#goosegrass | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

xnoctifers-eveningx · 2 years

Text

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼 Wild Plant Lore 𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼

Some notes from my BOS of weeds / local plants that can be used in one's craft. Includes magickal correspondences, traditional uses (medicinal and culinary), and some of their folklore.

Disclaimer at the end !!

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊

Acorns- the nuts of oak trees. They're made of one seed covered by a tough shell with a cap on top. These nuts can be eaten and are turned into flour to make breads and pastas. Much about acorns are unknown as they are mainly unused in everyday life, but we do know that they contain a high fiber content which has been used to treat bloating, diarrhea, stomach pains, and other digestive issues. Because these nuts come from oak trees they’ve been a symbol of great wisdom and longevity in many cultures such as Celtic and Nordic. Many people have worn necklaces with acorn charms on them to bring protection

• Protection, prosperity, growth, wisdom

Bull nettle- Thick stock and toothed leaves with stiff prickly stinging hairs, the flowers are small, white, and covered in hispid. The seed pods are lightly coloured and cylindrical, containing ~3 seeds. Touching this plant will cause a stinging, burning, or itching sensation that will last for hours. The seeds from the seed pods are edible and taste nutty but need to be harvested with extreme care as to not sting yourself. The seeds can be roasted or ground into a "cornmeal." The root of bull nettle is edible, it's similar to a potato but tougher and the core is so tough it should be discarded.

Binding, banishing, warding, baneful (to cause pain)

Cattails- Cattails are semi-aquatic plants that consist of multiple long spiked leaves with one center spike holding a sausage-shaped head that is filled with cottony seeds. Their rhizomes can be turned into a flour with a high protein content and the shoots can be cooked and eaten. The stems and leaves can be turned into paper. A poultice from the roots can be used as an antiseptic, for burns/cuts, and to reduce inflammation. When harvesting this plant please do not overharvest, it’s a very important part of a wetland’s ecosystem ! Also, always make sure the water near the cattails is clean because cattails filter pollutants out of the water so if you plan on consuming the plant, you could also be consuming those pollutants.

Fertility, growth, prosperity, peace, water-associated magick, cleansing

Catchweed- Also known as cleavers, hitchhikers, goosegrass, or sticky weed. Catchweeds are branchy, square stems that latch onto other plants and buildings with small hooked hairs on their leaves and stems. They have tiny, star-shaped, green or white-ish flowers with four petals. They also have small burrs that contain a few seeds that are covered in hooked hairs so they can latch on to animals to disperse seeds. For those who want to risk getting pricked, catchweed is edible. Young leaves and stems can be cooked and eaten like spinach. This plant is also in the same family as coffee, meaning that you can dry and roast the seeds in their burrs to make a lower-caffeine coffee substitute and teas. Poultices have been made with the whole plant, as with tea washes from dried leaves, in many cultures for light burns, small wounds, and eczema. It has a cooling effect so it’s also used in infusions for bug bites, stings, and poison ivy.

Energy, binding, commitment, protection during travel

Chickweed- Also called chickenwort/weed, winterweed, and simply ground cover as that’s its primary use in modern society. Long stems with pointed, oval-shaped leaves and tiny white star-shaped flowers that resemble carnations. Its star-shaped flowers earned it the botanical name “Stellaria media”. Its flowers and leaves are both edible and are very popular in salads, soups, and stir-fries. It has a taste similar to sprouts that you’d use in a salad. Chickweed salves are used for skincare, poultices for poison ivy, and teas for digestion. Historically, it's been used for skin ailments like itching, dry skin, and even bruises or bug bites from a tisane/tea of the stems applied to the affected area. In European folklore, it was said to help promote a happy, balanced family and love life. This is believed to come from how chickweed grows so closely with all its stems intertwined but in a way that promotes each part to grow healthy, so it promotes everyone in a household getting along with one another while having their own sense of individuality. It’s also associated with perseverance (like most weeds I’ll admit), this is because chickweed is seen growing everywhere, in yards, in forests, on piles of dirt. If it sees an opportunity, it’ll take it and thrive year-round.

Love, stability, loyalty, communication, lunar-associated magick

Clovers- white, balled flowers with three to four small, round leaves. Every part of this plant is edible, the leaves and flowers are sweet and vanilla-y so they are good in teas and sweets. Clover has been used to ward off fevers and used in tisanes/teas for inflammation. Clover has been associated with good fortune for centuries, especially four-leaved clovers. A shamrock is a symbol of a three-leafed clover representative of the Christian Holy Trinity, it’s also believed that the Celtic druids thought shamrocks to be significant because they had three leaves possibly representing the underground, earth, and sky.

Luck, prosperity, happiness, faith

Creeping Speedwell- Teeny tiny violet/baby blue flowers with light yellow middles, it is incredibly fast-growing and can be found in most yards. Speedwell is edible and good in salads, pestos, and smoothies. Tea is made from the leaves and flowers to help clear congestion, allergies, and coughs. Some add it to their baths to help with their allergies and inflammation, inflammation is also helped by a poultice. In some folklore, it’s said that a tea or ointment from speedwell could help one with psychic visions and faerie sight. Before I truly knew the folklore behind speedwell I had this sense that it would help with your clairsenses.

Abundance, divination, psychic/clairsense work

Creeping buttercup- Buttercups are toxic and will leave blisters when raw so they must be cooked or dried before being consumed, even then it's not recommended to eat. A poultice of the (boiled) leaves is used for inflammation and wounds and a tea from the plant is used for its analgesic properties, but be wary of the blisters that may occur. Buttercups used to be used to ward off faeries, many farmers would plant these around their cows to prevent them from being stolen from the fae. There are a lot of stories relating buttercups to cows which is very very cute but ironic because buttercups are actually toxic to many animals! For its many associations with children, fairies, and coyotes across various cultures it can also be related to mischief

Youth, happiness, love, protection from fae, mischief (jinxes/hexes/glamours)

Creeping charlie- Also known as ground ivy. Creeping charlie has square stems with dark, rounded or fan-shaped, toothed leaves. It has small blue or lavender, funnel-shaped flowers that grow in clusters of two or three in the spring. Creeping charlie is edible and has a long history of being used in beer and cheese, it tastes subtly minty as it's in the mint family. Young leaves are good in salads to freshen them up and it's also really good in teas and sweets. There is a risk of it being toxic if consumed in large quantities though. For centuries now it's been used in teas to calm a cough, been said to help with headaches, and has been used on the skin to reduce pain and soothe inflammation. Some have turned it into a snuff and used it for congestion, kind of like Vaporub. It was actually brought over from Britain to the Americas for its medicinal uses, now it’s one of those weeds people will spend tons of money trying to get rid of. Alike creeping buttercup, it’s said that some may have used this to ward magick from their livestock and themselves. Some say it’s good to use to find out who has cursed you or sent the evil eye your way and in some stories, people would drink it as a tea to get rid of their shyness.

Protection from magick and spirits, divination, clarity, courage

Deadnettle- My favourite weed :) Square stem, fuzzy leaves that occasionally are red/purple at the top, with tiny tube-shaped light pink flowers. Despite technically being a nettle, it’s not a true nettle so very few people will have a reaction when touching this plant. Deadnettle is part of the mint family and every part of it is edible, despite that though it's not very minty and is floral and sweet. My favourite parts are the tiny pink flowers which have sweet nectar in them and are good in teas, syrups, sweets, and jams. The leaves are good in teas, smoothies, pestos, and salads. A poultice or salve can be made from the leaves for wounds and teas can help with allergies. This plant is sometimes called purple archangel because it pops up around the Feast of the Apparition when it was said St. Micheal appeared. It’s associated with determination because this lil dude will grow anywhere, even in spots with the worst quality soil.

happiness, determination, peace, healing

Dandelion- Dandelions are bright layered yellow flowers with toothed leaves that grow pretty much anywhere there is enough dirt to get their roots in. The entire plant is edible, the flowers are slightly sweet making them good for salads, syrups, and sweet. The leaves are slightly bitter but that can be lessened when harvested young or boiled, they're good as spinach replacements and can be dried for teas. The flowers can also be turned into dyes. The plant's name can be literally translated to 'healing herb' as it has been used in many cultures for it's gut health and detoxifying properties. Teas and tinctures from leaves are made for a diuretic and flowers are made into salves or beauty products to treat acne/eczema and to reduce inflammation. About dandelions being diuretics - the name dandelion comes from the french name dentdelion (tooth of the lion) but there’s actually a second French name, “pissenlit”, which means piss the bed !!

luck/wishes, communication, balance, courage, youth

Daisy- Daisies are low-growing flowers with thin, long, white petals and yellow disc florets (middles). Common daisies are edible, these are really found growing anywhere even in your lawn. Leaves can be used in salads or stir-fries and flower heads can be pickled or used in salads. Wines, soups, and teas are also commonly made from daisies. The flowers have a slightly bitter taste but look pretty in dishes. Daisies have been used in teas for coughs, bronchitis, and common colds. It's also been used to "stimulate the digestive system" to promote appetite. Daisies have been into lotions and other skincare products to treat rashes, eczema, and other skin issues. Daisies came to be associated with love and motherhood through it being the flower of Freya, innocence/purity through the story of Vertumnus and Belides where the flower gets its scientific name, and purity the popular phrases like “fresh/clean as daisies”.

Happiness, cleansing, love, purity (cleansing), motherhood/childbirth

Feverfew- Feverfew are daisy-like flowers with bright yellow middles and white petals, with yellow-green leaves in a feathered arrangement, that grow in small bushes together. Feverfew is edible but many will steer clear of it as it has a very bitter taste. It’s often made into teas and used in pastries. Although feverfew isn’t used to reduce fevers anymore, there are still many health benefits and medicinal uses of the plant, some people even calling it ‘medieval aspirin’. People will take feverfew pills or apply a poultice to relieve pain from arthritis and inflammation. A poultice can also be applied to minor cuts, scrapes, and bug bites. Teas can be made for headaches and some use it to help with menstrual pain. Feverfew is also known to show some skin benefits by reducing redness and inflammation. Feverfew may increase bleeding as it acts similar to an anticoagulant, because of this it is advised that if you are taking a blood thinner like aspirin, Dabigatran (Pradaxa), Heparin (Innohep), or others, you talk to your doctor before taking feverfew. This plant has more medicinal uses than references in mythology but I did find a few references to it being believed to be able to save the life of someone that had fallen from the Parthenon, a temple to Athena, which gave it the scientific name parthenium.

Healing, curse-breaking, love

Lesser celandine- Also known as pilewort or sometimes fig buttercup. Pilewort is a plant on the buttercup family that has dark, heart-shaped leaves and bright yellow flowers with glossy petals. Despite its pretty exterior, touching the plant could cause rashes or blistering especially when the plant is crushed. Ingesting the plant can cause dizziness, vomiting, and worse. While there may be ways to cook out the toxins, I cannot advise anyone to consume this plant without proper experience. This plant is also known as the spring messenger as it's one of the first plants to bloom in the spring. Lesser celandine was referenced a lot in literature, most being about love and foreshadowing happiness alike how it signals spring.

Joy, love, Spring associated magick

Maple seed pods- Maple seeds, also known as helicopters or samaras, are the seed of maple trees, as one would assume. These are winged pods consisting of a papery tissue surrounding a single seed that is usually joined together in pairs of two. The seeds are edible once the outer covering has been removed and taste better while young, becoming bitter as they mature. Some say that smaller pods taste sweeter and larger ones taste more bitter. They're good in roasts, stir-fries, and salads. They can also be dried and pounded into flour ! Much of what we know about maple seeds are simply culinary and there's not much information on their medicinal uses. The majority of the correspondences of maple seed pods come from maple trees which represent balance and longevity. They also are associated with childhood after the many many years of children playing with these helicopter-like seeds.

Longevity, growth, balance, youth

Mulberries- Mulberries come in three different colours which are red, white, and black. Different mulberries grow on different mulberry trees. Black mulberry trees have an orange-y-toned bark with toothed, heart-shaped leaves. White/red mulberry trees have a greyish bark with large, deeply lobed, oval-shaped leaves. Mulberries look very similar to blackberries but longer with each cluster of fruit containing a seed. Mulberries are edible, black ones taste the best and can be both sour and sweet and the white/red ones are duller in flavour but sweet. These are made into jams, syrups, wines, sweets, sorbets, really anything sweet and it tastes great ! These berries are more known for their culinary uses but some studies suggest that they can help reduce cholesterol and improve digestion. In Greek/Babylonian mythology, red mulberries came from white mulberries that were stained red from the deaths of the star-crossed lovers Pyramus and Thisbe which gave them the association of love and death.

Love, death, faith, wisdom

Osage oranges- Also known as horse apples or hedge apples. Osage oranges are a yellow-green fruit with a very rough and bumpy peel. These oranges grow on trees called Maclura pomifera. The wood of these trees are used for very good firewood and yellow-green dyes. The Osage natives would use the wood from the tree for many things like bows and boats as it’s very flexible. The roots of the trees are sometimes made into water infusions to help with eye conditions. People have also used the wood, or even sat out the fruit, to deter insects. Osage oranges are edible but most people, and even animals, will avoid eating them due to their dry and bitter taste. They taste like very bitter and citrus-y cucumbers. These oranges can cause skin irritation to some.

Warding, protection, strength

Pinecones- Pinecones are geometric cones that come from conifer pine trees that produce pollen or seeds depending on their sex. Pinecones symbolize fertility and life in many cultures and have been used in artwork for centuries. The pineal gland in the brain was named after pinecones because of its shape, this gland is sometimes referred to as the “third eye” and some believe that it acts as a witch’s eye would; this is how pinecones were tied to the idea of enlightenment and rebirth as well as the fact that they have been around for so long. Some conifer cones are edible (some aren't!) but they are very tough to chew so you must boil them before eating, pinecone jam has been commonly made from young cones. Pine has been used in teas, tinctures, resins, and many other things to treat coughs, allergies, and help with sinus infections.

Fertility, creativity, prosperity, enlightenment, rebirth

Prickly lettuce- a quite tall, red stem that contains latex with large tooth-shaped leaves that have prominent veins and spikes lining its edges and main vein on its underside. When it blooms it has small, pale yellow flowers. This plant is edible and is pretty much used like normal lettuce while having a slightly bitter taste, as usual, this gets less noticeable as it matures. Leaves can be eaten in salads or cooked/steamed and the root can be made into a tea. The latex substance that comes out of the leaves and stem when injured is called lactucarium which is known as lettuce opium due to its sedative and pain-relieving properties; the process of harvesting this substance is tedious. This can be used to help people sleep, relax, and relieve pain. Lettuce in general has a great amount of significant historical usage. Lettuce came to be associated with sex because an Egyptian fertility god, Min, was associated with lettuce as it was known as an aphrodisiac that was ritualistically ingested before sex. These effects were due to the lactucarium. In Hellenism, when Adonis died he was laid on a bed of lettuce along with other fast-growing plants. In festivals for him, they would burn withered lettuce and mourn his death, this related lettuce to death.

Necromancy, offerings for the deceased, fertility, sex

Queen Anne's Lace- Also known as wild carrot. A tall flowering weed with a thin, stiff stem and tiny white, clustered flowers. The flowerhead consists of a bunch of separate flowers, some plants may have a singular purple/pink flower. Queen Anne's lace's root is edible which is actually where it gets the names wild carrot and Daucus Carota, it's good steamed and boiled. It is pretty stringy and if you wait too long to harvest it can become very hard and woody. This plant is NOT safe to consume for those who are pregnant ! The stem is known to cause skin irritation and rashes to people with sensitive skin. Despite being edible, most wouldn't suggest eating it because it looks almost identical to poison hemlock which if consumed could be fatal. It also looks a ton like wild celery but that's less of an issue. Historically, the seeds of wild carrot were used as an abortant in a "morning after pill" type of way. Wild carrot was named Queen Anne's Lace after Queen Anne of England who was a great lace maker, there is a legend that when making lace one day she pricked her finger then a single drop of blood fell on it and that's why the flower has a single purple flower. Because of the association to Queen Anne, some would use it to try to attract love or make themselves look more beautiful. Wild carrot is also called bird's nest or the bishop's flower which ties it to themes of safety and sanctuary.

Beauty, love, glamours

Rosebay willowherb- Also commonly known as fireweed for its appearance or bombweed because it began to heavily grow in bomb craters/sites in WWII around the UK. The rosebay willowherb has tall reddish stems and willow-like leaves with long magenta flowers. Traditionally it's been used in teas, jellies, and salads. It has a pretty bitter taste so you need to harvest it young and cook it before eating. It's used in teas for its demulcent properties, to treat certain stomach conditions, and has been used in skincare because of its astringent properties. There’s not much folklore about this plant but it’s well known for appearing after events that devastated an area, it was one of the first plants to start growing after Mt. St. Helens, after colonizers burnt down forests, and after bombs dropped in WWII. I’ve also heard it’s bad luck to pick its flowers, either stating that a storm will occur or your mother will fall ill.

Courage, perseverance, change, bad luck

Stinging nettle- tall, heart-shaped, toothed leaves. The leaves are covered in small stinging hairs that when touched will inject chemicals into one's skin and cause slight stinging sensations. Young stinging nettle has widely been used in dishes as soaking/cooking it takes away the sting. It is very similar to spinach in taste, texture, and nutrients. Ointments are made to treat arthritis and inflammation, teas are made from dried leaves and flowers to treat allergies and hayfever. Poultices of the leaves were used for stiff joints and muscle pain by helping blood circulation in that area. Be wary of using stinging nettle on your skin as it can cause rashes and blisters. Some Native American groups used it in teas as a stomach tonic. In Celtic folklore, it was said to keep evil spirits and illness at bay, it also says that when you see thick strands of nettle it means that faeries are nearby.

Binding, protection from baneful magick and evil spirits, strength, curse breaking

Sweetgum seed pods- Also known as witch’s burrs or witch balls. Sweetgum seed pods are hard, spikey seed pods with small holes where the seeds once were. These fall from sweetgum trees after they mature and disperse their seeds. These aren’t edible nor really used for any medicinal purpose. They’re often placed around plants to protect them from animals. Magickally, you can place them around your space to ward off unwanted energies and entities or even grind them into a powder for banishing or protection. These things hurt like hell to step on so they’re also good to use in baneful protection magick, like baneful wards or return to senders.

Protection, warding, binding, baneful protection

Violet- There are many species of violets so I'm going to cover them in a broad sense. Violets are usually small, light purple flowers with short stems, little shrubbery, and heart/kidney/scalloped leaves. In many species of violet both the leaves and flowers are edible and contain high levels of vitamins A and C, but make sure to properly identify your plant before consuming. These can be made into teas, sweets, salads, etc. Violet syrup is my favourite ! Some leaves in wild violets will taste quite soapy, so try them out before cooking them into anything. Violet leaves have cooling and anti-inflammatory properties so they are used in poultices, salves, compresses, and oils for scrapes, burns, and bug bites. Violets have traditionally been used in teas or tonics for coughs and swollen lymph nodes. There is a lot of folklore and mythology that this flower is a part of. Violets are largely associated with modesty and innocence and this stems from two main stories; Persephone was said to be picking violets when Hades kidnapped her to live in the underworld and in Greek mythology when Apollo pursued a nymph, Artemis/Diana turned her into a violet to protect her. There are also stories in The Bible that associate violets with modesty like when Archangel Gabriel tells Mary she is pregnant, violets bloom around her. This is why sometimes when a child dies, violets are put on their grave as a representation of their innocence. There are many other popular stories of violets turning to tears when someone is crying. They’re also associated with love from a story of Venus and Cupid and were believed to be an aphrodisiac in the Middle Ages.

Femininity, respect, wisdom, modesty, divination, love

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊

Disclaimer !!: Before you consume or use a plant medicinally, make sure you are 100% sure on the ID. Speak with a doctor before using a plant, especially if you’re pregnant, and make sure you aren’t allergic and that it won’t interact with any of your medications. Do not substitute legitimate medications with herbal remedies, this is not medical advice. Always do your own research before consuming or using a plant medicinally. Some of the plants, while generally safe for humans, are not safe for animals and children. As a general rule of thumb, younger greens will taste better. As the plant matures and bears fruit it will typically become more bitter, so the best time to harvest most of these is before it bears fruit. Make sure to avoid areas treated with pesticides and always wash your takings before use. And make sure you're never over-harvesting, always make sure there's another 'patch' of the plant your taking !!

#herbology #witchcraft #witchblr #foraging #herbalism #green witchcraft #kitchen witch #wildcrafting #occult #magick #grimoire #book of shadows #correspondences #kitchen magick #beginner witch #baby witch #witch #witch tips #noctifer-og

3K notes · View notes

headspace-hotel · 2 years

Note

I really like your posts about nature and plants. I live in a big city, and I would like to be more connected with the natural world around me, as limited as it may be. I wanted to ask if you might have any advice. So far I know a good portion of the types of trees, wildflowers, and birds. And I like to visit the parks and public gardens. But I would love to take steps to learn even more. What would you suggest? Thank you for your time :)

Once you know what some of the plants and animals are, you are in a good place to pay attention to what they do. What they teach. Their ways, their work. That sounds fanciful. It's not—they are not objects, things, they are creatures. Even plants have ways of living and growing, responding to their environment, and belonging to a community.

Pay attention to the plants that no one planted—the plants that popped up on their own. Pay attention to where they thrive and where they struggle. When you see a sad and frail plant, ask why is it sad? When you see a flourishing plant, ask the reasons for its success. Pay attention to their behavior.

This one creeps across the ground like a shaggy rug, and this one shoots up tall and straight. What does this mean?

When you see a plant growing in an unusual place, ask, How did it get here? Maybe it was the wind? Maybe it was water, or a bird?

Consider first the plants you see everywhere, in cracks in the pavement and in the seams between brick pavers. The brave dandelion, the tenacious goosegrass, the low-creeping spurge, perhaps. Maybe say hello. I say hello to plants. Become familiar with where they grow, their companions, and what hardships do them harm.

It takes repetition to notice how many living things are around you. Look again—there are more plants in the shoulder of the road or the little neglected patch of mulch than you could see before! (Hello, hello, hello, hello. Hello! hello!)

You will start to realize things. It will seem to fall out of the sky into your head. The apparent randomness of the plants that grow in the neglected places disappears. There is an elegance to the ways of weeds: some arrive first, and some come after their companions; some tolerate the harsh baking sun and some cling to shady crevices; some are found in only a specific place...and some are surprises you never would have expected.

Look closely at patches of grass and roadsides and parks, and sooner or later it will happen: Oh. That's not a weed or a wildflower...that's a baby tree.

I got started with growing plants by gently pulling them up from pavement at the shoulder of the road in my neighborhood. It took two months to figure out how to help them survive. The method I worked out was to punch holes in the bottom of red solo cups and use them as pots, keeping them outside in the shade of the Virginia creeper vine, elevated about 2 inches above the porch on some metal shelves I fished out of the trash. Their roots need to be moist, but they can't be soggy—good drainage is vital. I like to mix sand and half-rotted leaves in with their potting mix.

The red solo cup is about as small as you can go without exposing the roots to too much temperature and moisture change. You should not get the plant's leaves dirty or wet if at all possible—bring transplanted is quite a shock, and you can introduce rot and sickness at such a delicate time.

You don't have to grow any plants for yourself, but it is awfully tempting, because for the most part, no one can stop you. That's the thing that was so life-changing to me. Even in a highly controlled human environment, even amidst traffic, extreme conditions, and herbicides, the plants have not given up on us.

I didn't start in the woods, I started on the side of the road, paying attention to the tiny seedlings that were trying to return my home to forest. It was in the world of pavement and lawns that my first major realizations came—oh. Nature is on our side, fighting back. Nature has not left us. They are so brave and so, so tough, and we can take care of them.

And it is true that the diversity and robustness of the forest or the grassland or the bog or the canebrake is incredible compared to the human world, and it makes me sad how few of those incredible living things can survive close to our inconsiderate ways...but the straggling weeds and brave seedlings that emerge are typically here because they are the pioneer species. They are the first: they are adapted to begin the healing after destruction. Admire them for their bravery and aggression. I admire even the kudzu and Bradford pear, even though I also feel sorry for them and the other invasive species as I rip them out of the ground. It's like someone in a zombie movie pulling the trigger on a loved one who has turned, except the monster is even more clearly a result of our own folly.

I could write forever about this, but your journey is your own. Listen to them and they will show you. Behave contrary to the expectations of our world; view other life forms as your neighbors instead of mere objects.

This is the way to unlock the shackles of helplessness. You may think to yourself: Our world is dying, and I can't do anything to help. But you are not alone.

Notice, notice, notice how many more living things can live in the presence of a single tree, how the unkempt areas shelter and protect life. Notice where life is and where it thrives.

And you, a human, can be a caretaker too, protecting life where it reaches out to you. Oaks give you acorns and flowers give you seeds, trusting forces beyond their control to bring them to places where they can thrive. Wildflowers grow in the grass, asking nothing from us except mercy.

Hello Yarrow, who dressed the wounds of Achilles. Hello Dandelion, who resists annihilation, food for insects and humans. Hello Virginia Creeper, who shades my window, shelters my saplings from the sun, and feeds birds on their migration. Hello Pokeweed, giving us your brilliant pinks and purples as dyes, desperate food of the poor and enslaved. Hello American Burnweed, who sequesters atmospheric nitrogen polluting the air. Hello Frost Aster, breaker of cycles, surviving roadsides and lawns, blooming at the first frost with incredible abundance to feed the butterflies and bees. Hello Horseweed, first to evolve resistance to Roundup. Hello Crabgrass, ruiner of lawns, brought here by enslaved people as food.

The pioneer species make shelter for the others. They shade the ground, their scrubby growth catches the leaves and gathers them to rot over the winter, and their roots and dense foliage hold the slowly building topsoil in place and keep it moist. They are weeds, tough as nails and twice as mean. Many are useful, edible, medicinal.

Where plants grow without being planted, that is a sign that the ecosystem we are part of still works to restore it. We do not have to save the world all by ourselves. We have help. The rest of Nature has not abandoned us.

There is no clearly defined answer. It is a journey and a conversation. Listen, pay attention, ask questions of even the humblest little moss and bug and flower. They will teach you.

#nature #plants #plantarchy

893 notes · View notes

ivys-garden · 5 months

Text

Things Scottish children did that I'm sure Americans didn't:

● Tossing sticky willies (goosegrass) on your mates back

● Playing Curby and losing your ball

● gettin scolded for playing Chappy

● holding buttercups under your chin to see if you liked butter

● geting grass stains on your tweeds from rolling down hills

● climbing every single tree in a nine mile area

● rubbing butter on your ankles to ease the pain of a neetle sting

● deciding to walk along the very edge of the pavement, balancing on the edge

● climbing and walking along rock walls

● Playing kickball at an abandoned train station

● creating rock piles on the beach

● collecting sea glass

● Playing rounders at school

● actually know how to play the pokemon tcg

● haveing a school sports day, complete with the egg and spoon race, wellie boot toss, and sack/space hopper race

● actually enjoying playing in the rain

● looking forward to the annual school beach clean

● eating Spaghetti hoops out a can when sad

● understanding the fitness gram pacer test, the multi stage anaerobic tes-

#scotland #scottish #american #childhood #the fitness gram pacer test

70 notes · View notes

unkn0wnvariable · 7 months

Text

Covered in Cleavers

Masses of cleavers covering fallen branches on the woodland floor, in Southwick Wood.

0 notes

quiverpaw · 11 months

Text

they keep mentioning other plants like goosegrass and dog rose and honeysuckle. who taught the erins about inaturalist

#thunder spoilers

22 notes · View notes

drhoz · 2 years

Video

youtube

Rumput belulang or goose grass (Eleusine indica) is a species of plant in Poaceae, terrestrial, herbaceous, tufted, erect, has roots in nodes, grows in warm and wet areas, open in rice fields, gardens, roadsides and trails. E. indica has a horizontal to vertical stem base, flat to cylindrical, sturdy, branching to form a trident, green to brown. Fibrous and strong roots. The leaves are ribbon-shaped, green, pointed at the tip and a vein in the middle. The inflorescence at the end of the stalk is long, erect, cylindrical, green and firm. Bisexual flowers, arranged together at the terminal, green with invisible petals. Goose grass reproduces naturally using seeds.

#eleusine #goose grass #goosegrass

1 note · View note

treemaidengeek · 7 months

Text

Galium aparine aka cleavers, bedstraw, goosegrass, catchweed, stickyweed, velcro plant, & robin-in-the-hedge, is The Most Textured Plant. People either love it or hate it. When you run your fingers lightly up its leafy stems, its myriad tiny hooked hairs grab at your fingers in a way that is like velcro but soft, like the sticky side of tape but not tacky and without residue.

#botany #cleavers #bedstraw #galium aparine #tumblr polls

8 notes · View notes

paranormals-of-ilvermorny · 15 days

Text

Chapter 7

Wednesday the tenth was cool and crisp, which carried the promise of a chilly fall in the same breeze that carried prematurely dead leaves. Whenever there was a Quodpot game the same day as classes, it was always scheduled after the last bell rang, usually three o’clock. Unfortunately for Robin, that meant going the whole day with excitement running through her veins at the prospect of playing later. So, because she knows her best friend so well, Lorelei took it upon herself to make extra notes for Robin to copy later when her brain wasn’t off in the clouds flying on a broomstick.

The day was shaping up to be quite uneventful. That is, before Claire decided to throw any possibility of a good day out the window.

It happened in first period potion, just as Lorelei was stirring the cauldron of Mulberry milk, Goosegrass, and Sage making sure to not let the leaves burn. As she stirred and waited for the mixture to reach a simmering boil, Lorelei was busy thinking about the waffle she had for breakfast until some noise caught her attention. Looking across the classroom, Lorelei saw Claire and her friends surrounding Robin who was trying to mind her own business, finely cutting some dandelion root, but the frustration on her face was apparent. Looking into the still lukewarm pot, Lorelei charmed the wooden spoon to continue its ministrations while she stepped away for a moment.

“Or maybe its from too many drops to the head as a baby, and some blood got stained— oh hi Lorelei,” Claire said as she approached the table, her signature sneer making an appearance. “We were just telling Robin our theories as to how her hair got to be that ugly color.” Her two friends, Julia Talpin and Grace Gosling, laughed to show proof. “My favorite is her mom picking her from a carrot patch when she was born! Because who in their right mind would pick someone as dumb as her.” At the sound of the trio’s laughter, Robin slammed her hand onto the table out of pure aggression, clearly ready to snap.

Lorelei, needing to diffuse the situation before her friend gets sent to Boarwood Prison for the criminally accused. She placed her hands on Robin’s shoulders, massaging a bit to calm her down. “As grateful as we are that you decided to grace us with your presence this morning, Claire” began Lorelei, slowly helping a seething Robin to her feet and steering her back to their cauldron, “I think I speak for the entire school by saying we would have been happier contracting fungal worm plague.” Hearing Robin let out a quiet chuckle, Lorelei almost missed what her once friend said back.

“Well, at least my dad is still in a job. I don’t know if you can say the same thing, can you Lei?” She asked in a menacingly mocking tone. It wasn’t very easy to get under Lorelei’s skin, usually the one to bring others down like she just did for Robin. But, on the off chance a comment is made about her family, Lorelei can get mad. And right now, she was seeing red.

“What?” She asked Claire over her shoulder, impossibly calm. “You heard me, your Muggle dad got canned from his Muggle job. Time will tell, but my guess is it’s genetic.” Without thinking, Lorelei pulls out her wand and points it at Claire, finally getting her to shut up. Although fear was written on her face, it is soon replaced with a trying glance.

“You wouldn’t. Little Miss ‘I make every attendance’ is really gonna hex me? I’d like to see you try.” She remarked with a smirk, something Lorelei decided to mimic. “How are you gonna be able to see without eyes,” she muttered, a shocked yet somewhat excited Robin was able to hear, which only made her want to watch what happened next even more. But, for better or worse, before the tip of her wand could even ignite Professor Teagarden was walking over to diffuse the situation.

“Ladies, ladies, what is going on here?” The older woman asked, apprehensive yet still trying to maintain her role as teacher. Unfortunately for the professor, her question only made the girls erupt into five different voices trying to tell her what happened, each with different stories. In the end, she didn’t follow a word of it. “Alright!” She said, effectively stopping all five girls’ ranting, “Why don’t we do this? Claire,” she asked, looking at the dark haired girl, “will you please apologize to Robin and Lorelei for interrupting their potion making?” With a roll of her eyes, she gave an unenthusiastic apology, which Professor Teagarden found adequate. “And Lorelei,” she questioned, turning to the other side, “were you really going to hex Claire?” With a huff, Lorelei gave a begrudging ‘no’ which seemed to be the right answer. “Well then, I hope this doesn’t happen again or there will be consequences. Now, you girls go your separate way so you don’t cause each other any more trouble.” The professor stated, her voice laced with an authority that she rarely ever used.

Lorelei and Robin left the nauseating trio to go back to their cauldron, providing ample space between them. After a moment’s silence while Lorelei stirred the mixture, she said, “I like your hair. It shines gold in the sun.” As she picked up her minced dandelion roots, Robin responded. “Thanks. And I know your dad is a hard worker, he gets it from you.” This caused Lorelei to laugh, a feat not easily done after such an intense fracas. She doesn’t know how Claire found out about her father and his job, but it probably has something to do with what her mom does for work.

For the rest of class the girls went back and forth sharing their theories as to how Claire got to be so vile and dumb enough that she couldn’t even turn her cauldron’s burner on, somewhat brightening their moods.

Finally, it was three in the afternoon and the first Quodpot game of the year was moments away from beginning.

From where she sat, Lorelei could see the starting circle a little farther down and the scoring circle that contained the pot. She was sitting next to Poppy and Jordan on her left, and Quinn on her right, atop one of the two viewing stadiums. The stadiums were the best places to see the game, and safest due to how high up the seats are, and that they are located behind the pot containing the enchantment potion. So if the Quod goes off, the students and faculty are safe.

The rules of Quodpot are simple: there are two teams, seven players on each, and players have to pass the Quod to each other all the way across the field from the starting circle until a player throws it into the pot before it explodes By making it into the pot, that team gets a point, and a new Quod is brought onto the field. The first team to reach ten points or lose all players wins, but no points are lost if the new Quod explodes, the only caveat is the player who was in possession of the Quod when it exploded must leave the field until half time. And to make it even harder, all of this is done on flying broomsticks. As mentioned, Robin is an esteemed chaser for the Thunderbirds, although she is known to be a backup chaser if the need arises. She’s one of the best the school has ever seen, getting numerous trophies and awards etched in her name, along with her signature move dubbed The Copper. Lorelei can attest that all she wants to do when she finishes school is to try out for the National Quodpot League and join her favorite team, the Williamsburg Wyverns. The only way Robin was able to pass last year’s final history exam was by remembering the only death in professional Quodpot was also the same year Wizarding Britain chose Lorcan McLaird as Minister of Magic.

As the school waited for the teams to make their entrances, Lorelei was sending a mental message to Robin hoping for a good and safe game. Just as she finished the well wishes, the voice of Grant Rook could be heard throughout the entire field thanks to the Sonorus charm.

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IN HONOR OF THIS AFTERNOON’S QUODPOT GAME GIVE US A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR COMPETING TEAMS!” His enthusiasm for his job as speaker of the Quodpot matches definitely showed through his performance. “LETS FIRST HEAR IT FOR THE THUNDERBIRDS!!” As he announced the team the loud sound of music could be heard around the arena. All eleven players, including Robin, flew out and around the field while pumping their fists and pretending to raise the roof as their chosen song continued. After a little while of them flying around, all players lined up midair so they could face their opponents. “AND NOW,” continued Grant, “MAKE SOME NOISE FOR THE WAMPUSES!!” Just like the team before the flying players swooped in and around the stadium, some even flying low to high-five a few audience members.

When the two teams finally faced each other, the flying instructor Professor Catkin flew between them and went over the rules. “Remember, no grabbing another player's broomstick or body part, that is an immediate penalty.” She told them with a stern expression and voice. “No crossing the boundary, fly as high as you need to but keep in mind the fall. Goalies,” she stated, and both goalies flew forward a bit, “you know you can’t leave the scoring circle, but again, fly as high as you want. Are we ready?” She asked both teams, getting nods and grunts of agreement. Then, from her pocket the professor pulled out a Sprinkle to flip heads or tails. The Wampuses chose heads while the thunderbirds chose tail, and the professor flipped the coin up into the air, catching it in and revealing it on the back of her other hand. “THUNDERBIRDS GO FIRST!” She yelled into the air, the stadium going crazy to the news.

The first Quodpot game of the season about to begin, it felt great to be back at school for Lorelei and Robin.

The game was set, waiting for Professor Catkin to charm the Quod and thus beginning the first round of the day’s game. With adrenaline running through her, Robin was ready to go at the drop of a hat, but you would never be able to tell from her extremely calm demeanor.

At the ready, Professor Catkin pointed her wand at the Quod, a round leather ball with three large divots resembling the Quaffle in the British game Quidditch. “Ready?” She was met with nods, all seven members had their eyes on the Quod. “GO!” Without wasting any time, Professor Catkin casted ‘Bombarda’ onto the ball, and the players were off.

Flying fast and high, a seventh year Thunderbird player had the Quod in their possession first, quickly flying through and around the various Wampus players that were trying to distract them. As they continued to fly their way to the pot, a Wampus player sufficiently blocked their way, but luckily a fellow Thunderbird was open for a pass.

“AMAZING! MAYWEATHER TAKES THE QUOD FROM COIL MIDAIR! NOW HE RACES TO THE POT, OOOH RAMMED BY BOLTON! AND HE DROPS THE QUOD! BUT WAIT, WHAT’S THAT?”

As the simmering Quod fell quickly to the ground, flowing strawberry hair could be seen chasing it gaining speed. Like magic, Robin catches the Quod right before impact, and whizzes to the pot. “AND…AND…SHE’S DONE IT! COPPER SCORES THE FIRST GOAL OF THE YEAR!!” The crowd cheered wildly for the goal, an out of breath Robin reveling in the short lived victory, knowing there would be many more to come.

With the now extinguished Quod sizzling away in the pot, two pukwudgies came running out to carry the pot away, add a new potion, and bring out a new Quod, all while the Wampus team players got ready for their turn at scoring a goal. All seven players surrounded the Quod, ready to be enchanted by Professor Catkin, ready to even the score.

“Ready? GO!”

“HERE WE ARE, 4:15 ON A SEPTEMBER WEDNESDAY, AND THE SCORE IS NINE TO EIGHT, WITH THE THUNDERBIRDS IN THE LEAD. THEY HAVE TWO CHANCES TO WIN, UNLESS THEY MAKE IT TO THE POT. WHAT A WAY TO START THE YEAR!”

The summer sun has made a good backdrop for the afternoon’s game, a last kiss goodbye from the summer that passed. So far, like Grant had just announced, the Thunderbirds were leading by one point and only needed one more to win. They either had to score a goal during this next round, or keep the Quod in the team’s hands long enough for it to explode, which has only happened twice all game. Once was when poor Connor Balton had his glasses knocked off so he couldn’t tell who was on his team or not when the Quod exploded on him. The other occurred when Robin's teammate Madeline Coil was blocked by six of the Wampus defenders, practically forming a barrier around her, the Quod exploding. The blow to both players wasn’t too bad, Madeline getting hit worse, but Nurse Darling was on the sidelines ready to bandage them up.

Grant had commented on the injuries and various plays that were made, like when team captain of the Wampus’s carried the Quod in his legs like a bird, or when a sixth year Thunderbird faked an opponent out by throwing the Quod up high only to catch it feet below and drop it into the pot. Lorelei had paid little attention to when Robin would go on and on about what the game plan was, she was too focused on writing her herbology essay. What she does vaguely remember is that the finishing move had Robin carrying the Quod from start to finish, with her other teammates playing defense to any interfering Wampus’. All Robin had to do was hold on tight and fly as fast as lightning.

The seven Thunderbirds surrounded the starting circle, exactly as before, with Professor Catkin holding the yet-to-be enchanted Quod. Up above, Lorelei could spot the several Wampus players flying around waiting to strike when the moment came, like vultures surrounding prey.

As the professor gave the go, Robin took the Quod and flew incredibly fast, almost a blur of navy and rusted hair. The crowd cheered and applauded, with the opposing stands cheering on the Wampus’ hoping for a victory, or at the very least a tie. With Robin getting closer to the pot, and the Thunderbirds mercilessly blocking the Wampus players, it looked like she was in the clear for the winning score. People were standing now, jumping and screaming for Robin to go faster, faster.

But something happened, something caught Robin’s eye out of the corner of her vision. From where she was, flying close to the ground, she started to slow down making the stadium yell louder at her to go faster. To her left, she could see the edge of the forest that surrounded the school’s pitch, but there was something more than just trees lurking there. A figure, fairly large from where she could see, but very dark in contrast to the brown and green of the trees around it. The figure almost looked like what a child might believe to be a monster in the dead of night, only to discover the monster was an old coat hung on the front door. But this was no hanging coat, or even a lack of afternoon sun, for as Robin continued to look a bit too long, the dark figure ran back into the woods.

It happened so quickly, with sweat in her eyes and adrenaline in her veins, but Robin was sure of what she saw.

Robin and her broom were now fully stopped, a mere five feet away from the pot. The screams of the crowd were deafening, even more so when Gale Waterhouse was able to evade the Thunderbird blocking him off and flew down fast to Robin. Noticing the large figure steadily approaching she realized where she was and what she was holding. With the very last drops of her focus and energy, Robin soared to the pot with the Quod practically jumping in her arms.

“AND……SHE MAKES IT!! AFTER CLEARING HER HEAD OF THEEBLES, ROBIN MAKES THE GOAL! THUNDERBIRDS WIN, TEN TO NINE! WHAT A GAME!”

The whole stadium erupted in cheers and applause, hollering their heads off at the victory. Likewise, the entire Thunderbirds hopped off their brooms and ganged up on Robin, hugging her and patting her on the back. Lorelei too clapped her hands until she couldn’t feel them anymore, thinking of how she’ll have to ask Robin what made her slow down and almost lose the game.

Wednesday night, and everyone was gathered in the dining hall for a delicious feast of potatoes, sausage, and green beans. The whole room had the echoing of what a perfect game it was, and how the Wampus’ will take the win against Pukwudgie in a few weeks to make up for the loss.

Even Lorelei, who wasn’t much of a sports fan, magical or not, couldn't stop chattering to Poppy and Jordan about the amazing plays. “Oh,” said Jordan around a mouthful of potatoes, “and when that Wampus got around that Thunderbird and went after Robin! Wow! I actually held my breath for a minute, I thought they were a goner for sure.”

“Ugh can you please chew your food before speaking, I’m losing my appetite.” Poppy declared to Jordan who was filling his plate with more potatoes and gravy. Turning to Robin she then asked, “Hey, what kept you stalled up from making the goal? Did you see a bee or something?”

Robin, who for most of the meal was unusually quiet, looked up from where she was slowly eating her green beans to answer. “Uh, yeah. Just a bee, didn’t wanna get stung on my nose ya know?” This seemed to be enough for Poppy, who went back to telling Jordan how he can’t inhale his food unless he wants to receive CPR from a Pukwudgie.

Lorelei took notice of her friend’s quiet nature, and decided to gently check in. “You okay? You’ve never gotten a win against Wampus without verbally berating them for hours afterwards.” She commented.

With a nervous look on her face, Robin decided to put her trust into Lorelei. “When I was flying towards the goal,” she said, dropping her voice causing Lorelei to lean in, “I saw something out of the corner of my eye. It was like a black figure, tall enough to almost reach the tree’s pine needles.” The tree’s surrounding the school didn’t have branches that sprouted until about six feet above ground. This caused Lorelei to stop eating and look her friend in the eyes, only to find the same weariness and confusion her voice held. “I think there’s something living in the woods.”

#ilvermorny #autumn #harry potter #harry potter fanfiction #harry potter hbo #hogwarts legacy #wolfstar #harry x draco #james x regulus #remus x sirius #witchblr

2 notes · View notes