The voice resounding in his head sounded far less human than the bestial noises the yetis made, and in truth did not so much resemble words at all, but rather wordless thoughts filled with impressions of meaning. The sign representing North had carried with it the echo of a jolly laugh, the memory of wide, bright eyes sparkling with Wonder, and the faint scent of chocolate and pine needles that always wafted from his scarlet robe. The sensation was far from unpleasant and in fact brought a sense of comfort and warmth to Jack's otherwise cold body, but the Sandman's wordless voice was so alien that hearing it sent a rush of dizziness straight to the spirit's head and he was forced to lean most of his weight on the gnarled shepherd's crook in his hand.
The jingling of bells accompanied by the heavy fall of large boots interrupted whatever response Tooth or Bunny had prepared for the Sandman and announced the arrival of their host and a booming voice wrapped in a thick Russian accent boomed out, "Ah, good. You are all here."
The leader of the Guardians, Nicholas St. North, only resembled his alias in passing, his title of 'Father Christmas' suiting him far better than 'Santa Claus'. A former Cossack bandit, North was both tall and wide, able to meet the willowy Pooka at eye level whenever their altogether too common arguments about Christmas and Easter broke out. His snow-white beard hung down to his large belly and his electric blue eyes peered out at his comrades from beneath bushy salt-and-pepper eyebrows. North appeared to have already dressed for travel. Even under the red, fur-lined robe he wore Jack could see the hilts of two sabers tied to the sash around his waist.
The silly, clumsy, bell-wearing elves parted as North approached the rest of the Guardians, pointy hats and lolling tongues flopping in time with their bouncing steps. As he grew closer Bunnymund rose to his full height, ears slowly rising while Toothiana's wings went still and she lowered herself to her feet.
"North, what's wrong?" the fairy queen asked as she noted the shadow on her old friend's features. "Has something happened?"
Sandy created a question mark above his head and Jack was bombarded with: ((Concern-worry-desire to know-desire to help.))
Meeting Toothiana's eyes with a solemn stare North replied, "It is my mentor. He has seen signs of Pitch."
"Black sand and shadows?" Bunny said, attempting and failing to make light of the situation. "He normally takes centuries to recover. It hasn't even been a decade."
"I am aware, but I also trust my mentor's judgement. If Ombric says Pitch is making a move then I believe he is making a move."
Not one of the elder Guardians doubted Ombric. At the same time, none of them wanted to accept that Pitch had recovered so quickly either.
Fixing her normally peaceful features into the regal countenance of the Queen of Fairies, Toothiana asked, "What exactly did he see North?"
"Traces of black sand in his machines, shadows falling where they should not. Fearlings may be at work."
"Any clues to what Pitch's up to?" Bunny asked.
"Not so far but-"
As the elder Guardians became more absorbed in their conversation Jack took a few silent steps back. He let the Wind lift him silently to the railing where he knelt, watching passively and toying with the idea of sending a gust of cold air to douse the fire. Baby Tooth shifted on her perch, plucking at the crystals of frost that clung to Jack's sky-blue hoodie with fingers the width of a sewing needle.
Love, she whispered into his mind, followed by us-together-you-me-we-Love. Jack smiled, comforted as always by her presence and her unequivocal love for him. Unlike the Sandman's alien words, hearing Baby Tooth's real voice echo in his mind felt natural. It was no different to him from hearing his own thoughts; her feelings were his and vice versa.
((Jack-friend-lonely-come?))
Speaking of the Sandman...
The bombardment of star-speak nearly caught Jack off guard and he looked up just in time to see the last of the Sandman's signs fade. Even so the fallen star was beaming at him, gesturing for him to join the group even as the other three continued to literally talk over his head.
A small smile gracing his lips, Jack stood and hopped down from the railing. The movement caught the rest of the Guardians' attention and the conversation came to a slow, clumsy halt. Baby Tooth took to the air as she followed Jack as he stopped beside her mother-self who placed a consoling hand on Jack's shoulder.
"Sorry Jack," she offered. "We didn't mean to exclude you we just-"
"Forgot I was here?"
There was no bitterness in his voice, but Toothiana flinched anyway. Out of the corner of his eye Jack was aware of Bunnymund's ears flattening against his skull even as the stubborn Pooka carefully monitored the rest of his stance to keep it neutral. No one tried to insult him by denying what he fully knew to be true, but it was Jack who was regretting his words. It was hardly their fault, after all, that they had fallen into what had been routine for them for six hundred years.
"I was just kidding, it's no big deal," the snow spirit laughed, waving his hand as though to scatter his biting words like smoke. "So what's the plan? We charge in and send 'em running?"
"Nyet, first, we go to Big Root-" Nobody missed how Jack's face lit up. "-Then we investigate." North turned on his heel and began to march towards the giant, acorn-shaped elevator that connected the levels of the workshop. "Everyone, to the sleigh!"
Jack bounced on his heel, childish and eager. "Can I drive?"
Toothiana and Bunnymund shouted in unison. "NO!"
North occasionally reminded Jack of James Bond, only with better toys. The sleigh itself was incredible, a mesh between a snowmobile and an F-14 jet fighter, propelled by a combination of shag-furred, wild reindeer and a powerful rocket engine. Even more amazing, in Jack's opinion, were the colorful snow globes North kept in his coat. A single shake could create an extremely detailed model of whatever destination the user whispered to the glass out of thousands of swirling flakes of colored snow. This was what North did once his sleigh was airborne, and Jack only just caught a fleeting glimpse of a massive, gnarled tree inside the orb before North pitched it into the air ahead of them. The snow globe exploded into a swirl of color and light and the reindeer drove the sleigh through without so much as a pause.
The scene before them - the snowy peaks jutting up from the snow and ice against the backdrop of sparkling stars and radiant lights - melted away, replaced by brilliant blue skies and rich greenery. Jack slid out of his seat and made himself comfortable on the wing, much to Bunnymund's dismay. Jack ignored the Pooka's panicked order for him to climb back inside the vehicle in favor of taking in the sights below.
Miles of forest stood between the bracken barrier and the Guardians' destination. Amidst the trees Jack caught a fleeting glimpse of a bear, larger than any he had seen in his three hundred years of wanderings. As Big Root grew closer Jack also caught the eye of a woman standing in the dead center of a garden of ugly statues. The woman's green eyes glittered up at him, even over the distance and when Jack waved at her she waved back, spilling gold coins from her palms as she did.
"Uh, hey North," Jack shouted over the Wind, "Why does that woman have statues of your elves?"
North threw only a passing glance at the woman. "Ah, is Spirit of Forest. Statues are not statues. Statues are intruders."
"Whoa."
The massive, resplendent oak tree dubbed Big Root by the Guardians stood at the heart of the forest. Its trunk rose miles into the air and was so thick around that Jack guessed one hundred people standing hand in hand would not be able to wrap themselves all the way around. The lush foliage nearly blocked out the sun, yet light still poured from glittering golden windows that appeared to have grown straight out of the wood of the trunk.
Bunnymund was first out of North's sleigh when they touched down in front of Big Root. Jack laughed at the Pooka as he very nearly hugged the ground before remembering himself and straightening his stance, sending Jack a withering glare for good measure. As the last of them climbed out of the sleigh the massive, curling roots of Big Root unfurled themselves from the base of the trunk, revealing a wide archway out of which stepped an old man draped in silver robes that were decorated with cogs and clockwork. He had a beard as long as his body, thick, bushy eyebrows that looked like clouds that had been plucked from the sky and glued to his forehead and leaned his weight on a smooth, moon-colored staff with an old, victorian clock for its head..
"Nicholas!" the old man cried out, arms sweeping out in a grand motion as he welcomed his guests.
"Ah, Ombric! My old friend!"
North swept up the frail old man in a hug and Jack winced as he swore he heard something snap in the old man's body. But North settled the man back down and he appeared to be no worse for the wear.
((It has been far too long my apprentice. Tell me, how have you fared? And your workshop? I have heard wonderful things about it,)) the old man gibbered on Old Atlantian.
A merry laugh rumbled from North's belly which he patted on for emphasis. ((Am doing well with yetis' cooking. You should come to workshop sometime, have some cocoa.))
It was strange to hear a language so completely foreign that Jack was not even sure if he could replicate all of its sounds spoken with North's very obvious accent. North spoke Atlantian a just bit more clumsily than he did English.
((Ah, and who is this?))
Jack stood just a bit straighter as the old man's eyes fell on him. North instantly beamed at Jack, placing a burly hand on Jack's shoulder and giving him a light nudge in the old man's direction.
"This is our newest Guardian," North said with the tone of a father showing off his favorite son. "Jack, this is-"
"Ombric Shalazar," Jack cut North off, breath slightly short from excitement. He held out his free hand to North's mentor. "I read about you in the Tome of Guardians."
((Ah! You speak Atlantian very well!)) Ombric exclaimed as he shook Jack's hand. ((Perhaps you should work with my apprentice on that, eh? Between you and I, he sounds a bit out of practice.))
Jack laughed, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly as North parroted his mentor's words under his breath. "Actually, ah, no. I don't." A small weight shifted in Jack's hood and a moment later Baby Tooth was settling on his shoulder. Ombric's eyes went wide in amazement.
"Jack Named her," Toothiana explained as Ombric took in the sight of the silver-blue fairy with swirls of frost not unlike the ones clinging to Jack's clothing and staff. The wizard stroked his beard with twig-like fingers in a manner that reminded Jack very much of Merlin from the animated Sword and the Stone.
((Ah, I see. The fairy received Winter Magic, and you in turn received the Gift of Tongues,)) he mused, more to himself than anyone else. ((This is quite fascinating. I honestly cannot remember the last time I have seen a bond like this formed. You must be a very special young man.))
Biting the urge to point out that he was well over three-hundred years old, Jack nodded and said, "Thank you."
((Now come! All of you!)) Ombric made a grand sweeping motion with his hands and gestured for the Guardians to enter the archway in the base of Big Root. ((Please, come in and make yourselves comfortable. There is much to discuss, not all of it good.))
As large as the trunk looked from the outside, it seemed infinitely larger on the inside. A small part of Jack had expected the inside of Big Root to resemble the tree house from the Keebler Elves cookie commercials. Indeed, much of the furniture appeared to have been grown rather than made, the wood jutting from the floor and walls to create natural shelves, tables and chairs. But there was a mechanical quality to it too, brass work cogs and gears serving as decorations and clocks of every size, shape and style covering the walls and shelves. The ticking of thousands of clocks merged with the hum of insects - all of which rang in Jack's head as a million whispering voices scrambling to be heard over one another. The result was a constant drone that had little to no meaning to the Winter spirit aside from an overall sense of panic.
Ombric led the Guardians up, up, and up a winding staircase, high above where the clouds hung in the sky. The three airborne Guardians faced little difficulty with the steep climb, nor did the surprisingly hardy Father of Time. Bunnymund grumbled a bit, but the aeons-old rabbit had the stamina and musculature to withstand the brutal climb.
"Bah!" North huffed as the group ascended to the seventy-third level. "Too many stairs! Is time you invested in elevator!" The Guardian of Wonder's face had gone red and his breath came out in heavy pants.
((Son, if you would just lay off of the Christmas cookies you would not be having this problem.))
"There is no problem with Christmas cookies!" North protested. "I am fit as an ox! Am just needing there to be fewer stairs."
((This is what you get for spoiling yourself with those gadgets you fancy.)) Ombric paused as they reached the end of the staircase, beneath a gilded star-sand window. With a wave of his hand Ombric unlatched the window and climbed through, leading the Guardians after him.
Amidst the highest branches of Big Root stood a massive observatory, bronze plates worked almost organically around the branches that had grown naturally into the domed roof. The cavernous space was lit by eight torches posted evenly along the wall and alight with cold, blue flame. Four massive clockwork telescopes made of polished brass and moonstone were arranged around the room so that each pointed in a different Cardinal direction through the weaves of branches which grew around the lengths of the scopes. The centerpiece of the room was a machine the likes of which Jack had never seen, resembling somewhat an enormous teapot in passing only. Levers and gears jutted out from the mass of curling metal almost at random. Nine mirrors were suspended on a dial which freely rotated around a large glass container shaped like a flower bud.
"Wow," Jack breathed, immediately flying ahead of the group to get a closer look at the bizarre contraption. Upon closer inspection he found that the mirrors were not mirrors at all, or at least they did not show what a mirror was meant to show. In the glossy surface of one he saw a tiny girl with a mane of wild red hair and holding a toy bow follow a trail of wisps into the shadows of a forest. Another showed a woman wearing a lavender gown with impossibly long golden hair running barefoot through a grassy field while a dour-looking man watched. In another he saw two young sisters playing in a grand ballroom... filled with snow. Baby Tooth seemed to especially like the last one, floating from Jack's shoulder to get a better look as the elder sister transformed the floor into a skating rink.
((Ah, you like that do you?)) the Atlantian sorcerer asked as he approached Jack. ((This is my pride and joy. With this I am able to watch unfold as they have in ages past, or as they will in ages yet to come.))
"So it's a time machine?" Jack asked without removing his eyes from the image.
((Yes, and also I fear the Pitch's target in my home. It is here that I have seen the unusual shadows, and sometimes I will return to find the settings have been changed overnight, without my overseeing them.)) A solemn silence fell over the room and Baby Tooth retreated back into Jack's hood, remembering sourly her last encounter with the King of Nightmares. In the mirror Jack watched as the sisters' game took a similar dark turn, the elder accidentally striking the younger with a blast of ice in a moment of panic.
"How did Pitch even get in?" Toothiana asked. "Why didn't the star sand-glass keep him out?"
((I do not know that it has not,)) Ombric admitted. ((All I have seen thus far are shadows, and only at night. Still, I did not wish to take chances.))
Over on the other side of the room from where Jack and Ombric stood Bunnymund gave an approving nod. "Good call mate." The Pooka's eyes were fixed on something on the floor, and as North approached he saw Bunny scraping something off of the wood with his nails. Black sand. "When was the last time you saw Pitch?"
((The Nightmare King himself? Six hundred years ago. His minions? I believe this morning, just before the sun rose.)) Ombric stroked his beard. ((That is, assuming it was a Fearling and not a silly moth playing near the torches.))
"And what exactly did you see?"
((At first, nothing. I came up here because of a moth complaining that there was something wrong with the lights. I thought she just meant they were going low, but when I got up here they were burning as strongly as ever, flickering and dancing as flames are wont to do. The shadows, however, did not move an inch. It was as though they were frozen in time.))
Signs flashed above the Sandman's head; the silhouette of the boogeyman, two streams of sand that shot out of his ears like smoke, a boxing-glove striking the silhouette, and two hands with their pinky fingers intertwined. ((Pitch-anger-defeat-promise.))
Jack and Baby Tooth exchanged looks before turning their eyes to the floor and their own shadows. Shifting so that he was standing in front of the torch sconce, Jack observed the way his shadow flickered and spun in time with the cold flame. Vaguely, he remembered being trapped inside Pitch Black's realm with the Nightmare King himself slinking through the shadows, taunting him. Jack was proud of himself for suppressing the shudder that threatened to work its way up his spine.
"And you have seen other such things?" North asked, bushy brows furrowed.
((Many times over the past few days,)) Ombric replied gravely. ((I have tried everything I could to banish them, but not even the brightest light seems to have any effect.))
"Then we'll take a crack at it," Jack said, flashing the old wizard a playful grin. "C'mon, how hard could it be?"
This earned a chuckle from Ombric. ((Very, but I like your enthusiasm.)) Again, Ombric made a grand sweeping gesture with his arms. He seemed rather fond of grand sweeping gestures, Jack thought. ((Come, let us all rest. Out enemy is most active at night and so we must also be thus!))
Once upon a time Big Root had been a center of learning open to any and all who had an honest desire to study under Ombric Shalazar's guidance. Time had seen that period of Big Root's history ended. Had it just been a matter of belief dying out, Ombric's teachings might have nonetheless survived, if not flourished, but the witch trials had seen Big Root's doors barred forever to the mortal world, Father Time taking a more indirect approach in the guiding and teaching of children.
As such, the sleeping quarters that had once been occupied by Ombric's wards now stood empty, ready for the Guardians to lay their heads. The wooden frames of the bunk beds - as the rest of the furniture inside of Big Root - appeared to have been grown into their current shapes rather than made. The mattresses were stuffed with giant snow-goose feathers and the sheets made from spun glowworm-silk. The eldest four Guardians laid down in the offered beds appreciatively, Toothiana directing her three accompanying fairies to take over operations in her stead and the ever-present streams of dream-sand rising from Sandy's sleeping form. Sleep took them almost immediately despite the fact that each of them - save for Sandy - was used to getting by on very little sleep. Only Jack hung back from the offered respite.
((You will be needing your rest,)) Ombric insisted, urging him forward.
"I know, but..." Jack trailed off, not quite sure how to explain it without coming across as incredibly pathetic.
((Are these rooms not to your liking?)) the old wizard offered. ((I have other rooms with equally comfortable beds, if you are uncomfortable with the company.))
"It's not that," Jack insisted while Baby Tooth shot him a pitying look from his shoulder. From anyone else, he would have been offended. "I just, uh... I'm not really used to sleeping in beds."
Jack braced himself for the 'oh, poor Jack' routine. He had received it from the other Guardians, Toothiana especially. Only Sandy seemed understanding, and while Jack was comfortable enough dozing off in the fallen star's cloud of dream-sand from time to time the other three had yet to give up their plans of forcing him to sleep in a bed like a civilized human being.
((Oh, well in that case...)) Ombric clapped his hands. Before Jack could ask the obvious question he heard a sound like the stretching of taffy and a bulging shape sprouted from the otherwise smooth wall above them. The shape stretched, lengthened, grew more spindly appendages, and then began to sprout pale green wisps of leaves.
Jack stared at the newly grown tree branch, mouth agape, while Ombric turned on his heel and slipped out the door. ((Sleep well, Jack.))
Ombric woke the Guardians just after sunset. Where the never ending tick-tock-tick-tock had been irritating by daylight - Jack had been prematurely woken by it three times already - it was downright creepy in the dark of night. The clamoring of the insects did little to lessen the effect; the overall atmosphere was eerie and Jack found himself wondering if this was really the same place he had read about in the Tome of the Guardians.
Only the blue-green glow of the magically lit torches kept the darkness at bay, though watching the shadows dancing in the unnatural light was far from reassuring. Still, Jack supposed, better that the shadows were moving rather than lying in wait ready to pounce as Ombric had described. Baby Tooth whispered similar sentiments into his ear.
The observatory looked much the same as it had when they had seen it in the daylight, save that inky black shadows clung to the walls. Jack was not sure whether or not to be relieved to find the shadows were behaving as shadows normally did, flicking and jumping in sync with the dancing torchlight.
((It may be hours yet before the Fearlings or strange shadows appear,)) Ombric pointed out. ((It was just before sunrise the last I saw them myself.))
"We're used to pulling all-nighters, mate," Bunnymund pointed out. To emphasize his point he gestured to Sandy who even then was directing his streams of dream-sand which passed through the star-sand windows as though they were no more than air.
Even so, the hours passed slowly. Tsar Lunar made his ascent into the night sky, though he went unseen by the Guardians. At some point Toothiana had begun muttering to herself, rattling off a never ending list of teeth to be retrieved and gifts to be left, never mind the fact that her faeries were overseeing themselves for the time being. Bunnymund took a single unpainted egg from one of the leather pouches strapped to his furry chest, a paintbrush and some small vials of paint from another, and began to painstakingly decorate the blank shell. Still, his nose never ceased twitching and his ears swiveled this way and that, ever alert even with his intense focus.
Jack was finding it far more difficult to keep himself occupied. He paced the room, frosted the windows, poked and prodded Bunnymund until the Pooka snapped at him, played a rousing game of 'eye spy' with Baby Tooth (made redundant by their shared thoughts) and eventually settled on watching the scenes in the dials of the time machine.
Ombric was in and out of the observatory all night. He walked the entirety of his home, he said, just in case the Fearlings took note of the Guardians' presence and made their rest elsewhere in Big Root. Every so often the old wizard returned to check on the observatory, not appearing to be in the slightest bit reassured when nothing changed. Once when he checked up on them he brought with him a tray holding several mugs of tea and cocoa - tea for the adult Guardians and, he insisted, North, and cocoa for Jack and for Baby Tooth to whom he served the drink in the cap of an acorn.
"Thank you," Jack said as he and his fairy accepted their drinks. The crackling sound of frost climbing over the mug filled the air the moment Jacks' fingers touched the ceramic, and slowly the curling tail of steam that rose from the brown liquid faded from view. Ombric watched intently as Jack took his first sip of the now cool liquid, eyes slightly wide. Jack did not have to try hard to pretend he did not notice; the moment the drink hit his tongue he nearly forgot that the elder was there at all.
The chocolate was rich and smooth, and tasted like wintergreen and snow-filled air. The flavor brought to mind images of snowball fights and frosted windows and icicles sparkling in pale morning sunlight. Jack's nostrils stung with the same crisp coldness that Winter air brought, a sensation he found far from unpleasant. "This is amazing!" he cried, unable to put to words quite how amazing it was. Ombric chuckled, obviously pleased by the inarticulate praise.
((From the looks of things, it seems your tiny companion quite agrees.)) Indeed, Baby Tooth had drained her cup completely and was holding the ice-rimmed acorn cap out to Ombric as though to say 'seconds please.' Jack plucked the acorn cap from her fingers and refilled it from his own drink as Ombric went on. ((I acquired the recipe from my dear friend Bunnymund, though I admit to experimenting with it a bit.))
Without looking up from his egg Bunnymund huffed. Something along the lines of 'humans, always trying to improve what nature has already perfected,' if Jack heard correctly.
((I had assumed that it would be better hot, but you seem to like it just fine as it is, eh?))
"I've never had anything more delicious," Jack admitted. Then, looking over his shoulder to the Guardian of Wonder, he added, "No offense North."
North ignored him in favor of grumbling over his tea.
Jack turned back to the image in the time machine's dial, continuing to sip his cocoa as he did. The image this time showed a boy, short and thin with a light dusting of freckles across his face and a shaggy mess of brown hair. The boy in the image was falling through the air, wind rippling his hair and green woolen tunic as he plummeted towards the ocean miles below, though the look on his face was one of pure elation. Mere moments before the boy would have hit the rocky waves a streak of black cut through the air and the boy was rising again, now seated in a streamlined saddle strapped to the back of a creature both feline and reptilian in appearance.
((It is rather fascinating, is it not? How much of history the world has forgotten?)) Ombric murmured. ((Nobody today knows of the dragon-riders among the viking tribes, and yet here we see them, plain as day.))
The boy in the mirror joined a group of other teens, each of whom also rode a dragon, though not a one rode the same species unless you counted the lanky, blond-haired brother and sister who each rode atop a head of the same two-headed reptile. "I thought vikings didn't actually wear horned helmets?" Jack's statement came across as more of a question. Of the teens shown in the image, only two did not wear helmets, and those that did had very prominent horns worked into the metal.
((The vast majority did not, it is true,)) Ombric explained. ((But in a tribe of dragon riders? Of course they would include as much draconic imagery in their dress and their crafts as possible.))
"Do you watch them a lot?" Jack asked without taking his eyes off of the screen. A second boy, much burlier than the first with darker hair, attempted to imitate the first boy's stunt with little success; Jack forced himself to stifle a laugh as the rust-colored, serpentine dragon with the dark, crooked horns and massive wings continued to fly, not noticing its riders absence.
((Oh yes. As much as I adore books, they can only teach me so much, and most of the information contained within is not first hand. It is much better to watch history unfold myself, and, I must admit, a great deal more entertaining.))
Jack nodded in agreement and took another sip of his cocoa.
Another hour passed. By the time Jack had finished his drink he had grown bored even of watching the images in the time machine's mirrors. In fact, he found himself not caring to do much of anything at all, except to sit cross-legged on the floor and listen to the insects' prattle.
A similar lethargy seemed to fall over the other Guardians. From Sandy it was almost expected, and not altogether a problem as the little dream weaver could work even in his sleep. From the others, it was a bit funny. Already North was snoring loudly enough that he almost entirely blocked out the never ending drivel of the insects. Toothiana was leaning against him, using his large belly as a pillow. Only Bunnymund remained semi-conscious, though his half-painted egg lay abandoned on the floor and his head was constantly bobbing, jolting upright every few minutes as he struggled to stay awake.
'I should wake them up,' Jack thought, yet he made no move to do so. He had told himself several times already that he would, yet he simply found himself unable to muster up the motivation to do much of anything.
((I want some more,)) Baby Tooth whined for the umpteenth time.
"Mm-hmm," Jack replied, not really listening.
((It was really tasty.))
"Yeah."
((I bet the bugs would like some too.))
"Probably."
((Where do you think they are?))
Jack blinked. He sat up a little straighter, clutching his staff tighter in his grip as he did. Glancing around the room, he once again took in the sight of the sleeping and half-sleeping Guardians. This time, the sight set off warning bells.
"Where are the insects?" he murmured aloud. From the Tome of the Guardians he had expected the lunar moths and glowworms and spiders to be prominent within Big Root. Only now did it seem strange to him that while he had heard their voices whispering and hissing at him from the walls, he had not seen a one. "Where is Ombric?"
Baby Tooth blinked at him sluggishly, as though he were speaking gibberish. This was wrong; her mind and his both felt sluggish, and linked as they were the effect was doubly crippling. Baby Tooth's thoughts swam with yum-good-warm-sleep-do-obey-sleep-obey-obey...
The warning bells ringing in Jack's head suddenly turned into a siren. Clumsily he reached for Baby Tooth who hardly reacted when he plucked her up from her seat on the floor next to him, though Jack was sure he was holding her a bit too tightly, and whose head lolled as he tried to place her in his hood as gently as possible with his fingers feeling like lead.
"Bunny? Hey, Bunny?"
The Pooka did not react. Jack stood, a bit too quickly if the way the room seemed to spin was any indication, and made his way unsteadily towards the only other conscious Guardian.
"Hey, Cottontail, get up. I think something's wrong..." Jack trailed off as he neared the Guardian of Hope. Bunnymund's eyes were open, but they seemed wrong. Distant. His head was bowed, no longer bobbing and his ears and nose were still. Tentatively, Jack reached out to shake his friend's shoulder. The moment he had touched the Pooka, however, Bunnymund slumped over, hitting the ground with a loud thump and staying there, dead asleep.
"Whaaat's goin' on?" Jack mumbled. His tongue felt like it had been carved of wood and his lips like they were made of rubber. "Bayee Toof?"
He received no response from the frost fairy nestled in his hood.
The drone of the invisible insects increased in volume, thousands of tiny voices screeching at him in hundreds of languages - moth, worm, beetle, ant, spider, gnat... Jack held his head, trying to stop the room from spinning.
((BadbadverybadwhispermumbleshoutrunhidefleeescapewhisperwhisperhissBlackherehissmumblewhispergogogo!))
"Jack?"
A single voice cut through the din, old and familiar. Jack blinked a bit stupidly, trying to focus and realizing only when he felt a spindly hand on his shoulder that he was still staring at the unconscious form of Bunnymund.
"Jack, is everything well?"
"Nnnnnnhhnn..." Jack's reply trailed off into a slurred whine. Ombric wrapped his other hand around Jack's shoulders, assisting the young immortal in turning to face him as Jack found his limbs refusing to work as they should.
"Oh, you poor boy," Ombric purred, and there was some thing wrong and familiar about his voice but whatever it was stayed just firmly out of reach. Jack allowed himself to be lead from Bunnymund's side, even as his instincts were screaming at him to react, that there was something wrong with this whole thing, that there was something familiar about the spider-like hand resting on his back...
"Here, you look absolutely exhausted," Ombric was saying, though his voice sounded hollow. "Why don't you sit down and rest a bit?"
Jack nodded in spite of the wrongness because sitting seemed like a very good thing and standing made his head hurt...
((RunbadgetoutbadshushwhispermurmermumbleBlackPitchBlackPitchBlackPitchBlack...))
"Zzzzuggz?"
Ombric ignored Jack's incoherently slurred inquiry and continued to lead him to the... something. Jack blinked. Was that a giant teapot? When had that gotten there?
Dimly Jack was aware of something tugging at his staff. Even in his lethargic state Jack tensed, fingers digging into the frost-rimmed wood out of habit. A faint sigh tickled his ear and the tugging stopped, though Jack's grip remained fast. Suddenly Jack heard a mechanical hiss and an intense white light blossomed in the near-darkness. He snapped his eyelids shut, tears streaming from their corners as Ombric continued to lead him forwards.
((PitchBlackPitchBlackPitchBlackPitchBlackPitchBlackPitchBlack...))
Jack heard the insects' cry now, clear as day, but the words simply did not register. They were meaningless. Cautiously he peeked his eyes open, snapping them shut almost instantly as he realized that the intense white light was now surrounding him on all sides. Somewhere through the haze of his mind Jack was aware of someone talking to him, the voice confident, pleased. The voice was... reassuring him? Promising to come back for him? Jack was unsure. He offered the invisible voice a smile and a vague nod.
Then the white disappeared and he was falling.
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Chrysanthemums
By John Spagnoli
Fall is a wonderful time of year for plants and if you’re determined to get out in the garden while the September weather is still mild, you will find that there are numerous plants that bloom in the autumn.
Many plants can be planted in the fall for instant color. Asters, for example, bloom in the autumn but are planted mid-spring.
Ornamental cabbage and kale would make a wonderful additions to any fall garden. These plants were bred for heartiness and durability with beautiful striking leaves. The good news is their ability to survive very cold temperatures in the winter. With some protection, these plants are able to withstand temperatures as low as five degrees Fahrenheit.
Chrysanthemums are popular because of the assortment of colors available. Mums add a collage of color to any garden. Personally, I have little luck with these plants. My mums almost never come up the next year because it is too cold in the winter. The flowers are forced to bloom in the fall season, which weakens the plant. These plants are a great addition to your fall garden. The selection of flowers are amazing in the array of different sizes and colors of each flower.
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Kale
Ornamental cabbage
Goldenrod
Dusty Miller
Fall flowering Asters or New York Asters leaves are smooth while New England Asters are hairy. New York Asters tend to be smaller in stature with more flowers. Blooming from late summer to fall, attracting many butterflies and bees. You can see them growing on the side of roads or hiking trails in the fall.
Another beautiful flowering plant is Goldenrod, which has a bad reputation for causing hay fever. This is not true. Goldenrods have limited pollen that does not blow in the wind. These flowers are pollinated by bees. Ragweed blooms at the same time as Golden Rod, however, Ragweed produces an enormous amount of pollen. These plants have excessive amounts of pollen that are wind-blown.
Goldenrod blooms in late fall with cascading small yellow flowers. A good grower in drought conditions, there are many varieties of different sizes and heights. Goldenrod flowers attract bees and butterflies, a native plant that I recommend adding to your garden. However, it can be invasive so watch where you plant them.
Dusty Miller can be planted in the spring for its showy decorative leaves and in the fall, it’s a great addition for the autumn plants with very interesting leaves. Grow it in full sunlight so the plant doesn’t get leggy. It is a very hardy plant that survives well into the winter. Once mature, it has small yellow flowers.
There are plants for every type of garden and countless varieties that can add color to your yard.
September is the perfect month to get out in the garden and add some color for fall. By John Spagnoli Fall is a wonderful time of year for plants and if you’re determined to get out in the garden while the September weather is still mild, you will find that there are numerous plants that bloom in the autumn.
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frothytundra · 5 years
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Once, when my brother Philip was visiting my sister Vera in California, he asked her the names of the flowers in her back yard. Vera said she didn’t know, and Phil was shocked. How could she not name her own plants? Well, Vera explained, she didn’t care what they were called. She just liked looking at them.
Naming things seems to be very important to the English. When I was a child growing up there, I did my best to remember the names of plants and trees for school tests and for Girl Guide badges. As I recall, many people there took great pride in their ability to name all sorts of things. In fact, colonial Brits, when they went to foreign lands, gave names to mountains, lakes, and rivers even though the locals already had perfectly good methods by which to identify them.
When I was walking with Jamie yesterday along the promenade beside the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton, I was delighted by all the lovely flowers there. I asked Jamie if they knew what they were called and, just like their Aunt Vera, they said: “I have no idea.” That conversation led to this blog post and my attempt to name some of the plants we saw after we took a ride in the funicular down to the river valley.
Following the construction of the award-winning funicular in Edmonton, the surrounding area was restored with landscaping using plants that are native to the area. These plants have now become well-established and were in full bloom yesterday.
With the help of Google, I have tried to identify them and I have put here their common names. However, some I am not sure of and there is one that I could not name. If you can help in identifying them, that will be appreciated. You may have to find a British person or a Girl Guide to help you, though.
  Tufted Vetch
White Sweet Clover
Poems For A Small Park by E.D. Blodgett
Butter-and-Eggs
Tansy
Poems For A Small Park by E.D. Blodgett
Hairy Golden Aster
Englemann Ivy
Yellow Sweet Clover
Golden Bean
Perennial Sow Thistle
Red Elderberry
Unidentified
Alongside the path on the north side of the North Saskatchewan River are lampposts on which are plaques with the words of Poems For A Small Park by E.D. Blodgett. Two of those plaques are shown above. The poems were written in the languages spoken during Edmonton’s early days – English, French, Cree, Chinese, Ukrainian, and a Métis dialect.
  This video shows the view from the lookout at the bottom of the funicular.
Naming Plants for My Brother Philip Once, when my brother Philip was visiting my sister Vera in California, he asked her the names of the flowers in her back yard.
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