#Planting A Grape Vine Cutting

[the-habitat-ring]

The (Real) Stardew Valley Farm Update 2024

I’m wrapping up my third year trying to grow everything from Stardew Valley in our yard, with substitutions as needed, preferably with Midwest USA native plants.

I’m continuing to battle the invasive plants (why won’t the honeysuckle and thistles stop?????), beg for truckloads of woodchips (Google decided our address isn’t real anymore), and deal with a body and brain that makes going outside impossible sometimes (the past two years have been rough medically). But despite all of that I still managed to make a ton of progress!

Here’s how things stand as of now. If you’re looking back at previous posts you might notice some differences, but that’s mainly because things I planted died (drought + medical crises don’t bode well for newly established plants). I’ve also added the additional crops from the new update.

2021

Amaranth - Native white amaranth

Grape - Native riverbank grapes (so many grapes). I’m hopefully going to successfully propagate some cuttings from the neighbor’s green cultivated variety

Dandelion - Obviously

Maple Tree - Native silver, red, and sugar maples

Pine Tree - Douglas fir

Apple Tree - Three old apple trees of different varieties in very rough shape. I’ve been working to prune them up and two are looking a lot better. I’d love an Enterprise apple tree at some point

Coffee Bean - Chicory (a naturalized plant commonly used as a coffee substitute)

Salmonberry - Native black raspberries since salmonberries aren’t from around here, although I really want to add raspberries of various colors in the future

Starfruit - Native wood sorrel

Cave Carrot - Queen Ann’s Lace, AKA wild carrot

2022

Kale

Rhubarb

Strawberry - Both cultivated and native

Tulip

Radish

Tomato

Eggplant

Fairy Rose - Native prairie rose

Cranberries - Native cranberry viburnum

Orange Tree -Native persimmons, which produce orange fruit

Daffodil

Spring Onion - Native nodding onions

Spice Berry - Native spicebushes

Wild Plum - Native plums

Crocus

Cherry Tree - Native black cherries and nonnative bush cherries

Banana Tree - Native pawpaws, which are also known as Indiana bananas

Sweet Gem Berry - Native Juneberry (Downy Serviceberry)

2023

Garlic - Native wild garlic

Blueberries - I planted three varieties and only one survived. Don’t shortcut your bed preparation, friends

Wild Horseradish - Not wild, but contained with my mint

Hops - Teamaker hops which is good for tea since we’re not alcohol fans

2024

Blue Jazz - Native Ozark Bluestar

Beets

Apricot Tree - Native passionflower vine, also known as wild apricot

Sunflower - Both native and non-native sunflowers

Pumpkin

Cactus Fruit - Native prickly pear cactus

Melon - Cantaloupe

Oak Tree - Native dwarf chinquapin oak, which took me forever to get

Hot Pepper

Palm Tree/coconut - Native palm sedge

Poppy - Native purple poppy mallow, after other native poppies failed. I still want to grow bread seed poppies, though

Corn - Tried some gorgeous colored corn and popcorn that didn’t grow great but they did grow!

Green bean

Hazelnut - They’re supposed to be easy to grow but they do not like me. Third time’s the charm, right?

Carrot

Summer squash

Powder melon - I decided to do honeydew melon because it’s kinda powdery and I don’t really have any other ideas

Planned for 2025 and beyond

Potato

Pineapple - White strawberries (pineberries)

Winter Root - Hopniss, a native root vegetable

Red Cabbage

Artichoke - Native Jerusalem artichokes

Yam

Bok Choy

Leek

Fiddlehead Fern - Ferns do not like me

Blackberry

Crystal Fruit - Probably honey berries, which produce fruit earlier than anything else

Ancient Fruit - Native Aronia berries. They’re blue(ish) and have lots of antioxidants so you live to be ancient

Tea Leaves - Native New Jersey Tea bush. The previous ones were murdered by rabbits

Mango Tree - I thought one of our pawpaws was a variety called mango but I was wrong

Ginger - I want to try growing native wild ginger again

Rice - Native rough-leaved rice grass

Wheat - I have some gorgeous ornamental blue wheat seeds

Summer Spangle - Possibly native prairie lily? I was unsuccessful growing it from seed this year but maybe in the future

Parsnip - I can’t get them to germinate to save my life but one day I will be successful

Sweat pea

Holly - Native winterberry holly

Mushrooms - I'm just gonna ignore varieties and try some plugs or similar

Peach - Vine peach. It’s a melon, and more doable than a tree

Mahogany Tree - I think I’ll resort to mahogany nasturtiums

Broccoli

Pomegranate Tree - I could try Russian pomegranates?

Taro Root - I would have to plant it in pots

Snow Yam - Not actually a yam but maybe native sweet potato vine?

Qi Fruit - Very creepy, not sure what to do with this

Over halfway there! If anyone has suggestions for plants please let me know because I’m still stuck on a few and very open to alternatives.

In other news, I’m making Stardew Valley Fair displays with cross stitch patches for each of the items I’ve added that year. I’ll have to post pics of those at some point.

[balkanikabg]

Balkanika's Special Grapes Bundle

What Winery would be without a proper Vineyard, am I right?

This project includes 9 brand new types of Grapes that your Sim can take care of, and harvest. All grapes function as my indoor harvestables!

When you first buy the plant you'll see only the watering interaction and after some hours you'll be able to collect the first patch of grown produce. Afterwards the interaction will be available once a day.

Water the plant 1 a day.

Harvest grapes 1 a day.

Tagged as fruit

Toddlers can eat it

It can be eaten raw or cooked

Compatible with SCCO

Types of grapes:

Vinelines (you can place them next to each other and build a real vineyard with them). They come in two types - regular with three vines (note that they are high poly!), and single with only one vine.

Cabernet

Merlot

Chardonnay

MORE UNDER THE CUT

Trellis (grow them vertically on a trellis, you can place them close to each other, maybe even on a wall to imitated that they are build on it)

Rubin

Mavrud

Dimyat

Pergola (it's fully functional with empty space under it, where you can place a bench, table with chair, or anything you wish, and your Sim can go under it without a problem)

Pamid

Gamza

Keratsuda

Since my custom harvestables are not like the regular ones from the game, I let myself some frivolities.

When your Sim collect fruits, they will get basket with grapes, instead of single fruits, in their inventory.

From each pergola they can collect 4 baskets, each trellis 2 baskets, each vineline 3 baskets, and if it's a single vine - 1 basket.

1 basket contains 20 grape fruits.

Each type of grape has individual moodlet after consumed.

Grab fruits one by one from basket

First you'll see 'Check Basket' interaction, before the option to 'Grab Grape'

The baskets and the fruits both have fruit/ingredient tag and can be sold or used in cooking, if required any fruit

I also made Rail fence (see below gif), so you can build your perfect vineyard.

Known issue: Note that my harvestables don't use the code of the EA harvetables interactions, therefore you'll need to manually click on every single grape to be watered/harvested. It doesn't work like the regular gardening where your Sim will collect from all automatically.

That's all from me for now, it's only a few days until the Wine Making Vat is ready as well, yay! I hope you enjoy this content, and please don't be shy to tag me, if you decide to use/build a vineyard with my items. I'd looove to see what you create (and I'll reblog everything :D)!

DOWNLOAD (Early Access)

Public Access: 4th of June, 2023

@sssvitlanz @maxismatchccworld @twentiethcenturysims

[jedi-lothwolf]

Whumptober Day 3: Set up for Failure

Fandom: Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Warnings: Multiple character deaths, violence, and strong language.

Summary: What if after The Battle of Manhatten, the Gods decided that the half-bloods were too dangerous to be left alive? Even after winning the war, they could fail to keep their lives.

    No one tells what you are supposed to do after you win a war, especially when you have been preparing for it your whole teenage life. Percy stared at the water. The battle had been over for two days now. Everything was settling down.

    It was noon by the time anyone realized something was wrong. Dionysus was pacing on the deck of the big house. It wasn't uncommon to see him distressed since Caster died. The god had taken it harder than expected. He seemed to be arguing with someone that was just out of sight.

    Annabeth walked down to the beach to meet Percy. They sat together and watched the waves get higher and higher. "Is that normal?"

    "Not really." Percy said uneasy. "Maybe Dad's upset about something?" Lightning flashed in the sky. "That's familiar."

    Looking at each other, Annabeth and Percy felt the need to go back into camp. They stood and ran back as the waves started to rise higher.

    Inside camp, things were a mess. Not that they hadn't been anyway. There were people grieving and weapons that needed to be put away. Funerals were still being planned for some and for others, send offs with no body.

    The sky darkened. Travis walked by Annabeth and Percy. "Did Mr. D give up on the weather or something?"

    "Something's wrong." Annabeth said matter of factly. The two stopped walking as the grass around the Demeter cabin started to rapidly grow.

    "You can't do this!" Dionysus yelled. His voice was loud but still far away. "It's not fair to the kids! They fought our war, leave them alone! You can't just break your own rules!" Anger seemed to motivate the tone of his voice as well as heartbreak.

    Looking at the big house, Travis, Annabeth, and Percy froze. "What the hell?" Travis whispered.

    Grape vines grew on the deck of the big house. Chiron left from the front door and started to make his way to the Demeter cabin. At the same time, the door was being overgrown with plants. Connor had been nearby and ran to the cabin. "What's happening?"

    "I don't know! I can't stop them!" Katie yelled back. "Get to the window!"

    The two cabin leads went to a back window where they started to evacuate the building. Chiron said something to them when he got to them. Tears fell down Katie's face and Connor looked betrayed. "Come on!" He yelled to Katie as she got the last kid out of her cabin.

    "We need to help them!" Percy started to run to the cabin. As the three half-bloods ran, the cabin started to crack.

    "Take my hand!" And Katie tried. Vines grew around her ankles and legs. She screamed as they overtook her body. As the cabin was completely taken over by sharp vines, Conner tried one last time to reach her. His hand touched her arm before he fell back into the ground.

    It took a moment for Connor to process what happened. Chiron dragged him away from the cabin as he tried to go back to Katie. The boy looked down to see a large amount of blood in the grass. Looking for the cause, Connor realized his hand was tangled in the weeds. "My hand." He said breathless.

    "Connor!" Travis screamed. "Where the fuck is your hand!?"

    Slowly Conner looked down and realized his right hand had been cut off by the overgrown vines. Trying to process everything that happened, he just stared blankly where he hand should have been. Quickly Chiron pulled off his jacket and tore off a sleeve. After that he handed the torn sleeve to Percy and gave the jacket to Connor. "Tie that around his arm as tightly as you can." He told Percy. "Travis, get your brother to the hospital."

    "Why not the infirmary?"

    "Camp is no longer safe for you. The Gods," the Centaur looked pained as he spoke. "The gods believe the demigods are too dangerous to be left alive after the war. They believe that you might try to rise against them."

    The teens looked at each other. "You mean to tell me that we won their war for them and now they want to kill us!?" Percy yelled.

    "Oh so they can kill us but not help us?!" Annabeth shouted. She felt betrayed. After so long of trying to defend the gods, they decided to stab the demigods in the back.

    Trying to move the demigods away from the Demeter cabin, Chiron continued. "It's unfair, yes, but nothing can be done about it right now. They kept Dionysus and I away from the conversation or we would have fought for you."

    The ground shifted as Percy fished tying Chiron's shirt sleeve to Connor's arm to make a tourniquet. Connor hadn't stopped watching the Demeter cabin. Quick and thick vines snapped to the top of the wooden cabin. It snapped under the pressure, sending pieces of wood flying through the air. The remains started to be pulled under the ground.

    "No no." Connor whispered. "No, Katie!" Struggling to get to his feet, the boy tried to go to his friend's cabin. Percy grabbed him and pulled him into a trap hug. "Katie!" The demigod yelled, his voice breaking. "Katie!" Pulling him to the ground, Percy tried to calm him down. "We are supposed to go to college after this! Percy let me go, I need to help her!"

    "She's gone buddy." Travis fell to his knees, trying to comfort his brother. "We need to get out of here. Someone has to take care of you."

    "Please no." Connor sobbed. "She was the only one left. We were supposed to go to college. We were-." The boy could no longer talk. Instead he fell into his brother, sobbing uncontrollably.

    "Annabeth, go grab some wood. We need to make the tourniquet tighter." Chiron helped Connor off the ground as the girl found a piece of the Demeter cabin to tighten the tourniquet with.

    "Here." Travis took the wood from Annabeth and then grabbed his brother.

    "Come on. I'll get you out of here." Travis took Connor into his arms. "Percy, take care of our cabin please. I'll try to get him somewhere safe and come back to help."

    That was the first time the group decided to look around. The stray pieces of cabin and stuck campers. Many of them were Demeter's own children and most of them had been killed. Annabeth tried not to cry. After so long, you would think the demigods would just be used to this.

    "What are we going to do?" Percy turned to Chiron. Annabeth ran over to one of the surviving Demeter kids and helped her.

    "Evacuate camp."

    "But then we have to fight gods and monsters!" The son of Poseidon argued.

    "Not all the gods believe you should die. They will protect you. Lady Artemis has offered the assistance of her Huntresses and you have the fun support of Dionysus."

    "Great." Sighing, Percy looked around. "We should split up." Chiron nodded then went to meet Annabeth.

    On the deck of the big house, Dionysus looked over camp. The yelling had subsided. A crack of lightning  pushed the god up against the railing. He fell to his knees as he was struck by the unkind hand of his father, Zeus.

    Anger filled Percy but he knew he couldn't do anything for him. He watched as Dionysus tried to get up but was met with another strike of lightning. Then the God didn't move. The quick thought of Mr. D being killed crossed Percy's mind but gods can't be killed.

    Clarisse sent her cabin member out of the cabin. One of them approached Percy and asked where any of the Apollo kids were. "I'm not sure. We need to find them."

    As if the gods had heard them, the Apollo cabin caught fire. There was screaming from the cabin but it didn't last long. One after another, the Ares and Hephaestus cabins also caught fire. The fire in the Ares cabin spread the slowest while the other two cabins were engulfed in seconds.

    Young Will Solace came running from the infirmary to see his cabin in flames. "No!" He screamed out in terror. Like his older brothers would have, he ran towards his cabin. Grover, who had just come from the infirmary for a nail in his hoof, caught Will before he could get too close. "Austin and Kayla are still inside! They went to get some blankets!"

    Grover pulled him into his arms and away from the building. "It's okay. It will be okay."

    In the Ares cabin, Clarisse tried to get her brother away from the wall as the fire spread. He had been leaning against the wall when he was implied by debris from the Demeter cabin. It had come through the wooden walls of the cabin and pinned him to the wall.

    "I'll get you out of here." Clarisse started to cough as smoke filled her lungs. The fire crept closer and closer to them.

    "It's okay. You should go." The teen struggled to talk.

    "No. I'm not just going to leave you here to die." The cabin leader's voice shook.

    "If you can't get me out safely, just pull me off the wall."

    "That's crazy. It'll kill you!"

    "So will the fire."

    Taking a second to make her decision, Clarisse sighed. "Alright, let's do this."

    Outside of the cabin, Percy helped any injured Hephaestus kids. "We need to get the infirmary evacuated!"

    As Annabeth and Percy ran to the building, there was an explosion inside it. The blast knocked the two back. They could hear Will's distress. People had left their cabin by now to see what was going on. Helping each other up, the demigods looked at each other for a moment.

    "Is this really happening?" Annabeth said with tears in her eyes. Had they been set up for failure by their parents.

    "Maybe Luke had a point." Annabeth didn't seem very amused by Percy's comment. Looking at the fire, Percy dragged them away from the infirmary.

    Grover tried to keep from crying. Will didn't need that. As soon as the boy had seen the fire that engulfed the infirmary, his knees gave. The satyr lowered him to the ground as the boy screamed.

    "Nice of you to join." Percy said sarcasticly as Thaila came out of the woods.

    "What the hell happened?" The huntress started to run with them.

    "The gods never intended for us to survive past the war!" Percy yelled. "If we lost, we died and if we won, we died."

    "I'll get the girls to help." Thaila said.

    "Thank you." Annabeth started. "Percy, where are we going?"

    "Chiron said Mr. D was on our side. Thaila, your dad just did a number on him. We need to see if he could help or if his still laid out in the deck."

    "Alright."

    "I think Percy and I handle that. Thaila, can you go help them." Desperation filled Annabeth's voice. Camp had been her home and she had trusted the gods.

    "Okay." Thaila ran off as the Athena and Hermes cabins started to be overwhelmed by vines. The Poseidon cabin was stuck by lightning, setting it on fire.

    "That was personal." Percy joked.

    "Come on, let's go."

    The fires started to spread to the ground and the woods. Clarisse and another Ares kid came out of their cabin. Blood poured to the ground. The cabin leaders got her brother to the ground. "I need a medic!" She yelled. Then she looked around. Almost every cabin was on fire. The infirmary had gone up in flames and so did her hope of saving her bother. "Damn it!"

    Looking back, Percy tried to distance himself from the situation. Most people had left their cabin when the buildings started to catch fire. As the Aphrodite cabin caught fire, the last person who needed.to leave the cabin came out with blankets and some kind of medicine. It was like someone had been protecting him from the fire.

    Camp half-blood was in chaos. Kids were running everywhere, just trying to survive. Percy looked back at the deck of the big house. Mr. D was nowhere to be seen. The thought that he had left them invaded his mind.

    "Pollux!" A pained voice yelled out.  

    Percy looked to see Dionysus leaning against a tree. It looked like he had been crying. The demigod knew the god had a responsibility to his own child first and he had to respect that. "Come on, we gotta help everyone else."

    "Pollux, come here!" Dionysus screamed, just hoping he would be heard. In the midst of all the chaos, he reached out for his child. The teen raised his head when he heard his name.

    "Dad!" He yelled out. Then he stopped running and looked for his father. When he found him, he sprinted to him. Wrapping his arms around him, Dionysus grabbed his son. The two looked at camp as tears fell down Pollux's face. Not letting him go the god pulled his son away from the battle, letting him bury his face in his shoulder.

    No one could blame them. After all, they were all tired of fighting.

    "Dave." Clarisse spoke. "Just hang on."

    "It's getting cold. Clarisse, you can let me die. I'm tired it's okay."

    Tears attacked her eyes. "Dave."

    Reaching his up to her face, he sighed. "You did everything you could." His breathing started to slow. It wasn't long before he was gone.

    Standing, Clarisse joined Percy and Annabeth. "Are you okay?" Percy said, concerned.

    "Fine." She spoke harshly. Annabeth stopped running and Percy and Clarisse stopped. They scanned camp. "Is everyone out?"

    "Maybe. Camp just got way too quiet that fast." Percy was talking quickly.

Travis startled them when he walked up to them. "I'm back. I got two of my brothers to help Connor." Thaila joined them as well.

"The girls are ready to help if need be. Lady Artemis says she'll take anyone she can."

"Okay. We need to get out of here." Clarisse to few steps forwards. She turned to face the others. Grabbing Annabeth's hand, she pulled the two being a tree and to the ground. "Get down!" The others ducked as lightning went over their heads.

"Oh come on!" Percy yelled.

"Let me talk to him." Thaila tried. "You need to get out of here."

"I'm not doing that again." Annabeth said. "I'm not letting you sacrifice yourself again."

Sighing, Thaila pushed her sister into Percy's arms. "I'll distract him."

"No, we stand together." Clarisse grabbed her sword.

Pushing the sword down, Percy sighed. "How about we run together instead? That works too."

"Fine."

"This way." Annabeth took Percy's hand and guided them out of camp. After all, she knew the camp the best of all of them. The group grabbed Grover and Will, who had hidden in the woods near Thalia's tree.

"Where do we go?" Clarisse asked.

"My home. We can figure it out from there. I'm sure Mom won't mind that much." He looked back at camp. The boy saved the Gods for their children and this is what they get? The first real safe place Percy had, gone. Most of the people he cares about are gone. Percy sighed and started to lead the way to his home.

Part 2: soon

[crwdgoinapeshit]

I have sooo many The Cleaning Lady Theories

Last night's episode was my favorite of the season! Ramona, Ramona, Ramona. She's a complicated woman to say the least.

I guess I'll start with my first theory:

[Ramona is dying] After Ramona questioned Jorge's feelings towards Thony, there was a moment where it looked like she grimaced in pain. Jorge even noticed that and asked if she's okay. Also, back in episode five when Jorge went to question Ramona about Luca's disappearance, Ramona told him she wants him and Arman to work together when she's gone. If Ramona is suffering from a terminal illness then that could explain why she's been so obsessed with bringing back Arman to partner up with Jorge. She knows she's not long for the world so she wants Arman to take over the smuggling side and Jorge to remain in the fixer/legal role that he already is in.

[Jeremy is an undercover FBI agent sent in by Russo to plant surveillance devices] I'm convinced that he was the one who called the FBI because Jorge mentioned that their contact heard nothing through the grape vine. I also think he set up devices in Thony and Fiona's cleaning shop and now in their home. A judge may have granted Russo a warrant to plant surveillance devices because Thony kept the knowledge of Kamdar bringing back fentanyl into the country. Plus she hangs around Arman, a known criminal. Anyways, who knows what evidence Russo could've brought to a judge. Or there's another option. Russo is hell bent on revenge for Miller and she badly wants to take down Thony/Arman, to the point she's willing to break the law. Maybe Russo doesn't have a warrant to plant these wires. That would be Thony's only saving grace.

[Jorge turns on Ramona] Eduardo just had to air out the family's business in front of company lol. If what Arman's parents said is true then it's clear that Ramona purposely isolated Jorge and turned him against Eduardo. This may be an unpopular opinion, but ever since Arman told the story of how he came to work for Hyak, I wasn't mad at Eduardo. Eduardo isn't wrong for not wanting his son be a violent, drug/gun dealing, human trafficking murderer lol. I would hope NO parent would want that for their child. As for his decision on cutting all ties to Arman, I'm iffy on that, but either way I do understand Eduardo's position. From what it seems, Eduardo wanted to look after his little brother and raise him far away from the cartel life, similarly to Arman. I do think it's wild that Ramona thinks she had any rights to Arman when he isn't her son, but she strikes me as the narcissistic controlling type. Anyways, we know that Ramona sent Jorge to college in order to "beat them at their own game". His education and professional career, which was funded by her, was Ramona's decision. She clearly wanted to use his knowledge and his access to further the Sin Cara cartel. She's a master manipulator and we've seen Jorge push back against her since the second episode of the season. We've also heard him tell Thony that he has no control over what Ramona chooses to do. He seems to be her puppet. A well put together, powerful, intelligent, and dangerous puppet. I believe it's likely that Thony, as well as Ramona's actions herself, will finally cause Jorge to break. A bit of a spoiler, but in the preview for episode 8 we saw Ramona pressing Jorge to kill Thony. Ramona has noted Jorge's fondness of her so forcing him to be the one to shoot Thony, at her command too feels incredibly cruel. So yeah I can definitely see Jorge turning on his sister at some point.

[Nadia and Thony team up to take Ramona down] I was so frustrated with Thony for not calling Nadia when she put together that Dante has been drugging Arman. Even if there was no way for Nadia to sneak away from Ramona's watchful eye, I just get the feeling that someone like Nadia could have figured out a way to stall so Thony could get Arman. However, as we know, Arman had to die. *heavy breath* I hope in one of the upcoming episodes Thony reaches out to Nadia, they sit down together and Thony tells her EVERYTHING. Dante getting arrested at the apartment where she physically saw Arman through a window, the name written in the powder, and even the car chase. If Thony comes clean I think Nadia would question who was this convenient handyman, who also KNEW ABOUT WHERE THE DROP WAS. Anyways, yeah I need to see Nadia and Thony find peace and get revenge for Arman.

[Jorge and Thony run the Sin Cara cartel together] Elodie recently did an interview where she spoke about the love triangle in this season and how she went to the writers and gave input on how she believed Thony's perspective should be addressed. ("I was part of some conversations this season, with the loss of Adan, on how to approach the new love triangle. I was like, 'Guys, this woman just lost someone she loved a lot, if not the love her life. Don't think in terms of entertainment, but ask how to approach someone who's grieving.'" Elodie Yung Character Media). When the season first began Kwok and Renshaw also spoke on what we could expect between Thony and Jorge. ("Thony and Jorge's relationship evolves more slowly and more organically through the season where it is like, 'Who are these people? Who are they together?' For Thony, Jorge is a tough nut to crack. But, so is she." | "It makes it very tantalizing to watch and to write these scenes, because there's just a lot of energy in their dynamic." | "Yeah, a lot of energy, but also resistance. There is a different kind of cat-and-mouse where they're drawn to each other, they're trying to figure each out, they're both a little standoffish - which also makes them even more attracted to each other") Given these two excerpts alongside with what we've seen throughout the season, I can see the writers setting up a romance between them next season(if they get one 😬). Now, ever since episode two we've heard Jorge continually address Ramona's choices and direction with the cartel. He believes that their trafficking routes need to be eliminated given that Arman and presumedly others have stolen and used those routes for their own trafficking purposes. He views them as a weak point and most likely a legal time bomb waiting to happen. During their argument in the dessert, Thony tells Jorge about the dying woman and her baby left in a closet when he asserts that their routes are safe. Thony rightfully pushes back on him and calls him out for not knowing or not caring enough TO know what's going on on the human trafficking end of the cartel. That scene was probably put there to challenge Jorge's humanity, but to also expose how Ramona's running the border smuggling. Back in episode 5, when Ramona said she wants Arman and Jorge to work together to run the Sin Cara cartel, he responded that he'll decide who he will work with. If my, "Ramona is dying" theory turns out to be correct then I'm convinced that Jorge will choose Thony to be his partner once Ramona is gone.

[Thony gets arrested] I mean, it has to happen right? Jeremy snooping around has to amount to something, right? I know last season ended with Fiona being arrested and then deported, so I can see how that would be redundant, but I feel like this all Jeremy stuff has to culminate into something big right? lol I just know Jeremy is a plant seeded by Russo because no way she just gave up and went away. Plus, Nadia told Russo in episode three that Thony is working with the cartel. Maybe Thony gets arrested and makes bail somehow and Jorge goes about getting her clear of her charges.....lmaoooo. This theory is the one I believe in the least so it's hard for me see where this could all go.

Anways, this was looonnngggg hah. I had so many thoughts after last night's episode I just had to type them out. Honestly, this episode was one of their strongest in the show's entire run and Eva was the complete standout for me. Eva really translated Nadia's anguish in every moment. She was incredible.

[gkbc-is-starting-a-studyblr]

Going into the last day of spring break...

Monday will be the beginning of a packed April leading up to my last ever AP exams

Here's hoping I'm not too burnt out to get a few days of studying out of myself.

On a lighter note, I've been doing some houseplant upkeep as it is the beginning of growing season and I find cutting up & shuffling around my plants strangely relaxing. Above is a new buddy in the collection! She's a Cissus Javana, also known as a vining rex begonia despite not even being closely related to begonias. Based on a brief Google they're actually part of the Grape family. I made her a growing structure today which I think turned out really well!

[d1onysusw1n3]

Luke castellan -

daughter of Dionysus pt 2.

╚»★«╝

Tw: lil bit of spice, alcohol bc well Dionysus, Astrope,Luke,Jake,And Amy are all 18+

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You know, I'm one of the most powerful people in the world, and yes I said one, Just above straight Men and Old white ladies with that one ugly side pixie cut, I'm a demigod, and a damn powerful one too. I believe everyone has morals, Sometimes I don't necessarily follow mine, but A for Effort. Anyways this all started when me and my stupid friends decided to throw a damn party late at night whilst stealing wine from the janitors cabinet and while potentially threatening his cabin with arson. Honestly like I said I do have morals, they just don't agree with me.

I sigh shaking my head at the sight before me. Currently me, Jake, Amy, and Luke were sat in My dads office as he was supposed to “scold us” due to the party Amy threw for "thanksgiving", though we all know it was just her trying to wow a boy, like usual. To be real honest with you, if it was Chiron I’d be quaking in my boots. If it was anyone other than my dad, I would at least feel guilty for it. “You bozos got yourself in trouble and now instead of me sitting down drinking my Diet Coke, I’m here yelling at kids!” He screams throwing his hands up. Classic Mr. D move. Being more mad at the fact we cut into his “Me time” than teenagers stealing alcohol and threatening the janitors house with arson. “Rigggght, so your mad because your here, not because Astrope threatened to burn down Tito’s cabin?” Jake says again with a squint biting his lips while scrunching his face in confusion.

“Get out.”

We all head out his office in a straight line I turn around opening my mouth to say something, probably idiotic, and would do nothing but piss my dad off more. Though he just slammed the door in my face making me pout. “ASSBUTT!” I scream at the closed door. "SHUT IT RED." My dad screamed back through the door. rude.

“My dessert privileges are revoked until I’m wrinkly but damn was it so worth it” Amy sighs in content. “Anyways catch ya losers later gotta run” she waves at us before walking off to the Aphrodite boy shes been trying to court.

"Dude does she ever just enjoy being single." Jake sighs at her. I slip my hand into Luke's as he zones out on the new kid Percy. Man I don't know what's gotten into him but its throwing me off, i don't have a good feeling at all.

I feel a small squeeze of my hand, my eyes trail over to his beautiful features, you could tell he was God gifted. I see a soft smile grow on his cheeks. Immediately I felt better. I just smile back giving him a peck on his nose. He bends down planting a sweet kiss on my forehead.

"Mmm, you smell like sweet grapes." Luke mumbles while his lips are still attached to my forehead.

"EUGH YOU GUYS ARE WORSE THAN AMY." Jake rolls his eyes while fake gagging.

"Hey jake~" A Aphrodite daughter waves at him seductively.

"Hey baby what's going on?!" He immediately stops fake gagging and wraps a flirtatious arm around her shoulder while trotting away.

"Dude he's such hypocrite." I mutter.

"BITCH!" He turns yelling at me.

"WHORE!" I scream back.

“You guys are a handful.” Luke sighs while dragging me to our field. Last time we made out there grape vines spouted all around us. It was beautiful. But embarrassing.

Luke’s pov:

“Would I be the daughter of Dionysus If I wasn’t?” Astrope says as i pick her up twirling her around.

“You make a good point princess.” I mumble in awe of her raw unique beauty.

“Why thank you pretty boy.” She smirks down at me with that mischievous grin as i gently lay her soft body down in the long grass. All around us were grape vines and vegetation. I lean down giving her a long sweet kiss on her beautiful fully red tinted glossy lips. Her lipgloss tasted of sweet red wine. If anything could describe her it would be wine red. wine Red hair, wine red glossy lips, wine red converse. She was beautiful.

“Your beauty takes my breath away astrope.” I whisper down at her. I couldn't help but to get chocked up, Especially since I won't know when the next time I'll see her.

She blushes and shies away from me due to all the attention I was giving her. I mean she was used to eye gawking attention usually in a comedic way or little boys wanting to drool at the sight of her, usually new campers, yet I don’t think anyone has loved her the way I do.

“Stop luke last time I accidentally grew grape vines and my dad made me tend to them all summer.” She huffs at me.

"All the better? Sweet grapes, and my favorite girl." I lean down once more placing a sweet kiss to her full lips. She sighs melting into my body, Our limbs were tangled together as the grape vines behind us, but I could care less about those. I could feel her getting more needy as her tongue grazes my bottom lip, immediately i push my tongue in her mouth, she opens giving me access. This kiss was passionate and needy. I could tell she was getting impatient as I run my hand up the side of her thigh, then down the middle splitting her legs open so I could lay in between her. she drags her soft hands under my shirt up my bare toned back, I shiver at her touch, the pads of her fingers were warm and soft, they felt welcoming.

"Mm I need you baby" I rasp into her ear. I felt myself slowly getting excited by the way she was grinding up into me.

"Then take me." She leans up to whisper in my ear. Immediately I run my hands under her shirt gripping her chest whilst running warm thumb over her nipple. She moans at the contact arching her back up off the grass and into me. I could feel every vein in me light in a deathly uproar of flames. My body felt like it was aching and the only thing that could cure me was burying myself into her tight cu-

"Oh gods!"

Astrope POV:

"Oh gods!"

I shoot up pushing Luke off of me, he rolls on his back with a oof. I look over to see Chiron and.. My dad. Only he was staring at us with a gaping mouth and a crushed coke in his hand. Well I'm fucked.

"may the gods have mercy on me." I mumble a quick prayer.

"YOU WONT WANT THEIR MERCY. AND YOU LARRY CASTILLO, ILL KILL YOU!"

“MY NAME IS LUKE!?” he screams while scrambling up sprinting down the field.

My dad runs after Luke but by the time he passes me Luke is halfway across the yard in long strides, he's a warrior and my dad was cast out of Olympus for falling in love with a nymph, you can guess who won that race.

"GODS, WHEN I CATCH YOU LANCE CASTIAL ILL KILL YOU!" My dad screams while wheezing out of breath from the lack of exercise he gets. My dad shoots up turning around pointing a daunting finger in my face.

"IT'S LUKE CASTELLAN, LUKE DAD." I argue.

"YOU GIRL ARE IN HUGE, GIANT, GIGANTIC, LARG-"

"Okay! I get it!" I scream over him whilst slapping his finger out my face.

"You don't get to be mad. THAT LITTLE BOY WAS FONDLING YOU!" My dad screams flailing his arms over his head whilst jumping.

"Fondling? Really!" I start while my lips quiver in embarrassment. "Or was I just kissing my Boyfriend and you came in and ruined my whole date." I say as my face heats up in embarrassment.

Nobody has to go through what I do. I remember saying that my dad don't have a normal father daughter relationship, its because we don't. I don't have a father, I have a mediocre friend, that's where he stands, you know the gods in Olympus swore to never contact their children, even whilst we're dying out. Yet those gods don't want anything more but to hold their children, they long for them, it's apparent in the secret gifts they drop, or the hotels like apollos for his children to rest peacefully during missions, You know what i got, a father that can fully interact with his daughter but chooses to instead mope around drinking coke praying for the day the gods let him back into Olympus.

"I don't get it, You don't talk to me or hangout with me, I've never had a childhood or a proper relationship with you, when I want to talk to you or spend time with you," I scoff. "Your working and I need to call you Mr.D but when I have a boy who loves me, would do anything for me, you're now my dad and now you say no?" I stop looking at his now blank face.

"That's it nothing to say really?"

"I'm sorry." He whispers. "I don't know how to do the whole father daughter thing, I'm new too this, But you are my daughter and i'll be damned if some boy ever tried to hurt my little girl." He walks over wrapping his arms around my shoulders hugging me tightly.

"Unlike the other gods I've seen you since you were just a baby astrope, I have raised you with help of the people at the camp, You are my little girl, I would burn the whole world if it meant I'd save you. You hear me?" My dad pulls me back to stare into his eyes, he wipes the falling tears off my face while placing a warm kiss to my temple.

"I Love you dad."

"I love you too red."

I hear painfully slow claps behind me so I turn around to see Jake and Amy slowly sarcastically clapping.

“Such a beautiful moment” Jake voice wobbles as any wipes away a fake tear.

“you shitbags.” I mumble.

“Yeah well now that this is over Luke wants to know if he’s going to be beheaded or not?” Any points to my dad.

“Depends on the weather.”

“DAD!”

“Kidding…maybe”

I sigh shaking my head at all there of them, bunch of idiots. We make our way back to main camp and we see Chiron standing there awkwardly. I slowly walk up with my head held down and tail tucked between my legs like a kicked puppy.

“I’m sorry Chiron that you had to see.. anyways I promise to not do that again, happy Hanukkah!” I spit out quickly while turning on my heels and running to my dad’s office. Currently he’s giving Luke “the talk” I know he’s scared shitless. As soon as I burst open the door I see Luke leaned back talking to my dad whilst, drinking a glass of wine?

“So no blood, that’s a good sign.” I sass at their comfortability. It was nice.

“No Luke was just telling me about how you two met!” My dad smiles at me. Wine. Oh lord Luke is in for a treat. I smile as luke hands me a glass I walk over to the seat next to him laying my legs across his lap. I was zoning out sipping my glass whilst watching my two favorite people get along. It was all that I ever wanted and more.

[itstokkii]

Tomato Red

in which turkey pays uzbekistan a visit. summer 2023

"It's getting hot, can't we go in for a break or something?" Sadik wiped some sweat off his forehead. He had hoped they'd spend some quality time in Nargiza's living room, watching some Turkish dramas in her living room under the merciful air conditioning.

Instead, he was out in her gardens helping her pick crops in the merciless 40 degree weather in Uzbekistan.

"Sadik, we've just started. All you have to do is fill the bucket halfway with tomatoes and cucumbers while I check on the rest of the plants and pick the basil leaves. Besides, you wanted to see me cook, right? The other foods are ready, and this is the final step," She didn't spare a glance at him, instead tending to her rose bushes. How cruel...!

He had to admit, having a whole house instead of an apartment definitely had its perks. Her house, like so many others he saw while driving to her address, had a gigantic gate, and was walled up on all 4 sides. When she let him in, he was greeted by the sight of wires holding up vines of sweet, ripe grapes. There were 2 plots of land on each side of the entranceway to her house, with pomegranate trees on one plot, and apricot trees on the other. Among her crops, she had tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, and bell peppers.

So she definitely saved on grocery bills, huh?

As the tomatoes and cucumbers piled up on his basket, he took a few glances at her. She was watering some plants that were beginning to shrivel a little.

It was kind of weird to see her in an informal setting. He always got used to seeing her in pantsuits. Now, she was in a matching dress and trouser set, a scarf tying her long hair back. She looked a little...cute? Domestic? He couldn't describe the feeling.

Feeling her eyes on him, he whipped his head back and picked the last crop.

‎‧₊˚✧[🇹🇷🇺🇿]✧˚₊‧

Glad to be in the kitchen, Sadik sought refuge as he watched Nargiza thinly chop the tomatoes and cucumbers he picked. He noticed a bowl of onions soaked in water next to him.

"What's that for?"

"We don't want the onion's flavor to be too strong in the salad."

He chuckled a bit at that.

After everything was chopped, she strained the onions, added them into the mix, and seasoned it with salt before plating the finished salad.

"You sit down in the living room. I'll bring the food." She affectionately?? shooed him as she focused on the plov and somsa she showed Sadik how to prepare throughout the day, plating those as well and carefully bringing them to the table.

In the meantime, he was flipping through channels and trying to make out what the news reporter was saying about the approval of a new set of apartment buildings to be constructed in Tashkent.

‎‧₊˚✧[🇹🇷🇺🇿]✧˚₊‧

"I cannot believe she just told him all that!" She gasped in shock as they both watched the climax of the Turkish drama they were watching. "You can't trust bad boys like him!"

"He literally kissed her once, that doesn't make him the bad boy archetype?" He looked at her, chuckling at her idea of what a "bad boy" was.

"Wait, they kissed? When did that happen?" She sipped on her black tea.

Oh right. Censorship. "Way back in episode 7. They were like, throwing themselves on top of each other. The broadcasters probably cut that scene out here."

"And for good reason! We can't be influencing the youth negatively like that–"

He gently grabbed her wrist and brought it to his lips.

"I–! Wha–!" Nargiza let out a string of stammers, her face becoming redder than the embroidered pomegranate cushion next to her.

She buried her face into it as he laughed. "You're as red as the tomatoes! But it's ok, 'cause red is my favorite color~"

"SADIK!" Her voice was muffled through the cushion.

He could stay here for a while. He didn't mind the Uzbek summer heat anymore.

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Notes: tagging @billowingangel since i know you wanted to see their dynamic! i hope you enjoy!

also, i suck at description, but the house and gardens are based off of close and distant relatives' homes back in uzbekistan! uzbek homes truly are something else...

[warrior-names]

Warrior Prefixes Based on Queer Symbolism

Explanations provided for the symbolism of each prefix! Decided to combine two of the things I'm nerdiest about here.

25+ prefixes under the cut!

Butterfly- A symbol of transformation & metamorphosis, used to represent transition

Carnation- Homosexual poet Oscar Wilde wore a green carnation in his lapel, which became a symbol of gay men

Caterpillar- A symbol of transformation & metamorphosis, used to represent transition

Cocoon- A symbol of transformation & metamorphosis, used to represent transition

Crocus- Referenced in a Sappho fragment about a female lover; also the plant that a male lover of Hermes was transformed into after his death

Dill- Referenced in a Sappho fragment about a female lover

Egg- A term for a trans person, especially trans woman, who hasn't realized they're trans

Grape- A symbol of the androgynous Greek god Dionysos, who had both male and female lovers

Hyacinth- The name of a famous male lover of Apollon

Iris- The Greek goddess of the rainbow, and a word meaning rainbow

Larkspur- The plant Ancient Greeks knew as the hyacinth

Lavender- A symbol of queerness and especially queer revolution; adopted by many liberation movements, and used in many terms referring to queer people, ie "a streak of lavender" [queer tendencies]

Lilac A color strongly associated with queerness, especially because of lavender

Lily- The namesake of the Yuri genre, with yuri translating to lily

Moon- Commonly referred to as a lesbian, a symbol of femme lesbians, and associated with the Greek goddess Artemis who is often called a lesbian and/or asexual

Pansy- Often used either as a derogatory term or pride symbol for effeminate or gay men

Pinecone- A symbol of the androgynous Greek god Dionysos, who had both male and female lovers

Pink- A color associated with queer people, especially gay men; originates from the pink triangle worn by male homosexuals in Nazi Germany

Rainbow- One of the best-known symbols of queer pride

Rose- Referenced in a Sappho fragment about a female lover

Saffron- Referenced in a Sappho fragment about a female lover

Seafoam- The color palette of the most popular modern flag for gay men

Sun- A symbol of butch lesbians, and associated with the Greek god Apollon who had both male and female lovers

Sunset- The color palette of the most popular modern flag for lesbians

Trillium- A symbol of bisexuality, appearing on the Mexican bisexual pride flag

Vine- A symbol of the androgynous Greek god Dionysos, who had both male and female lovers

Violet- Referenced by Sappho in a fragment about a female lover, violets were often given by lesbian lovers to eachother throughout history

[gardenreviewus]

How to Prune Grapevines to Grow on an Arbor Pruning your grapevines might initially seem daunting, but with the right techniques, you can create a lush and productive arbor. By working with nature, you can train your vines to thrive and produce delicious grapes while enhancing your outdoor space. In this guide, you'll discover the simple steps to effectively prune your grapevines, ensuring they flourish on your arbor and provide a stunning centerpiece for your garden. Let's get started on transforming your grapevines into a beautiful and bountiful edible display!Understanding the Basics of Pruning Grapevines A fundamental aspect of growing healthy grapevines on an arbor involves mastering the art of pruning. Proper pruning enhances air circulation, sunlight penetration, and promotes optimal fruit development. Familiarizing yourself with the basic principles will empower you to keep your vines lively and productive, ensuring a thriving harvest year after year. Why Prune Grapevines? If you want your grapevines to flourish, pruning is crucial. It helps to remove dead or unproductive wood, encourages new growth, and shapes the vines to maximize sunlight exposure. With careful pruning, you can balance foliage and fruit, improving the overall health of your plants. Key Factors to Consider The key factors to consider when pruning your grapevines include vine age, growth patterns, and the season. Be attentive to these elements to achieve the best results: Assess the vine's age and healthObserve the natural growth patternsTime your pruning during the appropriate season After evaluating these factors, you can make informed decisions about how to prune effectively. It's also important to take into account your desired vine shape and size. Different grape varieties may require specific pruning techniques for optimal yield. As you familiarize yourself with your vines, consider the following additional aspects: Check for previous pruning cutsEvaluate the spacing between vinesPlan for future growth and expansion After you've gathered this information, you'll be set to prune your grapevines confidently.The Best Time to Prune Some experts agree that the optimal time for pruning your grapevines is in late winter or early spring, just before the buds begin to swell. This timing allows your vines to recover from the cuts and encourages robust growth as they enter the growing season. Pruning during this period helps ensure that your arbor is filled with healthy, thriving vines. Seasonal Timing Tips Even when planning to prune, taking note of seasonal conditions can make a big difference. Here are a few tips to help you decide when to prune: Prune when the risk of frost has passed. Avoid pruning during heavy rain or storms. Timing can vary based on your local climate. Assume that if the buds are still dormant, it's a safe time for pruning. Signs Your Grapevines Need Pruning With grapevines, a little attention goes a long way, and you'll be able to identify when they need pruning. Look for signs like excessive growth, tangled branches, or deadwood. If you notice these issues, it's a good indication that your vines would benefit from some careful trimming. Understanding the signs that your grapevines need pruning can help you maintain healthy plants and maximize your harvest. Check for overly vigorous canes, which may crowd the vine and lead to poor air circulation. You may also see spindly shoots or an abundance of unripe grapes left after harvest, indicating that it's time to rejuvenate your plants with some careful cuts. By pruning at the right time and being aware of these signs, you can ensure that your grapevines remain healthy and productive.Tools You'll Need for Pruning The right tools can make your pruning experience much smoother and more efficient. Whether you're trimming for the first time or you're a seasoned pro, having the appropriate equipment ensures that you can handle your grapevines with care. Essential

tools include hand pruners, loppers, a pruning saw, and a sturdy pair of gardening gloves to protect your hands while working. With these tools in hand, you'll be well-prepared to sculpt your grapevines for a beautiful arbor. Essential Pruning Tools If you want to make precise cuts and avoid damaging your grapevines, investing in a few necessary pruning tools is vital. High-quality hand pruners will help you snip away small branches, while loppers are perfect for thicker growth. A pruning saw can tackle the largest limbs, and don't forget a pair of gloves to keep your hands safe. Safety Tips While Pruning The safety of your hands and eyes is paramount when using sharp tools for pruning. Start by wearing safety goggles to protect your eyes from debris, and make sure to use gloves to avoid cuts and scrapes. Always cut away from your body, and keep your tools sharp to ensure clean cuts. Check the area for potential hazards, like uneven ground or low-hanging branches. Follow these helpful tips: Wear sturdy gardening gloves Protect your eyes with safety goggles Keep your work area clear of distractions Always cut away from yourself Thou will thank yourself later for taking these precautions! A safe pruning session will keep you focused on shaping your grapevines without worrying about injuries. A few more safety practices you should consider include inspecting your tools regularly and maintaining a firm grip while cutting. If you're using ladders to reach higher vines, ensure they're stable and that someone else is around to assist you if needed. Follow these additional tips to create a safer pruning environment: Inspect tools for damage before use Ensure your ladder is stable and secure Work in pairs, whenever possible Take breaks to avoid fatigue Thou will have a more enjoyable pruning experience when you prioritize safety! How to Prune Grapevines Step-by-Step Not all grapevines require the same pruning approach, but following a step-by-step process will help you achieve healthy growth. The table below outlines the primary steps you should take when pruning your grapevines: Step Description 1. Assess your vine Review the previous season's growth and identify strong canes. 2. Choose your method Decide between spur pruning and cane pruning based on your vine type. 3. Make cuts Cut back the canes or spurs to promote new growth. 4. Clean up Remove any dead wood and excess growth to improve airflow. Determining the Right Cut Even the smallest cut can make a big difference in your grapevines' productivity. Identifying the right cut starts with understanding the previous year's growth pattern. Look for healthy canes that grew well and keep those while removing weaker or overcrowded ones. This selective cutting ensures optimal production for the coming season. Techniques for Effective Pruning The best approach to pruning involves using the right techniques to ensure your grapevines thrive. Start by using sharp, clean tools to make precise cuts, which helps prevent disease. Angle your cuts to promote healing, and try to leave a few buds on each cane for new growth. Consistency in your techniques will yield the best results as you develop your gardening skills. Plus, consistent pruning practices will help you learn more about your specific vines over time. Each season offers an opportunity to assess how well your grapevines produced, allowing you to adjust your techniques as needed. Also, safeguarding your tools and keeping them sterilized can elevate your pruning sessions, ensuring your plants remain healthy and vigorous.Common Mistakes to Avoid For successful grapevine pruning, it's crucial to stay clear of common pitfalls. Many gardeners tend to prune too aggressively or not enough, which can hinder your vines' growth and yield. Pay attention to these mistakes to ensure your arbor thrives and produces delicious grapes for you to enjoy.

Over-Pruning versus Under-Pruning To achieve the best results with your grapevines, find a balance between over-pruning and under-pruning. Too much pruning can stress your plants, while too little may lead to a tangled mess that restricts air circulation and light. Aim for healthy growth by targeting the right amount of wood during your pruning sessions. Timing Errors to Watch For Mistakes in timing can significantly affect your grapevines' health and fruit production. Pruning at the wrong time can expose your plants to frost damage or disrupt their natural growth cycle. Take care to prune during the appropriate season for your grape variety to help your vines thrive. Plus, be aware that pruning too late in the season can hinder new growth, while early pruning might expose tender buds to chilly temperatures. Aim to prune when your vines are dormant, typically in late winter or early spring, just before new growth begins. This timing allows your grapevines to recover quickly and set the stage for a bountiful harvest. Maintaining Your Pruned Grapevines Unlike other plants, your grapevines require specific care to thrive after pruning. Proper maintenance will ensure they grow beautifully on your arbor, providing a lush, green canopy and delicious grapes. Regularly check for any signs of pests or diseases, and be diligent about watering and fertilizing as needed to support healthy growth. Post-Pruning Care Tips The success of your pruned grapevines relies on attentive care after pruning. Here are some crucial tips to follow: Water your vines adequately, especially during dry spells. Apply a balanced fertilizer to promote new growth. Remove any dead or damaged wood as it appears. Monitor for pests and take action as needed. After following these tips, your grapevines will be well on their way to thriving. Encouraging Healthy Growth The key to encouraging healthy growth in your grapevines lies in providing the right environment and consistent care. Make sure your vines receive enough sunlight, ideally at least six hours a day. Keeping the soil well-drained and regularly mulching around the base can help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Encouraging your grapevines to grow strong means giving them the right nutrients and conditions to flourish. Regularly check the soil moisture and adjust your watering schedule accordingly. Additionally, support healthy development by pruning appropriately each season and ensuring your arbor offers the necessary structure for climbing. With your dedication, your grapevines will reward you with abundant foliage and tasty grapes over time.Conclusion Taking this into account, pruning your grapevines not only helps them grow beautifully on your arbor but also ensures a healthier and more fruitful harvest. By following the proper techniques and timing, you can guide your vines effectively while enhancing their appearance. Each season offers a fresh opportunity to refine your approach, so embrace the journey and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with nurturing your grapevines. Happy pruning! https://gardenreview.us/pruning-grapevines-for-arbor-growth/?feed_id=214&_unique_id=672db9216c441 https://gardenreview.us/pruning-grapevines-for-arbor-growth/?feed_id=214&_unique_id=672db9216c441

[alyssa-the-witch]

New OC- Diogenes

"Dropping in from their vine, it's "The Madness Master", Diogenes! Raised in the biggest forest in the world, he has trained and frolicked for years, always stressing the importance of both!"

Backstory-

Diogenes was born with no arms at all, his hands being set right at his shoulders. He was raised deep in the forest in what was essentially a hidden cult. Dio is the second youngest of 7 siblings, all to a now single mother. Their father left him when his younger sister Euridice was born. Throughout his child he loved plants and eventually grew to love botany. Specifically, he began to sneak into the city and read up on plants with the ARMS gene. That gene makes any organic material swirl like a spring and is the reason ARMS battles exist. Then, he began to cultivate ARMS affected grape vines, acquiring as many has they can and cross breeding the strongest ones.

At age 15, and with the help of his siblings and mother, he developed a surgery. In practice, it would cut off his hands, attach the vines to his nerves, cut a small hole in the back of his neck, and weave the roots into his spinal cord and brain. His mother was cautious and didn't want to go through with it. They fought with their mother, despite how much he loved her. Three days later, she came down with a terrible illness and passed away. He did the surgery the next day so he could bury his mother along with the rest of his siblings. The surgery was successful.

After about a week, he gained full strength into his ARMS and began to train as a fighter to get his grief out. He realized they had a knack for it, and realized this would be a good way to make money. So he started going into small fights and even won a minor league tournament. There, he met Lola Pop and began to train with her. Then, after years of testing and fighting, he officially joined the Grand Prix at age 22. 

Personality/Relationships-

He is a very laid back kind of guy, always looking on the neutral side. Their chill yet playful nature makes him super chummy with Lola Pop. They've both taught each other a few things.

While they miss social cues like they were opponent's attacks, he is still accepting of everyone around him. The only person he truly dislikes is Byte, the local police officer. A lot of the things Dio does are against the law/social rules, but they don't know that because they weren't taught otherwise (no shoes, running by the pool, etc. They do love Bark though, the only dog they can touch.

Despite not being phased by much in battle, the one person who can get under their skin is Dr Coyle. And that is because he is ridiculously down bad for her. Every one of the rare fights he's fought her, they've thrown the match. They don't know if she knows, and he'd rather keep it that way.

He is also acquainted with Ribbon Girl because of their love of music. They have regular jam sessions where Ribbon Girl sings and Diogenes plays the drums. The drums are the first instrument Dio ever touched and he fell in love with it's intensity instantly.

[frmartinshomiliesandreflections]

26th June >> Fr. Martin's Reflections / Homilies on Today's Mass Readings for Wednesday, Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time (Inc. Matthew 7:15-20): ‘You will be able to tell them by their fruits’.

Wednesday, Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel (Except USA) Matthew 7:15-20 You will be able to tell them by their fruits.

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as sheep but underneath are ravenous wolves. You will be able to tell them by their fruits. Can people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, a sound tree produces good fruit but a rotten tree bad fruit. A sound tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a rotten tree bear good fruit. Any tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown on the fire. I repeat, you will be able to tell them by their fruits.’

Gospel (USA) Matthew 7:15-20 By their fruits you will know them.

Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.”

Reflections (7)

(i) Wednesday, Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

We are familiar with the proverb, ‘All that glitters is not gold’. It is saying that appearances can be deceptive. Another version of that insight is, ‘You cannot judge a book by its cover’. Jesus’ version of this insight in today’s gospel reading is, ‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you disguised as sheep, but underneath are ravenous wolves’. In that culture, the sheep and the wolf were at opposite ends of the animal spectrum. Jesus’ saying has made its way into the English language. We sometimes speak of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. How do you judge whether someone is genuine or not? The answer Jesus gives is, ‘you will be able to tell them by their fruits’. Do their lives bear good fruit? Saint Paul in his letter to the Galatians speaks of the fruit of the Spirit, which he identifies as ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’. In the gospel of John, Jesus speaks of himself as the vine and his disciples as the branches, and he declares that those who remain in him bear much fruit. He goes on to identify this fruit as love, calling on his disciples to ‘love one another as I have loved you’. He says that it is in and through our communion with him that we will be able to bear this fruit of self-giving love. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus is suggesting that we only know what is in a person’s heart by the lives that they lead. If their lives reveal something of Jesus’ own love, then they are sound, their heart is good. You are familiar with the prayer, ‘Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love’. We invoke the Holy Spirit to give us a good heart, to fill our heart with the Lord’s love, so that our lives can bear the fruit of love, and, so give glory to God.

And/Or

(ii) Wednesday, Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

Many of the images Jesus uses in the gospels have a striking quality to them. Such is the case with the image in today’s gospel reading of a wolf disguised as a sheep. The wolf was the enemy of the sheep. In John’s gospel Jesus speaks of the hired hand who, in contrast to the shepherd, leaves the sheep and runs away when he sees the wolf coming and, as a result, the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them. The contrast between appearance and reality could hardly be expressed more forcibly than with that image of a wolf in sheep’s clothing, an image that has made its way into modern parlance. Jesus then shifts imagery from the animal world to the plant world, declaring that the quality of the fruit reveals the quality of the tree that produced it. In other words, going back to the animal imagery, even if the wolf appears in sheep’s clothing, eventually the wolf will out. The pretence cannot be kept up indefinitely. The quality of our heart will be revealed in the quality of our lives. Paul speaks of the fruit of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. If this kind of fruit is visible in a human life, then it is evident that the person’s core is sound. Their heart is in some way in tune with the Lord’s own heart.

And/Or

(iii) Wednesday, Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus draws attention to the separation there can often be between appearance and reality. Just as there can be more to some people than meets the eye, so there can be less to some people than meets the eye. It is that second situation that Jesus highlights in the gospel reading. He speaks of those who look like harmless sheep but underneath are ravenous wolves. Projecting a false image, living a lie, is an ongoing part of the human experience. Where our hearts lie does not always correspond to how we appear. Jesus declares that the real test of what is in our hearts is the kind of fruit that our lives bear. ‘You will be able to tell them by their fruits’. St Paul used that same language of ‘fruit’ when he wrote about the ‘fruit of the Spirit’, which he describes as ‘love, joy, peace, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’. Paul doesn’t speak of ‘fruits’ but of ‘fruit’. There is one fruit of the Spirit which can be described in all these different ways. If our lives bear that kind of good fruit, our heart belongs to God, regardless of how we may appear at times. We need to keep opening our hearts to the Spirit whom we have been given, so that the good fruit of the Spirit will be more abundant in our lives.

And/Or

(iv) Wednesday, Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

We are familiar with the proverbs, ‘you cannot judge a book by its cover’ and ‘all that glitters is not gold’. Like all proverbs, they express a truth about human reality that has been gleaned from people’s experience over a long period of time. People have learned, sometimes from all too bitter experience, that what you see is not always what you get when it comes to other people. Jesus makes the same observation in today’s gospel reading when he speaks of those who ‘come to you disguised as sheep but underneath are ravenous wolves’. There is a sharp contrast between a sheep and a wolf, the latter being a dangerous enemy of the former. In John’s gospel, Jesus makes reference to the hired hand, as distinct from the shepherd, who ‘sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away’. Jesus declares in today’s gospel reading that we judge a person’s character not by how they appear to us but by what he calls ‘their fruits’. Today’s gospel reading is part of the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount. By ‘fruits’ Jesus means the fundamental attitudes and values, along with the actions or ‘good works’ that flow from them, which he has been portraying throughout the Sermon, beginning with the beatitudes. This is not far removed from what Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, calls the fruit of the Spirit, ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’. It is Paul who reminds us that if Jesus’ gospel message is to bear the appropriate fruit in our lives, we will need to open our lives to the Holy Spirit who, as Paul declares in his letter to the Romans, ‘helps us in our weakness’.

And/Or

(v) Wednesday, Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

There is often a value in disguise. In time of war combatants often need to disguise themselves especially when they are in enemy territory. The art of spying is heavily dependent on disguise, the covering up of the true reality of the person’s identity. However, there are settings where disguise is not appropriate and it is to such settings that Jesus refers in today’s gospel reading. He warns his disciples against false prophets, those who come claiming to be announcing the word of God but are actually only announcing their own word. What they proclaim publicly is a cover for something else that is hidden. They look as harmless as sheep but in reality they are as dangerous as wolves and, so, they are not to be trusted. Jesus is reminding us of the uncomfortable truth that people can be more harmful than they appear to be on the surface. Unfortunately many have made that discovery to their great cost, and continue to do so. How can you recognize genuine goodness, rather than be taken in by the appearance of goodness? Jesus declares very simply but profoundly, ‘you will be able to tell them by their fruits’. When the New Testament speaks of ‘fruit’ in relation to human lives, the reference is always to qualities that reflect the life of Jesus. In John’s gospel the branches of the vine, the disciples of Jesus, bear the fruit of love, the quality of love that God has for Jesus and that Jesus has for his disciples and for the world. In the letters of Paul the fruit of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life is also love, because, for Paul, the Holy Spirit is the love of God poured into our hearts. Those in whom the Spirit bears the fruit of love can be trusted because the good fruit of the Spirit always comes from a good heart, a heart that has been given over to the Lord.

And/Or

(vi) Wednesday, Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

In the time of Jesus, sheep and wolves were at opposite ends of a spectrum. In the gospel of John, Jesus speaks of the hired hand who runs away because he sees the wolf coming. The wolf was the enemy of sheep who were defenseless before him. A wolf in sheep’s clothing suggests the greatest possible contrast between appearance and reality. We often say of someone, ‘what you see is what you get’. Nathanael could be spoken of in those terms. Jesus referred to him as an ‘Israelite in whom there is no deceit’. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus is speaking of a very different kind of person. It is a case of what you see being the polar opposite of what you get. Judas could be termed a sheep in wolf’s clothing at the moment of Jesus’ arrest. He gave Jesus a kiss, a sign of affection and loyalty, but in reality it was a sign for the arresting party to take Jesus into their power. How do we judge reality from appearances? Jesus suggests that just as we judge a tree by the quality of the fruit it bears, so too with a human life. Our gospel reading comes towards the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount. In his teaching in the Sermon on the mount, Jesus has indicated the kind of fruit he expects the life of a disciple to bear. The portrait of such a life is initially drawn for us in the Beatitudes. Jesus goes on to say that it is a life that displays a virtue that is deeper than that of the Jewish law, such as a willingness to love not just the neighbour but the enemy. It is a life that is marked by prayer, fasting and almsgiving, a life that serves God rather than wealth, and that seeks first the kingdom of God and a way of life that is in keeping with God’s will for us. It is a life that is more attentive to its own failings than that of others. There is ample teaching in the Sermon on the Mount to allow us to assess the quality of the fruit revealed by a person’s life.

And/Or

(vii) Wednesday, Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

The expression ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’, based on today’s gospel reading, has made its way into common speech. We instinctively understand what the image conveys. The sheep and the wolf are at opposite ends of the animal spectrum. The wolf is the enemy of the sheep and the sheep are helpless before the predatory instincts of the wolf, which is why the protection of a good shepherd was so important for sheep in the time of Jesus and remains so today in many parts of the world. In John’s gospel, in contrast to a good shepherd, Jesus speaks of the hired hand who ‘sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them’. A wolf in sheep’s clothing is someone who, in reality, is the opposite of his or her public persona. It is a case of what you see being the opposite of what you get. Such people can do untold damage to the unsuspecting in all spheres of life. Jesus goes on to say that it is the fruit of people’s lives that allows us to judge who they really are. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul speaks of the fruit of the Spirit as ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’. In John’s gospel, Jesus declares that ‘those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit’, and goes on to specify this fruit as loving one another as he has loved us. In Matthew’s gospel, from which we are reading at present, the ‘good fruit’ correspond to the good works that flow from the values and attitudes articulated in the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount as a whole. When we open our hearts fully to the Holy Spirit, then the Lord will continue his good works through us and there will be harmony between how we appear to others and who we are in reality.

Fr. Martin Hogan.

[the-habitat-ring]

The (Real) Stardew Valley Farm

So a year and a half ago we bought a house, AKA the real life habitat ring. I swear the yard came with every single non-aquatic invasive plant we’ve got. Slowly but surely we’ve been murdering all the Japanese honeysuckle and poison hemlock, tearing up a truly inhumane amount of weed barrier and pea gravel, and adding truckloads of wood chips and other organic matter to start to repair the soil. Our goal is to replace everything with mostly native plants with an emphasis on food production.

But of course I needed more of a challenge. I love playing Stardew Valley. It’s really the only video game I play. And somewhere I got the idea, “Hey, wouldn’t it be cool to grow everything in Stardew Valley in our yard?” So here we are. Obviously I don’t live on some magical land with perfect weather, a giant greenhouse, and a second farm on a tropical island, so I have to make plenty of substitutions. I’m also trying to grow native plants whenever possible. Any suggestions are welcome!

2021

Amaranth - Native white amaranth (the birds love it!)

Grape - Native riverbank grapes (so many grapes) and some green cultivated variety from the neighbors

Dandelion - Obviously

Maple Tree - Native silver, red, and sugar maples (also an invasive Norway maple but we chopped it down)

Pine Tree - Not sure what kind of pines they are

Apple Tree - Not in great shape. I’d love an Enterprise apple tree at some point

Coffee Bean - Chicory (maybe that’s cheating, but it’s a naturalized plant commonly used as a coffee substitute)

Salmonberry - Not native to the Midwest, so we’re sticking with native black raspberries. We’ll likely add some pink/yellow raspberries later though

2022

Kale

Rhubarb

Strawberry - Both cultivated and native

Tulip

Radish

Tomato

Beet

Eggplant

Fairy Rose - Not a real thing so I substituted the native prairie rose

Cranberries - Native cranberry viburnum

Orange Tree -Native persimmons, which produce orange fruit

Daffodil

Spring Onion - Native nodding onions and also green onions indoors

Spice Berry - Native spicebushes

Wild Plum - Native

Hazelnut - Native

Crocus

Cherry Tree - Native black cherries and nonnative bush cherries

Tea Leaves - Native New Jersey Tea bush

Banana Tree - Native pawpaws, which are also known as Indiana bananas

Mango Tree - One of the pawpaws is a named variety called mango so I think that counts

Ginger - Attempted native wild ginger, which I don’t think survived, but am also growing ginger indoors

Green Bean

Sweet Gem Berry - Native Juneberry (Downy Serviceberry) which are a redish color

Planned for 2023

Blue Jazz - Not real so I went with the native Ozark Bluestar, which seems similar enough

Garlic

Parsnip

Apricot Tree - Native passionflower vine. Not a tree, but it is known as wild apricot

Blueberry

Sunflower - Both native and non-native sunflowers

Pineapple - Neither my spouse nor I like pineapples, so we’re going with white strawberries known as pineberries that are said to have a tropical taste

Pumpkin

Melon

Wild Horseradish - Except I’ll be growing it in a pot because it tends to get a little too wild for my tastes

Holly - Native winterberry holly

Oak Tree - Native dwarf chinquapin oak

Sweet Pea

Hot Pepper

Palm Tree - Obviosuly not going to work here but there is a native palm sedge that I’ll plant instead

Planned for 2024

Potato

Corn

Hops - Hoping to get a cutting from a native hops vine (if the local beer people don’t kill me)

Winter Root - I’m gonna go with native ground nuts because you can dig up the roots in winter

Poppy - Hopefully native wood poppy

Red Cabbage

Artichoke - Native Jerusalem artichokes

Cactus Fruit - Native prickly pear cactus

Yam

Bok Choy

Leek

Fiddlehead Fern

Blackberry

Crystal Fruit - I’m gonna go with honey berries, which produce fruit earlier than anything else

Ancient Fruit - Native Aronia berries are the only thing I can think of for this one. They’re blue(ish) and have lots of antioxidants so you live to be ancient

Figuring Out Substitutes

Rice

Wheat

Starfruit - Not really sure how to swing this one, so suggestions are welcome

Summer Spangle - Not real, so I’m open to suggestions of native plants. Possibly prairie lily? It has a similar-ish shape, is orange, and blooms in summer

Qi Fruit - Creepy little man

Taro Root - I would have to plant it in pots

Morel - I wish I could grow this

All the other mushrooms - I think I’ll just ignore any varieties and just try plugs or similar

Snow Yam

Cave Carrot - Trying to find a native carrot substitute

Coconut - I shouldn’t count this separately from palm trees, right?

Mahogany Tree

Peach Tree

Pomegranate Tree - There are Russian pomegranates that are hardy to zone 6, which just might work with climate change

[kochlandhomestead]

11/6/2024

Hello everyone! Sorry about the long absence from Tumblr. It was a very busy fall for me and when you add in the fact I got a new phone I have been scrambling to get caught up. That and I have once again started a new relationship. We started to talk in July and things quickly escalated. I now try to split my time 50/50 between the homestead and her place an hour south of home. She's a fancy pants country girl and fits into my crazy lifestyle perfectly. We are so happy together and excited to be building something with each other.

With all that being said I did get some things done this fall. We got a large crop of pumpkins from the plot that I planted. Some of my experimentations with these did not go so well but others did very good. I'm in the process now of gathering what's left over from sales in a few donations plus our own personal use to save seeds for future years. I traded several pumpkins for a few bushels of Indian corn so that will be added in next year as well. Beside that final garden harvesting, gathering grapes off the vine, picking pears to trade with our neighbor for wine like always, and starting to cut firewood for my father and the girlfriend have taken up so much time.

Of course you all know how busy I am over the holiday season with running the Santa house. On top of now having two properties to help decorate LOL.

It's been a very interesting few months but I have missed you all. I'm going to really try hard over the next couple weeks to get caught up on here and say hi to all of you. Hopefully you'll be seeing a lot more post from me and my adventures!

[kihaku-gato]

hey!! you follow my plantblr (unexpectedplantblr) and i’ve learned so much just off your tags dude. wdym pruning omg i’m so wildly unprepared how and when should i be doing that! i can’t imagine they have yt videos on shit THAT basic do they!?.

and my apples are dwarfs?? i’ve been stressing abt them so close to the house and was trying to find an arborist to help me move them but do you think they’ll be ok with just some root guard? omg i’m so sorry to bug you feel free to ignore!

There’s no issues and I welcome the asks! This enthusiasm gives me old tumblr days vibes that I think many miss these days lol.

Inevitably most domestic fruiting woody plants need a trim up of pruning for maintenance. Some types don’t need it overall or don’t need it at certain life stages, but those are the lucky cases.

While I’m currently still in the midst of pruning season as of writing this, your photos imply it’s a smidgen late for you to be doing any at all unless it’s either for major issues or dead/diseased wood; it’s generally best to get the pruning before said woody plants leaf out but while they are still dormant to reduce shock, to avoid damaging freshly sprouted growth (since if you’re early enough there’s no leaves to worry about), and keep them wasting energy on wood that’ll be cut off in the process. I recall I got my info on pruning mostly by book literature but I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s some niche videos on the topic online- there are yt video journals and tutorials for niche fruits like Asimina triloba cultivation/maintenance so surely less exotic stuff would have online tutorials on it. Do try to find more than one source to try to average out the answers they give lest they give different answers or overlook different details (gardening can get subjective sometimes after all). If I recall the rule for Grape vines you try to keep one “lead vine” intact to be the one to produce new yearly branches/shoots that will then produce the grapes.

Fortunately I think you don’t have to worry about any issues with skipping the livewood pruning this year; let this year just help you get more familiar with what you’re dealing with.

For next year I can at least say from my own experience a few points; universally you want to prune to remove dead, damaged, and diseased wood, as well as any branches that crisscross with each other (since those will just make damaged wood from rubbing if allowed to stay), and generally you try to not cut more than a 3rd of the live growth (even if it means you gotta wait next year to fully shape a tree if the pruning work for some reason is major- which is my case with my older unkempt trees) to avoid having the pruning reach deadly amounts (there are exceptions- most Clematis are pruned to extreme amounts most of the time, well established Grapes and Kiwis can have a lot taken off too in certain cases). Oh and big one that newbies can miss; if you're getting tools, try to get bypass type pruning tools, anvil type pruning tools do damage to live wood (since they crush moreso to cut unlike bypass) and are better for exclusively dead/removed wood.

Observe what others do to their trees of similar kind to your own; I learned a little bit on what to do with my own apple trees from seeing what other people have done to their apple trees of similar size in my region.

It’s not easy at first but set goals for what you’re pruning. In my case a good chunk of my apple trees are quite old (we’re talking hollowed-out old for many of these trees), so my goal is generally to help extend their lives as well as fruit production as a bonus, so I try to reduce the sources of major weight burden on the large crumbling branches. Another goal in my case is making it that the branches are not as high up so that they are easier to maintain and harvest from, since yet again, my trees are on the larger/older end of what to expect from an orchard.

While not an option for me consulting Arborists is definitely not a bad option if you’re free to throw the cash.

Pruning rules/goals for your dwarf apple trees will probably be slightly different from what I do for my own trees since you’re dealing with very different growth forms from my own.

I am not 100% certain your apple trees by the house are dwarves but their growth habit feels more like what I’d expect/imagine from dwarf/semidwarf trees; as to what fruit variety it could be a lot of possibilities; apple trees tend to be grafted onto rootstock that affects their hardiness/size, so you could have similar cultivars to what I have for the fruit/scionwood but would definitely have very different cultivars for the rootstock that they are attached to. If the previous owners knew what they were doing they would’ve chosen dwarf roostock cultivars to avoid them becoming troublesome so close to the house.

In my opinion dwarves or not they are a bit big already to risk moving/transplanting away from the house without a painful and risky amount of long (worst case possibly years worth) of aftercare; if that is or was truly an issue you’d be better off getting new rootstock to plant in the new locations and grafting onto them from the house specimens onto those new rootstocks (you can hire/ask experts if you can’t quite do it yourself, we had a family member of a family member help save a heritage cultivar in our orchard by getting some successful grafts from the dying tree. I plan to do some grafting myself down the road I just dk what to graft rn). I am not familiar with root guard, from what I read it's a brand of fertilizer that claims to help stimulate root growth???

Also note with the Cherry/Plum trees mention before; one of the issues for ID sometimes for them is there’s just, a lot of species, a lot hybridize together, and that’s not even considering/factoring in domestic hybrids/cultivars where the diversity can be as wide as it is for apple cultivars. It can really muddy the waters for identification down to the exact kind unless you’re dealing with a very sharp specialist or a very distinct variety, and even then some may struggle with certain cases.

Lucky you to also have something as fancy as a finger lime! I already guessed so but that definitely solidified my guess that you are in a warmer growing zone from me lol.

[jadetheblueartist]

I’m getting the urge to do stuff for my Percy Jackson characters so here’s them in picrew form

(Are they Megan and Talon in new form?? Maaaaaaybe) Here’s the picrew and I’m gonna talk about them under the cut hehe

The first one’s name is Beatrice (but she goes by Bea with her friends), and she is a daughter of Thanatos who was blessed by Nyx. Thanatos is the god of (peaceful) death (not to be confused with Hades, the god of the dead) and since he is the personification of death, the only way for Bea to live is by being blessed by Thanatos’s mother, Nyx (goddess of the night and very powerful). So her mother ended up dying, but she survived and was raised by her aunt’s family in Michigan. Thanatos was a pretty involved parent so she knew about the demigod thing her whole life (her family only knew vague stuff) and once she became a teen/target for monsters, she started spending half of her time in the underworld with her dad and grandma, getting training and whatnot. Eventually he decided she should go to camp half blood to meet other demigods which is how she ended up there (a year before Percy’s arrival). Her powers include having a pair of avian wings (to match her dad’s), being able to see and eventually interact with ghosts, and communicating with butterflies, as well as being able to sense death. She is a pretty serious and logical person. Being quite pacifistic, she does not like killing people and believes it is not her place. If it really comes to it, she has a sword that she can use, but it causes her guilt and she does very specific burial practices to make sure everything turns out fine (even if it’s a monster). She cares a lot about justice but isn’t very good at forming relationships. Her fatal flaw is selfishness/excessive solitude. (Oh and also I’m headcanoning that all the demigods are just neurodivergent in some way, rather than adhd exclusively bc I gotta project autism onto my girl hehehe)

The second one is Ezra, and he is a son of Dionysus. He has visited camp for a while since he and his mom were aware of where Dionysus was. Ezra has a strained relationship with his father because of how he is. Mr. D is quite dismissive and nonchalant towards his kids and it makes Ezra resentful towards him. He and his mom live in New York, a few hours away from camp and Ezra goes every year. He first started going at about 12, and aside from his father, he loves camp and always looks forward to going. His powers include control over plants, especially grape vines, and his intense emotions can seep out as a purple smoke and affect those who inhale it (if he’s very angry, he can make those around him angry, etc; tho he doesn’t have too much control over this power). He fights with two swords and emotion, really. Being really in his feels about something gets him going. He’s a pretty open and easy going guy, who feels things very deeply. The one thing he’s not open about is his rage and resentment towards his father. He’s quite the extrovert, enjoys performing, and loves everything loud and bright (such as the maximalist aesthetic he has with his clothes and room). He’s also addicted to apple juice. His fatal flaw is holding grudges.

Um but yeah they are my babies and I love them and need to draw them some stuff. Oooooh maybe some Orpheus and Eurydice things bc um it fits. It fits waaaaaaay too well. And the fact that they will be visiting the underworld is making me wanna give them parallels :)))))

[cipher-s618]

okie, for the weird asks that say a lot (link here)!

2, 7, 9, 12, 13, 18, 38, 48, 58, 60, 66, 69, 77, 81, 86, 91, and 94 >:3

2- chocolate bars or lollipops

suckers (lollipops) because more flavors and chocolate hurts the stomach

7- earbuds or headphones

earbuds. headphones don’t fit and are a textural nightmare with hair

9- favorite smell in the summer

probably freshly cut grass or that smell when the rain is coming in or maybe the cafeteria when they’re making something good

OKAY WE’RE NOT WRITING OUT THE QUESTIONS FROM HERE

12- well it would probably be one of eyetrees’ but right now it’s just ours (if humans are monsters is he who destroys humanity its worst creation or its savior on spotify)

13- key ring, as yet again, lanyards cannot be worn by us as that’s too many things on our neck (alr have two necklaces and one on the vest and that’s pushing it)

18- rain

38- lemonade only bc our father ruined tea for us but really we don’t care much for either

48- huh. maybe a banana or maybe like a kiwi. grapes are fruit right? we dont really know this one sorry

58- hmm. ooh spelling(could’ve been to state twice and nationals once if had the cash), reading really really fast, umm oh we can crochet, ummm and we can either calm people down real easy or we can (and maybe have…) knock someone out with only a couple contacts

60- um maybe something like mha maybe we don’t know we only get anime things from friends we don’t actively watch (the horror, we know)

66- huh maybe a water lily or we like dandelions. what are those pink ones from japan or whatever they put in minecraft. those are cool too.

69(heh)- umm oh the scientific name for brain freeze is sphenophalatine ganglioneuralgia (think we spelled it wrong oh well) and if you press your tongue to the roof of your mouth (palette) it goes away

77- we kill all of our plants but we would say some sort of vine or ivy if it’s outside and inside maybe aloe or a cactus???

81- we thought. we thought those were the same thing. hold on crisis time

THEY ARE THE SAME THING but we’ve never seen them but we call them fireflies hehe

86- we like both but cupcake icing upsets our stomach and cookies get stale quicker but usually cookies

91- …bags? easier to carry we suppose

94- fall. or winter. right in between right before first snow and right after that area it’s wow