#closed bottle gentian

[vandaliatraveler]

Otter Creek Wilderness, designated by the Eastern Wilderness Act in 1975, was one of the first wilderness areas established in the state of West Virginia. While Dolly Sods and Spruce Knob are steadily loved to death by east-coast solitude seekers (try finding a parking spot on a fall weekend), the remote, verdant trails of Otter Creek remain comparatively quiet and uncrowded - one of those increasingly rare places in Mid-Atlantic region where true solitude is still possible. On Saturday, Blake and I had this special place - and its countless treasures - mostly to ourselves.

[clairity-org]

Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden 9/14/23 by Sharon Mollerus

[bethanythebogwitch]

Native Wildflowers collection

Native wildflowers from my previous job. All pics by me. Not an exhaustive list. Split into multiple posts due to the image limit.

Starting off with everyone's (read: monarch butterflies') favorite: milkweed. Common milkweed is on the left. I think what we called common milkweed was actually 2 closely-related species. On the right is swam milkweed, which likes wetter soil. Butterfly weed in the bottom is a milkweed, but its sap is clear instead of white so some people don't realize that. It's also much shorter than most milkweeds.

We have 2 main gentian species. These flowers don't open all the way and only larger insects like bees can force their way in. These bees then seek out gentians as an exclusive food source, making it more likely for them to pollinate the gentians. Cream gentian (left) is white and can get very tall on good years. Bottle gentian (right) is a small, low-lying plant that hides under other plants. This picture was taken early in the season so they're pretty pale. They turn bright blue when they're in bloom.

Yellow (left) and purple (right) coneflower

Mountain mint (right) and downy wood mint (left)

Wild raspberry (left) and dewberry (right). My personal nemeses when I was moving through the prairie. Thorns are not my friend

Foxglove beardtongue, which comes in a common white color (right) and a rarer purple variant (left). Below is false foxglove, which is a hemiparasite (plant that gains nutrition through parasitism and photosynthesis) that leaches off of oak roots

Bee balm, this one has a lot of ornamental cultivars

Rattlesnake master, a badass name for a weird and spiky plant

Ironweed. We have a few species and I don't know how to tell them apart

Wild quinine. In the 3 growth seasons I worked here, this one became much more common.

Prairie coreopsis (left) and tall coreopsis (right). Guess what the difference between these two is

Rosinweed (left) and cup plant (right). Two closely related species.

Maryland senna (left) and partridge pea (right). Similar (but not closely related) species that grow pods full of seeds. As they dry, the pods peel open and send the seeds flying out.

Prairie dock. These grow very tall and have huge leaves that are cool because the roots bring up water from deep underground

Ashy sunflower, a hemiparasite that kills goldenrod and tall grasses. As those two are very aggressive plants that can take over whole fields. ashy sunflower seeds are a great way to fight back against them and help increase biodiversity.

Cardinal flower. This one is endangered so its great that it's doing well and even spreading where I worked.

Common thistle. This one is unfortunately losing ground to invasive Canada thistle (not actually from Canada) and isn't very popular, but bugs love it.

Black-eyed Susan (left) and sweet black-eyed Susan (right). The latter is larger and doesn't tolerate shade as well.

Continued in part 2

[ofmumu-archive]

✧ ┆ ( DEWANDA WISE, CISFEMALE, BISEXUAL, SHE/HER ). Not everyone can say they’ve been to Briar Glen, but ANIYAH TAYLOR, a 39-year-old, SOCIAL WORKER, has lived in Briar Glen for 39 YEARS. This is the city for development and they know it. Living in this extensive town means you meet all kinds of people, we can’t wait to meet and see how ANIYAH develops. 

╰ 001 … basic information :

full name: aniyah destiny taylor. nickname(s): niya. age: 39. date of birth: may 30. zodiac sign: gemini. gender: cis female. pronouns: she/her. orientation: bisexual. occupation: social worker. living arrangements: lives alone in a two-bedroom house. pet(s): a yellow tabby ; cheeto. language(s) spoken: english and french. marital status: divorced.

╰ 002 … physical appearance :

face-claim: dewanda wise. hair color: dark brown. eye color: hazel. height: 5'6". tattoos: canon. piercings: canon.

╰ 003 … health :

physical ailments: none. disorders and illnesses: none. addictions: none. drug use: never. alcohol use: socially. smoking: never.

╰ 004 … character & personality :

applicable labels: the … activist, bibliomaniac, diligent. character traits: self-reliant, generous, secretive, blunt, brutally-honest, faithful. hobbies: cooking, doing yoga, reading. habits: swearing, humming to themselves, eye rolling, gesturing while talking, rubbing the back of their neck, peeling off bottle labels, rubbing temples.

╰ 005 … romance :

how do you best like to be loved ( this test ):tba. what does love mean to you ( this test ): tba. why are you unlovable ( this test ): tba. love language ( this test ): tba.

╰ 006 … favorites :

weather: thunderstorms. color: gentian blue; #0E294B. movies: horror. animal: puma.

╰ 007 … family :

mother: lena taylor. ( deceased ) description: had a close relationship with her mother throughout their entire lifetime together. lost her mother approximately ten years ago to a long-time illness. father: christopher taylor. ( deceased ) description: lost her father approximately five years ago. aniyah swears its because he couldn't stand being without his wife any longer.

╰ 008 … quick background information :

Grew up in a close-knit family as the younger sibling.

Knew from a young age that all she wanted to do was help others in the world - didn't know what she wanted to do until later into high school but knew she wanted to help people.

She came to the realization after one of her friends became homeless and she had few options and little support.

Aniyah now works as a social worker, primarily working with young children and the elderly. She also volunteers in the local homeless shelter anytime she has spare time.

╰ 009 … quick personality information :

Difficult to allow herself to trust others - she was married at one point but the relationship ended in divorce after she found out he was having an affair. Due to it, it has made her hesitant to reach out for relationships again.

A workaholic - her caseload is always full and if she doesn't work herself on overload, she won't keep up with everything. Even if she is on top of it all, she still finds herself reaching out to find other places she can focus her attention onto.

A very kind individual that wants to help other and offer generosity ; but won't hesitate to turn the tables if necessary.

╰ 010 … connections :

Click here for connections page

[chadwick211]

2023: New Year Gift Guide from Sendgifts

As 2022 draws to a close, we look forward to welcoming the new year with hopes of positive changes. Exchange new year gifts with your friends and family to start the new year on a positive note.

This New Year's Eve, there's nothing better than a fantastic liquor bottle to give as a gift, and it doesn't need to be served in a bar. With Sendgifts, you can find thoughtful and amazing new year gift ideas that will surely please your loved ones. Check out this liquor gifting idea to wish your friends a very happy new year.

First and foremost, Alcoholic gifts are meant to be shared, so why not sip something special with your family and friends? Besides offering reliable liquor delivery, Sendgifts has rounded up the best new year gift ideas to help you have a great new year.

Here are some amazing new year gift ideas to wish your friends and family a Happy New Year.

 New Year Gift Guide

 Blanton’s Bourbon Gifts

The Original Single Barrel Bourbon whiskey. Blanton’s is an award-winning bourbon of the highest quality. Still hand crafted in the same tradition Blanton’s is distilled, aged, and hand bottled one barrel at a time in Frankfort Kentucky. It is the world’s first premium single barrel Bourbon whiskey.

Original Single Barrel:

Taken from the center-cut or middle sections of the famous Warehouse H, Blanton’s Original Single Barrel was once designated for ambassadors, dignitaries, and Colonel Blanton’s family and friends. The taste profile is sweet, with notes of citrus and oak. The creamy vanilla nose is teased with caramel and butterscotch, all underscored by familiar baking spices such as clove, nutmeg, or cinnamon. Blanton’s Original set the standard for single barrel bourbons in 1984. Best served neat or on the rocks. Bottled at 46.5% alcohol by volume.

Gold Edition:

Blanton’s Gold Edition was created for discerning bourbon aficionados who appreciate exceptional smoothness and complexity in their bourbon whiskey. The nose is first marked by spicy rye and tobacco notes. Caramel and honey follow soon after, mingled with dark fruit and citrus notes. The palate emulates the same complex nose with rye, tobacco, and honey at the forefront. Round and bold notes of charred oak and vanilla carry you through to an extremely long and harmonious finish. This bourbon consistently delivers on balance and character, on par with the world’s finest whiskey. Best served neat or with a splash of water. Bottled at 51.5% alcohol by volume.

Straight from the Barrel:

Not only one of the world’s best bourbons, Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel is one of the world’s best whiskeys. Created for connoisseurs familiar with cask strength whiskeys, this enormous taste profile reaches depths of flavor found only in the rarest of spirits. On the nose we get notes of dark chocolate, caramel and butter with earthy undertones of walnut and hazelnut.  The palate delivers intrepid notes of warm vanilla, oak, toasted nuts and a rich spiciness with hints of butterscotch or honey.  The high alcohol by volume is intense and powerful yet inviting. The deep and resonate finish on this bourbon is nothing short of legendary. Straight from the barrel is best served neat or with a splash of water. Un-filtered, un-cut, unbelievable.

 Riga Black Balsam

Riga Black Balsam is probably the oldest bitter brand in the world, its history of craftsmanship dating back over 260 years.

 Riga Black Balsam Original

The original version of Riga Black Balsam herbal bitter is created by a combination of 24 ingredients – herbs, roots, berries, fruit juices, honey, burnt sugar and some very specific ingredients like golden withy, gentian, Peruvian balsamic oil.

Exciting and breathtaking experience with versatile taste. Smooth and at the same time bitter. Enjoy neat or in the cocktails of your choice.

Riga Black Balsam Cherry

Contemporary international bitter - has an original, modern, and unique flavor, born from combining Riga Black Balsam with cherry juice. A harmonious balance between the sweetness and bitterness of the drink with a strong cherry aroma to boot.

The aroma features underlying notes of cherry, cherry stones and leaves. The addition of ginger gives the drink a feeling of freshness. Enjoy neat or in the cocktails of your choice.

Riga Black Balsam Black Currant

A contemporary international bitter featuring the original Riga Black Balsam herbal bitter enriched with natural Nordic blackcurrant juice for a new flavor experience.

A perfect harmony of sweet and sour flavors with mature berry aroma. Enjoy neat or in the cocktails of your choice.

 Brennivin Gifts

Brennivin delivers an inspiring kick for the progressive mixologist, is excellent paired with the rustic flavors of Nordic cuisine and of course, the perfect Rock n Roll shot. It is an ancient nordic tradition to simply let Brennivin choose the occasion for you!

 Glayva Gifts

A very popular Scotch whisky liqueur, Glayva is flavored with honey, almonds, tangerines and spices. The name derives from the Gaelic for “very good”. The liqueur is of such merit that it won the International Wine and Spirit Competition 5 times, making it the best liqueur in the world.

Glayva has a very distinctive and pleasant taste. Surprisingly smooth and sweet, with a hint of cinnamon and spices, it really tastes like nothing else!

 Macallan Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Macallan is the most sought-after whisky for collectors, and here you'll find a huge range of Macallan Scotch whisky to buy online. Over the past four decades, Macallan has built probably the best reputation for quality malt whisky; rare expressions can change hands for thousands of pounds, and prices for such bottles are continuously going up.

 Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky

A colossus, Glenfiddich was established by William Grant in 1876, with the first spirit running off the stills in 1887. Today the company is still run by his descendants and as the first whisky to truly market itself as a single malt, Glenfiddich now accounts for about 30% of all single malt sales worldwide.

[trailsandt]

Meet the closed bottle gentian.

It’s a native wildflower in these parts. These are in one of my garden views. Saw them a couple years back in state forest, so those I could not “rescue”. Not being able to find them anywhere else, I broke down and ordered them from Prairie Nursery.

The cool thing about this bottle neck type is that these are shown in fully blooming. The petals never open. But pollination does occur when a large bumblebee wrestles and forces it’s way inside.

[persimmono]

💕pick a card: future spouse💕

hey guys, i’m back with a new tarot reading! we’ll be discussing your future spouse and who they are. choose a spirited away character using a method that works for you from the image above. once you’ve picked, click/tap past keep reading to find your message. pile one is chihiro, pile two is lin, and pile three is haku. enjoy! 

pile one: chihiro

10 of swords, 4 of cups, knight of pentacles, 5 of wands, the tower, the devil on bottom

your future spouse is someone who has been hurt and left behind in the past. they took these betrayals hard and became kind of closed off– dissatisfied with life. they may have hurt others in this manner as well, and it haunts them. they may be prone to overindulgence. they are emotionally unhappy, but their material needs are provided for. i feel like this is where they are at right now. they give off lazy vibes– they just don’t want to do anything but sit and watch the sun come up. they can be combative and argumentative. the competitive type. i think they might be dramatic when upset. they’re going through a rough time in their life. everything feels chaotic to them and they’re just coping. no worries, they will fall in love with you eventually and life will start to brighten up. 

8 of pentacles, king of swords, 5 of wands, 7 of pentacles, knight of swords on bottom

they might be a lawyer or a doctor/surgeon. they are the analytical type– very intelligent and quick witted. maybe a bit impatient. i feel like they have some anger issues. it might build up for them and then they just snap. they could be a perfectionist and they do seem hardworking. i see dramatic pouting and long periods of dedicated work. 

trumpet gentian, clematis, sacred lotus on bottom

i think they logically understand the need to be patient with themselves, and they will develop this more over time. they heal by slowing down. again, they are a highly intelligent individual. they age like fine wine– becoming better and more enlightened with wisdom. this might seem obvious, but some people become set in their ways rather than continuing to grow over time. your person is a cut above the rest. they won’t be suffering forever. 

past life connection, take it slow, trust your intuition on bottom 

you could have known them before in the past or by the time you two enter a relationship. they are the type to want to slow down rather than rush through a connection. they want to really get to know you. they have a very cautious and thorough energy. i do feel like they are aware of spirituality, even if they may not subscribe to it. 

the bouquet, the ring, the house, the scythe on bottom 

a gift that promises stability. as your future spouse, they will offer you an everlasting and reliable home. a strong family, a secure future with them. they’ll probably propose to you out of the blue. 

cat and tree

they are exactly like a cat. cautious, intelligent, hesitant– one wrong move and they’ll bolt. always watching and observing. they really will develop into someone extremely wise. with time, they will learn to have more fun as well. their humor is probably dark, sarcastic, and witty. 

song: into you by ariana grande

zodiac signs: virgo, scorpio, capricorn, and aquarius (maybe gemini too)

mbti: enfp, entj

love language: quality time, words of affirmation

physical characteristics: brown eyes, brown hair

thanks for stopping by! 🧸

pile two: lin

4 of cups, the tower, 4 of wands, page of wands, justice, the chariot on bottom

your future spouse is the type to hide in their room for months on end and never go outside unless absolutely necessary. they keep to themselves and may even bottle up their emotions. repressed emotions sometimes blow up– so they are like a ticking bomb. they just want to hide from the world’s chaos. things seem unmanageable and overwhelming for them. they can see when things will go wrong from a mile away. maybe they aren’t in the best place emotionally or mentally right now. they have a “leave me alone, i’m tired and uninterested” energy at the moment. the universe will shake things up for them eventually, however. i feel like you may meet them at a wedding or a gathering/celebration. you’ll catch their interest and light a fire in them. they aren’t that mature– flirting is going to feel like you’re talking to someone way younger than you. pretty inexperienced, but it might seem charming. they have good intentions and drive + passion. underneath all that doom and gloom is someone creative and curious– childlike. that fiery energy is kind of low key and tame though. you’ll just see specks of it rather than a forest fire. your wedding will be more simple...straightforward and nothing too fancy. i don’t think you will mind– to you, it will still be a memorable celebration and it will feel stable. like the world opened up and the stars are smiling down with you. the best way to explain this moment would be what it’s like to climb a mountain and finally take in the view of the sky above. it’s humble, but not any less special. the both of you might move locations eventually, overseas perhaps. they are the type to pursue their desires with fervor. they are headstrong, but they don’t come off as a fiery in-your-face type of person. it’s more watery.  

knight of wands, ace of wands, 10 of wands, 5 of cups on bottom 

something has them feeling exhausted and burdened. it stifles their passion + creativity. they are weighed down by failure, feelings of worthlessness, and things from the past. give it time, their skies clear up eventually. 

garden heliotrope, coreopsis, iris on bottom 

headstrong and determined once they commit themselves. i feel like you’re going to give them something to appreciate and enjoy every day. consistently. you might inspire hope in them and encourage them to look towards the future. you’re likely going to play a role in helping them rise out of their troubles. 

creature’s paw, elixir

maybe their health isn’t great– drinks too much or something like that. there is something toxic that they’re dealing with. you’ll guide them to take care of themselves better. you might meet them through a friend or be friends first.

home and family 

their family life might not be the best and causes them to withdraw. your advice is to be patient with them.

the moth, the rider, the chrysalid

seems like you might be the one to approach your future spouse as they’re withdrawing and having a hard time. you’re more mature than they are and have already spent a great deal of time going within, exploring/learning yourself. they still need to catch up to you, and that’s why you’re asked to be patient with them. you’re going to lift their spirits and help them remember what it is like to be a child again. 

stickers

coffee dates, art, vacations, someone who overthinks and is stubborn, they are slow to warm up, you are understanding and fun regardless, birthday wishes, children, computers, gently yet firmly bringing them with you to the future, march and november, teaching them how to smile again

song: blueberry eyes by max and suga of bts

zodiac signs:  scorpio, libra, or cancer 

mbti: isfp, enfj, enfp

love language: acts of service, gifts

physical characteristics: green eyes, black eyes, brown hair

thanks for stopping by! 🌷

pile three: haku

9 of swords, queen of pentacles, the hanged man, the world, 4 of cups, ace of wands on bottom 

there are many blues in the spread– your future spouse is very intellectual. they are someone who likes to think and they are possibly spiritual. they struggle with anxieties/fears however, maybe from overthinking. they can seem out of touch, like they are in a different world. not very grounded. they might have air influence in their chart. they are somewhat materialistic, however. they care about their status, reputation, and wealth. they want this kind of stability– in fact, they are an accomplished person that is recognized for their achievements. i’m thinking of a line from hamilton– “he will never be satisfied.” of course, material success doesn’t inherently bring emotional happiness, and they’ll come to realize that. i think because they are so smart, they often feel bored with what their life offers. it lacks passion and excitement in many ways. there might be some issues with a mother as well. 

ace of pentacles, queen of cups, 2 of wands, 9 of swords on bottom 

they might be the type to get overwhelmed by the future and choices they have to make. i think you’re going to be able to help them with overcoming this– i’m seeing you two having a comforting relationship where there’s emotional understanding. like you’ll help them move forward and feel like they can handle life a little better. 

forget-me-nots and pansy on bottom 

very sweet and gentle energy between you two– there will be many memories with you that they won’t want to forget. they will think of you lovingly. past experiences are important to them– they linger and hold onto their memories. there will probably be many conversation between you two where they will just ramble on about the past. not in a sad way, but just reminiscing. they are somewhat sentimental in this way. 

patience and communication on bottom 

you’re going to be very patient with your future spouse– you seem to have a very calming and healing energy that they will appreciate. this connection may not happen for some time. remember that communication is key. 

the book, the ship, the clouds, the crossroad on bottom 

they are intelligent and knowledgeable, but the connection won’t happen for some time. they struggle with some unhappiness or confusion in their daily life. decisions and choices may contribute to feelings of doubt. 

stickers

you’re a warm presence for your future spouse, luck, cancer energy, they can be forgetful, gatherings, beauty and fashion, unsatisfied, artistry, music, robotics + engineering, new love, new opportunity, wishes, it’s going to be okay, friendliness, reminiscing

song: 00:00 (zero o’clock) by bts

zodiac signs: capricorn, pisces, saturn dominant 

mbti: enfp, infp, intp

love language: physical touch, gifts

physical characteristics: blonde, black eyes/dark eyes

thanks for stopping by! 🌷

[cedar-glade]

Denizens of the Marl,

My main focus was to introduce an early blooming species that I don’t know if I talked about ever. I usually miss my window to see this plant and for some reason I’ve never gotten close enough to photograph it properly, you can kinda see a gleam of light on the glandular hairs but not well enough to show structure.

Triantha glutinosa, blooms in early June in Ohio but can last till late June and in other states occurs in bogs in warm water conditions and blooms much later which is strange to me. I think this must be an adaptive phenotypical thing but you would expect it to be opposite and light blooming also seems to not be the culprit so I don’t know.  False Asphodel is another common name but I honestly prefer calling it sticky or glutinous false ashpodel. As a plant living in these nutrient poor super leached marl flats this plant is a carnivor, protease excretor glandular hair trap specifically, but strangely only on it’s flowering stem and not on it’s minute basal rosette. Opposite of most species that are carnivores most species try to keep traps as far from the flowers as possible which makes sense evolutionary. Glandular traps near an inflorescence seems strange for successful pollination. As it turns out this may be a seldomly pollinated species where most individuals in populations are ancient clones that have formed from rhizome spread overtime in these glacial refugium. The other thing that seems notable is many people studying these false ashpodels (Triantha spp.) run into the same morphology and phenology problems that I have, and have even come to contempt and discourse over specific populations and are evaluating them as part of a biological species complex. I agree on the T. occidentalis western split on all accounts but some of the minor disjunct probable splits seem more complex overall (Central Appalachian mountain populations (TN, VA, SC, GA)

I feel like I can’t stress the importance of this limestone marl and the unique opportunity of getting this close to these plants without any special camera. Though I do wish I had one to display the features properly. Most of the time if you are traversing a fen you have to find and identify petrified marl shelfs or surface travertines, or you are walking on old and ancient tussock clumps from what is usually Carex stricta. Im walking on a displaced gravel shelf with petrified marl and wouldn’t dare to walk off of it and disturb the easily motile banks of loose marl or the suspended marl sediment floating like quick sand. The plants here are fragile and the habitat is equally fragile with many state listed species that cant take damage. Everywhere in the high exposure areas of marl flats are these Drosera rotundifolia and the smooth rounded/heartshaped leaves of grass of parnassas, which is in bloom as I type. Parnassia glauca is so beautiful with it’s unique floral venation and Ill post more pics once again when I get to it. The farther you get from the flats the less exposure and with it comes the sedge meadow with Arnoglossum plantagineum, also known as fen plantain leaved indian plantain. The last few shots are associated with the fully scabrid moderate sized var. ,not species, Silphium terebinthinaceum var. pinnatifidum, which we only see in fens in Ohio and the Ice scoured dwarf willow, Salix myricoides, in all of it’s new leaf glory. Still not looking blue with white pubescent undersides just yet.

Personal note:

Its been really weird doing this lagged posting because these are not matched to the time I was there. Right now, I feel like I should be posting about white bottle gentian, prairie gentian ,fringed gentian or ,andrews bottle gentian and here I am mid June posts. Heck it’s also Spiranthes spp. season and paw paw shaking season rn, most people are smelling sulfur shelves and foraging chicken of the woods(same thing). Trying to catch up and doing documentation and having a place to post personal thoughts on this stuff.

[scriptflorist]

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

[vandaliatraveler]

Late afternoon at the balsam fir swamp in Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

From top: nodding bur-marigold (Bidens cernua), also sometimes referred to as nodding beggarticks, a clumping, wetlands-loving annual whose flowerheads nod as they mature and get heavier; bushy St. John's wort (Hypericum densiflorum), a gorgeous, densely-packed shrub with vibrant yellow flowers and copper-colored bark; white meadowsweet (Spiraea alba), a rapidly-colonizing shrub whose branching clusters of white flowers are one of summer's most generous gifts; narrow-leaved gentian (Gentiana linearis), a tall, elegant bottle gentian that can only be pollinated by bumblebees strong enough to pry open (or chew through) its closed petals; flat-topped white aster (Doellingeria umbellata), also known as parasol whitetop, a tall, attractive mountain aster with flat, branching clusters of white flowers; and the dainty white flowers of virgin's bower (Clematis virginiana), a vigorous, twining vine that forms beautiful, dense waves of foliage and flowers.

[spiffyspidr]

Bottle Gentian appreciation post time!!

The Bottle Gentian is a beautiful perrenial plant that produces rich blue-purple flowers that have a closed lip and do not open. They are native to northeastern North America and around eastern Canada. Their main pollinators are bumblebees, since they are strong enough to open the flower and small enough to fit inside the flower without damaging it.

It's a pretty cool sight to see and absolutely adorable!

[epimeliad]

White turtleheads, closed bottle gentians, and rough bedstraw.

[alternatearchiver]

Daring Escape

 Lan Wangji looked up curiously as his brother entered the jingshi, the noise of a crying baby preceding him, and he couldn’t help the way his expression softened at the sight of his squalling nephew. “Ah, I hate to bother you, Wangji, but I have important sect business I need to deal with, and a-Yuan doesn’t want to be handed off to any of the nursemaids.”

 Lan Wangji stood and carefully accepted the infant, making sure to properly support the head and neck the way he’d been taught. “Is Lan furen still feeling ill?” Lan Xichen grimaced in concern before nodding.       

Ever since his brother’s wedding, very few people in the Cloud Recesses had actually seen Lan Xichen’s wife. It had bothered Lan Wangji at first, imagining someone else being locked up and forced to suffer the way their own mother had, but Lan Xichen had assured him that Wei Wuxian was a very sickly person, and it was safest to keep him away from anyone who might make him sick, especially after being weakened from giving birth. Having no reason to doubt his brother, Lan Wangji had accepted the reasoning, and Wei Wuxian had remained out of the public eye over the past year and a half since marrying into the Lan sect. “I should be finished before dinner. I hope a-Yuan does not cause you too much trouble in the meantime.”

 “It is no trouble,” Lan Wangji assured his brother.

Satisfied with that, Lan Xichen took off to go take care of his duties, leaving Lan Wangji to watch over the baby who always seemed to calm down when placed in Lan Wangji’s arms. “Do you miss your father already?” a-Yuan grinned at Lan Wangji, showing off his toothless gums, and Lan Wangji couldn’t refrain from offering a rare smile in return. It seemed impossible for anyone to not find a-Yuan’s joy contagious.

 A little while later is when everything started to go wrong. a-Yuan sniffled a few times, and Lan Wangji gently rocked him in his arms. That didn’t calm the baby down, though, and instead he burst into tears, wailing loudly. Lan Wangji tried all the usual tricks, including making soothing noises, speaking softly, offering some of the bottled milk that had been left with him, and changing a-Yuan’s diaper, but nothing seemed to work.

 Out of ideas, but not wanting to disturb Lan Xichen from his important business, Lan Wangji began walking the familiar path towards the gentian house, where Wei Wuxian lived. He did not want to disturb Wei Wuxian’s rest, but he figured that a-Yuan’s mother would be able to calm the baby down and then Lan Wangji could head out again.

 Nervous knots twisted in Lan Wangji’s stomach. He had not been back here since his mother’s death. Perhaps it would be healing, in a way, for Lan Wangji to see a Lan furen who was happily housed there rather than imprisoned. He knocked politely on the front door but there was no response. Lan Wangji considered turning back, but a-Yuan’s crying had only managed to get louder, which was impressive considering how tiny his lungs were, and Lan Wangji did not enjoy seeing his beloved nephew in such distress.

 Later, he would ask for forgiveness for barging in. For now, Lan Wangji opened the front door and stepped inside. “Wei Wuxian?” There was a muffled noise from nearby.

 Still carefully cradling a-Yuan, Lan Wangji stepped into the main bedroom, then immediately closed his eyes and turned away. He couldn’t even think straight long enough to mutter out a proper apology for what he had just witnessed. While Lan Wangji was aware enough of his own strange… proclivities, he had not needed to know that his brother and Wei Wuxian enjoyed similar games in the bedroom.

 Expecting flustered noises, or anything, really, in response to having been seen, Lan Wangji was confused when Wei Wuxian simply said nothing. What if something was seriously wrong? What if Wei Wuxian had gotten sick while waiting for his husband to return?

 Lan Wangji took a deep breath, then carefully set a-Yuan down on the kitchen table before steeling himself to not react inappropriately at the sight of his brother’s wife. He returned to the bedroom and cautiously approached the bed, where Wei Wuxian was stretched out across the bed, limbs all secured.

 It was the first time Lan Wangji had ever seen Wei Wuxian’s face, since it had obviously been covered with a red veil at the wedding, and he couldn’t help noticing that Wei Wuxian was the most beautiful person he’d ever seen. But then he noticed other things that made him feel quite uncomfortable.

 There were tear tracks leading down Wei Wuxian’s face, and a cloth tied very tightly around his mouth in a way that prevented him from speaking. His arms and wrists seemed to be bruised and bloody from the restraints, and with his entire body naked, it was easy to make out the many injuries and scars that crossed his pale skin.

 Wei Wuxian’s eyes were squeezed tightly shut, and he whimpered piteously when Lan Wangji reached out to carefully remove the gag. “Are you alright?” There was no response, and Wei Wuxian did not open his eyes, so Lan Wangji felt the worry in his stomach quickly grow. “I’m going to cut you free, and then I will see to your injuries.” He wasn’t sure of exactly what had happened, but clearly Lan Xichen had gone too far.

 Lan Wanji was very careful with Bichen as he cut through the restraints, and he pulled out some healing salve to gently rub onto Wei Wuxian’s wrists and ankles. Then he found a blanket to tug up and cover Wei Wuxian’s naked body. “Do you want to see a-Yuan now?”

 That’s when Wei Wuxian’s eyes snapped open, revealing a dull silver that somehow looked wrong. He gave Lan Wangji a long, dazed look, seeming to take in every detail, before speaking in a croaky voice that sounded like it had not been used in a long time. “You’re not Lan Huan.”

 Lan Wangji shook his head. “I am Lan Wangji, Lan Zhan,” he confirmed. “I brought a-Yuan because he would not stop crying.” Though as he said that, he realized that he had not heard the loud wailing in a few minutes. “I will be right back.”

 He got up from where he’d been kneeling next to the bed so that he could go and get baby a-Yuan, but a hand reached out to snag the back of his robe with a surprisingly strong grip. “Don’t- don’t leave me here,” came that desperate, hoarse voice.

 Lan Wangji gently removed Wei Wuxian’s hand and placed it back down on the bed. “I am only getting your son, and then I will be right back.” As he left the bedroom, the bad feeling in his stomach only grew worse and worse. As little as he wanted to think about his brother in bed, he couldn’t stop his mind from whirling through all the possibilities that could have led to this.

 When he returned to the bedroom, a-Yuan began flailing his limbs around, instinctively reaching out to his mother. At the sight of the baby, Wei Wuxian didn’t start sobbing, but silent tears began to drip down his cheeks, and he was so gentle as he took a-Yuan from Lan Wangji’s arms, making soft shushing noises. He sat up, causing the blanket to drop down to his lap. “Ah, ah, it’s alright baobao. Mama’s here.” When one of a-Yuan’s chubby feet bumped into a dark looking bruise on Wei Wuxian’s side, Wei Wuxian didn’t even flinch, like the pain was irrelevant.

 a-Yuan calmed down very quickly, apparently having been waiting for his mother to soothe him. Then, exhausted from keeping up his crying for so long, a-Yuan slipped into a nap.

 Lan Wangji found it difficult to look away from the sight in front of him, even though he knew that he should. It was just so gentle and caring and sweet, marred only by the marks that seemed to cover Wei Wuxian’s body. He glanced away to look for a crib, ready to offer to take the sleeping baby out of Wei Wuxian’s arms that looked like they were starting to tremble, but he frowned when he didn’t spot one. “Where does a-Yuan sleep?”

 There was a very long moment of silence before Wei Wuxian spoke, still not looking away from a-Yuan’s sleeping face, like he thought he’d never get the chance to see his son again. “Away from here,” Wei Wuxian murmured.

 The picture that was starting to come together about Lan Xichen’s marriage was a very unpleasant one. He decided that it was worth risking offending his brother-in-law if it meant getting the truth out of him. “Wei Wuxian, tell me plainly. Do you wish to stay here?”

 Wei Wuxian’s head jolted up, and he stared at Lan Wangji with wide, alarmed eyes. “Why are you asking me that? Why are you here?” His breathing became labored and uneven, his eyes getting a lost, feverish look to them. “Why would you let me see him?” It sounded like it was painful for him to speak, but that didn’t stop him. “What do you want from me? What do any of you want from me?”        

 That seemed like an answer enough to Lan Wangji. Wei Wuxian had been tied up, abused, unable to speak, and isolated from everyone else, including his own child. He thought of his own childhood, of only getting to see his mother once a month, of how sad she always looked. Of how he had been too young to get it at the time, but eventually understood that she had taken her own life. He thought of his older brother, who had always loved him and cared for him, and understood him like nobody else ever had. And Lan Wangji hardened his heart against his mental image of Lan Xichen’s gentle gaze.

 “I am taking you away from here,” Lan Wangji announced abruptly, cutting off Wei Wuxian’s panicked babbling.

 Wei Wuxian blinked up at him a few times, then furrowed his eyebrows in disbelief. “What?”

 “Both of you,” Lan Wangji clarified, nodding towards the sleeping infant. “Anywhere you wish to go, I will get you out of the Cloud Recesses and bring you there.” Perhaps it would be better to bring Wei Wuxian to Uncle, and have Lan Xichen’s crimes aired before the entire sect. But it would be cruel to force Wei Wuxian to recount whatever he had been through in his time here. And there was no telling who might choose to be more loyal to their sect leader than was wise. So for now, Lan Wangji would settle for getting Wei Wuxian and a-Yuan as far away from here as possible. And then, maybe someday, he would come back to make sure that Lan Xichen got what he deserved.

[tact-and-impulse]

Anyway, here’s info about my MCs for @shepherds-of-haven​​. I think I dropped enough hints in my Lovelace Day fic to connect who's who.

Name: Erigeron Keernyth / Nickname: E / Callsign: Rimefrost

Gender and Pronouns: Male, he/him / Sexuality: Pansexual

Age: 26 / Heritage: Elf / High Stat: Nerves of Steel / Low Stat: Bright Mind

Weapon: Dagger / Specialization: Elementalist / Education: Circle trained

Tarot: The Emperor / Wreath Day: Ashar 17

Description: A tenacious, self-assured Mage who desires nothing more than vengeance against evil. Tall and muscular, he wears a sardonic face until there’s word of an Endarkened. Then, his green gaze fills with delighted bloodlust before his silver-crowned head disappears out the door.

Fragments from the past:

Climbing up to the treehouse in Vale, letting his legs dangle over the side and kick out at nothing in particular

Bedding down for the night in a dense part of the woods, huddled with his clanmates for warmth and safety

The aftermath: a vow made on the blood he angrily spit through his teeth

Sharpening his dagger in a leaky tent and counting down the days to the end of this job, while the bigoted noble he was escorting snored incessantly in a cushy wagon

The first time he killed an imp, how easy it was to render the limbs apart, and the frustration that it wasn’t enough to make him feel better, that he needed to be even stronger

Art: Picrew

***

Name: Zoegea Keernyth / Callsign: Diamond

Gender and Pronouns: Female, she/her / Sexuality: Straight

Age: 24 / Heritage: Elf / High Stat: Razor Wits / Low Stat: Nerves of Steel

Weapon: Gun / Specialization: Shifter / Education: Circle trained

Tarot: The Lovers reversed / Flower Day: Loa 22

Description: A withdrawn, evasive Mage who is fixated on a dangerous pursuit. Svelte and poised, she has a calculating hazel gaze. Curling ashen tresses are drawn into a high ponytail, nearly to her waist, and out of the way when she’s experimenting with substances beyond her control.

Fragments from the past:

A quiet glade, on a detour the caravan took one summer, but she’s never been able to find it since

Eavesdropping on Elvish conversations, picking up tidbits of gossip and information, mostly for her own amusement

The aftermath: the last time she allowed herself to be horrified, grasping for logic and finding none

Her familiar dorm room in the Circle, the drawers filled with scribbled notes in a cipher of her own devising, desiccated roses, and the wrought leftovers of one project after another

The cold gaze of that smith whose doorstep she haunted for a few weeks, warning her never to get too close as metal scraps were tossed her way

Art: Picrew

***

Name: Kalmia Metella / Callsign: Serenity

Gender and Pronouns: Female, she/her / Sexuality: Demisexual

Age: 21 / Heritage: Hunter / High Stat: Razor Wits / Low Stat: Silver Tongue

Weapon: Bow / Specialization: Healer / Education: Self-taught

Tarot: The Lovers / Flower Day: Ysk 10

Description: A gentle, sensitive Mage who struggles with a definitive place in the world. Waves of dark hair, except for a streak of pure white, cascade down her back and contrast with intense violet eyes. Despite a soft-spoken exterior, she demonstrates a surprising willpower under pressure.

Fragments from the past:

Her childhood bedroom, only adorned with some bundled flowers and herbs that her mother taught her how to dry

After the funeral, Father explained she’d be alive for so much longer than everyone else in Maj would, and his face blurred in a flood of anguished tears

The aftermath: uncontrollable shivering in despair, fearful stumbling in the darkness, wondering if she was going mad

His sticky voice and stickier touch, but at least, all that’s left are memories and those can’t hurt anyone else

The Sweetleaf Shop in Leore, the kind voices of the women living there, the earthy scents of freshly made tinctures, words of comfort and perseverance

Art: Picrew

***

Name: Linaria Enris / Nicknames: Lin, Lina (I recognize the irony and I’m so sorry, if it helps it’s with a short i) / Callsign: Insight

Gender and Pronouns: Female, she/her / Sexuality: Straight

Age: 21 / Heritage: Ket / High Stat: Bright Mind / Low Stat: Razor Wits

Weapon: Sword / Specialization: Enchanter / Education: Self-taught

Tarot: Justice / Flower Day: Leph 40

Description: A sincere, empathetic Mage who yearns for a greater purpose. Her plain brown hair is fluffed around her ears and over almond-shaped eyes the color of chocolate. An earnest worker, she usually has a thoughtful, polite expression, but her laughter can be heard easily too.

Fragments from the past:

Lighting candles by the windows and reading quietly, keeping vigil for Dad until his rough palm awkwardly patted her head

Trying to do chores the way Mom used to, hoping to prove she can take care of the house on her own, no need to worry

The aftermath: essentially catatonic, until dawn came and she realized how cold she was

A bookseller’s stall, of incense and a sour voice complaining about his arthritis and insisting she keep the books he’s stolen, until he abruptly fired her for reasons she still doesn’t know

Scribe jobs in later years, her hands cramped and smeared with ink, her smile fixed on even as she received only a fraction of what she was owed

Art: Picrew

***

Name: Gentian Arke / Callsign: Messenger

Gender and Pronouns: Male, he/him / Sexuality: Demisexual

Age: 27 / Heritage: Ket / High Stat: Silver Tongue / Low Stat: Razor Wits

Weapon: Sword / Specialization: Binder / Education: Self-taught

Tarot: The Hermit / Wreath Day: Kthili 24

Description: A reserved, considerate Mage who hides deep-seated guilt behind a soft smile. His long locks are mistaken for black unless in full sunlight, where it reveals its bluish sheen. The sea is reflected in his kind gaze, and his agile build has been wracked with battle scars over the years.

Fragments from the past:

Running along the shoreline, feet splashing in the retreating waves and a salty breeze in his face, without a care in the world

Joking around with his cousins, winning gonen games, and fishing for the best catch

The aftermath: broken and hollow and worthless

That one time he had to crossdress in a ploy to retrieve his captain’s long-lost trinket from a gambling tournament and his alias became known as a devastatingly infamous heartbreaker, much to his eternal embarrassment

Fighting corsairs on rain-slick decks or bandits on the mail routes, numbly pondering over just giving up someday, but never managing to do it

Art: Picrew

***

Name: Alcea Keernyth / Nicknames: Als, Alci / Callsign: Lacewing

Gender and Pronouns: Female, she/her / Sexuality: Bisexual

Age: 22 / Heritage: Elf / High Stat: Bright Mind / Low Stat: Nerves of Steel

Weapon: Dagger / Specialization: Conjurer / Education: Circle trained

Tarot: Wheel of Fortune / Flower Day: Camoa 35

Description: A bubbly, affectionate Mage who has an appetite for anything interesting. She often dashes to her current destination, wherever that may be, leaving the impression of flying golden chin-length curls. Her gray eyes sparkle with curiosity and enthusiasm, never entirely quenched.

Fragments from the past:

Coaxing vividly colored butterflies into her hands, pretending to wear them as if they were jewels

Peeking her head out to take in every sight they passed by, her parents humming traveling songs, lulling her to sleep

The aftermath: immediate denial, it’s all a terrible dream

The library in Capra, thumbing through so many books and cursing that she wasn’t an inch taller to reach some of the higher shelves, eventually stacking the fattest tomes she’d already gone through as makeshift stairs

A trio of ragtag burglars, barely into their teens, rummaging through some noble’s room, while she kept an eye out for anyone who’d throw them back into jail

Art: Picrew

***

Name: Valeriana Stiln / Nickname: Valia (only if you earn it) / Callsign: Exacter

Gender and Pronouns: Female, she/her / Sexuality: Bisexual

Age: 23 / Heritage: Norm / High Stat: Nerves of Steel / Low Stat: Silver Tongue

Weapon: Bow / Specialization: Battle-Mage / Education: Journeyman

Tarot: Death / Flower Day: Zellea 38

Description: A fearless, practical Mage who nurses a jaded outlook on life. Dark red hair is gathered into a hefty bun more often than not, and long-lashed onyx eyes critically survey everything. She walks with a brisk stride full of intent, her capable hands bearing calluses from labor and old fights.

Fragments from the past:

Mother combing her hair in their morning ritual, “I love this color so much, Valia, you should keep it long”

The poison-dripping fangs of a snake the Westwood kids found in a trough, then its scales spattered with blood as she lifted the nearest axe and chopped it to pieces

The aftermath: repeating no’s, louder and louder, building to a drawn-out scream, until her throat was raw

After so many years, finding some bottles of the cologne Father wore and spending a half year’s worth of her mercenary’s pay, always dabbing a few drops on her wrists and neck

White-blond hair and a tattooed insignia, any tendrils of affection withered by that crystal clear scene of betrayal

Art: Picrew

***

Name: Senna Tulward / Callsign: Guardian

Gender and Pronouns: Female, she/her / Sexuality: Pansexual

Age: 23 / Heritage: Norm / High Stat: Silver Tongue / Low Stat: Bright Mind

Weapon: Gun / Specialization: Diviner / Education: Journeyman

Tarot: Temperance / Flower Day: Coppersun 6

Description: A congenial, faithful Mage who searches for a new place to call home. She has wavy chestnut hair falling a little past her shoulders, and an amiable amber gaze. She typically sports a pleasant, carefree smile, and her statuesque frame is actually very sturdy and athletic.

Fragments from the past:

Singing hymns she knew by heart and clasping her mother’s soft hands in the neighborhood’s temple

Cinnamon and warm honey on her birthday breakfast toast, Father sneaking her an extra slice when no one else was looking

The aftermath: confusion and failed searches, calling out the names of people who would never answer

Magic lessons under a starry sky, her teacher’s careful voice over the melody of crickets, the smell of campfire smoke, her warm sleeping bag

A dry ruin, whirling gritty sands, the sniffling lost little girl and a bleating goat she’s taking cover with, villagers hurling accusations and bullets at her upon their emergence from the storm

Art: Picrew

***

[theflowergirl]

🤍 Wangji Week 2020 🤍 #1, Gentians

“Lan Zhan.”

 Experience taught him not every call demanded a response, so all Lan Zhan does is raise his eyes from the table. Wei Ying isn’t even looking at him, he just continues talking, fingers dedicated to their task.

 “Do you think it’s selfish to ask something from your parents?”

 The question causes him to pause. Wei Ying folds the paper with meticulous precision, and while Lan Zhan searches for words, he allows himself to be impressed that someone like Wei Ying, capable of running from one side of the school to the other in minutes while chattering about anything and everything, is not only capable of doing handcraft work, but is also good at it. Following a mapped guide in his mind, the paper flower slowly takes form. A lotus, for Jiang Yanli. Based on the extensive knowledge of the young woman that Lan Zhan has accumulated over the course of his acquaintance with Wei Ying, he knows it’s a considerate choice. He can picture her loving it.

 He licks his dry lips before replying with a question of his own. “It depends on what you’re asking.”

 Wei Ying’s tongue sticks out the corner of his mouth as he ties all the separate parts of the origami flower together, and every petal opens under his fingertips, the flower slowly blossoming under his attentive care.

 “What if it’s something big?”

 Lan Zhan looks down at his own work. Several gentian flowers lie in wait for him to put them in a bouquet, a message carried under their soft folds. A gift that could never wither; a memory of something good, something beautiful, something old; the blue of home.

 “Is it something important to you?”

 The lotus flower stands on his kitchen table, vivid in pink and green, perfect like the videos that they watched, almost as if Wei Ying didn’t spend a whole package of origami paper in failed attempts. The boy touches it with a fingertip, slowly twirling it around, like it’s swayed by a passing wind.

 “Yes.”

 Lan Zhan nods in mute agreement, gently folding another gentian. The clock on the kitchen wall marks the seconds of his thinking, and Wei Ying waits, watching with transfixed admiration as Lan Zhan adds one more delicate flower to his batch. Wei Ying is rarely ever this quiet, though he’s always been attentive. Lan Zhan remembers their fights when they were but small kindergartners, and how he wouldn’t let anyone but himself tease Lan Zhan’s weaknesses. They got separated, became slightly different boys after puberty, but upon reuniting at the beginning of high school, some details seemed to never change; like the curves on a flower petal, mirrored on paper.

 “And if you never asked?”

 Wei Ying’s finger taps on the table, his fingernail echoing the clock. It’s almost time. The sun has already set. He wonders if Wei Ying would like to stay over, and there’s more than one feeling affecting Lan Zhan in either his acceptance or denial. His stomach hurts, not for the first time, over something that is not hunger.

 “I... don’t really know.”

 Lan Zhan finishes his last flower and starts putting them away in a box. Noticing that he’s finished, Wei Ying remembers his own gift box, decorated in swirling shades of pink and lavender, and places the lotus flower away. Lan Zhan moves to help him tie a pretty bow on top, and Wei Ying smiles, even if it’s dimmer than usual. And even though they’re comfortable in each other’s presence, his question lingers like a scent between them.

 “I think they’d want to hear what you have to say,” Lan Zhan says, his finger keeping the silk thread in place as Wei Ying works on the bow. He looks over, beyond the box and their hands, locking his gaze with his friend’s. “If it’s something important to you.”

 Their teachers often assume Wei Ying never thinks of things of consequence, always fooling around when he should be serious. But in the wrinkles around his eyes, soft sketch lines in his youth, Lan Zhan sees his worries and contemplations.

 When Wei Ying smiles again, he sees the setting sun.

 “Lan Zhan, you always know what to say! Thank you.”

 He doesn’t. He really doesn’t. He barely ever speaks because he can’t think of anything to say, which Wei Ying knows, but still, still he says it and means it.

 “I’m home!”

 She’s right on time. Lan Zhan closes his box and hides it under a textbook as Wei Ying jumps on his feet, calls out “Mrs. Lan!” with a beaming smile, and bows respectfully once she crosses the threshold into the kitchen.

 “A-Ying! Oh, you’ve grown taller since I last saw you. It’s late, you’re staying over, right? We can order from that favorite restaurant of yours.”

 “Oh no, I’ve got important business at home tonight.”

 Lan Zhan’s mother sighs, and Lan Zhan actually believes she’s disappointed.

 “Okay, I’ll take you back, come on.”

 “It’s okay! Really! My bike’s still here, I think?”

 He looks at Lan Zhan for confirmation and his friend nods.

 “It’ll take no time at all, Mrs. Lan. But thank you for the offer! Have a good night. See you tomorrow, Lan Zhan!”

 He throws Lan Zhan a wink before he sees himself off, missing the way the woman chuckles in his wake.

 “Guess it’s just the two of us again, A-Zhan,” she says, patting his head, and he nods, picking his things from the table with one hand and opening the app on his phone with the other, pretending he doesn’t hear his mother sigh again, the sound loud in the kitchen.

 ***

 He finishes his bouquet not long after dinner. When he knocks on his mother’s door, even if the lights are already out, he knows she’ll answer and let him in. It’s not yet 9pm, and though she fights it, some habits are hard to break.

 His stomach churns as he watches her smile under the yellow light of her bedside lamp. She holds the small jar of paper flowers like it’s something precious, and he feels like a cheater, like somebody conniving and manipulative. He doesn’t think the gift would lessen the blow at all, and when he swallows, he can feel a painful lump lodged in his throat, like a disease. Maybe it is.

 “I think they’d want to hear what you have to say, if it’s something important to you.”

 “Mother,” he hears himself say, sees her turn with bright eyes to him. He licks his lips before he continues. “Can I go see brother on New Year’s?”

 The light in her eyes fades with her smile, her lips parting in surprise. He’s panicking under his skin but outside, he barely blinks. He waits, clutching at her sheets until his knuckles turn white. He misses brother so much, Gusu is so far. And he hopes she knows that it’s really just brother, that other than brother’s absence, he doesn’t want his life to change much at all. He doesn’t miss the fights before the divorce, doesn’t miss her crying, and even if she’s a faded image of the mother he remembers from when he was small, from when Wei Ying first pranked him in sandboxes, he’s fine, they’ll be fine, he knows. It’s okay, it’s...

 He’s already opened his mouth to say what has been running around his thoughts when she reaches out and cups his face with her hand.

 “Oh, A-Zhan.” She looks sad though she smiles, her eyes shining with tears. “Of course you can.”

 Maybe she pulls him, or maybe he moved out of his own volition, but whatever the force that acted upon him at that moment, he ends up on her lap like he’s still seven years old and afraid of the dark. Though he’s tall now, taller than most in his class, he thinks he still fits perfectly in her embrace, her chest welcoming and warm against his face.

 “I’m so sorry, A-Zhan. I know the past year has been hard,” she says, but even as she says it, he’s shaking his head, tightening his arms around her. A whole year without brother’s presence, only his voice in phone calls, but a whole year relearning that a home can be silent and serene and with sound sleep.

 “It’s okay, mother,” he says, and he means it. It’s simple but it’s true and right then, it feels like just enough to say.

 It’ll be okay, in the end.

 ***

 Wei Ying is skipping his steps the next day. He’s like a soda bottle ready to burst all through their classes, throughout lunch time, and when the bell rings, he’s back to skipping, to smiling so wide that his eyes are but crescent moons. He speaks once it’s just the two of them walking home, Lan Zhan on foot and Wei Ying wheeling his bike beside him.

 “Mom says I can stay here when they have to move for work,” Wei Ying says, and Lan Zhan must look surprised because Wei Ying laughs. “I know, isn’t it great?”

 “Are you staying alone?” Lan Zhan asks, more than a little concerned. He’s been to Wei Ying’s room multiple times and he does not want to imagine what that would look like in a bigger scale.

 “She said I could do that, but father prefers I stay with uncle Jiang.”

 Lan Zhan nods his approval at that idea.

 “You can stay over whenever you’d like.”

 Wei Ying’s shoulders move with his contentment and Lan Zhan can’t help smiling, can’t ignore the fact that all of the big changes in his life lose some of their impact when faced with Wei Ying. His own shoulders feel lighter under Wei Ying’s attention, under the affection with which he says the syllables of his name. Happiness is like the wings of a butterfly, dancing in and out of view, around his stomach.

 “We can have a sleepover on New Year’s!”

 Lan Zhan looks down, feels the tips of his ears warming.

 “I’ll be going to Gusu on New Year’s, to visit brother.”

 Wei Ying deflates and perks back up so quickly that Lan Zhan almost laughs.

 “We should buy a present for brother Lan Huan! Let’s go downtown, Lan Zhan, quick!”

 Lan Zhan nods, moves to climb on the back of Wei Ying’s bike.

 “Mn.”

 “Hold on tight!”

 He does, arms secure around Wei Ying. His back is warm like mother’s chest, and when he speaks or laughs, Lan Zhan can feel the vibrations of every action against his skin. Although it’s still winter, although he and mother are still patching each other up in the aftermath of the fallout of their family, he feels the sun on his back, the wind against his skin, and he holds on tightly to those he loves.

 Mother keeps the paper gentians on her bedside table, like the vase she used to keep at their home in Gusu.

[designwallah]

Closed Bottle Gentian Gentiana andrewsii