#Solidago sempervirens

[aisling-saoirse]

Seaside Goldenrod - Solidago sempervirens

I found this beauty basically at the edge of high tide, 40 years ago there used to be a sizable beach community on Moores Beach, through comprehensive storm and sea level rise that community is now about 50' into the surf. Aside from the occasional brick and electrical wire no trace remains, often growing in that debris is Seaside Goldenrod

Seaside Goldenrod is a rather showy extremophile, occupying literal Beach dune constantly subject to salt and wave action. Like all Goldenrods, it produces plumes of yellow flowers from August-October. These plumes are triggered by increasing dark periods and it's native habitat range and flowering time coincides with the monarch butterfly's migration along the Atlantic coastal flyway. These plants are perennials, they can reach my height up to 6 feet! Seeds require no stratification and can just be sown immediately (try it at home).

I've found the stems and leaves to feel more succulent like on this goldenrod (given the dry saline conditions its not surprising). Ecology wise Goldenrods are always a powerhouse, not only do they serve as excellent pollinator food sources and beach dune erosion control (along side american beachgrass) they provide nesting habitats for migratory shorebirds like piping plover and kill deer.

The native range of seaside Goldenrod is coastal areas and salt marshes from Maine to Texas, occasionally colonizing our salty highways (which is way more beneficial than the typical phramite if I'm being honest).

There are no known ethnobotanical uses for seaside Goldenrod specifically, however, other scented Goldenrod flowers make a lovely tea. I would personally never attempt a tea with these flowers because they aren't fragrant and are usually packed with bees throught the fall!

[thebotanicalarcade]

n12_w1150 by Biodiversity Heritage Library Via Flickr: [Water-color sketches of plants of North America and Europe] biodiversitylibrary.org/page/48296570

[ausetkmt]

If you take a visit to Downs Farm Preserve in Cutchogue this spring, you’ll be greeted by a vibrant garden bursting with native goldenrods, milkweeds, white wood asters and more. There, monarch butterflies flutter around freely and bumblebees dart from one blossom to the next, pollinating nearby shrubs and trees as they collect nectar. 

Next to the plant beds is a pocket meadow full of assorted native grasses and perennials, as well as a thicket area with shrubs and small trees. Planted last fall, they nourish wildlife and harbor a diverse community of insects. 

The site is a small part of Southold Town’s habitat restoration efforts managed by Group for the East End, a North Fork-based nonprofit that has spent over 50 years protecting and advocating for the local environment. 

Since 2020, the organization has been working to bring back native species to the site, which had long been overrun by invasive plants. Offering little to no food value for wildlife, these invasive species create ecological deserts by outcompeting native plants and disrupting local food chains. The restored site at Downs Farm Preserve is a visual reminder of the importance that native plant species hold for pollinators and other essential insects. 

“We want as many insects as possible,” said Group for the East End outreach director Taralynn Reynolds. Though insects are often seen as pests, they’re vital to the North Fork’s food chains, serving as a source of nutrition for birds and other wildlife. They’re also key players in the North Fork’s economy. “Think about the North Fork’s agriculture and viticulture,” Reynolds said. “Who do you think pollinates those plants?” 

Solidago sempervirens (Illustration by Christina Sun) Kalmia latifolia (Illustration by Christina Sun)

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Across Suffolk County, advocates are making strides to protect these pollinators. 

In 2021, Suffolk County Legislators Kara Hahn, Bridget Fleming and Sarah Anker, along with former legislator Susan Berland, introduced a resolution that was unanimously approved to establish a pollinator task force. Composed of county agencies, horticulturists and environmentalists, the advisory group has been working to develop a plan to support pollinators. 

“Pollinators are critical to our ecosystem. These creatures are inextricably linked, not only with every home flower garden, but also with the success of our region’s over a quarter of a billion dollar per year agricultural industry,” Hahn said in a press release issued by her office in 2021. “It is often said that ‘without pollinators, we don’t eat,’ so this is one issue we can’t ignore.” 

As pollinators rely on native plants to survive, the task force advocates for growing native plants throughout the county, particularly in open green space and roadways. 

“We’re under tremendous pressure from large-scale development projects that are really looking to build up the North Fork and denigrate that rural identity,” said Reynolds. “A lot of our insects are being threatened and their populations are declining because of pesticides and loss of habitat.” 

As more and more green space is taken over by development, the preservation of native plants, Reynolds says, is essential. The Long Island Native Plant Initiative is doing exactly that; The volunteer-based cooperative is made up of over 30 nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, nursery professionals and citizens working together to protect the genetic heritage and biodiversity of plant populations on Long Island. 

“We used to have grasslands from the western end of Nassau County all the way to Montauk and those genetics used to be able to freely move amongst those populations,” explained Anthony Marinello, a member of LINPI’s board of directors. “Because development has pretty much consumed the island, our ecosystems are now very broken up and no longer connected.” 

Myrica pennsylvanica (Illustration by Christina Sun) Ilex verticillata (Illustration by Christina Sun) Quercus ilicifolia (Illustration by Christina Sun)

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LINPI’s main initiative is to distribute native ecotype seeds to the nursery industry. These are seeds that come from plants that have evolved and adapted over a long time to the soil and climate of a particular area, like Long Island. Oftentimes, explained Marinello, nurseries import seeds from other regions, like the Midwest or New England. Seeds that come directly from native plants on Long Island, however, are better suited to the local environment and have a better chance of survival, especially in the face of climate change. 

The cooperative’s executive board uses a special permit to collect native berries and seeds at state parks and nature preserves across Long Island. Once collected, these seeds are processed at the cooperative’s greenhouse at Sisters of St. Joseph in Brentwood. Some are saved as genetic samples and put in cold storage for future use, while others are grown in founder’s pots at the greenhouse. Once their genetics are mixed through reproduction, the cooperative is able to obtain seeds that represent the entire island. 

Though most of LINPI’s energy is focused on integrating these native seeds into the larger gardening industry and restoration, it also hosts a biannual plant sale where the public can purchase native plants for their home gardens. 

As pollinators rely on native plants to survive, the task force advocates for growing native plants throughout the county, particularly in open green space and roadways. 

“We’re under tremendous pressure from large-scale development projects that are really looking to build up the North Fork and denigrate that rural identity,” said Reynolds. “A lot of our insects are being threatened and their populations are declining because of pesticides and loss of habitat.” 

As more and more green space is taken over by development, the preservation of native plants, Reynolds says, is essential. The Long Island Native Plant Initiative is doing exactly that; The volunteer-based cooperative is made up of over 30 nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, nursery professionals and citizens working together to protect the genetic heritage and biodiversity of plant populations on Long Island. 

“We used to have grasslands from the western end of Nassau County all the way to Montauk and those genetics used to be able to freely move amongst those populations,” explained Anthony Marinello, a member of LINPI’s board of directors. “Because development has pretty much consumed the island, our ecosystems are now very broken up and no longer connected.” 

LINPI’s main initiative is to distribute native ecotype seeds to the nursery industry. These are seeds that come from plants that have evolved and adapted over a long time to the soil and climate of a particular area, like Long Island. Oftentimes, explained Marinello, nurseries import seeds from other regions, like the Midwest or New England. Seeds that come directly from native plants on Long Island, however, are better suited to the local environment and have a better chance of survival, especially in the face of climate change. 

The cooperative’s executive board uses a special permit to collect native berries and seeds at state parks and nature preserves across Long Island. Once collected, these seeds are processed at the cooperative’s greenhouse at Sisters of St. Joseph in Brentwood. Some are saved as genetic samples and put in cold storage for future use, while others are grown in founder’s pots at the greenhouse. Once their genetics are mixed through reproduction, the cooperative is able to obtain seeds that represent the entire island. 

Though most of LINPI’s energy is focused on integrating these native seeds into the larger gardening industry and restoration, it also hosts a biannual plant sale where the public can purchase native plants for their home gardens. 

While most Long Islanders don’t have the space to grow a meadow in their backyards, they can still create important habitats for wildlife by adding native plants to their private properties. 

Marinello first began home gardening with native plants in high school, when he transformed the front lawn of his parents’ suburban West Hempstead home into a mini oasis for songbirds. 

“I used to feed the birds in high school, and then I learned that you could grow a better bird feeder,” he explained. After some research, he realized that he would need to grow native plants to attract caterpillars as a food source. “If you don’t have native plants in your landscapes, those birds don’t have a way to feed their chicks, so they actually starve in their nests during the breeding season.” 

Eurybia divaricata (Illustration by Christina Sun) Heliopsis heliathoides (Illustration by Christina Sun)

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Today, Marinello is the founder of Dropseed Native Landscapes, a mobile company that helps individuals transform their yards into ecological safe havens. He offers online and in-person consultations to home gardeners across Long Island, selling native plants that he purchases from local wholesale nurseries like Glover Perennials in Cutchogue. 

Whether Long Island residents have a large backyard or a second-floor balcony, planting natives for pollinators and other wildlife, Marinello says, is for everyone. 

“If you have a small section of your yard that you don’t use, instead of keeping it as a lawn, you can make it a pocket prairie with native plants,” he explained. 

When Reynolds first moved back to Long Island, she had to work with a small apartment patio. “I didn’t have the space and didn’t want to put the money into beautifying a place that wasn’t mine,” she explained. “I got containers and planted swamp milkweed in one of them. In one season, I had about 30 caterpillars on that one plant.” 

Native plants can also save gardeners time and money. Unlike the exotic plant species that people often use in their gardens, native plants are well adapted to the environment, so they fare well without regular watering and maintenance. They also don’t require pesticides, a benefit for both the environment and communities’ health. 

Though native planting has become increasingly popular among gardeners over the last decade, environmentalists like Marinello and Reynolds continue to see some apprehension from within their community. One common misconception is that native flower gardens are less “aesthetic” than exotic flower-filled gardens. 

“Some of our native plants are absolutely gorgeous,” said Reynolds. Butterfly weed, she named as an example, is a bright orange flowering plant. “It really gives you that shock of color.” 

“A lot of times when we speak about native plants people think that we’re speaking about some abandoned lot on the side of the road,” Marinello added. “That abandoned lot is filled with the non-native, invasive species. That’s not what we’re doing. We’re talking about vibrant wildflowers and shrubs that flower and smell fragrant.” 

Asclepias syriaca (Illustration by Christina Sun) Eragrostis spectabilis (Illustration by Christina Sun)

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Tips for planting a native garden

Contact your local garden centers

There are several garden centers on the North Fork that sell native plants, including Peconic Herb Farm in Calverton, Chick’s Southold Agway and Trimble’s Nursery in Cutchogue. Contact your local garden center and express your interest in planting native plant species. 

Do your research

Make sure that you are purchasing a plant that’s native to your region, not just the USA. As a rule of thumb, you’ll want to find plants that are native to an area that is within 250 miles from your home. 

Educate yourself on the botanical names of native plants to ensure that you are purchasing the exact species that you are looking to grow. Oftentimes, plants at nurseries are either not properly labeled or common names may be misleading. For example, Montauk Daisies — scientific name Nipponanthemum nipponicum �� originate from the coastal regions of Japan. 

The New York Flora Atlas is an online resource that allows users to search for plants that are native to New York by their common name, scientific name, county, genus or family. 

Choose the right plant for the right place

Some conditions to consider are sunlight, soil type, water availability and exposure to temperatures. Be sure to remove pesky invasive species from the area, which can destroy native plant species. 

Join a community

Visit local parks and preserves, like Downs Farm Preserve or the native rain garden at Inlet Pond Park in Greenport for inspiration. Reach out to local nonprofits and other organizers that plant native species for advice. There are also several online communities dedicated to native planting, like the Long Island Native Plant Gardening Group on Facebook.

[thyla]

hey, i just came across one of your gifsets and i was just wondering how you get them so sharp? i'm absolutely shook. i swear to god I've looked at evert single gif tutorial and tried so. many. techniques. and mine still look dull and it's driving me crazy!!

Hi! sorry it took a while to get back to you! First of all thank you! I’ve only been getting really into making gifsets this past year. I’m gonna explain everything under the cut so this post wont’ be super long on people’s dashboard. :)

So, I try to get my hands on the highest quality of the content I’m gonna gif. I do think this is important.

this tutorial HERE is what helped me the most. It was really the best for me personally.

In the tutorial there’s this sharpening action. Which I use but I go and do one extra step after this. I use Surface Blur.

Now i’ve gone and played with the radius and threshold all the time with my earlier gifsets until i found something I like. I tend to change it more with older movies/shows and animated content. Otherwise 81 & 6 is my go to.

And when I go and save it this is my settings. Instead of saving it under optimized I save it under Original. And on the right size under preset I save it under Selection and Diffusion.

I hoped this helped! If you have any questions please feel free to message me.

[coffee-with-bucky]

Lovers

Summary: Unnamed and undefined, you don’t know where your relationship with Viktor stands. But, when you mention that Viktor’s moles are signs of where his past lover would kiss him in his past life, you two slowly push your relationship across that threshold and put an official description.

Pairing: Viktor x Reader

Words: 1.6K

Genre: Fluff

GIF Credit: @solidago-sempervirens​

A/N: I’m so down bad for Viktor lmao. Anyways, I had fun writing this! (Reader is kept gender-neutral)

To others, the glances were mere looks – nothing more.

But deep down in your heart, you knew what they meant. And Viktor knew just as well.

There was no label as to what this was.

Friendship? It was much more.

A romantic relationship? No official stamp of approval. It was in limbo.

But what you did know was the connection that you and Viktor forged was unspoken. Fleeting glimpses with glints in his golden eyes, which practically glowed when the sun’s rays hit them.

It was when no one was looking – the lightest of touches upon the tips of fingertips brushing across hands and arms. Sometimes your hands would find themselves trailing up to his shoulder, a gentle squeeze that you swore made all the tension in Viktor’s body dissolve. 

You treaded on a fine line – your hands itched to drift higher, wanting to linger on the sides of his neck, maybe even place a kiss where his pulse point laid.

And that was the bigger issue – you wanted to kiss him. Kiss every inch of skin he would allow. Those sharp cheekbones, his forehead where those baby hairs rested, those lips that spoke of scientific theories and ideas of hextech inventions, but more notably, the two moles that speckled his skin.

One under his right eye, the other above the corner of his left lip. You found yourself gazing at those moles almost as much as admiring his stunning eyes. A desire to kiss those moles consumed your thoughts to the point where you would get so distracted –

“…Hello? Eh, are you still with me, duck?”

Brought back to reality, the handle of Viktor’s cane waved in front of your face. Viktor smirked as you blinked, heat rising to your cheeks. You were supposed to be listening to Viktor’s explanation of the new hexgates that were in development since you asked him.

Well, half of that was true. You did want to learn about the hexgates but, it was also an excuse to spend more time with him and temporarily ditch your duties as Heimerdinger’s assistant. It was a slow day and you had justified to yourself that you could slack off for one day.

You narrowed your eyes at him, sitting up straighter in your stool, “Will you stop calling me that?”

Viktor laughed, an almost baritone quality blended into his tone, “Never.”

“Why do you call me that again? You could have given me a cuter nickname instead, you know, like dove.” You huffed.

Viktor leaned forward from his stool with a gleam in his eye, “It’s only because you pout like a duck.” As your brows furrowed, you intuitively pouted your lips, “See!”

Crossing your arms, you stuck your tongue out at him.

Viktor playfully rolled his eyes, “You never cease to amuse me, my duck.”

A bashful grin laced your face. As much as you pretended to be annoyed at Viktor’s nickname for you, it secretly made your heart race.

“Besides, a duck is cute. Therefore, a cute nickname… For a cute individual.”

You swore your heart was going to combust inside your chest.

“Now about your attention span…” Viktor hummed. Holding the middle of his cane, he softly tapped the handle of his cane to your forehead.

A gentle bonk.

“It appears something is causing a hindrance to your concentration.”

You rubbed the back of your neck with a sheepish smile, “Yeah, something like that.” Your eyes flickered to the mole above the corner of his lip.

“What’s distracting you?” Viktor tilted his head as he nudged your knee with his.

You sighed, “I was looking at the moles on your face.”

Viktor’s eyebrows raised, “Oh? And what about them?”

You smiled, remembering the myth your friends and family relayed to you many, many years ago.

“They reminded me about a myth I learned about growing up. I was told that the moles and birthmarks on your skin were indicators to where your lover from your past life kissed you the most.” You nudged his knee back.

A light flush sprinkled his cheeks. Viktor hummed, leaning his cane against the workbench, “And… You believe it?”

“Mhm, yes. But also no.”

“How so?”

You tapped your chin, “I find the sentiment behind it adorable, sure. But I think it makes the reason to kiss someone all the sweeter for the next lover in the next life.”

Viktor nodded. Pulling his chair closer to yours, his knees now brushed against yours.

“So, you’re telling me, a lover from my past life liked to kiss me… Here and here.” Viktor pointed to the moles on his face.

You smiled and nodded back, softened eyes flickering to his moles, “I think your lover knew what they were doing.” Viktor raised a brow. “I theorize that the lover from your past life kissed you here,” You softly tapped the mole under his eye with a finger, “And here,” You tapped the one above the corner of his mouth, “Because they were the most optimal spots for kisses.”

“That’s certainly a… bold theory.” Viktor smugly smiled, eyes darting to your lips briefly. “Maybe… You could test your theory?”

Your eyes widened, a quiet gasp catching in your throat at the mere image of you kissing his cheek. 

“I-I mean yes, I could, theoretically.” You bit your lip before shrugging. “But... I’m going to need a participant.”

Resting his elbows on his knees, Viktor leaned forward so much that his face was just inches away from yours.

“You have a prime contender right here.”

You cleared your throat, “Well, as the researcher, I’m going to need to ask the participant for verbal consent, which coincides with ethics, confidentiality and confirms that they want to participate in the study–“

“Yes. I consent. Now will you stop stalling, my duck?” Viktor chuckled.

You gave a single nod, biting the insides of your cheeks in an attempt to stop smiling. Taking in a gentle breath, your fingers floated under his chin, hooking it between your index finger and thumb. Leaning forward, you planted a soft kiss under his eye, letting your lips linger for a few moments. You heard Viktor’s breath hitch as your thumb grazed against his skin.

Gravitating towards his other mole, you kissed it with just as soft of a touch. Your lips were dangerously close to the corner of his lip – if you had moved just a hair-width below, you would have met a sliver of his mouth.

Pulling back, you chuckled at the sight before you. Viktor’s cheeks were drenched in pink, the tips of his ears turning almost as red as his tie.

“So as the main participant in this study,” You smiled as you stood up and sat at the edge of the lab table, “Is my theory correct?”

Slightly loosening the tie around his neck, Viktor chuckled with a widened grin, “W-Well, you’re going to have to note that I will certainly have a bias in the results,” Viktor smirked up at you, “But you’re correct. My lover from my past life knew where I liked to be kissed… except I think they forgot a crucial one.”

Before you could deliver a question, you realized that Viktor’s golden eyes burned with something behind them as he stood up. You didn’t have time to react as Viktor placed his arms beside you, caging you in as he leaned against the table. Cupping your cheek, he brought his lips to yours.

You sat there frozen, your mind short-circuiting at the feeling of Viktor’s lips on yours. Fluttering your eyes closed, you pressed back tenderly, slowly, and gently, moving your lips against his. Your lips perked into a tiny grin against Viktor’s mouth, reaching up to gently hold Viktor’s wrist as he caressed against your cheek.  

When you two pulled away, Viktor stammered, “I-I apologize if I overstepped–“

You cut him off by grabbing his tie, lightly tugging him forward so you could kiss him again.

“Oh.” Viktor chuckled, stumbling slightly as you kissed him with more passion, one hand still holding his tie while the other snaked into his hair. Viktor stood in between your legs, his hands landing on your waist while a quiet sigh emitted from the back of his throat. The hand in his hair soon traveled down, you gently held the side of his neck as your thumb caressed the side of his jaw.

A mischievous thought passed your mind. You lightly gave a playful bite to his lower lip, making Viktor’s breath hitch. His hands at your waist tightened, his lips pressing firmer and more feverish than ever, making you sigh into the kiss.

Pulling away, Viktor pressed his forehead to yours, deep breaths mingling as smiles reached both of your faces. Viktor let out a giddy laugh, the corners of his eyes crinkling in delight as he brushed the tip of your nose with his.

“So…” Viktor sighed, languidly rubbing circles with his thumbs at your waist, “I forgot to ask, do you think my moles are optimal placements for kisses?”

With a big smile, you cupped his cheeks and kissed his moles again.

“Does that answer your question?” You laughed, running your thumbs across his cheekbones.

“Yes, it quite does,” Viktor closed his eyes briefly, leaning into your touch, “One last question.”

Sliding your hands down, you draped your arms over his shoulders, “Shoot.”

“You also said that my moles give a reason for the… next lover to continue those kisses,” Viktor avoided your eyes as the flush on his cheeks deepened, “So I ask, will you be that person? My… lover?”

Warmth bloomed in your chest, diffusing across your body, and traveled up to your face. Your face felt like it was set ablaze, particularly in your cheeks.

For the longest time there was no label. And now with his kisses and touch burned into your mind, imagining your relationship to be officially defined–

Lovers.

“I would love to.”

Viktor grinned, capturing your lips once more.

[whirlybirbs]

do u ever plan to write for viktor from arcane? 👀

✶   —   tinkering   ;   viktor / f!reader

summary: you’re the third founding member of hextech. you and viktor have a working relationship that’s blossomed into something a bit more lovesick.

word count: 1.8k

pairing: viktor / f!reader

a/n: i have been really pining for him these last few days so enjoy work-crush dialed to 1,000 on the mush level ft. jayce being the third wheel bestie we deserve. this gif is by @solidago-sempervirens​‘s beautiful set here!

They're late.

When you spy only one of your two Hextech partners nearing, your jaw falls open slightly.

"Where's—?" 

You don't even finish the question.

Jayce is clearly in a rush; he's just now — as he takes two plush, velvet stairs at a time — rolling down the sleeves to his dress shirt. He offers up his best apologetic look as he juggles his suit jacket. Despite your tiny twinge of annoyance that the two had left you to entertain the ravenously curious guests alone, you cave almost immediately when he peaks around your shoulder and curses at the full meeting hall.

Tucked in a back corner of the gilded, marble ballroom a string quartet plays.

"He's still downstairs," Jayce explains in a slight whisper as guests flow around you both; his warm eyes bounding from you to the guests and back to you; he clears his throat, "Tinkering — you know how he is... "

"Casting stones at glass houses are we?" you joke, exhaling as Jayce struggles into his suit jacket. You reach to smooth down his lapel, "Do I need to go and coax him out?"

"If I'm being honest I don't think he ever had any interest in attending," Jayce supplants between a rushed thank you, "I owe you."

"You do — now go, stakeholders are asking all sorts of questions... Mostly about when you'd show up," you wave him on as a waiter passes. You grab two flutes of champagne in a smooth move and offer your best smile in thanks. You turn back to Jayce, "Piltover's finest seem interested in you, poster-boy."

"Yea, well," Jayce rolls his shoulders and grabs a drink of his own — shedding his skin as an inventor in an uncannily seamless manner. Suddenly, he's giving you the smirk he reserves for the truest moments of camaraderie, "Don’t be long. And do give my love to Viktor."

You give him an unamused glare. The flat narrow of your lashes makes the man laugh into his drink. With a well-practiced eye-roll, you turn on your heel and move to descend the stairs to the main lobby.

"Don't let them eat you alive, Talis," you snark over your shoulder, unable to hide your evident smile.

"Let us pray they do!" he calls back at the sight of it digging into the corner's of your lips, “Don’t take too long!”

The delicate pluck of a violin's strings carries itself through the evening air. Through the courtyard, across the rotunda. You opt to take the long way around, lest you get suckered into another riveting conversation about trade taxation increases with some would-be politician in the lift to the lower floor.

With so many guests meandering around at the symposium above, they've left the lights on.

You balance the flutes of champagne neatly as you move easily towards the wing where Hextech has found refuge in recent months. With the Hexgates set to begin construction in a month's time, late nights in the these labs have become a regular occurrence. You've made this exact trek a thousand times — sometimes well beyond midnight, at the call of a dream; when magic carries a breakthrough on its wings.

Your heels click neatly across the floor — and you can see the glow of the lab alive beneath the heavy door barring entrance.

It's unlocked.

You bump the door open with your hip.

Viktor is — to Jayce's credit — tinkering.

He looks quite handsome.

He's wearing something different from his usual academic attire — something darker, with a wine colored dress shirt and an inky black suit jacket hung over his chair-back.

Immediately, the tinkering ceases. You note the very deliberate stillness of his hands when you poke your head around the door; your earrings sway and twing like bells in the evening air. Viktor's face lifts at your appearance; and for a moment, the schematics are forgotten.

Perhaps he should have gone upstairs.

"I've brought good tidings...?"

It's as if you're asking permission to pull him from his work. As if he'd ever say no.

Your humor eases the throat-catching hitch of his heart enough — and his rasp of a laugh is wholly real. Viktor drops his head, to denote a bit of an apology, as you move from around the door and let it swing shut behind you.

It's then that he gets a good look at your dress — and once more, he nips at his inner self for refuting the invitation to the symposium. He had a habit of doing so. A habit that he's recently begun to oppose. It's as if he can't spend enough time around you. You, his business partner. You, the one soul he spends more time around than Jayce. You're his equal. His friend. His most trusted confidant.

Hell alive, he thinks you're the most beautiful woman in the cosmos.

The gilded jewelry at your throat catches the low, humming blue emittance from the Hexcore as you pass its confinement. Your hand is extended, offering the flute of champagne to him in his seat at his desk.

"I... Time escaped me," Viktor supplies as his amber eyes move across your face, "I apologize."

Viktor takes the champagne with a quiet thank you. You ignore the way his fingers still against yours — and the way shyness curls into your heart at the touch.

"I'm jealous, really," you chide playfully as you lean against the lip of his desk. You peak over your shoulder at the papers on the desk.

Viktor hums out a soft chuckle as he tips the drink back to take a sip. "Should I assume you were looking for a reason to get away, then?"

You watch the movement — stuck on the glimpse of his throat. His tie is loose. Clearly, he and Jayce had been having one of their rather animated back-and-forth's. The sort that always came when you had put your focus forward...

The three of you... Well, Jayce and Viktor are everything to you. Recently, though, things with Viktor have been different.

Even Jayce has seen it.

He's caught onto the sparks that electify the air each time an excited breakthrough breeches the surface — the way you two connect gazes, with eager smiles hanging onto the closeness shared and breaths abated. There are these moments in the flow of work where forlorn looks are cast across the room; always when the other isn't looking. In the haze of ingenuity, where praise spills, where cheeks are split with bashful smiles and lingering hands upon excited hands.

Is this the burn of fondness, then? Slow and steady, as promised as the rise of the run?

His question isn't an easy one.

Quiet slips between you two. Somewhere, outside the large windows, you can still hear the strings winding a long tune.

You look down at your heels and toe the tile. 

“It’s all so boring — stuffy. You know how it is,” you mutter quietly with a sigh, “And if I’m being honest? I’d much rather be down here... With our work, our projects...”

A pause. You move to gently pick up the set of notes he was reading prior to your interuption. It does well to shield the uncertainty in the coming confession.

“...With you.” 

You flash your gaze to him.

Viktor blinks. Suddenly, he’s rushing to stand. His champagne is left to sit on the desk as he reaches for his cane and bears his weight, squaring his posture away to his full height. He’s not small by any means. Tall, elegant. As handsome as he is clever. 

Quickly, he assess the comment — and he finds no humor. At first, it’s entirely distressing. He isn’t sure whether to laugh this off or to hang onto the small, possible promise of affections shared for a moment longer. Outside, the stars glimmer a little brighter at the thought. 

“I — uh... You...?” suddenly, words a little harder than he remembers; the admission comes like a lightning strike on a calm day. He clears his throat as you gently place down the papers and turn your eyes up to him. He levels his voice and his accent makes the question near poetic, “...Do you mean that?” 

This time, you’re the sheepish one. Your attention flicks between his eyes and his mouth. You’re reading his expression, trying to understand the microcosms of emotion brewing there. 

“Lying is unbecoming,” is the slow, chaste remark earned. It’s sheepish. Shy. Sweet. 

Viktor’s laugh is delayed — chased down by the immeasurable rush of affection that blooms in his heart. 

Then, there’s another crawl of quiet between you. 

This one is easy. Warm. Gentle. 

Both of you hold one another’s gazes with bitten smiles. It’s Viktor whose laugh breaks the silence when his grin becomes too big, too tender to keep back — it’s breathless and enarmored. He ducks his head. 

You chew the inside of your lip.

“Well, if I’m being honest,” comes the pointed drawl of his words as his hand reaches for yours, “I was agonizing over just how I’d ask you for a dance...”

It’s your turn to laugh. Your face feels hot now at the center of his attention. Long fingers turn your palm over, admiring the delicate bands of gold along your knuckles. You’ve painted your nails. 

"Though, now I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to ask the most beautiful woman in all of Piltover to dance.” 

Your lips part in a shocked breath. Viktor smiles. His hand leaves yours to drift to the delicate silk of your sleeve, to trace the cut-outs along your arm. His thumb ventures the curve of your shoulder. As if your orbit has latched onto his, you’re drawn in — the palm of your hand meets the sharp contour of his jaw.

“Flattery will get you anywhere—” you muster in a whisper, deflecting the praise that has your head spinning. 

“—Honesty. It’s honesty,” he corrects gently.

And, perhaps this moment would have ended with more than lovesick looks and tenderness passed between touch. Perhaps, Viktor would have kissed you in the quiet of the lab, beneath the glow of the Hexore, to the tender swell of a string qaurtet in the lower gardens. Perhaps, you two would have decided to share a dance here. In private, in heart and hand. 

Perhaps.

But, Jayce has a habit of poor timing.

He nearly falls over himself at the sight of his two closest friends entwined, a breath apart — and immediately the door is swinging back to clock him in the side as he trips forward and shouts out a loud apology. The tray of cakes in his hands tumble with him, clattering loudly as he laughs sheepishly and regains his balance. 

“Sorry—!”

Is he? 

You snap away from Viktor, moving to gather up your respective glass and play off the closeness with easy, slinking movements. Your own sheepishness is hidden in a well-played cough. Viktor, however, remains unmoved. Steady. Heavily vested in your small moment.

“I... I wasn’t meaning to interupt—”

“We were just about to join you,” comes Viktor’s easy reply, albeit his eyes are stuck to you the entire time he speaks. He raises a hand and waves Jayce off, “Weren’t we?”

You blink at him. Your lashes flutter. 

Then, you sip your champagne and nod. 

“Of course.”

After all, you owe him a dance.

[galacticgraffiti]

𑁍 Eya at 79's 𑁍

The insanely skilled and wonderfully talented @crowbafett painted Eya for me a while ago and I've not been able to think about anything else ever since. Thank you for making Eya come to life! ❥

Detail shots and taggies under the cut.

@rescuethewretched @deewithani @thefact0rygirl @baba-fett @rowansparrow @twistedstitcher27 @ashotofspotchka @thebitchformerlyknownaskenobi @ladykatakuri @solidago-sempervirens @meabravo @corrabell @witchklng @shadesofshatteredblue @purgetrooperfox @tachyon-girl @amyroswell @palpipeen @certified-anakinfucker @rain-on-kamino @fivedicksinatrenchcoat @pinkiemme @kakashibabe02 @writingbylee @ulchabhangorm @cyarbika

[eelqueen]

solidago-sempervirens -> eelqueen

[gardenvarietygay]

I’m currently working in a garden that is almost only boxwoods (Buxus sempervirens) and Annabelle smooth hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’). It’s pretty but it’s so curated that it feels kind of oppressive. Luckily, the client inherited the landscape and when I mentioned it to her she seemed relieved that she had permission to not like the look. We’re leaving the structure in place but we’re adding in tons of pollinator plants with lots of color to cheer it up. It’s very 90s gardening magazine right now and she wants something more fun.

I’m adding in Sweet Joe Pye (Eutrochium purpureum), sweetspire (Itea virginica), creeping oregon-grape holly (Mahonia repens), coral bells (Heuchera), and false sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides). They can all take dappled shade in our area and will hopefully liven up the color scheme with magenta and yellow.

Most of what I’m planting also provides great fall color and winter interest so that seasons actually mean something in this evergreen garden. For that purpose I’m also going to plop in about a million spring bulbs, they’re not native but at least they’ll look pretty and provide something for early pollinators.

Elsewhere, I’m going to plant purple poppy mallow (Callirhoe involucrata), blue indigo (Baptisia australis), rosemallow (Hibiscus moscheutos), snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus), aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) and goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) in sunny spots. In those areas the only plants are roses (Rosa), spirea (Spirea japonica), barberries (Berberis thunbergii), and some evergreens (Taxus, Pinus, Picea). The roses are alright, I personally hate spirea and barberries but they’re so established I don’t think we’ll be able to do much about them.

It’s a beautiful location and a very sweet client so it’s a joy to work in. I might have to post some pictures of the finished product.

[tired-sunwitch]

Flowers Masterpost A - Z

Arisaema triphyllum Senecio vulgaris

A personal list of correspondences, as well as health facts and other names.

Arum - immortality, vitality (don't take while pregnant/breastfeeding)

Angelica (archangel) - wards, banishments, protection, purity. Soothes cough/cold, reduces fever. (Don't take w diabetic meds)

Arnica Montana (mountain daisy, mountain tobacco) - health, protection. Anti-inflammatory, oil eases muscle pain. ( poisonous in large amounts - severe gastrointestinal fever, nausea, fever, dizziness, diarrhea, internal bleeding)

Agrimony (rats tail) - reversal spells, protection, divination, sleep, revealed lies/secrets. Oil relieves muscle/nerve pain. Cream helps circulation, arthritis, and colds.

Azalea (Rhod odlendron) - happiness, spirit work, burial ritual offerings (poisonous - nausea, vomiting, coma, deep depression, difficulty breathing, fever, internal bleeding, abnormal heart rate)

African violet (saint paulia) - protection, spirit work

Althea (Hibiscus syriacus)  - purity, prosperity, anger, protection

Aster - love, offerings, protection, wishes

Astilbe (False goatsbeard)  - purity, prosperity, anger, protection

Avens (Geum) - exorcisms, purification, love

Bluebell (Hyacinthoides) - encouragement, subsequent danger, fields of them = fae are near, death omens (bulb is poisonous)

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) - an ill omen, warfare, death, secrets, murder, protection from fae, fertility, bad luck (poisonous in large amounts)

Bachelors Button (Centaurea, cornflower) love, death, offerings

Balm of Gilead (Ceclronella) - spirit work, love, secrets, beauty, confidence (skin irritation, severe stomach ache, don’t take if pregnant/breastfeeding)

Belladonna (nightshade, Atropa belladonna, death herb, devil’s cherries, devil’s herb) - death, dream magic, transformation, divination, astral projection, visions, curses (deadly poisonous - blurred vision, hallucinations, red skin, fever, dry mouth, loss of balance, coma, can be absorbed through skin)

Bryony (Bryonia diocia) - luck, money, life 

Burdock (Arctium Minus, fox dote)  - displeasure. Reduces throat infections, minor rashes and boils.

Buttercup (frog’s foot, Ranuculus areis) love, madness (poisonous - rash, blisters)

Bleeding heart (lamprocapnos spectabilis) - expression, love, passion, death, luck, bad omens, tragedy (poisonous in large amounts - convulsions, rashes)

Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) - empowerment, purification, money, love breaking, protection (Don’t take if pregnant - miscarriages)

Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa, cat’s foot, snakeroot)  - courage, power, love, potency, protection, happiness (don’t take if pregnant - miscarriages, nausea, rash, headache)

Betony (Stachys Officinalis, common hedge nettle, bishop wort) - purification, protection, cleansing, devotion

Bindweed (Convoluos arvensi, devel vine, devil guys) - humility, curses

Black - eye - Susan (rudbeckia hirta, brown betty, gloriosa, daisy, golden Jerusalem, English bullseye, yellow oxe eye) - transformation, life, healing, soul, love. Soothes swelling, back pain, earache, immune booster

Blue flag (Iris Versicolor, poisonous flag, chagon flower, dagger flower, dragon flower) - sorrow, hex breaking, don’t trust fae holding this, (poisonous - nausea, vomiting, irritation of mouth, skin, throat and digestion track, headache, watery eyes)

Bromeliad (chameleon star) - invisibility, stealth, remourse

Blue vervain (Verbena hastata, enchanters plant) - enchantment, protection, wards, celebration, sacred, marriage, love. relaxes the nervous system, pain relief for rheumatism, joint pain, and neuralgia (don’t take if pregnant/ breastfeeding)

Camellia (Taponica) - wealth, luxury. Oil treats burns

Calla (water arum) - death, curses. Treats cold/flu and snakebites. (poisonous in large amounts - tingly tongue)

Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus, Alli flower) - strength, healing, death, love, bad omen for talents, agony. Aids sleep

yellow - disdain, contempt, rejection

white - offerings for funeral rituals, intuition

Calendula (bride of the sun, marigold, tagetes) - legal matters, rejection, Samhain, grief, vulgar, youth, jealousy, despair, joy. Energizer.

Cowslip (Primula Veris) - discoveries, treasure, youth, beauty, fae magic (Allergic - hypotension, high blood pressure, gastrointestinal irritation)

Chrysanthemum (mumindictum, mums) - fae magic, youth, fire, used in burial rituals, ancestry, blessings, bad luck on love, clairvoyance. Tea treats migraine, anti-bacterial.

Celandine (Chelidonium majus, devil’s milk, pilewort, fig buttercup) - protection, business, law, confusion (nausea, dizziness, fatigue, fever, liver damage)

Centaury (Centaurium erythraea, christ ladder, feverwort) - Luck, sun, ancestry. Aromatic, bitter, tonic, aids rheumatism, soothes, snake bites

Chamomile (from the loins, blood of Hestia) - fortune, protection, curses, fae magic, love, purification. Anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, calming, sleep (don’t take with blood thinners)

Colt’s foot (Tussilago, winter heliotrope, clay weed, fieldhore, British tobacco) - love, speed. treats cough, bronchitis, clogged nose, poultice. Don’t take if pregnant/breastfeeding, on blood pressure meds, if allergic to ragweed, don’t take with alcohol)

Columbine (aqaliqua) - foolishness, innocence, protection, love, courage

Crocus Sativvs - love, strength

Carlina acaulis - health, sex, fertility, protection. Anti-viral, helps cold/flu

Daffodil (Narcissus) - love, luck, fertility, innocense, water, fae realm, youth (poisonous - staggering, numbness, paralysis)

Daisy (Bellis perennis, Soapwort, little star, oxe eye) - good and bad luck, growth, water, returning innocence, cleansing burdens, love, youth, reincarnation. aids diahrea, anti-inflammatory, helps cough and sore throat.

Dittany of crete (origanum dictamnus) - fertility

Daphne (laurel, Daphne odora) - hex breaking, darkness, fear, ill omens, dream magic (nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, rarely but can be deadly)

Datura (Datura stramonium, angel’s trumpet, moonflower, devil’s apple, witchweed, jimson weed, Devil’s snare) - visions, divination, spirit work, love, charms, insomnia (deadly poisonous, don’t inhale or consume - dry mouth, vision problems, nausea, vomiting, constipation, fast heart rate, hallucinations, high temperature, breathing problems, confusion, death, seizures, convulsions)

Dahlia - Beauty, tragedy, bad luck, eloquence

Edelweiss (Leontopodium nivale) - invisibility

Eyebright - mental clarity

Eryngo (sea holly) - luck to travel, peace, luck, love, exorcism

Echinacea - power, strength, invisibility, love. reduces cold/flu, anti-bacterial, (don’t take if you have tuberculosis, have HIV/AID’s, any auto-immune diseases, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or are allergic to ragweed)

Forget me not (Myosotis) - bad luck, love, earth, prosperity, hidden wealth, unlucky to lovers, don’t trust fae holding this

Foxglove (digitalis, bloody fingers, dead man's bells, fairy fingers, lady gloves) - fae magic, offerings, wards, immortality. (poisonous, toxic - upset stomach, blurred vision, slow pulse, nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, tremors, confusion, convulsions, abnormal heart rate)

fleabane (Erigeron, colt’s tail, semen of Nepriesos) - exorcism, protection

Gardenia Japsminordes - love, harmony, healing, peace, purity, innocence, hope, trust, protection, breakups, steal love, spirit work

Goldenrod (Solidago, Aaron’s rod) - treasure, wealth. Relieves gout and cramps, aids digestion eases cold and hay fever) (don’t take with liver medications)

Geranium (pelargonium, chocolate flower, crane’s bill, crow/dove’s foot, old maid nightcap, shame face) - fertility, health, love, protection, death, weddings, friendship, wishes. Relieves stress and tension, uplifts mood, anti-inflammatory, soothes itchy skin.

Galega officinalis (goats rue, French lilac, Italian fitch, professor weed) - health, healing. Ant-bacterial, mild diuretic (don’t take if pregnant/breastfeeding)

Gorse (ullex, prickly broom, furze) - protection, fertility, restores faith, sun, Lammas, encouragement, good omen

Groundsel (  Senecio vulgaris, old man in the spring) - Health, healing

Gelsemium sempervirens - tradition, curses, death, ill omens (extremely poisonous - headache, vision problems, difficulty swallowing, dizziness, muscle problems, seizures, breathing problems, shallow heartrate)

Heather (Calluna Vulgaris) - health, luck, durietic, anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, aids cold and cough

Hawthorn (crataegus, bread and cheese, hagthorn, mayblossom)- fertility, chastity, happiness, water, luck, protection, wealth, beauty, don’t trust fae holding this, associated with fae underworld Berries - anti-spasmodic, cardiac, diuretic, tonic and vasodilator.

Heliotrope (turnsole, valerian tagara) - protection, dream magic, luck, deception, visions, astral projection. Calms, aids IBS and high blood pressure.

purple - new love

white - innocence

imperial - majesty

Hellebore (Helleborus, semen of helios, Christmas rose) - water, protection, invisibility, nature, banishments, intellect. (don’t eat - stomach ache, burning mouth, eyes and throat, vomiting. If applied to the skin - irritation of the mouth and throat lining, vomiting, diarrhea, nerve problems, blindness)

Hemlock (tsuga Canadensis, devil’s oatmeal/porridge) - power, astral projection, death, bad omens, destroys love, fertility (stomach ache, vomiting, progressive paralysis to the nerve system, neuromuscular block, can be fatal)

Henbane (hyoscyamus higer, devils eye, stinking nightshade) - love, reversal magic, shapeshifting, invisibility, binding, protection (dilated pupils, hallucinations, increased heart rate, convulsions, vomiting, hypertension, ataxia, delirium, mania, dry mouth, death)

honeysuckle (ionicera, woodbine, goat’s leaf) - protection, money, dream magic, luck, affection, weddings. Relieves gout, anti-inflammatory

Hyacinthus (old man’s bells) - peace, sleep, love, luck, grief, pain (nausea, vomiting, can be fatal)

Hibiscus (bats wing) - lust, love, divination, passion, independence, confidence

Holly - protection, luck, prophetic dreams, money (berries are poisonous)

Hydrangea - hex breaking

Iris Croatia - wisdom, beauty, purification, protection from fae, fae offerings (severe digestion problems)

Jasminum - love, meditation, harmony, sleep, moon magic. aromatherapy, Calms, regulates blood pressure

Juniper - protection, love, bad luck, dreams, exorcism, health

Jack-in-the-pulpit ( Arisaema triphyllum) - tragedy, ill omen, death, love, revenge (skin and mouth irritation, swelling, burning, difficulties breathing, upset stomach)

Lily (Lilium) - strength, success, faith, ill omen, death, bad luck, vitality, rebirth, beauty

water lily - purity

lily of the valley - happiness, sweetness, divination, bad omens, indoor protection, death

yellow - falsehood, happiness

white - purity, sweetness

tiger lily (figridia pavonia) friendship, pride

Lilac (syringa Vulgaris) - protection, banishment, rain, mourning, spirit work

Lotus (nelumbo Nucifera, sacred lotus) - eloquence, love, recantation

Lavender (Lavendula, elf leaf, nardus) protection, healing, beauty, air, attracts good and bad entities when worn, longevity, fertility. Reduces anxiety, tension, headache, stress, indigestion, low blood pressure, anti-bacterial, antiseptic, disinfectant (causes drowsiness, don’t take w sedatives/lithium)

Lobelia (Indian tobacco) - love, longevity, elegance, peace (toxic - dizziness, intense nausea, and vomiting, don’t take if under 18, if pregnant/breastfeeding, or have any heart conditions)

lovage - love

Life everlasting (Helichrysum arenarium) - longevity, health

Masterwort ( Peucedanum ostruthium) - Strength, protection, courage

Magnolia (cucumber tree) - love, persistence, death, wisdom, insight. Aids high blood pressure, dysentery, diarrhea, fidelity

Mallow (Malva) - protection, exorcisms, love

Morning glory (pomoea, devil’s gut, goats foot) - binding, banishments, attraction (toxic - diarrhea, gastrointestinal pain, anorexia, hallucinations)

Myrtus (myrtle, periwinkle, viena minor, devil’s eye) - love, fertility, peace, money, beauty (poisonous - should not be consumed, nausea, vomiting, hearing and hair loss, dizziness, seizures,low blood pressure, death )

Orchid (Orchidaceae) concentration, memory, focus

Oleander Nirium - sickness, bad luck, protection, transformation

Pansey (throla tricolor, var hortensis, love of idleness) thoughts, love, marriage, disappointment, divination, rain

Pennyroyal (mentha puleqiuem, stinking balm) - luck, resolution (severe kidney,, liver, and brain damage, stomach pain, nausea, burning of the throat, fever, vomiting, confusion, restlessness, dizziness, don’t take if pregnant - miscarriage)

peony (Paeonia) - shame, beauty, luck, charms (don’t take while pregnant/breastfeeding)

Pimpernell (angellis arvensis) - change, protection from deception, melancholy, sleep, banishment

petunia - relaxation

Plumeria - love

pipsissewa - money, spirit work

poppy (blind eye, papauer somni ferum) - luck, happiness, dream magic

red - consolation

white - dreams

scarlet - extravagance

primrose (password, butter rose, pimula Vulgaris) - youth, sadness, inconsistency, merit, healing, fae offering, bad omens

Rose - love, beauty, happiness, tranquility, curses, glamours, pride, grace, charms. Anti-bacterial, astringent, tonic, aids cold and flu and digestion pain.

white - worth, unity, purity

red - love, courage, respect, passion

yellow - jealousy, friendship, joy, creativity

white and red - unity

yellow and red - new love

peach - gratitude 

coral - desire

orange - desire, enthusiasm

light pink - sympathy, admiration, grace

lavender - love at first sight, enchantment

blue - unattainable, impossible

Burgandy- unconcious beauty

Senna- love, faith (irritable bowel lining, laxative)

snapdragon (calf's snout, antirrhinum) - protection

Spiderwort ( Tradescantia) - love

sunflower (helianthus annaus) happiness, optimism, health, luck, confidence. Diuretic and expectorant, aids fever, reduces swelling, aids an upset stomach

trillium - love, luck

Tulipa - love, beauty, glamours, grounding, protection

Valerian (bloody butcher, capon’s tail, cat’s herb, Ram’s horn) - nightmares, anxiety, sleep, purity, 

Veronica officinalis (birds-eye) - fidelity, trust

Violet - death, rebirth, love, luck, nervousness, anxiety, paranoia

wolfsbane (aconitum) protection, invisibility (disables nerves, lowers blood pressure, avoid skin contact, stops the heart)

Wisteria - enchantments, fae magic, longevity, adventure, purity. (poisonous - severe stomach pain)

Zephyr flower - expectation

[forestspirit-waterspirit]

If you build it they will come. And I did.

I planted milkweeds (swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata and common butterfly weed Asclepias tuberosa) in my garden this year, and they are now filled with healthy monarch caterpillars! Because I did most of my planting at an inopportune time (June&July), I don’t have many flowers, but my neighbors do. And I will have many more nectar flowers next year.

This is backyard conservation at work. Yes it took some blood, sweat, and tears, but I can have a measurable effect on local wildlife just by growing specific plants.

My current plants in the ground are:

Swamp sunflower Helianthus angustifolius

Dense blazingstar Liatris spicata (but the damn rabbits like to munch it)

Swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata

Seaside Goldenrod Solidago sempervirens

Blanket flower Gaillardia pulchella (annual but I have tons of seeds)

Sundrops Oenothera fruticosa

Great Blue Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica (was supposed to be cardinal flower, but I got a mix-up)

Black eyed susan Rudbeckia hirta

Yaupon holly Ilex vomitoria

How I settled on these plants: RESEARCH! I consulted national agencies such as Xerces Society and the Pollinator Partnership. They make it super easy by recommending plants for your region. That’s the key. Think regional. This is your starting point.

Next I found more local resources in my state extension office which was honestly the most helpful. Not only did they make plant recommendations, but they also had nursery recommendations! Excellent stuff.

All of these lists are going to have overlapping plants. Find the ones that work for the garden you have (that requires knowing a bit about your sun, soil, and moisture levels). You won’t be able to have them all. Just a few will help.

You don’t have to re-landscape unless you want to. Just put a few plants in the dirt and let mother nature do her thing.

It might not look flawless the first year, but that’s fine. It’ll be on its way to functional. Gardening is as much an exercise in patience and self-growth as it is plant growth!

28/8/2019

[estuarine-space-communism]

Seaside goldenrod,  Solidago sempervirens (early winter phase)

this is one of my favorite native plants in this region! they are the latest flowering goldenrod species in the northeast, sometimes flowering into early december. after they flower, like all goldenrod, their heads turn into fluffy seed pods. the tiny seeds are carried by the fluff in much the same manner of milkweed to help the goldenrod take root elsewhere.

this species can withstand salty conditions, so long as it grows above the high-tide mark. seaside goldenrod is also very tolerant of tough conditions it is commonly found growing along highways, on public beaches, and in other low-nutrient areas… presumably because they naturally grow on beaches.

[jimmy-ds-trees]

Solidago sempervirens L.

Beach Goldenrod

Solidago sempervirens L.

Height: 3-6 feet tall

Width: 18-24 inches

Zones: 3-9

Sun: full sun

This particular plant grows commonly on dunes, so it enjoys the sandy soil as well as the mixed soils a bit farther inshore. These guys bloom for an extended amount of time in the summer, even as late as late September in some cases. bees love this particular plant, as seen below in this photo I took of one about 6 years ago.

Bark: (1-3) 0

Leaves: (1-4) 3 (flower)

Landscape uniqueness: (1-3) 2

Beauty score: 5 out of 10

This plant gets a 1 out of 10 for buildability, as it has no hardwood properties. It gains one single point for being part of the barrier beach system, resisting erosion via root systems.

Source:

https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_sose.pdf

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=sose

[jack-beresford]

Seaside Goldenrod; Salt-marsh Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens)

Mature Size - (1-6′ x 0.5-1′’)

Shape and Form - Late-flowering perennial forb, with leaves arranged alternately along a single upright stem.  

Growth Habit - Fast growth rate. Stems arise from short, stocky rhizomes.

Leaves -  Simple, dark green, oblong, and lance-shaped leaves. They are arranged alternately along the entire length of the stem. The leaves at the base are the largest, gradually decreasing in size towards the top of the plant. It is unusual in the genus in having toothless, hairless leaves, thicker than those of most other Solidago species. Waxy, fleshy leaves help the plant retain water and are an adaptation to the drying effects of salt spray. Leaves persist through winter, whitened. Red leaves sprout in late February and early March, and soon become dark green

Flowers - Dense, deep yellow flowers bloom on terminal stalks from late August to early October, larger and more showy than most Solidago species. Its bright yellow flowers provide an attractive contrast to its lush, thick, green vegetation.

Fruit/Seeds -  Fruit is a capsule with a pappus in a single circle of bristles.

Bark - Leaves arranged alternately along a central, upright, smooth, slightly reddish stem.

Region - USA native. Native to eastern North America, mostly east of Mississippi, from Canada down to Florida and some parts of Texas.

Hardiness Zones - (3-9)

Habitat/Growing Conditions - Found on coastal sea beaches, dunes, and marshes. Stands of Seaside Goldenrod colonize blowouts, grasslands, and transition areas. Seaside Goldenrod often occurs with other native dune plants.  It can grow in coarse to medium infertile soils. It is well adapted to coastal habitats including the backside of primary dunes, low secondary dunes, and edges of salt marshes. It has some tolerance for drought, allowing it to survive in the dry conditions of the dunes. Seaside Goldenrod is also tolerant of high salinity, salt spray, and fire.

Plant Community - New England Barrier Beach

Eco-indicator - Facultative wetland species.

Other info - The flowers are an important/primary food/energy source for fall migrating monarch butterflies traveling the Atlantic coastal flyway.

Solidago sempervirens is an important wildlife resource for a number of insects (bees included), the larvae of which are excellent sources of nutrition in the winter for birds such as the chickadee or woodpecker. Solidago sempervirens increases the value of wildlife habitat by providing food and shelter for butterflies, birds, and small mammals. Provides important nesting habitat between primary and secondary dunes for birds such as willets, killdeer, piping plovers, and black skimmers.  

Good for dune stabilization and erosion control. The root-length is a minimum of 14 in and provides excellent erosion control. Seaside goldenrod initiates dune formation by trapping sand and debris. Sites with seaside goldenrod help the secondary establishment of annual forbs such as seaside sandmat.

Current Nursery Status and Availability - Somewhat common in commercial trade, although not likely to be found in smaller garden centers. Most likely only found in specialty nurseries and catalogs.

https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_sose.pdf

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=sose

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/solidago/sempervirens/

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/all/solidago-sempervirens/

https://www.northcreeknurseries.com/plantName/Solidago-sempervirens-

Wessels - “Reading the Forested Landscape”

[hourlyhattricks-blog]

Seaside Goldenrod Solidago sempervirens

Plant community: New England Barrier Beach

Native to North America

Found in Northeastern North America

Mature size: 2-8’ high, 0.5-1’ canopy width

Habitat and growing conditions: Found in sandy soil in full sun. Lives in coastal beaches, dunes and marshes.

Hardiness zone: Zones 5,6,7,8,9,10

Leaf color: green

Flower color: yellow

Medicinal uses:

·       Properties: antiseptic, analgesic, astringent, febrifuge

·       Treatments: poultice, topical, ingestion

·       Uses: The root is applied as a poultice to burns.  An infusion of the dried powdered herb can be used as an antiseptic. The flowers are analgesic, astringent and febrifuge. The flowers can be chewed and the juice swallowed to treat sore throats. It is a strong astringent remedy treating lacerations and bleeding

Sources:

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Solidago+canadensis

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/solidago/sempervirens/

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=SOSE

[galacticgraffiti]

𑁍⋆ Eya ⋆𑁍

All credit for these amazing pieces goes to @maygalodon.

As promised, more Eya art for Star Wars OC week! I’ve been sitting on these for a while and I’m still in tears over how beautiful they are and how real having artwork of them makes them feel.

Taggies for Eya enthusiasts under the cut.

@rescuethewretched @deewithani @thefact0rygirl @clonecyare @baba-fett @rowansparrow @tenderclio @twistedstitcher27 @spaceydragons @samanthacookieone @fennccshand @equalityforcats @ashotofspotchka @levi-llama @fantastic-commander-fox @thebitchformerlyknownaskenobi @lackofhonor @a-c-lee @imalovernotahater @ladykatakuri @solidago-sempervirens @meabravo @dream-alittlebiggerdarling @fivedicksinatrenchcoat @corrabell @sharpbarnacle @amcheeken @snarwor @basilbumble @dear-fifi @dollydee28 @snakerune @rexscyarika @misogirl828 @stcrmhond @shadesofshatteredblue @purgetrooperfox @tachyon-girl @amyroswell @palpipeen @crowbafett @cyarbika @damerondala @pinkiemme @kakashibabe02 @rain-on-kamino @rexxdjarin @ulchabhangorm