#Hardiness Zone 7

[thetreecareguide]

Large Trees for Large Zone 7 Landscapes

Need help choosing a massive tree species for your large landscape? Knowing which tree species grow to larger proportions will help you fill vast areas of your landscape with shaded recreational areas.

thetreecareguide.com gathered species, planting, and care information for some of the more massive trees hardy to large zone 7 landscapes.

1. Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica)

Weeping willows are recognized for their long, drooping branches and delicate leaves. They are typically found near fresh-water sources, as they have a strong affinity for moisture and thrive in damp soil. The weeping willow’s growth rate is fast, with new growth appearing each year. They can reach a mature size of 40 to 50 feet in height and spread, with a broad canopy that provides significant shade.

Weeping willows are hardy in USDA zones 6 through 8 and are easy to care for. They require consistent moisture to thrive, so they should be watered regularly. This tree species benefits from fertilization in the spring and pruning in the winter to maintain shape and encourage healthy growth. The weeping willow is a stunning addition to any large landscape and offer a peaceful, calming presence with their gentle sway in the breeze.

2. Ginkgo Biloba (Ginkgo biloba)

Ginkgo Biloba trees or Maidenhair trees are a unique and ancient species that can live for over a thousand years. They are easily recognized by their fan-shaped leaves turning bright yellow in the fall. These trees have a moderate growth rate and can reach a mature size of 80 feet high and a 50-foot spread. They are hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8 and are tolerant of various soil types as long as they are well-drained.

Ginkgo Biloba trees require minimal care and maintenance, ideal for low-maintenance landscapes. They prefer full sun to partial shade and should be watered regularly. They do not require fertilization, but occasional pruning will help maintain their shape and promote healthy growth. Ginkgo Biloba trees are prized for their medicinal properties (the foliage is believed to have beneficial effects on memory and cognition).

3. American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)

American Beech trees are a beautiful and stately deciduous species native to eastern North America. They have a slow to moderate growth rate and can reach a mature size of 70 to 80 feet in height and spread. They are hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9 and prefer well-drained soil rich in organic matter.

Beech trees need minimal care and maintenance once established. They prefer partial shade to full sun and should be watered regularly. They thrive from an annual compost application around the tree’s base. Pruning is typically only necessary to remove dead or diseased branches. Beech trees are highly valued for their attractive foliage, which turns a golden brown in the fall. They are also an important food source for birds and small mammals.

4. Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

Magnolia Grandiflora trees or Bull Bay are a stunning evergreen species native to the southeastern United States. They are known for their immense, fragrant white flowers blooming in the summer and their glossy, leathery leaves remaining green year-round. They have a moderate growth rate and can reach 60 to 80 feet in height and spread at maturity. They are hardy in USDA zones 7 through 9 and prefer well-drained soil rich in organic matter.

Magnolia Grandiflora trees require minimal care and maintenance once established. They prefer full sun to partial shade and should be watered regularly. They do not require fertilization, but occasional pruning will help maintain their shape and promote healthy new growth. Magnolia Grandiflora trees are highly valued for their ornamental beauty and are often used as specimen trees in landscaping.

5. Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)

[caption id="attachment_693" align="aligncenter" width="610"]

Photo by Sue Lowndes[/caption]

Black walnut trees, or Juglans nigra, are a large and long-lived species native to eastern North America. They are known for their valuable wood and edible nuts, which have a distinctly rich buttery flavor. They have a moderate to fast growth rate and can reach 70 to 100 feet with a 50 to 75-foot spread at maturity. They are hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9 and prefer well-drained, moderately fertile soil.

Black walnut trees require minimal care and maintenance once established. This tree species prefers full sun to partial shade and should be watered regularly. They benefit from an annual compost or organic fertilizer application around the tree’s base. Pruning is typically only necessary for dead or diseased branch removal. Black walnut trees are highly valued for their wood, used for furniture, flooring, and other applications.

Large Trees for Vast Landscapes

In this article, you discovered species, growing, and care information for some of Zone 7’s largest tree varieties for your vast, empty landscape.

Identifying larger trees to help you add dimension and interest to your landscape will give you more shaded areas and potentially increase your home’s curb appeal.

Without larger trees in your landscape, you will have excess barren areas unprotected from the sun’s harsh rays and violent weather.

Sources: trees.umn.edu/weeping-willow-salix-alba snr.unl.edu/data/trees/identification/basictree.aspx?sid=65 uky.edu/hort/American-Beech plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/magnolia-grandiflora/ nfs.unl.edu/woody-plants/black-walnut

For the original version of this article visit: https://www.thetreecareguide.com/large-trees-for-zone-7-landscapes/

[pwnflora]

What are the Most Hardy Vegetable to Grow in Winter

Growing vegetables in winter can be challenging due to cold temperatures, reduced sunlight, and potential frost damage. However, some vegetables are hardy enough to withstand these conditions and can be grown successfully in winter. Here are some of the hardiest vegetables to grow in winter: Kale – Kale is a cold-hardy vegetable that can tolerate temperatures as low as 20°F (-6°C). It also…

[records-of-dirt]

Create Your Own Soil Profile!

A garden’s soil is the base of all its growth, and knowing how to properly  interact with your soil can make all the difference!

Step 1 Site Observations

Take a few photos of your site (project area)

Note down:

what vegetation is there?

is it near water?

the slope

approximate exposure to sun

Step 2 Take a soil profile

Set out a tarp or a garbage bag

Dig a hole about 3 feet deep (you may want a friend’s help!)

Place that soil in piles onto the tarp, sorted into different soil layers

Remember horizons! (O, A, E, B, C, R(bedrock))

Make a sketch of a soil profile, and measure the depth of each horizon

The top of the profile should start with 0 cm

Refill the hole, and try to return each type of soil in order!

Step 3 Build your profile

Describe each layer of soil, moisture/structure/color/smell

Use the “feel” method to take notes

Step 4 Drainage

Dig a hole 1 foot deep and 1 foot wide(ish)

Fill the hole with water and measure how long it takes to fully drain

An ideal time is around 10 to 30 minutes!

Note down the time

Keep in mind that even if the soil type would suit desert-like plants more, think of the weather. If it rains a good deal the drainage can matter less(or more!)

Step 5 Biological Activity

Bury a pair of cotton underwear(I know it’s silly)

Wait about 60 days

Unearth the undies, the more tattered they are the more activity there is!

Step 6 pH Testing

OSU Lab for Oregon, and many states have soil testing labs

Soil pH Meter

DIY Test

Step 7 Hardiness Zone

This just takes looking at a map!

Hardiness zones can tell you about the weather’s highs & lows in a particular area

USDA Plant Hardiness Map

And that 's it! It's a lot, and you don’t have to do everything. Each step can provide a better view of how to properly support your garden, and can be fun activities to do with friends and family!

I’ve included a template for a complete soil profile, but feel free to make them as fancy as y’all want!

Sincerely,

records of dirt

[5-and-a-half-acres]

Snowdrops emerging in November. Good thing that they are so hardy as they will get through a zone 7-8 winter without a problem.

[megalony]

I Won't Allow It

This is a new Aegon Targaryen imagine, I hope you all will like it. I might do a follow up if anyone is interested.

Taglist: @lunaticspoem @butlegendsneverdie @langdonzvoid @jennyggggrrr @rogmeddows @radiob-l-a-hblah @rogertaylorsbitontheside @chlobo6 @rogertaylors-lipgloss @sj-thefan @omgitsearly @luckytrashgooprebel @scarsout @deaky-with-a-c @killer-queen-ofrhye @bluutac @vousmemanqueez-blog @jonesyaddiction @milanosaurus @httpfandxms @saint-hardy @7-seas-of-fat-bottomed-girls @mrsalwayswritex @rogerina-owns-me  @hellsdragon @im-an-adult-ish @crazylittlethingg @allauraleigh @onceuponadetectivedemigod @ceres27 @avyannadawn  @noonenuts @sleepylunarwolf @coverupps @justagirlthatlovedtoread

Masterlist

Summary: Aegon knows the risks of childbirth and is thrilled when (Y/n) sails through labour. But when she takes a bad turn, he doesn't know how to cope. He won't live without her.

Enjoy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With a quiet sigh, (Y/n) closed her eyes for a few seconds that felt like an eternity. She wished this meeting would come to a swift end, but she had an unsettling feeling that it was going to drag on for a long while yet.

This meeting had been going on for over an hour already and (Y/n) wasn't sure she could stay standing for much longer. There were no chairs in the great hall, every member of the council and public had to remain standing while every decree was read aloud and every misdemeanour was dealt with.

Out of everyone in the hall, (Y/n), Aegon, Aemond and Helaena were the most unamused of them all. The four stood close together, huddled in a line near Alicent and Otto, trying to be respectful without showing their dismay for the entire event. It wasn't joyous to be here, not like when they had jousting events out in the gardens, even hunting would be more preferrable to this.

Trying not to show her discontent, (Y/n) curled her hand around Aegon's bicep and gently pressed her lips against his shoulder.

Out of them all, her husband looked the most annoyed. He stood broad and confident enough with his shoulders squared and his hands clasped respectfully in front of him, but it was his expression that gave away his annoyance. His lips were curled into a grimace, his eyes were zoned out and his tongue was pressed up against his cheek. He wasn't listening, he hadn't been listening after the first ten minutes.

But when he felt (Y/n) nuzzling her face into his shoulder and her delicate fingers held onto his arm, his grimace unfolded into a soft smile he saved just for her. He let his shoulders slack and loosened the tension in his arms so she could wrap herself around him like a vine.

He turned his head and kissed (Y/n)'s temple, breathing in her scent that was as distracting to him as her beauty.

Aegon stayed like that for a while with his head turned away from the court business and his lips relaying a constant kiss against his wife's forehead. He liked the way she was leaning into him and the feel of her protrouding stomach pressing into his side.

If this meeting carried on for much longer, Aegon was going to walk out. He didn't like them at the best of times, but he certainly didn't like the fact that his very pregnant wife had to stand around for hours at a time and endure these dullish meetings. She was almost at full term and Aegon had told her to stay resting in their room but (Y/n) didn't want to be alone or parted from her husband.

She was still expected to attend these meetings as well and with the failing health of the King, they all needed to stay in good graces, (Y/n) included.

"Okay?" He whispered quietly, his lips mumbling against her skin while he moved one hand to rest against the back of her head, holding her close despite the very public audience.

"Hm," (Y/n) found herself nodding but she didn't quite believe herself and she knew Aegon didn't either.

She couldn't stand still, usually she had no problem standing in the hall and watching the meeting play out, especially with the extra weight on her stomach making her feel tired. But today, she couldn't stop fidgeting. Her lower back was constantly aching, her feet were throbbing and her stomach and pelvis were heavy and dull.

The maester had said that she would start to feel like this and she would have the fake contractions soon to prepare her for labour. She hadn't had them yet and figured this was the start of them. Any day now, they were going to meet their baby.

With Aegon smiling against her temple and his fingers knotting in her hair, (Y/n) felt a small wave of ease battle the discontent she felt inside, even if it was only for a moment or two. She could have whined when he slowly untangled his hand from her hair and went back to clasping his hands together against his front. He had to try and look a little regal and sophisticated in front of everyone.

Shifting his weight from his toes to his heels, Aegon slowly rocked back and forth, not enough for everyone to notice, but just enough for his mother to glance his way and feel Aemond's gaze burning into the back of his head. He was so desperately bored. Why did they all have to be here to witness this?

He continued to sway on his feet and took to looking up at the ceiling that seemed as high and distant as the stars in the midnight sky. But his shifting concentration snapped when he suddenly felt a weight on his chest.

His eyes shot down and he realised it was (Y/n)'s hand clenched around his leather tunic. Her grip was fearsome and her other hand dug painfully into his upper arm. In less than a second, Aegon could feel the buttons starting to undo and pop open from her force and when her knees bent out and she leaned over, she almost pulled him down to the ground.

Something resembling a buried growl left Aegon's lips when he flustered to curve his arms around his wife and hold her up so she didn't fall to the floor.

"What is it, what's wrong?" Aegon tried to keep his voice quiet enough so that only (Y/n) could hear him but it didn't stop others from noticing his struggle to keep his wife up on her feet and not the stone floor. He didn't like the way all the voices in the hall came to an abrupt stop when they noticed the shift in the atmosphere.

"I- I don't…" (Y/n) couldn't find any words. She didn't know what was wrong, all she could tell was that the burning in her stomach had suddenly shifted like she had been holding something heavy in her arms and now she'd dropped it.

"Aegon,"

His eyes flitted from his wife to his sister when Helaena leaned over and rested her hands gently on (Y/n)'s shoulders before she cast her eyes downwards. And when he followed her line of sight, he couldn't stop himself from smiling just the tiniest bit.

Her waters had broken.

By now, a few murmurs were cutting through the thick atmosphere but Aegon couldn't hear them. His ears were ringing, buzzing with excitement and relief. This meeting was over and more importantly, his and (Y/n)'s long wait was about to be over. Just a few more hours.

"Mother, can you alert the midwives please?" He was sure most of his family were relieved to postpone this meeting, even his mother, stood silent with her mouth agape, seemed like she wanted to smile despite herself. "Alright, let's get you upstairs," Pressing his lips against (Y/n)'s ear, Aegon tightened his arms around her before he carefully turned her to the side and made a slow but steady beeline for the exit.

Removing her hand from Aegon's tunic that was now partially exposing his chest, (Y/n) tried to straighten herself up a little when some of the tension lessened in her lower back. It was going to be a long, torturous walk back to their chambers from here.

When they were out of the hall and out of earshot, Aegon leaned down and pressed a kiss to the shell of (Y/n)'s ear.

"You have impeccable timing, my love."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Y/n) watched the midwife give a lasting, if disapproving look over towards Aegon before she excused herself from the bedroom, a bundle of used towels, sheets and cloths in her arms. It was clearly the first time the experienced midwife had delivered a baby with the father present in the room.

She had tried her best to discourage Aegon and get him to vacate into the adjoining sitting room but she had no such luck, on any of the times she told him.

He wasn't going anywhere.

There was no chance that Aegon would leave the room when there was a chance the worst nightmare of his life could happen. Being a disappointment to his family, his mother, didn't frighten Aegon, he had made peace with that demon long ago. Disappointing his father was much the same. The possibility of him taking the crown frightened him, and failing as a King worried him to no end.

But what petrified Aegon more than anything was the thought of losing (Y/n).

He wanted children, not just because it was seen as his duty to both the realm and his twisted family, but because he loved (Y/n) so much that another person to love like her made him think his life would be complete. Someone else to love him as unconditionally as (Y/n) did seemed unbelievable and Aegon wanted to be a far greater father than his own had ever been to him.

He was the son his father had always wanted, always yearned for, but that pride hadn't brought Aegon and his father close, no matter what happened. Aegon knew his child would be the light of his life.

He was afraid though, he didn't want to lose (Y/n) the way his father lost his first wife. He wanted (Y/n) to be like his own mother, strong and able to sail through childbirth with no problems or consequences or fatalities. And to soothe his petrified thoughts, Aegon simply had to be in the room from start to finish so he could reassure himself that (Y/n) was alright.

It didn't matter if everyone, his mother included, told him it wasn't right or fit for him to be in the room, he had to be there. And (Y/n) wanted him there, he needed no more approval than that to stay by her side.

With an arm circled around (Y/n)'s shoulders, Aegon nuzzled his face into the top of her hair and pressed his bare chest into her side. Over the evening and during the night, Aegon had become too warm with all the fussing from the midwives and from (Y/n) who had burned up something horrid during labour. He reduced himself down to his underwear in the early hours of the morning and was barely starting to cool back down.

He couldn't tear his eyes away from the bundle in (Y/n)'s arms. And he couldn't believe how well (Y/n) looked. Aegon hadn't seen any woman after the trials of labour, but a mere hour after giving birth, (Y/n) looked as well as he'd ever seen her. Colour had returned to her face, a smile was broad on her lips and despite the tiredness pooling in her deep eyes, they were almost sparkling.

Even laid there, half slumped into Aegon and propped up by thousands of pillows, (Y/n) looked like a goddess to Aegon. Despite the sheen of sweat that was vibrant on every inch of her skin or the way her silver hair was matted with sweat and clung to her neck. Even though she was still shaking from the after effects of giving birth, she looked truly stunning to Aegon.

When the bedroom door slowly crept open, Aegon's smile almost slipped from his face and he was ready to tell the midwife to leave, her duty was over. But his smile widened when he saw his mother slowly walking into the room, checking if it was alright or not for her to enter.

"How do you feel?"

(Y/n) leaned her head back on Aegon's shoulder, trying to fight the tiredness that was almost as strong as the shaking she felt.

She felt good. The shaking, the dull aches and throbbing pains were minimal compared to how elated she felt to be wrapped up in Aegon's arms with their daughter in her arms. As soon as she got some sleep, she would feel even better.

"Tired… would you like to hold her?" (Y/n) held her arms out when Alicent perched down on the edge of the bed and she could see tears in the Queen's eyes when a small bundle was rested in her arms.

"You've done wonderfully,"

Alicent couldn't help but sneak glances at her eldest every now and then. A few years ago, she would never have imagined Aegon would be happy and content in marriage or that he would be at his wife's side during her labours. From the troubled soul who drowned his sorrows in wine to the beaming son in front of her was a change like Alicent had never seen before.

A silent exchange passed between Aegon and his mother after a while when he could feel (Y/n) drooping against him and he noticed she was having trouble staying awake.

"I'll let you rest and pop by in the morning," She patted (Y/n)'s leg before carefully standing up, adjusting the newborn in her arms so she could settle her down in the crib at the foot of the bed. Wet nurse and nursery be damned, (Y/n) and aegon wanted their child as close as they could get her, she was staying in their chambers with them where she belonged.

When the door closed, Aegon shuffled down until he could burrow into the mountain of pillows. He spread his arms to allow (Y/n) to inch closer and lay herself over his chest with her arms bound to his waist and her face tucked into his neck before his arms coiled back around her middle.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aegon gave the door a quick shove until it clicked shut behind the maid who scuttled out of the room without needing to be dismissed verbally. All of the servants had come to realise that they would have to sweep in and out of the Prince's chamber quickly and efficiently. Their usually slow and tiresome tasks such as changing and making the bed and sweeping and generally tiding the chamber were not required for this week.

This was the one week where Aegon could actively and happily refuse every royal duty he was told to attend or perform. He wasn't attending any boring meetings, he wasn't going to training religiously like his brother, he wasn't seeing to state affairs or having the awkward meetings with his father.

For this week, or as long as he could possibly manage, Aegon was staying in his chamber with his wife and daughter and no one would even think to stop him. Even his mother was pleased he was staying put with (Y/n) whereas he thought she would have tried to force him back to normality straight away.

Adjusting the newborn in his arm, Aegon turned on his heels and slowly padded across the room towards the bedroom.

Seeing as how he wasn't leaving the room, all he had decided to wear was some thin loose bottoms. There was no need to be formal or dress up in his usual stiffling leather attire when he wasn't going anywhere or doing anything pressing. He could walk around his own room barefoot in his underwear if he liked.

A fondness spread across (Y/n)'s lips when she turned her head towards the door and saw a sight that swelled her heart. Her husband looked so natural and relaxed holding their daughter as if it was his life's purpose that he had been waiting for for years.

She liked the way his hair fell across his forehead but didn't hide his broad smile and she loved how he cuddled Daena against his bare chest and how the muscles flexed in his arms when he held her.

Fatherhood looked good on him.

"Are you hungry?" Aegon advanced over to the bed until he was stood between (Y/n)'s legs and he could kiss her temple.

When the maids came yesterday to bring breakfast they were stunned when Aegon took the tray from them and quickly dismissed them. For the rest of the day and today, they had learned to hurry in, set down the food on the table and leave. They didn't want to disturb the Prince and his lady.

He had been quite surprised yesterday that (Y/n) had woken feeling tired but refreshed and seemed to gather bounds of energy. He had walked the length of their bedroom more times than he cared to count, pacing around slowly but happily with (Y/n) in his arms when she needed to stretch her legs but couldn't walk unaided. It also surprised Aegon that (Y/n) was starting to get her appetite back when the midwife wrongly said (Y/n) would be run down and would likely eat very little in the upcoming days.

But (Y/n) was still feeling a little queasy so light meals and soup were on the menu for this week.

"Hmm, very." Leaning forward, (Y/n) held Aegon's hips and kissed his stomach just above his hips causing a shiver to run down his chest.

"Come along then," His voice was as gentle as his touch when he moved Daena into his left arm and coiled his other arm around (Y/n)'s waist to help her up. He loved the feel of both his girls in his arms and (Y/n)'s hands on his stomach and back and her lips on his collar bone.

He hoped this week never came to an end.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aegon let out a soft groan before he slowly unravelled himself from around (Y/n) when she started to fidget again. He rolled onto his back and reached his arm over to drape it across (Y/n)'s stomach until his hand coiled around her hip and he gave the flesh a soft squeeze. He wouldn't be able to sleep unless at least one part of him was touching her, whether that he his hand, his foot or even his leg. They just had to be touching.

Shuffling again, (Y/n) slowly heaved herself around until she was laid on her right side and she inched back until she was touching Aegon's chest and leg. His arm stayed wrapped around her and his hand moved absentmindedly in his sleep until his palm was flat against her stomach.

She thought she was finally falling back to sleep until the dull throbbing pain started up again and she smothered her face into the pillow to quieten her whimper.

(Y/n) had felt sick since early this evening but going to sleep had taken the unease away for a while. Even when she woke up to feed Daena and soothe the babe back to sleep, (Y/n) had felt better when she laid down. But now the ache was becoming more assertive and it wouldn't go away.

Her knees coiled up to her soft stomach and her arms bound to her chest, hoping that compressing herself would somehow make her feel better, but it didn't.

Maybe she should have listened to the midwife and taken things easier, not walk around the chamber as much or eat just little bites for the first week. Maybe the pain was because she had felt better to begin with and pushed herself too hard, but then again, (Y/n) didn't think she had done a lot. Aegon had been with her for the past three days, he helped her move around, he didn't let her leave the bed too much and told her to rest. He even picked Daena up from the crib and soothed her because he was so infatuated by her.

As soon as a sudden spike stabbed through (Y/n)'s stomach, she could feel tears welling in her eyes and a sob bubbled at the back of her throat.

It hurt. It was getting worse. Why wasn't it stopping?

Unravelling her arms from her chest, (Y/n) latched her fingers around her husband's upper arm and gave a sharp tug on his arm, jolting him closer to her to wake him up. Burning cries errupted past her lips and she could feel hot, sticky tears falling down the crease of her nose and coating her lips but she didn't care. She just wanted the pain to go away.

A hiss scraped past Aegon's teeth and he tensed when his arm started to burn. It took a moment for him to open his eyes and lift his head before he realised it was (Y/n)'s nails scraping down his arm that was causing him pain. She was drawing blood beneath her nails, she was digging in so hard.

"A-Aegon… oow, Aegon…"

"Love, what's the matter?" The urgency in his voice was crystal clear and he woke up with a start.

Pushing up on his elbows, Aegon sat up and twisted to the right so he could look down at (Y/n) and lean over her. He didn't like the way she was shaking or the grip she still had on his arm that she was scrunching and clawing at so badly that he couldn't feel his fingers anymore. He could see she had her eyes closed tight but her legs were digging into her stomach which he was sure couldn't be comfortable after giving birth only four days ago.

"Talk to me, what's wrong?"

"It hurts, really bad." He could hear the force in her voice and the way it quivered, she could barely speak from the pain.

"Alright love, shh. I'll get the Maesters."

Leaning down, Aegon pressed a chaste kiss to the top of her head before he slowly dragged his arm free of her viper grip and untangled himself from the sheets. He didn't know what to do first. He couldn't move from the shaking that overwhelmed him.

It took a few attempts for him to properly light the candles on the table to adorn the room with a golden glow and he grabbed the pants that were strewn on the chair near the window. He couldn't very well call for help in the nude.

He wished he didn't take another glance back at (Y/n) before he left the room. Now he could see the blood staining the bedsheets.

"Aegon slow down- tell me what's happening!" The urgency in his mother's voice only spiked the fear that was coursing through Aegon's blood. He tried to run down the corridor, pulling his mother along behind him until she was tripping over her night skirts and struggling to breathe from the panic.

He had woken her during the middle of the night by kneeling at her bedside and shaking her violently until she woke with fright, scaring her frail husband beside her. Now he was dragging her down the halls of the keep, presumably back to his quarters, and Alicent had no idea why.

"Is it Daena?"

Although Aegon always went to his mother when he was troubled, he had never come to her as frantic and bewildered as this. He had never had such rage, torment and panic in his violet eyes, not even when he was drowning his sorrows with wine.

"(Y/n), I-" Whatever he was about to say drowned out into a squeak when they reached the corridor that housed Aegon's chamber. He could hear his name from all the way down here. He could hear his wife screaming for him.

The two Maesters Aegon had alerted before waking his mother were already in the room and he bustled past them to scramble back on the bed beside his wife. With more candles across every inch of the room, Aegon could see her better and he could see how poorly she looked. Clammy, discoloured skin, trembling limbs that were coiling up to her stomach and a large circle of blood around her torso and legs.

He almost fell on top of her when he held his hand out and (Y/n) latched her fingers around it and wrenched his arm against her chest like she had done earlier. He tangled his free hand in her hair and shakily pressed his lips against her temple, trying to soothe her but he didn't know what was happening or what he could do.

"Aegon, sweetheart, I'll take Daena into the next room for a little bit while the Maesters work." Alicent could see the confliction on her son's face. He didn't want her to leave, he had woke her up and dragged her here because he needed help too, he needed to comfort (Y/n) but in turn wanted his mother to comfort him. She always told him it was going to be okay, she would hug him and quench his frivilous mind and her presence was calming.

But Aegon relented with a nod. He knew Daena was starting to wake and all the bustle and panic in the room would only disturb her. Alicent would be in the adjoining room only a few feet away if he needed her.

(Y/n) curled her arm around Aegon's neck, gripping his back tightly before she tugged on him and tried to sit up until he understood her silent plea. He swooped an arm around her waist and pulled her up so she could sit up and he took the liberty of inching closer so she could lean against his chest.

No sooner had one of the Maesters stood at (Y/n)'s side, did she reach out and snatch the empty bowl from his hands before promptly throwing up. Her throat burned, her stomach twisted into knots and heaved and it felt like she could barely breathe anymore. Her body was caught between crying and heaving and she choked between the two until everything she ate came back up with vengence and she could finally breathe again.

"What's wrong with her?" Aegon snapped his jaw like a dragon, barely able to see through the tears and the hair sticking to his face.

"It seems to be an infection from childbirth, your grace."

"Well fix it. Quickly!"

Tears burned down Aegon's face like poison soaking into his skin but he couldn't stop them. This was his worst nightmare, this is what he had feared for the past nine moons since finding out about (Y/n)'s pregnancy.

He wasn't willing to lose her like so many other men lost their wives in childbirth and he would not lose her from complications after birth. If (Y/n) died Aegon would die too. He had been reluctant to think or talk about labour because as much as he wanted a child, he didn't want to risk that it posed.

"D-don't leave me, please…" (Y/n) coiled her free arm back around her stomach to try and ease the pain but she pushed back into Aegon until she could feel every ridge of his skin glued against her.

She wouldn't get through this if he left her side.

"I'm not going anywhere, my love. Shh, I'm here." His lips nestled back to her temple and his arms cocooned around her middle, keeping her flush against his chest and their hands entwined together. He could feel how cold she was and he was determined to give (Y/n) his body heat and keep her safe and warm. There was no where Aegon could or would go, he couldn't be anywhere but here unless he wanted to drive himself insane.

"I'm scared-"

"I won't let anything happen to you, I swear it." He wasn't sure what was within his power, but Aegon would trade anything to the Gods if they saved (Y/n). He would give his life in exchange for hers if they asked it of him.

"Here your grace, drink some of this," One of the Maesters leaned close and held out a cup towards (Y/n) but she only groaned and shivered.

"What is it?" Aegon had to know exactly what they were trying to do and how they were planning on saving his wife. His world. His everything.

"Milk of the poppy, to ease the pain and let her sleep-"

Aegon had never heard (Y/n) scream as loud yet feebly as this. She writhed in his arms, shaking and pushing back until she was starting to hurt him because she could not get any closer to him but she still pushed and nudged until his body started to ache. Her nails began to scratch at his skin again and when she tucked her face into his neck, he could feel her raspy, wet breaths and her tears trickling down onto him.

"No. No I- I can't have it… Aegon, what if I d-don't wake up? Endless sleep, I- I don't want it."

(Y/n) cried until her throat went raw and her lungs burned for breath she couldn't seem to find. She could feel the heat radiating off of her husband and it seeped into her frozen body and soothed a small ache within her.

She didn't want milk of the poppy, it would take away the pain but it would also make her sleep. With how horrid she felt and the panic of everyone, (Y/n) knew she was close to death. If she went to sleep, she might not wake up from it. If she had to die, (Y/n) wanted to know when death came to possess her. She wanted to be awake and aware and have Aegon and Daena in her sights before she passed.

(Y/n) didn't want to die. Just the thought sent her body reeling and made her scream until Aegon was hushing and whispering in her ear and he started to rock her from side to side.

"You won't die, my love, I won't allow it. You don't have to have the poppy milk, shh, just calm down. I'm here, I'm not leaving you and you aren't going to leave me, are you now?" When (Y/n) slowly started to breathe instead of scream and her body settled in his arms, she heard him whisper. "There, now. Shh, I've got you."

When the ruckus and the panic in the room seemed to calm down and (Y/n)'s bleeding relented and was under control, Aegon was relieved to have his mother back in the room. She moved the cot to a quiet corner in the room so Daena could sleep before she sat on the other side of the bed.

"Ready, one, two…" Alicent wrapped her arms around (Y/n)'s front and carefully leaned her forward so Aegon could scoot behind her.

He laid back into the pillows with (Y/n) between his legs and her head on his shoulder, his arms tight around her waist to try and keep her warm. His mother wrapped two blankets around them both to help (Y/n) absorb some heat. Aegon didn't bat an eyelid at the heat that now consumed him or the light sweat that started to coat his skin, as long as (Y/n) was okay, he didn't care about anything else.

"Drink this, it will help clear the infection." Alicent pressed a cup gently against (Y/n)'s lips, relieved when she drank most of the remedy after being assured it wasn't milk of the poppy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aegon groggily opened his eyes and took a moment to gather his senses. Where was he, what was he doing, what was going on?

His back was throbbing horribly and he soon realised it was due to the way he was laid. His body was awkwardly slumped to the left on three uneven pillows and he was curved at the hip. Both his arms were loosely draped around (Y/n) who was also laid curved like he was but she had slumped down a little so her head was now resting just beneath his collar bone.

And when he looked further down the bed, he saw his mother draped over (Y/n)'s legs with her and her own legs were dangling off the side of the bed. She couldn't have been very comfy, she must have been exhausted to fall asleep laid like that.

They were all exhausted.

It had taken until almost midday for the shaking to stop and the remedies to finally start combating the infection (Y/n) had. Aegon couldn't remember much after that. Sleep came in waves, every few hours he would get maybe an hour or so of sleep before he woke up to get smoe more fluids into (Y/n) and while his mother saw to Daena and got something for herself to eat and drink.

"Aegon…"

His eyes went wide in their sockets and he pushed himself to sit up when he suddenly realised (Y/n)'s hand was cupping the side of his face.

"Mother, mother!" He gently but urgently nudged Alicent before he twisted round so he could look down at (Y/n). "Love, how do you feel?"

She felt run down, broken, horrid and sick, but despite feeling all of that, she felt better.

Her body was no longer succumbing to shaking and she didn't feel as if she was drowning in a frozen lake, she was finally warm wrapped up in her husband's tight embrace. Her stomach wasn't tied in a thousand knots or thundering like she was being stabbed and there were no horrid aches and pains rattling through her and pounding in her blood.

(Y/n) couldn't answer, she didn't have the words, but the delicate smile on her face was enough to send Aegon's heart rocketing in his chest and bring him back to life. His hand moved to cup the back of her head and his lips pressed urgently to her temple until (Y/n) could feel his tears soaking into her skin and his breathless laugh vibrating through her.

And when Alicent's hand slipped into her own and Daena's small whimpers started to fill the air, (Y/n) couldn't help but cry. Her hand moved from Aegon's face to grab at his shoulder, then his arm and squeeze him as tightly as he had held her all night.

He did as he promised. He didn't let her die.

[greenwitchcrafts]

Lavender

Lavandula officinalis

Known as: Elf leaf, nard, nardus & spike

Related plants: A member of the mint family Lamiaceae, there are genus of 47 known species of lavender. It includes well known plants such basil, mint, rosemary, sage, savory, marjoram, oregano, hyssop, thyme, lavender, and perilla, as well as catnip, salvia, bee balm, wild dagga & oriental motherwort.

Parts used: Flowers

Habitat and cultivation: This flowering plant is native to the the Mediterranean

Plant type: Perennial

Region: Most are hardy from Zones 5 to 9 | Spanish Lavender (L. stoechas) is only hardy in Zones 7 to 9.

Harvest: You can harvest all the budding spikes or flowers on your plant during the growing season but avoid cutting into woody growth. Don't want to take more than 1/3 of the plant at this time & limiting your harvest to flowers and buds should keep you within recommended limits. As first frost approaches, snip off woody, leafy stems & branching. You can safely take up to 2/3 of the plant at this time. Harvesting too early can stimulate more growth which you don't want since the lavender is moving into winter dormancy.

Growing tips: To grow lavender successfully it needs well-drained soil, full sun & may be a good idea to check the PH beforehand because soil too acidic may kill off your plants. It survives well in dry conditions, so you'll only have to water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry. Plant lavender in spring, once all chances of frost have passed. This beautiful, fragrant herb is a great addition to raised beds, in-ground gardens, and growing in containers spacing plants 12 to 18 inches apart.

Medicinal information: Taking lavender products by mouth, including teas and a specific oil supplement or inhaling lavender oil as aromatherapy, seem to reduce symptoms of depression & anxiety. Lavender oil is believed to have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to heal & burns & bug bites. Some studies suggest that consuming lavender as a tea can help digestive issues such as vomiting, nausea, intestinal gas, upset stomach, & abdominal swelling. A study published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology found that lavender oil could be effective in combating antifungal-resistant infections. Using it as aromatherapy can also reduce colic symptoms & menstrual cramp pain.

Cautions: Lavender essential oil is possibly safe when inhaled as aromatherapy, but applying products that contain lavender oil to the skin is possibly unsafe for young cis males who haven't reached puberty. The oil seems to have hormone-like effects that could disrupt normal hormones & in some cases, this has resulted in breast growth.

Lavender might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking lavender with sedative medications might cause breathing problems and/or too much sleepiness.

Lavender might slow down the central nervous system. If used with anesthesia and other medications given during and after surgery, it might slow down the central nervous system too much. Stop using lavender at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Magickal properties

Gender: Masculine

Planet: Mercury

Element: Air

Deities: Aradia, Elves, Faeries, Hecate & Saturn

Magickal uses:

• Place in sleep pillows to encourage peaceful sleep

• Wear as a perfume to attract a new love

• Rub on paper when writing love spells or notes for added power

• Add with rosemary to a satchet for preserve chastity

• Scatter around your home to invite protection & purifying energies

• Use in a ritual bath to lighten feelings of depression or sadness

• Wear or use in an amulet to discourage cruelty from a spouse

• Drink lavender tea before bed to aid in astral travel or dream magick

• Burn as an incense for meditation or spirit work

• Use in spells to strengthen friendships

• Purify your ritual candles & tools with a drop of oil to release any negative energies contained within them

•  Hang above your door protect against evil spirits , for home blessings & to cleanse all who enter

• Rub the oil on to the base of the skull or temples to help cure the nervous exhaustion that sometimes happens after intensive magickal workings

[viir-tanadhal]

Pet Shop Boys' song picks for various radio interviews for Nonetheless

BBC Radio 2 with Jo Whiley (April 25, 2024)

Chris

Black Beauty theme (childhood song)

Bedsitter by Soft Cell

Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now by McFadden & Whitehead (death song)

Neil

The Young Ones by Cliff Richard and the Shadows (childhood song)

Bedsitter by Soft Cell

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis by Ralph Vaughan Williams (death song)

BBC Radio 6 with Lauren Laverne (April 26, 2024)

Chris

Was That All It Was by Jean Carn

This Time Baby by Jackie Moore

Native New Yorker by Odyssey

Last Night A DJ Saved My Life by InDeep

Neil

Borderline by Madonna

I Want You by Marvin Gaye

Born Slippy by Underworld

Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin

Greatest Hits Radio with Jackie Brambles (April 28, 2024)

Chris

Baby Love by The Supremes

For Once in My Life by Glen Campbell

Rhythm is a Dancer by Snap!

Neil

Girl Don't Come by Sandie Shaw

Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin

Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack

BBC Radio 3 with Jess Gillam (June 8, 2024)

Neil

Ich Habe Genung (Cantata No 82) by J.S. Bach

Générique by Miles Davis

Symphonia Virginum: O Dulcissime Amator by Hildegard von Bingen

September Song by Kurt Weill; sung by Lotte Lenya

Tracks of My Years with Vernon Kay (June 9, 2024)

Chris

Stop! In the Name of Love by The Supremes

Fame by Irene Cara

Never Give You Up by Sharon Redd

Let Me Love You For Tonight by Kariya

A Love So Beautiful by Roy Orbison

Neil

I Am The Walrus by The Beatles

Papa Was A Rollin' Stone by The Temptations

Do Anything You Wanna Do by Eddie and the Hot Rods

This Is Not America by David Bowie

Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack

Artists in Residence - Queer (Nov. 11, 2024)

Homosexuality by Modern Rocketry

Smalltown Boy by Bronski Beat

Walk On The Wild Side by Lou Reed

I Was Born This Way by Carl Bean

Dizzy by Olly Alexander

Shoot Your Shot by Divine

Menergy by Patrick Cowley

Streets of Philadelphia by Bruce Springsteen

Never Give You Up by Sharon Redd

Hideous by Oliver Sim (ft. Jimmy Somerville)

In the Evening by Sheryl Lee Ralph

If Love Were All by Judy Garland

Artists in Residence - Producers (Nov. 12, 2024)

I'm So Hot For You by Bobby O

Hey DJ by Worlds Famous Supreme Team (Stephen Hague)

Slave To The Rhythm by Grace Jones (Trevor Horn)

I Like You (Shep Pettibone Mix) by Phyllis Nelson (Shep Pettibone)

Point of No Return by Exposé (Lewis Martineé)

Axel F by Harold Faltermeyer

Hold That Sucker Down - Builds Like a Skyscraper Mix by OT Quartet (Rollo)

Balcony Scene from Romeo + Juliet by Craig Armstrong

So Hard - D Morales Red Zone Mix by Pet Shop Boys (David Morales)

The Loving Kind by Girls Aloud (Xenomania)

Say You Will by Kanye West (Andrew Dawson)

It's Automatic by Zoot Woman (Stuart Price)

The Meeting Place by The Last Shadow Puppets (James Ford)

Artists in Residence - Miserablism (Nov. 13, 2024)

Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You by Stevie Nicks

One Day I'll Fly Away by Randy Crawford

Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want by The Smiths

Baltimore by Nina Simone

Alfie by Cilla Black

Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime by The Korgis

Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinéad O'Connor

Parlez-moi de Lui by Françoise Hardy

By The Time I Get To Phoenix by Glen Campbell

Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) by Marvin Gaye

I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore by Dusty Springfield

I'm Not In Love by 10cc

Let's Stay Together by Tina Turner

I Can't Give Everything Away by David Bowie

Artists in Residence - Remixes (Nov. 14, 2024)

Girls & Boys (Pet Shop Boys Remix) by Blur

Young Offender - Jam and Spoon Trip-O-Matic Fairytale Mix by Pet Shop Boys

Hallo Spaceboy (Pet Shop Boys Remix) by David Bowie

Flamboyant (Michael Mayer Kompakt Mix) by Pet Shop Boys

Insanely Alive (Pet Shop Boys Radio Edit) by Wolfgang Tillmans

Miserablism (Moby Electro Mix) by Pet Shop Boys

Queen of Ice (Pet Shop Boys 7" Mix) by Claptone

I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Anymore (Peter Rauhoffer's Roxy Anthem Mix) by Pet Shop Boys

Think Of A Number (Pet Shop Boys Magic Eye 12" Remix) by Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

Can You Forgive Her? (M.K. Remix) by Pet Shop Boys

Love Comes Quickly (Shep Pettibone Mastermix) by Pet Shop Boys

Dancing Star (Solomun Remix) by Pet Shop Boys

A Red Letter Day (Trouser Enthusiasts Autoerotic Decapitation Mix) by Pet Shop Boys

[ringneckedpheasant]

patch notes, because I tried this once before and it didn’t exactly work:

if you want/need to see a more detailed regional map you can do that here

please note: temperatures listed are 30 year averages of minimum temps, not yearly averages

this may not reflect current temps because of climate change

sorry I had to group some zones together but you can only put 10 options down

there isn’t room for a “show results” option. if you can’t vote on this, just don’t??

also, this is US specific because:

I am interested in the correlation between population and climate within the US

these zones are laid out by the United States Department Of Agriculture and as far as I’m aware the USDA is not making climate maps of Europe. make a separate poll if you would like

[hileynoteson]

is there soil reclamationblr? i have a roughly 20x30’ patch of extremely hard pack soul that used to be grassy and now only a few plugs of grass pull through.

the info:

-soil is rock hard

-9a hardiness zone

-used to be full grass

-bushes on both sides

-7’ fence (yellow)

-ants are present in soil

-house on left, one story ranch style

how would i go about rejuvenating the soil?

[c0rpseductor]

i thought maybe i should try growing a pomegranate shrub because that’s literally free pomegranate but they only grow in usda hardinesss zones 7-10 and i live in usda hardiness zone 6a. Why must life be so hard for a bitch who simply wants a goddamn motherfucking SNACK

[rederiswrites]

Bought a couple more amazing succulents for the succulent garden outside--despite their delicacy, multiple sources confirm that they should be hardy here in zone 7. Treated myself to a fistful of lithops at the same time. (Cuz, you know, gotta add something to get that free shipping.) There's been a moratorium on buying indoor succulents for a long time now, both because of money and space, but the nice thing about lithops is they're going nowhere fast and will probably be in this pot for years.

The other two, though, I hope they grow and spread to their heart's content out under the sun.

[scarysongbirds-wc]

okay I lied.... I know this was initially supposed to be a clangen blog, but WRONG. hijacking this blog with my warrior cats universe.

so!!! let me introduce yall to Sedgeclan :]

● Sedgeclan ●

The smallest of the clans, although their territory remains undisputed due to its formidable, disagreeable weather. They live in the alpine zone, far above the snaking path down to the mangrove swamp that Mossclan lives within. This area is rocky, and the vegetation is made up of small and crooked, ancient trees, lichen, and as anticipated, sedges. They live on a chilly moor above the timberline, and a sense of reverence towards their weather keeps these cats from straying too far- either that, or it fully drives them away. This clan has the most "lost kits," either to predators, or the (perceived) easier life within another clan.

These cats are quick, hardy, and stealthy. Sedgeclan is the most accepting of outsiders, and they're known for their caution.

Total Cats: 12

Leader:

-Rookstar (formally known as Rookfeather) (they/she)

a small silver-and-white she-cat with tabby markings and a distinctive split ear. they have distinctive hazel eyes, and a lame leg. (39 moons, 9/9 lives)

Deputy:

-Spiderlight (she/her)

a tall brown tabby she-cat with identical tears on both ears, and a pair of scars near her throat. they have blue, bordering purple, eyes. (53 moons)

Mediator: 

-none.

Seeker:

-Heatherbristle (she/her)

a blind, speckled gray she-cat with spiky fur and bluebell petals scattered across her pelt. she has gray eyes. (72 moons)

Shade:

-Gorseflower (she/they)

a red-and-brown torbie she-cat with yellow eyes and scars on their forelimbs. she wears a red maple leaf and pale gorse flowers on her pelt. (22 moons)

Healer:

-Snowskip (she/her)

a small gray harlequin tabby she-cat, with a cream pelt, and a lighter underbelly. she has blue eyes, and folded ears. she has no claws. (82 moons)

Warriors:

-Coyotesong (he/him)

a stocky, scarred dilute torbie tom with blue eyes. (112 moons)

-Dustywool (he/they/it)

a lanky calico tom with brown speckles and purple eyes. (34 moons)

-Snappedpine (he/him)

a small red and blue tabby tom with pale blue eyes and folded ears. (28 moons)

-Ashplume (he/him)

a light gray tabby tom with a black nose, black paws and blue eyes. (28 moons)

-Viper Fang (she/they)

a massive, spotted blonde bobcat with sectoral heterochromia (blue, yellow). (10 moons)

Apprentices:

-Sparkpaw (he/they)

a large, fluffy orange tabby tom with bright amber eyes. he resembles a tiger. (10 moons)

-Nightpaw (she/her)

a speckled black she-cat with a small white patch on her chest. she has blue eyes. (7 moons)

Camp Keepers:

-Butterflytwine (she/her)

a black tabby she-cat with a white underbelly and purple eyes. she wears both leaves and butterfly wings on her pelt. (38 moons)

Kits 

-none

Elders:

-none

[artificial-condition]

Growing Garlic 101

It's summertime and that means it's about time to order garlic! Garlic is one of the easiest vegetables I have ever grown, although it takes a while from planting until harvest. Most of that time is hands off, so garlic is something I would recommend to grow if you're new to planting and want something easy (or just want lots of yummy garlic)

What to know before starting

Before getting further, I just want to say that I am in hardiness zone 6b (near zone 7) in the US, so that is my growing experience (what is a/my hardiness zone?). To my knowledge and research, garlic can be grown in a wide variety of climates, including very hot and very cold ones. This post is going to be oriented around US geography and terminology because that's what i know

The first thing to know about garlic is that it is typically planted in the fall, but not harvested until the following summer. Why is it planted so early? Garlic goes through a process called vernalization, which means that it needs a cold period before in order to grow to its fullest potential. In garlic, vernalization is what causes the bulb to split into cloves (rather than just having one big chunk of garlic). The first year I grew garlic, I didn't know that it had to be planted so early so I planted in January. It did pretty good and I was happy with it! Some heads didn't have cloves and some did, so even if you get to it late you'll likely still have something yummy to eat by the end of it!

The next year I grew garlic, I planted it out towards the end of October and I had an amazing harvest! The bulbs were bigger and all had divided into cloves. All this to say, you'll have better garlic if you plant in the fall but if you forget or don't know and get to it late it'll be okay!

Step 1: Picking your garlic varieties

This is such a fun step!!! You can find all sorts of different varieties of seed garlic online, with different colors, tastes, and growing habits. My first year I started with seed garlic I found at lowes; the type I found was your generic grocery bought garlic, which for the most part is a softneck variety called California Early (or California Late).

Softneck vs. Hardneck

You should pick softneck or hardneck depending on the climate you are growing in. Softneck varieties do better in warmer climates while hardnecks are more cold hardy. In my zone 6b, I can grow both hardneck and softneck varieties because I am in the middle of the temperature range for hardiness zones. If you are in zones 1-5, hardneck varieties are recommended for your area while zones 8-12 softnecks grow better. If you are in the middle zones 6-7, you should be able to choose either variety and end up okay :)

Hardneck features

Hardneck garlic differs from softneck most obviously in that it will form a hard flower stem, often called a scape:

These are delicious and should be harvested before the flower opens, when they start to curl. They can be chopped up and used like other vegetables (they're also great in pesto I've heard). I roughly chopped mine this year and put them in a bag in my freezer so I can take them out and add as needed. They have a mild garlic flavor, more herby than the bulbs, and can be used in greater quantity without an overpowering garlic taste

Other differences in hardneck varieties is that they have larger (but fewer) cloves and the cloves peel easier.

Softneck features

Softnecks don't have the hard stalks and also keep good for much longer than hardnecks, so their stems and leaves are better for forming garlic braids:

Because of their superior ability to store well, softneck varieties are the type of garlic most commonly sold in grocery stores. There are much fewer varieties of softneck garlic than hardneck (only a couple dozen vs hundreds of varieties of softneck). There are more cloves in softneck garlics but the cloves are smaller and harder to peel.

Where to order seed garlic

Here are some good places I've found to order seed garlic:

Hudson Valley Seed Company

Johnny's Seeds

Urban Farmer (my favorite, I ordered here last year)

You can also just buy garlic from local farmers/hardware stores! They'll likely have varieties well suited to grow in your area.

Step 2: Planting

After you receive your garlic, keep it whole in the bulbs until time to plant. The general rule is to plant 6-8 weeks before your typical first frost date (where is that for me?), but I found that its okay to do it later than that, especially since climate change is messing with the dates. For reference, my average last frost date is October 11th but I didn't plant last year until October 22. Typically they are planted around September-November, the warmer your climate the later you plant.

Before planting, I recommend adding an inch or two of compost to the top of the soil. This will give them nutrients for the year ahead :)

If you are planting late or have pretty mild winters, one trick is to keep the garlic heads in the fridge (not freezer) for a month or two before planting. This will simulate vernalization and will help them to form cloves and bigger heads!

It is good to plant in a fairly sunny area. Mine has partial shade but they do great there!

When you are ready to plant, separate the bulbs into cloves. Try to keep as much as the papery skin on your cloves as possible as it helps to protect them in the ground, but don't beat yourself up about it. I plant mine roughly four inches apart, shoving them about two inches down with them upright (the hairy root end is the bottom and they taper to a point at the top):

After they're all planted, water pretty deep and mulch about an inch or two deep. This will help protect them from hard freezes in the upcoming winter. You can use whatever you have access to, I recommend things that will decompose so they add nutrients to the soil. I raked up fallen leaves from my yard last year and used those

Step 3: Wait

Now relax! The garlic won't be ready for a long time, so just let it do its thing. I don't really ever water mine because I get pretty consistent rainfall, but you can water periodically if you are in a dry climate. It is good to water before particularly hard freezes, it helps the bulbs have what they need to survive.

You might see the greens popping up if you have warm sprees in the late fall/winter. It is fine to ignore these, they will likely die back when it gets cold again but they will still come right back in the spring. You'll want to remove any heavy mulch in the spring when they start growing (my leaves had mostly decomposed so I didn't need to do this)

Step 4: Harvest time

I water mine occasionally as they are growing in the spring or summer, but for the most part I don't bother. I have fairly regular rain and garlic seems very resilient to water differences.

Your garlic will be ready sometime in May-August, depending on what varieties, when you planted, and your climate.

When it is getting close to harvest, it is natural for the leaves to start dying back a bit, especially with softneck varieties. You'll see the garlic scapes form on hardneck varieties, and will need to cut these off once they begin curling, before they flower:

For softneck garlic, harvest when about half of the leaves have yellowed and died off, starting with the bottom leaves. The tops may start to flop over when ready.

For hardneck, the appearance of scapes means they'll be ready in about 4-8 weeks. The leaves will die off as well, but not near as much as softneck varieties in my experience.

Do not water for a week before harvesting. You want your garlic to dry out some before harvesting :D

Since my garlic is in a raised bed, I have fairly loose soil. Therefore, I can just pull the neck of the garlic right above the ground to harvest my garlic. If you have more compacted soil, it would be best to dig around the clove some before you harvest so that it comes out whole and unbroken.

Congrats!!! Your garlic is ready!!

Step 5: Eating and preserving

At this point, your garlic is all out of the ground and ready to be eaten. If you have more garlic than you can eat within the next couple months, you'll need to preserve it. There's a lot of ways to preserve it, but I'll go over a couple I have done.

Idea 1: cloves in a vinegar

This one is primarily how I preserved my garlic last year and I'll be doing it again this year. It is very simple: just peel your garlic, place in clean jars, pour over hot boiling vinegar, seal, let cool, and store in the fridge! Make sure the cloves of garlic are completely submerged in the vinegar or you risk foodborne illnesses. The garlic has enzymes that prevent the cloves from absorbing the vinegar, and the vinegar prevents any bacteria from growing and causing the garlic to spoil. The cloves don't taste like vinegar and can be chopped and added to dishes as needed!

Idea 2: cure whole heads

This is best done with softneck garlic as they store better for longer than hardneck.

This is essentially letting them dry so they keep longer. After harvesting, keep the heads as is with dirt and leaves still attached (brush off any big dirt clumps but don't scrub them clean). Place the heads somewhere flat, warm, well ventilated, and shaded from too much direct sunlight (can get some indirect sunlight). This can be in a garage, on palattes, hanging somewhere, in a shed, whatever you have that seems best. I did mine on my front porch just laying on the concrete.

Leave them alone to dry for at least two weeks, then store as desired! You can trim the leaves and roots off and clean with a brush if desired, or leave the leaves and dirt and roots and store. I trimmed the roots off, left the leaves, braided them together, and hung in my kitchen:

(here is a video about braiding garlic) (note: it can only be done with softnecks)

Idea 3: make garlic confit

This is such a yummy way to use up garlic. Peel your cloves, add to a saucepan, cover in desired liquid oil, and cook on low until the cloves are soft and smushable. Store in the fridge after letting cool and eat within a week :)

Idea 5: Roasted garlic

Here is a recipe

And that's about it! Enjoy your garlic :D

@yourfriendfrogs

[dawn-of-worlds]

Labyrinthine

[Emex 7: rest (5) + bonus (3) + avatar (2) + dice (3+6) - found city (8) -shape lands (2*3) shape climate (2*2) = 1]

The Queen of Fortunes bids her followers to go west, and exploit the vast riches of the Great Pit. Persevering through a series of obstacles and challenges, ranging from monsters to diseases, they reach their destination, and find it as rich in resources as in dangers. To protect themselves from the roving murderbirds, they establish settlements of small sturdy houses, separated by tight enclosed alleys, and put them out on the water - protected both from land and sky. The greatest of these settlements becomes Tonghattulka, the City of Gems. It quickly grows wealthy by mining the Rimspires and lakes, and develops an industry of metalworking and jewelry.

Simultaneously, and presumably unrelatedly:

In the deep south, the land is torn asunder, an enormous number of ravines, both big and small, form a maze-like environment covered in clinging brambles and inhabited by crawling wyrms and hardy tortoises.

On the far side of the world, a great mass of algae accrete and form a permanent floating "continent" covering much of the tropics. It is dense enough in places to support an ecosystem of non-aquatic plants and small animals, mainly birds and insects, and blocks out most sunlight, creating a vast dead-zone in the ocean beneath

[xannabun]

Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangeas ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

About :

A variation of Hydrangea Paniculata

‎♡ A beautiful and popular flower voted as the top plant of 2010 by the American Nursery and Landscaping Association, a flower perfect for anything, from a private home garden to wedding floral arrangements.

‎♡ Very similar to the “Pinky Winky” variation, it blooms white cones in the summer and then pink to eventually red during late summer/early fall as you can see in the pictures above. The main difference is that Pinky Winky is extremely cold hardy.

‎♡ If you love bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds but don’t want to go through the trouble of planting various amounts of flowers in your yard to attract them, then these vanilla strawberry hydrangeas are perfect for you. They attract all the right things and are low maintenance.

How to grow :

The best time to plant these beautiful flowers is either in spring or late fall. Moist and well-drained soil is key and full to partial sun is needed. Make sure they get 4 to 6 hours of sunlight a day. If you use a water-soluble fertilizer, use it every few weeks, or if you use a slow-release fertilizer then use it every few months. Look for a fertilizer with high levels of phosphorus, they work best.

Extra info :

Watering: Average

Tolerates: Heat

Mature Height: 6 - 7 Feet

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 - 8

Click this link for more information and message me if you have any questions! ‎♡

[the-cat-and-the-birdie]

What are some of your hcs?

Hooooooo, boy I've been waiting for this one! I have too many to count, so here's some. I present to you:

Peter Parker x Felicia Hardy Couple Headcanons

Peter and Felicia may not look it, but they’re the perfect ‘opposites attract’ couple.

Peter is the most frugal, sensible person on Earth. He still wears t-shirts he brought in high school and considers Chinese Food a guilty splurge. And somehow he managed to bag a girlfriend with literally the most expensive taste ever.

Felicia wears only brand name. Her favorite handbag costs more than his rent. Half the time she looks at him and is like 

Originally posted by blondebrainpower

It isn’t until he starts dating her that Peter learns to relax and treat himself more. Felicia has to literally force him to take time off and pamper himself and take care of himself. Felicia Hardy is the self-care queen.

If Peter won’t treat himself, Felicia will do it for him, goddammit. (Even if that means stealing something and treating him to it.)

But on the flip side, being with Peter teaches her that not everything has to be glitz and glamour to be great. She starts enjoying eating in more than going out restaurants, if it means that Pete is cooking. She admires how resourceful he can be. 

And she also pays his rent on occasion. He gets flustered every time.

Talking about opposites attract - Peter is a night owl. You’d think the girl with the cat name would be the nocturnal one, but no. He just has so much shit to do. It’s really not odd for Peter to be hitting the mattress just as the sun is coming up. Felicia however, early-fucking-bird. Like it’s borderline ridiculous.

She’s a ‘2-hour workout to start the day’ kinda girl. The kind that makes a smoothie bowl and listens to Meg Thee Stallion at 7 am to ‘get in the zone’. Her alarm goes off at like 4:30 and she’s just up and at ‘em. She bullet-journals, she meal-preps. Peter envies how much Felicia has her shit together, but he has no idea how she does it - considering he’s the superhuman one.

Talking about being superhuman - Peter does doesn’t realize how good he has it until he starts dating her. Felicia is human. She doesn’t have super strength. Which means she actually has to work-out. Everyday. Intensely. It makes Peter realize how much he takes for granted. Sure, he has his Spidey-sense. But she’s all technique, and work, and gold medals.

Watching Felicia do her daily gymnastics, weight-lifting, MMA training, it just blows him away.

Felicia loves using him as a sparring partner. Peter’s humor makes him super-encouraging. He’s the best trainer ever. Peter doesn’t actually need the work-out, but he still comes along often. They’re the couple at the gym that are just super in-sync. It's like a daily mini-date for them.

After they’ve been dating awhile Peter has to move in to Felicia’s place, because Felicia’s enormous closet wouldn’t have fit in Peter’s small-ass studio.

It takes Felicia 3 weeks to get in the habit of calling him ‘Peter’ and not Spider. She still does it on occasion. She’s purposely call him Spider if she’s trying to seduce him, or worried about him.

Their apartment is just…chaotic. It’s not messy, but it’s chaotic. Peter’s science work, cork boards of superhero detailing, Felicia’s art and canvases - she was a art major after all. Between her closet, his tech, their superhero gear, and Felicia’s art, the Hardy-Parker apartment always has something odd going on.

Holy shit, do these two get competitive. Especially when it comes to gifts. They constantly try to one up each other with gifts. They take holidays like Valentines Day and Christmas very serious. Birthdays are even worse. Even Date nights too.

They're always trying to surprise the other and put a smile on the other's face, and considering they've both done the 'secret double life thing' they're really good at hiding presents from each other. Surprises and little gifts are their thing. Even if Peter can't afford it, he still tries to find cheap but sentimental gifts for her, and their date ideas are wild. (Indoor skydiving, anyone?)

Peter is Felicia’s biggest muse. I HC that Felicia is a Fine Arts major, with a knack for art forgery. They have multiple paintings of Peter in the style of famous artists like Picasso and Van Gogh.

Felicia has multiple cats, whom tolerate Peter to varying degrees.

Prior to their engagement, Peter saves up to buy Felicia a promise ring. She wears it constantly. 

Prior to moving in together, Felicia ‘ironically’ collected Spider-man merch. Peter thinks this is funny, and he’s kind of gotten into it too. In an ‘ironic’ way of course. They have matching Spidey pajamas.

At one point in time during college, Felicia was apart of the Spider-man Fan Club. She says it helped her learn his fighting strategies prior to meeting him. She doesn’t tell Peter this information, and when he finds out she nearly dies from embarrassment.

Whenever Peter’s not looking, Felicia will put on his mask because she thinks it’s funny.

Felicia took a fashion course in college. She designed her own costume and does all the repairs on Peter's suit. She usually has to make him a new one every 6-12 months.

Felicia and Peter have a routine of watching the Daily Bugle every night and making fun of J.Jonah from their couch. Sometimes they’ll boo him or throw popcorn at the screen.

J.Jonah hates The Black Cat more than he hates The Spider-Man. Unlike Peter though, she loves the attention. Black Cat openly has beef with J.Jonah and will instigate the man on-sight. Peter really tries to dissuade her from doing this. She keeps doing it anyway.

Their relationship gives off ‘Excuse me? He asked for no pickles.’

And since this is long Imma just leave it there. But thanks for asking this! It was so fun to write out and I'll probably make another of these because I just have so many.

kk bye y'all! :)