#beth verbena

[tangleweave]

in another life {Bill}

[ Notes On a Page / Accepting ]

The gap between universes is unlike anything Bill could have thought to expect. And perhaps that is just as well, because his expectations are built upon a plethora of horrendously catastrophic experiences... from the needless torment of a child, to the deaths of entire worlds and the destruction of their stars -- and all manner of sadistic grotesquerie in between.

He had thought the gap would be something akin to a black hole. A collapsed star, drawing in all matter and crushing it to atomic waste -- except perhaps it's more like a cosmic toilet, the unwanted things being flushed into an oblivion blacker than night only to reemerge at some unfathomable distance from their point of origin, never to return. He had envisioned an enormous hole punched through space itself, pulling in debris and nebulae like a ravenous beast that would otherwise be bumping elbows with Galactus at the dinner table.

But no.

The gap looks very much... like an enormous hexagonal door, simply left slightly ajar at one junction. Right there in the middle of deep space, just hanging open. Violet energy crackles along its edges, giving it definition against the backdrop of space, but through that gap there is the unmistakable vision of a planet.

A gas giant, with an enormous red hurricane swirling along its southern hemisphere.

Bill stares for a long moment at the image in front of them, and then reviews the readings beamed to his internal display by Skutt. The quantum resonance from the particulate matter on the other side of that absurd doorway out here in the middle of nowhere... it matches Beth's.

It's as if she hears him thinking her name, because it's at this precise moment he feels her small hand curling around his index finger. Tugging on it. Bidding him to look at her, to speak to her. To give her something.

He shifts. Lowers his muzzle so that he can find her eyes, and look into them as he speaks.

"It is your Jupiter," he murmurs. "At last... we have found your home."

As he says it aloud, he feels a painful spasm strike into the center of his heart. Never mind that the organ was engineered with the DNA of the hardiest creatures his homeworld had to offer, or that it's surrounded by a ribcage of Korbinite steel alloy.

"... And in another life, I am not certain I would have the strength of will to deliver you to it."

[brooklynislandgirl]

[grievedifferent]

all the blends for the ud cast:

Josh — Base of Bay Rum + Cola / Top Notes of Mountain Air / Bottom Notes of Evergreen Forest, Vetiver, Camphor + Amber

Chris — Base of Root Beer / Top Notes of Orange + Tangerine / Bottom Notes of Cedarwood, Christmas Wreath + Cedar

Jess — Base of Neroli, Island Life + Jasmine / Top Notes of Sweet Pea / Bottom Notes of Redwood Forest + Red Apple / Top wash of (light) Honey + Strawberry

Matt — Base of Apricot + Blueberry / Top Notes of Violet / Bottom Notes of Teakwood, Cinnamon + Cypress

Mike — Salty Sea, Bergamot, Sandalwood + hints of Black Pepper

Emily — Base of Peony, Orchid + Lilac / Top Notes of Pearberry + Coconut / Bottom Notes of Verbena

Ash — Base of Strawberry + Banana / Top Notes of Freesia / Bottom Notes of Old Books, Aloe + Sand

Sam — Base of Sand, Clean & Fresh + Lily of the Valley / Top Notes of Fresh Cotton / Bottom Notes of Vanilla Bean + Fresh Cut Wood

none for hannah and beth yet, but i imagine like ... a set that matches but contrasts, if that makes sense? you could buy them individually but they would work together if blended. it would probably be similar in the way i did the hitachiin twins from ohshc.

[theloopus]

First of all I’d like to say I fully see the reasoning behind your mirror image thoughts but secondly I would like to ask about the Sam/Beth mirrors 😁

BLOWS YOU A KISS.

listennn. Sam and Beth are the sameeee in terms of the role they play in Al's life. Sam is just Beth all over again. they're arguably the two most important people in Al's life both on a watsonian level* and on a narrative level (as the two characters whose storylines he's tied to/are tied to him), and they both hurt him in basically the same way. Beth doesn't wait for Al and leaves him without saying goodbye (although unknowingly). Sam doesn't wait for Al and leaves him without saying goodbye (knowingly) (TWICE).

*(remember in Dr. Ruth when Al said he hasn't been able to tell anyone he loved them since Beth because he hasn't loved anyone like he loved Beth. then remember how in What Price Gloria Al says "[Verbena] got me to accept that you're my friend and love is a part of friendship." and that's the textual evidence but like come on We Know he's in love with him to an insanely devotional degree)

but there's moooore because i'm delusional and insane. here's Al realizing Sam doesn't know who he is in Genesis:

and here's Al realizing Beth can't hear him in M.I.A:

Sam sees and hears Al but he doesn't remember him, and Beth is remembering Al (playing their song) but she doesn't see or hear him. again it's like. it's the same but the opposite

ALSO THE fact that Beth and Al have "a song" just like Sam and Al have "a song" (The Impossible Dream)???? which by the way in It's A Wonderful Leap they once again link having "a song" with an explicitly specifically romantic context but i digress

anyway the thing that brings it all together is the fact that in the end Sam erases himself out of Al's life just so he can put Beth back in Al's life. like do you see this. the fact that he can do that like on a narrative level is because he and Beth are The Same. thank you and goodnight

[guttersniper]

“Here,” Sam says. He’s stolen Mutt away from his party with Gooshie, Tina, Verbena, Beth, the girls, and everyone else with cake and presents (books, art supplies, lighters, and a pocketknife and boots courtesy of Al) and all the trimmings with good reason, he hopes. He’s saved one final present for last.

“You’re gettin’ big,” he laughs, eyes a little teary even as they crinkle. “Think it’s about time you have this.” He reaches up and takes his own leather jacket off, putting it over Mutt’s shoulders and smoothing it down. He’s done it so many times the motion is second nature, but it means something different this time. Something more. It was Tom’s before it was Sam’s.

“Happy birthday, sweetheart.”

it's mutt's birthday!

you're getting big. mutt figures that's a lie. it isn't as sore a point as it could have been, his not really growing. he catches the side of his tongue with his teeth, scraping them over the muscle as if he were clearing it of something. he does this once, twice, three times, stops.

his mouth fixes in protest. don't give this to me. he doesn't know whether he feels deserving, or if he just can't bear to think of sam giving up something so cherished -- to him, especially. the leather jacket smells like him, smells like the fire they left behind, the one their family is gathered around. (a sharp tina cackle reaches them from that distance, and he wonders what joke he missed.)

it's big on him. lots of things are, even now, filled out a little with proper nutrition. he doesn't think he'll ever grow into it. that's not the point, though, he knows.

mutt slots his arms in the sleeves. he rolls them up twice, the thick fabric bunched about a quarter way up. a faint unplaceable itch crawls along his ribcage. his eyes smile in approximate agreement, though his mouth doesn't quite get there. " thanks, sam. "

[brooklynislandgirl]

Not that she would ever say so aloud, one of the things that made Verbena different from other traditions was the fact that they were inclusive of others; witches amongst the Sleepers were just as respected as their Awakened kin, hedge sorcerers, consors...anyone with a like mind and a nature inspired soul were welcomed. Beth hadn't done the delicate dance of finding out whether or not Gretch was like her or if she were simply an herbalist and naturopath. Maybe it didn't matter but if the subject came up, then Beth would have her answer. She smiles softly at Lou when he mentions her. No jealousy frosts Beth's gaze. "Careful, don' wan someone to turn you into a frog or somet'ing." That's a little bit of teasing on her part. The guarded rote to transfigure a human into an animal hadn't been common in centuries if not longer and was not the only way a scorned witch had to get revenge. Beth herself preferred one that was tied to her obsidian glass mirror. It rewarded the transgressor with a minor boon that would have them leave her presence, and it invoked neither paradox nor ill-feeling in a world already overburdened by negativity. Perhaps she should make a good confession, let him in on the big secret she'd been carrying since she'd met him. At worst? She'd have to make a phone call to New York and see if her hanai-sister wouldn't mind dragging mystical fingers through his dreams to collect the memory of her truth and return him to the ignorance and perhaps innocence that he'd had before. At best, perhaps she'd have an ally that would understand the subtle strangeness that accompanied her every hour, day in and day out. If anything, it might even put him at ease. Give him an explanation for the things she could not.

And maybe, in trade, he could explain that little feeling she can't quite put her finger on.

She feels his gaze on him the same way she feels the blue sky wrapped around her on an early spring morning, or the never-distant memory of Sea's kiss on her soul. And maybe her own rises to meet it for a little longer than absolutely necessary. Her throat rises and falls before a rush of colour shades the arches of her cheeks and she dips her chin down "Dat's sweet of you to say," she murmurs, the words all but slurring together. Not the first time she's said that to him. She's always careful. Practically built into her very DNA. And why she chose this place above others. Grief has a strange tide the way it ebbs and flows and she can't quite make herself stay in New York where everything is shaped like her brother, down to the foundations of its reality. She cannot make herself go home to lick her wounds in Hawai'i, either because that's got even more memories and things she knows she's too fragile to confront on her own, at least right now. Here, she's just the weird girl who lives in the woods, and making friends with the neighbourhoods one plant, two aspirin, or a small wave passing through town at a time. That doesn't mean she's discounting Lou's worries.There are wolves, yes. Both the kind that shift into human bodies, and the ones that struggle to survive as people choke them out of their habitat. She doesn't know if any of the bears are changers, but to meet one would be lovely, as rare as they are now a days. She would gladly welcome them as the cousins they are. Her belly tightens a little as he comes so close, and for just a split second, Beth thinks he's going to reach out. Tuck a lock behind her ear or caress her cheek with the back of his knuckles. And she doesn't know if she's disappointed when he only takes the coffee. "And here I was, t'inking you were gonna warn me about faery circles and havin' t' chase off poachers twice my size. But really I do appreciate your concern, an' how you look out for me."

She follows his gaze with her own and gives a breath that might have blossomed into a sighed laugh if not for the wink. "I'd love t' say dat it was a crystal ball or magickal intuition but honest truth? Sound of your engine." And the scent of him on the whispering gusts of wind beyond her panes. She's always had that kind of awareness. Or maybe, if she were to dig deeper, she would see that it was less an expectation and more a hope that Lou would drop by. She takes the bread he offers which she nibbles with the most delicate of bites. Thankfully she swallows the one she has in her mouth before she watched him bring his thumb to his lips, as she might have choked on it. She's not used to being moved by desire as most people would describe it but something about that gesture sends a ripple of want through her that she tamps viciously down on. She sets the bread down on the one of her little napkins and takes a sip of tea, hoping that will hide the colour in her cheeks and the uptick of her heartbeat. "Other than MacCabe's Perfectly Timed delivery, can I aks wha' brought ya out to me, if you needed anyt'ing, or if I'm ruinin' your plans for a beautiful, snowy day? Cause if not'ing else got ya busy, I could put ya to work." She wrinkles her nose playfully at him, proud that her voice sounds absolutely natural.

He tracked the small witch as she practically floated around the confines of the cottage. The strong welcoming scent of cinnamon hung in the air leaving him to guess she'd used the bread mix jar he'd dropped off last time. A little gem he'd found at the farmer's market the week before which made him think of Beth.

At one point many moons ago, Beth had mentioned Gretchen's shop, and their friendship, so Lou made a point to stop in once in a while to see if there was anything he'd carry on to the other. He served as a courier between the two. Agreeing wholeheartedly he laughed, "Yeah, she's something." The two women had the same interests and talents with tinctures and whatnot.

Dusting the snow, that hadn't melted, from the bottom of his jeans onto the frozen ground outside before he finally stepped inside. Biting his lower lip he needed to navigate this conversation carefully. She was such a sweet gentle soul he didn't want to ever offend her in any way, but he also didn't want her welcoming in danger.

You see Lou had been hiding something from his dear witchy friend. He'd not quite ever confessed he was a werewolf. Sometimes he wondered through shared long glances that perhaps she was suspicious that something was different about him. Perhaps she could feel his magic much like he could feel hers.

Honestly, he felt a little shifty about the situation(no pun intended), but the problem was historically speaking, the reveal could go either way. While witches and wolves have coexisted over the millennia it wasn't always peaceful between the two, and he just didn't want to upset the status quo or worse frighten her in any way.

Letting his blue eyes settle in on his petite friend he finally cut through the silence and suggested, "I think you need to be careful. You're just so far away from everyone."

Me. You're so far away from me. That is what he truly meant.

Looking back to the window the other wolves watching post he shrugged his shoulders, "You need to be careful what you leave out for offerings. You don't want to invite the wrong kind of attention." Lou closed the short distance and pulled the mug letting it warm his hands. Being a little more blunt he added, "They're wolves and bears out there."

The hearth made the room unbelievably cozy to the point Lou always seemed to get a little sleepy anytime he entered her place. His eyes catching the sweet bread on the table he winked, "How did you know I was coming?" Cutting a slice he extended to his friend before taking another for himself. Naturally, it was gone in a few bites and Lou was licking his thumb as he examined the cabin's structure. Knowing both the door and windows would do little to prevent a fully grown werewolf from getting in if they wanted.

Another werewolf stalking the woods so close without him knowing made him uneasy, and he'd be out there in the dark tonight and every other night until he found who left those prints.

[invinciblerodent]

look my dudes i’m already resigned to the fact that DA4 will probably be Elftown: Mage Edition, but that ain’t gonna stop me from having yet another smashy-smasher human punch the world till it works

[morgansmornings]

Ya my bes' friend, my hanai sistah. At every part of my life ya got a place in it, no maddah where I go or what I'm doin'. Ya dat guiding voice of reason an' dat place I t'ink I'm most safe. I love ya forever, an' I am glad ya in my life. Also, you're such a nerd. Gimmie hugs.

This Meme: Acceptiing @brooklynislandgirl                                                          ~~~**~~~

“Yeah but I’m your nerd.” Jayden pulled Beth closer, letting the Verbena rest her head over where Jay’s heart was. And the confession is met with more giggling than two school girls conversation over a tea set how gross boys are. 

But deep down, Jay knew every word was true. Ever since the two met, they women were thicker than thieves. Jay always being the nosy little sister. Having to know every excruciating little detail. 

And Beth was her compassion. She was the source of warmth that she didn’t have. Always there to encourage her. To be there when she needed that soft voice and feather light caress in the darkness of a cruel word. Was there when others had turned their backs. 

“Just so you know... We might as well be real sisters. Cause clearly I am the superior sibling. And I can bake. Unlike someone else we know.” The least subtle way of saying Andy was not a good baker. 

[brooklynislandgirl]

@morgansmornings

[witxhmommy]

The Magickal Association of Herbs - Part 1

Herbs Associated with Aid in Legal Matters: Buckthorn, High John the Conqueror, and Galangal

Herbs Associated with Anti-Sorcery/Uncrossing: Absinthe, African ginger, Agrimony, Ague weed, Angelica, Anise seed, Ash leaves, Basil, Bay, Benzoin, Betony, Blessed thistle, Blood root, Boneset, Broom, Cinquefoil, Clover, Cloves, Curry powder, Dill, Dog grass, Dragon’s blood, Elder, Fennel, Flax, Frankincense, Galangal, Gentian, Geranium, Ginger, Hawthorn, Huckleberry, Hyacinth, Hyssop, Lilac, Lotus flowers, Mandrake root, Marigold, Marjoram, Mistletoe, Mugwort, Nettle, Peony root, Pine (bark), Polkroot, Rue, Sage, Saint John’s wort, Sloe (berries and bark), Spikenard, Tormentil, Unicorn root, Valerian, Vervain, Vetivert, Woodruff, and Wormwood.

Herbs Associated with Astral Projection: Dittany and Mugwort.

Herbs Associated with Courage: Columbine, Rose, and Thyme.

Herbs Associated with Divination: Acacia, Adder’s tongue, Camphor, Cloves, Cowslip, Daisy, Dandelion, Frankincense, Goldenrod, Hawthorn flowers, Hibiscus, Honeysuckle, Lemon Grass, Mace, Mugwort, Nutmeg, Orris root, Peppermint, Rose, Thyme, Vervain, Wormwood, and Yarrow.

Herbs Associated with Dream Magick: Adder’s tongue, Agrimony, Anise, Camphor, Celandine (lesser), Cinnamon, Diasy, Hlly, Hops, Ivy, Lemon verbena, Mandrake root, Marigold, Mistletoe, Mugwort, Onion, Peppermint, Purslane, Rose, Saint John’s wort, Verbena, Vervain, Wormwood, and Yarrow.

Herbs Associated with the Evil Eye: Figwort, Garlic, Hyacinth, Tulip (See also Herbs Associated with Protection, and Herbs Associated with Anti-Sorcery/Uncrossing ) 

Herbs Associated with Exorcism: Angelica, Basil, Cloves, Dragon’s blood, Elder, Fern, Fleabane, Frankincense, Garlic, Horehound, Juniper, Lilac, Mallow, Mint, Mistletoe, Mugwort, Myrrh, Periwinkle, Rue, Solomon’s Seal, Saint John’s wort, Thistle, Vervain, and Yarrow.

Herbs Associated with Fairies, Elves, and Woodland Spirits: Daisy, Elecampane (elfwort), Foxglove (fairy fingers, fairy caps, fairy’s thimbles, fairy’s gloves). Indian pipe (fairy smoke) Ragweed (fairies’ horse), Ragwort, Shamrock (Leprechaun Clover), and Wood Sorrel. 

Herbs Associated with Fertility/Virility: Catnip, Geranium, Gingseng, Lotus flowers, Mandrake root, Mugwort, Myrtle, Sarsaparilla, Tansy, and Yohimbe.

Herbs Associated with Good Luck: Buckthorn (bark) Chamomile, Clover (especially four-leaf clovers), Dandelion, Dragon’s blood, Frankincense, Goldenrod, Healmoss, Job’s tears, John the Conqueror, Kelp, Khus-Khus, Lotus flowers, Lucky hand root, Mistletoe, Mojo wish bean, Myrrh, Nutmeg, Peony Root, Queen of the Meadow, Rose Hips, Rosemary, Sacred bark, Sandalwood, Satyrion root, Star anise, Spearmint, Strawberry, Tonka bean, and Tulip.

Herbs Associated with Health: All-heal, Allspice, Asafetida, Ash leaves, Betony, Buckeye, Caraway seeds, Gardenia, Ginseng, Horehound, John the Conqueror, Laurel, Life-everlasting, Narcissus, Peppermint, Rose, Rue, Sarsaparilla, Sassafras, Thyme, Vervain, and Wintergreen. 

Herbs Associated with Immortality: Motherwort, Periwinkle, and Tansy.

Herbs Associated with Invisibility: Ferns and Tansy.

Herbs Associated with Love Magick*: Absinthe, Adam and Eve root, Almond, Aloes, Apple Blossoms, Archangel, Ash Leaves, Aster, Balm, Basil, Bay laurel, Bedstraw, Beth root, Birthroot, Bittersweet, Black snakeroot, Bugleweed, Burdock, Cardamom, Catnip, Cinnamon, Cinquefoil. Cloves, Cumin, Diasy, Damiana, Deer’s tongue, Dill seed, Dragon’s blood, Dulse herb, Elder, Elecampane, Fennel seeds, Feverfew, Five-finger grass, Gentian root, Ginger, Grains of Paradise, Groundsel, Heart’s ease, Hemp (seeds), Hibiscus, Hyacinthe, Indian paintbrush, Jasmine, Juniper (berries), Khus-khus, Lady’s mantle, Laurel, Lavender, Lemon, Licorice stick herb, Lime, Linden, Lotus, Lovage, Magnolia, Maidenhair fern, Mandrake, Marjoram, Mint, Mistletoe, Motherwort, Mulleuin (leaves), Myrrh, Myrtle, Orange blossoms, Orchid, Orris root, Passion flower, Patchouli, Pennyroyal, Periwinkle, Primrose, Quassia chips, Queen Elizabeth root, Raspberry, Rose, Ros geraniu, Rosemary, Rue, Sage, Satyrion root, Skullcap, Senna pods, Snakeroot, Southernwood, Spikenard, Strawberry, Sweet bugle, Thyme, Vanilla, Verbena (root), Vervain, Vetivert, Violet, Wormwood, Yerba mate and Ylang Ylang.

* You cannot make someone love you, Love Magick simply means “self-love, true love, current lover” 

“You cannot start a marriage off with a kidnapping” 

Herbs Associated with Lunar Magick: Acanthus, Adder’s tongue, African daisy, Anise, Cabbage, Calla lily, Chickweed, Clary sage, Cleavers, Colewort, Cress (water), Dog Rose, Dog-tooth violet, Duckweed, Flag, Ginger, Goose grass, Iris, Jasmine, Lady’s smock, Lettuce, Loosestrife, Moonwort, Mugwort, Opium poppy, Orach, Orpine, Orris root, Peral Trefoil, Privet, Purslane, Rose (white), Rushes, Sea Holly, Seaweed, Sesame, Stonecrop, Sweetflag, Water chestnut, Water cress, Water lily, Water mosses, and Wintergreen. 

Future posts will contain : Herbs Associated with Money Spells/Magick, Herbs Associated with Peace, Herbs Associated with Protection, Herbs Associated with Psychic Development, Herbs Associated with Shape-Shifting, Herbs Associated with Sorcery (the Black Arts), Herbs Associated with Spirit Conjurations, Herbs Associated with Spiritual Healing, Herbs Associated with Spiritual Purification, Herbs Associated with Success, Herbs Associated with Weatherworking, Herbs Associated with Wisdom, Herbs Associated with Wish-Magick/Wish Spellwork, Herbs Associated with Witchcraft and Magick (the basics and most common). 

* Section from “The Wicca Spellbook: A Witch’s Collection of Wiccan Spells, Potions, and Recipes” Gerina Dunwich, author of Wicca Craft

[tangleweave]

Most noble Bill: Have you ever witnessed something that fundamentally changed you? If so, does anyone else know?

[ Random Asks / Accepting ]

The question comes while Beth is carefully selecting flowers and seeds to cultivate for Skuttlebutt's airponics bay. The warship certainly had food storage to spare, but Beth's skills have become invaluable in creating a far more robust selection of floral life and sustenance, capable of cleansing the air, and also filling stomachs and bolstering immune systems.

The inquiry causes Bill to tilt his head to one side as he considers the span of his experience, and what events might qualify in her estimation. "There are very few events I have witnessed in which I did not also participate," he admits. "I was created to be a creature of action. Decisiveness has always been an element of my task."

He gingerly hefts Stormbreaker in one hand and strokes the mallet-head with his other, a gesture of solemn consideration. "That being said... you are not the first to call me noble, and to utter my name with reverence and hope."

He casts his face downward. "I once fought against alien aggressors seeking to destroy the Asgardians with elite units they called Godkillers. In that defense, I was captured... tortured... and Stormbreaker was taken from me, mutilated, and pressed into service for my enemy. Only by the strength of Mjolnir did I prevail in the end. But not every soldier of the offending race elected to nurse a grudge. Instead, several of their number splintered away, seeking to..."

His gaze shifts back to Beth, and the sag of his frame tells her what his expressionless face cannot... that he is embarrassed to complete the sentence.

"...worship me as their god." He releases a quick breath, a sigh of awe and discomfort. "So convinced were they of my strength of heart and of will, so moved were they by what they saw in me, that they wished to erect a temple dedicated to me. Scribed a holy tome that documented my exploits, my actions, my words, in excruciating detail."

His fingers curl a little more tightly about his weapon. "So desperate were they for faith, that they invested it in me... which is perhaps an even greater risk than placing their lives in my hands, as my own people did. These Skrulls, formerly enemy soldiers tasked with destroying Asgard, staked their very souls on the notion that I was worthy of deification."

He glances away from her now, as if admitting the encounter is something shameful. "I have seen the birth and destruction of worlds. I have celebrated and mourned races. I have faced wonders and blights of the universe. I have done battle with armies and aliens and gods and devils. But on that day, to be held in such esteem by those who had once seen me as only an enemy and an aberration... I was overwhelmed."

[brooklynislandgirl]

character info sheet.

Name: Elikapeka Ailine Alohaekauneikahanuola'wahine'Ilikea Riley, but goes by anglicised Elizabeth Irene.

Name meaning: Fully translated, her name means "love alights here {like a bird}-the breath of life is a fair skinned woman who brings peace and whose promise is God." You can see why she normally just goes by "Beth" {which means house/home}.

Alias(ses): Maga Elizabeth Kahu Pono bani Verbena, bani Sögumaður, Initiate Exempts of Prime, Adeptus of Forces and Entropy, Master of Life and Spirit. {{Amongst formal magickal circles, bani means 'of the house of' and is used first to tell of her Tradition [Verbena], and second to honour her cherished mentor in the magickal arts. Initiate/Adept/Master are ranks attained in those particular spheres of magick, and maga is singular feminine of magus, or mage}}

Two pictures you like of your character:

Three headcanons you never told anyone:

If Beth had been born fully Rokea {wereshark} rather than just as Kinfolk, her swimming jaws {shark} form would be that of a tiger shark, instead of the nurse shark she jokes about being.

While she's very much a cat person, Beth tends to love "ugly", unlikeable, misunderstood creatures, because no one/nothing should ever have to feel hated/unwanted simply because they aren't ideal.

She experiences a sort of existential dread that the more time she spends away from Hawai'i and her ancestors, the more she's losing her own identity. She wonders if she's now more haole than she cares to admit.

Three things your character likes to do in their free time: I. surf II. sketch/draw/paint III. knit

Three people your character loves/ loved:

Andrew Riley {her brother}

Jay Morgan {Her hanai-sister}

They know. {no, seriously. like it can't be more obvious}.

Two things your character regrets: I. Not ever being good enough, no matter how hard she tries. II. Being related to the Admiral Three phobias (fears) your character has: I. Darkness II. Peanut Butter III. The L word / Emotional Intimacy ~*~

tagged by: my dear @bewitchingbaker

tagging: Smoke 'em if you got 'em.

[newwitchiness]

A List of Herbs and Spices

Acerola

African Bird Pepper

Agar Agar

Agrimony

Alfalfa

Alkanet

Alliums

Allspice

Aloe Vera

Angelica

Anise

Annatto

Arrowroot

Asafoetida

Ashwagandha

Arnica

Astragalus

Balm Of Gilead

Barberry

Barley

Basil

Bayberry

Bearberry

Bee Balm

Bee Pollen

Beet Root 

Beth Root

Benzoin

Bilberry

Birthwort

Blackberry

Black Cohosh

Black Haw

Bladderwrack

Blessed Thistle

Blue Cohosh

Blue Flag

Blue Vervain

Blue Violet

Boldo

Boneset

Borage

Boswellia Serrata

Buchu

Buckthorn

Buckwheat 

Bupleurum

Burdock

Burnett

Butcher’s Broom

Butternut 

Cabbage

Calamus

California Poppy

Calendula

Canadian Snakeroot

Camphor

Caraway

Carob

Cascara Sagrada

Caster Oil

Catmint/Catnip

Cat’s Claw

Cayenne Pepper

Celandine

Celery

Centaury

Chamomile,German

Chamomile, Roman

Chaparral

Chaste Berry

Chervil

Chia

Chickweed

Chicory

Chipotle

Chives

Chrysanthemum

Cilantro 

Cinnamon

Cinquefoil

Citric Acid

Clary 

Clay

Cleavers

Clove

Club Moss

Codonopsis

Colicroot

Coltsfoot

Comfrey

Coneflower

Copal Oro

Coptis

Coriander

Cornflower

Corn Silk

Couch Grass

Cowslip

Cramp Bark

Cranesbill 

Cubeb

Cumin

Curly Dock

Damiana

Damson

Dandelion

Devils Claw

Devils Club

Dill

Dong Quai

Dragons Blood

Dock

Dulse

Echinacea

Elder

Elecampane

Eleuthero

Epazote

Eucalyptus

Eyebright

False Unicorn Root

Fennel

Fenugreek

Feverfew

Feverwort

Figwort

Flax, Flaxseed

Frankincense

Fuller’s Earth

Galangal

Garlic

Gentian

Ginger

Ginkgo

Ginseng

Goat’s Rue

Goldenrod

Goldenseal

Gotu Kola

Grapeseed

Gravel Root

Greater Burnet

Great Mullein

Green Tea

Grindelia

Ground Ivy

Guarana

Gymnema

Hawthorn

Heartsease

Henbane

Henna 

Hibiscus

Honeysuckle

Hops

Horehound, Black

Horehound, White

Horse Chestnut

Horseradish 

Horsetail

Hydrangea

Hyssop

Irish Moss

Jasmine

Jewelweed

Jimsonweed

Juniper

Kava Kava Root

Kelp

Kudzu

Lady’s-mantle

Lady’s Slipper

Lavender

Lemon Balm

Lemon Verbena

Lemongrass

Licorice

Liferoot

Line

Linden

Linseed

Lobelia

Lomatium

Lovage

Lungwort

Lychii Berry

Mace

Madder

Mandrake

Maidenhair Fern

Maidenhair Tree

Mallow

Marigold

Marjoram

Marshmallow

Meadowsweet

Milk Thistle

Mistletoe

Motherwort

Mugwort

Muira Pauma

Mulberry

Mullein

Mustard

Myrrh

Neem

Nettle

Nutmeg

Oats

Olive Leaf

Onion

Oregano

Oregon Grape Root

Orris Root

Osha

Papaya Leaf

Paprika

Parsley

Passion Flower

Patchouli 

Pau D’arco

Peppermint

Pennyroyal

Peony

Periwinkle

Peruvian Bark

Pipsissewa

Plantain

Pleurisy Root

Poke Root

Poplar

Prickly Ash

Primrose

Psyllium 

Pukeweed

Purple Coneflower

Purslane

Quassia

Queen Of The Meadow

Radish Seed

Raspberry

Red Clover

Rehmannia

Reishi Mushroom

Rheumatism Root

Rhubarb

Rose/Rose Hips

Rosemary

Rue

Safflower

Saffron

Sage

Salt (Sea)

Saint John's Wort

Sarsaparilla

Sassafras

Savory

Saw Palmetto

Schizandra

Self-heal

Senna 

Sesame

Shavegrass

Sheep’s Sorrel

Shepards Purse

Skullcap

Skunk Cabbage

Slippery Elm

Soapbark

Soapwort

Southern Wood

Spikenard

Spirulina

Squaw Vine

Squawroot

Stevia 

Stickwort

Stillingia

Stone Root

Strawberry Leaf

Suma

Sweet Cicely 

Sweet Sumac

Sweet Violet

Sweetgrass

Szechuan

Tansy

Tarragon

Thuja

Tea

Tea Tree Oil

Thyme

Tonka Bean

Tribulus Terrestris

Turkey Rhubarb

Turmeric

Unicorn Root, False

Usnea

Uva Ursi

Valerian

Vanilla

Vervain

Vitex/Chaste Tree

Violet

White Willow

Wild Yam

Willow

Wintergreen

Witch Hazel

Wood Betony

Wormwood

Xanthan Gum

Yam 

Yarrow

Yellow Doc

Yerba Mate

Yerba Santa

Yohimbe Bark

Yucca

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Garden landscaping ideas: how to plan and create your perfect garden@|how to do your garden@|https://ksassets.timeincuk.net/wp/uploads/sites/56/2017/06/1-Garden-Southern-p140.jpg@|21

Jennifer Ebert March 25, 2021 3:37 pm

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

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Re-designing your garden is an exciting prospect. Do you wish you had somewhere to sit, relax, entertain or let the children play? Maybe you are just a little bored and want a garden design that is more colourful, varied or maintenance friendly. Garden landscaping is the ideal way to craft an attractive space to grow plants that give you a beautiful environment and design a practical layout that allows you to use your garden how you want.

But where do you start? Take a look at our answers to common garden landscaping questions; whether its planning and budgeting, resourcing and building or aesthetic planting, our guide holds the key to the garden landscaping design of your dreams.

How do I start my garden design?

Landscaping ideas start with good research. Take inspiration by visiting garden centres, public gardens, annual garden shows, even other people’s houses to get a feel of what is to your taste. Take into account your garden size and think about what you need your garden to do for you. Then, take to the drawing board to sketch your ideas and make mood boards from magazines and Pinterest of your dream garden landscape.

See all of our garden ideas for an inspirational starting point

Elements to consider when first planning garden landscaping ideas

Walls and boundaries Hedges and fences Paths and patios Lawns Water features Zoning areas (dining, playing, shading) Planting: trees, shrubs, pots Lighting Out-buildings

Next consider your plot. Look at the size and shape and take into consideration the direction if faces, the style of your house it will be framing and the surrounding area. Achieving balance is a strong aspect of good garden design; pay equal attention to all areas and remember that plants and shrubs will change size and shape throughout the seasons.

Do you prefer formal or informal gardens? Formal gardens tend to be tidy and geometric with lots of straight lines and clipped hedges, whereas informal gardens are made up of organic curves and planting is much more relaxed.

Garden landscaping ideas

1. Go large to make a statement

Image credit: Butter Wakefield Garden Design/ The Society of Garden Designers

Take inspiration from Butter Wakefield’s winning garden to play with scales. In this small garden she uses oversize copper containers filled with a glorious mix of trees, shrubs and perennials to create an urban oasis. The planting is chosen specifically to attract wildlife in the space.

‘Plants include multi-stem birch trees underplanted with evergreen Ferns and spring flowering Crocus; beech balls with Erigeron daisies and Muehlenbeckia and shrubs and perennials including Syringa microphyllia ‘Red Pixie’, Euphorbia schillingii, Geranium pyrcenaicum ‘Bill Wallis’ & Cirsium rivulare ‘Blue Wonder’.’

For all your budgeting questions answered read: Garden landscaping costs – how much to pay for garden landscaping

2. Soften a sloping garden with grass steps

Image credit: Helen Elks-Smith MSGD/ The Society of Garden Designers

If your garden is on different levels but you’re not keen on hard landscaping severely breaking things up take inspiration from this garden by Helen Elks-Smith MSGD. Instead of incorporating stone steps, Helen has used grass treads, integrating them into the existing lawn to connect the lower patio to the small sun terrace above. Creating a softer approach to the flow, seamlessly journeying from one space to the other.

3. Pave the way

Image credit: Claire Lloyd Davies

The trend for creating garden zones is hugely popular, meaning the need for having a garden path is great. A link that unites the different areas is not only highly practical, it can also be visually appealing as this example demonstrates.

Without a pathway you’ll soon find that you tread an unsightly channel into the lawn – which will ruin all your hard work with the overall garden aesthetic.

Read more: Garden path ideas – curved and straight walkway designs in gravel, brick and stone for every budget

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4. Favour environmental choices

Image credit: Sue Townsend/ The Society of Garden Designers

If you’re concerned about the environmental impact of your garden and looking for ways to make it more sustainable, look no further than Sue Townsend’s ‘Samphire’ garden. The winner of the Beth Chatto Award for best Eco Garden, this garden demonstrates how you can create an oasis that can benefit the planet and which is bursting with texture and visual interest.

‘The coastal garden in Suffolk uses a rich palette of drought-tolerant planting including native seaside plants, grasses and Mediterranean shrubs surrounded by a stone mulch in different sizes and set amongst paving of locally reclaimed York Stone,’ explain The Society of Garden Designers.

‘Plants include verbena bonariensis, eryngiums, euphorbias, lavender, achillea, ballota, miscanthus nepalensis, pennisetum, verbena and thymus. Make sure you use permeable surfaces to allow water to be released naturally into the ground.’

5. Plant for privacy

Image credit: Lizzie Orme / Future PLC – Garden designed by TJG Gardens

In terms of the space, the owner of this garden wanted a rear terrace to catch the evening light and provide the perfect spot for entertaining. Laurel hedging planted alongside gives the new terrace an instant sense of privacy. The imposing rear garden wall was painted a natural green colour, to blend in with the greens provided by nature.

6. Create a flowering roof

Image credit: Stuart Craine MSGD/ The Society of Garden Designers

Green roofs, living roofs, vegetated roofs, — whatever you call them, planted roofs are sprouting up everywhere! The growing new trend can be home to an array of plants from grasses to flowers, as well as being the perfect way to bring biodiversity into your garden.

‘In his garden in north London, winner of the Planting Award, Stuart Craine MSGD has created a stunning sedum roof in pastel powdery pinks – adding a softness to the abundant greenery in the surrounding garden’ explain The Society Of Garden Designers. ‘You can create a green roof on any flat surface or unsightly roof – from bin stores to bike sheds, and if you’re not sure what to plant simply lay a ready-seeded wildflower turf.’

7. Hard landscape dedicated levels

Image credit: Mark Bolton

Use hard landscaping to make a feature of a sloping garden, allowing the incline to create dedicated, defined levels for different zones.

Allow the zones to take on very different purposes – from a dining area to a relaxing lounging zone that makes the most of garden shade ideas.

8. Stick to a simple scheme

Image credit: Colin Poole

‘Simple, elegant detailing is often the key to a successful space,’ says garden designer Robert Myers. ‘People often over-complicate design by putting too many ideas and patterns into a small space, making it look busy and fussy.’

9. Go hard on the detail

Image credit: Annaick Guitteny

There’s no shortage of hard landscaping styles, from rustic to sleek and modern. In general, hard landscaping tends to be the star of contemporary designs, and the range of materials for such spaces is more extensive – mirror, metal, concrete and painted walls, to name a few – but there is nothing to stop you using these in traditional herbaceous gardens. The trick is to create a single, homogenous design.

10. Recycle materials to enhance planting

Image credit: Lizzie Orme / Future PLC – Garden designed by TJG Gardens

Recycled whelk shells light up the ground underneath this Acer palmatum at the back of the garden. The owner wanted to make a feature of the tree, and to hide the dark soil beneath – and it really does work well!

11. Change the shape

Image credit: Future PLC

Create more space by breaking free of a symmetrical layout. It’s easy to think in straight lines when it comes to garden landscaping, especially when it comes to the flooring. Adding curved lines and elongated sections can help to soften the transition from hard landscaping to planting or lawn.

Think about reshaping the lawn to allow for a sweeping shaped decking to give the landscape an interesting shape, or going for completely grassless garden ideas like in this deck and gravel scheme.

How to landscape a garden

Image credit: Mark Bolton

In order to understand how to landscape a garden, we have to understand what it actually means. ‘Landscape design is just the outdoors version of interior design -albeit with rather different materials’ says expert Tabi Jackson Gee, founder of TJG Gardens.  ‘The actual landscaping bit itself refers to any changes you’re making to your outdoor space – from creating new plant beds to building walls or terraces.’

‘Garden design can mean anything that’s to do with your outdoor space,’ Tabi goes on to explain. ‘With a basic understanding of architectural software (CAD) designers are able to draw up almost anything they want to create for a client – water features, feature walls, pathways, lighting designs, meadows, orchards, outdoor kitchens and so on.’

‘Both the hard landscaping and the soft landscaping (plants) need to be designed carefully to be functional and beautiful, and with budget, site and future uses all taken into consideration. Designers then work with landscaping contractors to make these ideas a reality. There’s so much that goes into the process which people don’t see – choosing the right materials, the right finishes, the right lighting and so all is all a skill that adds up to a beautiful garden.’

‘Most good designers can do both – you need an incredible amount of knowledge not just of plants but of materials, building practices, costs, supply chains – and it’s this knowledge which allows a designer to help a client get the most from their garden.’

The other side of garden design is of course the planting. And while that may sound obvious it’s far from easy and can end up costing you greatly if you don’t know what you’re doing. ‘Different plants thrive in different conditions from one garden to the next,’ Tabi explain.

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‘Soil health is really important to this too, and understanding this alone is what makes a garden designer such a help when you’re planning your outdoor space. How to space the plants, what grows well together, what suits the client’s lifestyle (e.g. low maintenance planting) – these are all factors that a designer will think about too.’

What landscaping materials will my garden need?

Select your materials with care and check the quantity and condition upon delivery.

Image credit: Colin Poole

Common landscaping materials are:

Bricks

Timber and decking

Paving and block paving

Aggregates and sand (check that the chemicals included are suitable for horticultural use)

Concrete, mortar and render

Damp proof membrane and landscaping fabric

Exterior paints and finishes

You’ll need to consider waste removal. There are two common methods; skip hire or muck away. Consult your local council and waste removal companies to find the most appropriate method or if hiring a professional to carry out your project talk to your contractor to establish whether clearance is included in their service.

Every construction project involves a fair degree of upheaval, so plan meticulously to smooth the way.

How do I keep the neighbours onside?

Inform neighbours every step of the way and double-check boundaries when erecting fencing and walls. Where dividing lines are shared, you must get their permission in writing.

How to I get rid of hard landscaping waste?

If you do not have access, ask neighbours or approach the local council if the area is public. Hire a skip for large amounts of soil, rubble and plants; expect to pay around £50-£200. You need a licence to put a skip on a public road; apply for this at your local council. Your landscaper can organise this for you; ask to see the permit. A landscaper will need to pay to use a commercial tip. If you tackle the project yourself, contact your local residential tip to see what it will take. Find out more at direct.gov.uk.

At this stage you should have realised whether your landscaping ideas will be a hands-on DIY job or a complete overhaul that will need the skills and labour of a professional landscape designer or tradesman that can do the work for you.

How do I landscape a garden the DIY route?

If you are tackling the job yourself, there are plenty of books, online guides or even short construction courses to help you get started. Most building materials (mentioned above) are easy to obtain from garden centres and builders merchants. Don’t overlook access points to your garden if materials are to be delivered and stored.

Image credit: Colin Poole

Also look into machinery hire – you may need a cement mixer or even a digger to prepare the ground. Off-the-peg materials such as bricks, blocks, slabs, timber are rectilinear and so are more straightforward and cost effective when building along straight lines. If your design is curved, use more flexible materials such as gravel, poured concrete or drystone techniques.

Related: Small garden ideas to make the most of a tiny space

Do I need planning permissions?

Planning restricts differ widely from one area to another. The answer is usually yes if you intend to build walls over 1m by a road and 2m elsewhere, or lay impermeable paving as part of your front garden ideas. For listed buildings and in conservation areas, you may need permission to remove and install hard landscaping.

For everyone else, outbuildings of up to 2.5m high are permitted beside the house, and those of 4m and taller need to be 2m away from the house. Decking and outbuildings must not take up more than 50 per cent of the garden.

Consult the planning department of your local council before going ahead, especially if you live near a Conservation Area. If planning permission is necessary your Planning Department will require an application together with fairly detailed plans and a fee. Find out more at www.gov.uk.

How long will my garden landscaping take?

This depends on the type of project. If you have the budget and are employing the professionals, they will give you a detailed time-frame and work-plan in their quote.

Image credit: David Giles

Working in stages can help with the cash-flow. Hard-landscaping should be completed first, if possible during winter months so the garden is ready for planting in the spring. Do not build walls or patio’s below 3 degrees as frost can weaken new concrete and mortar.

Which plants should I choose?

One of the simplest ways to transform your outdoor space, be it an urban garden or country garden is to invest in a scheme based around your plants. A good selection of flowers, trees and shrubs will create year round interest. Spend some time getting to know your soil and aspect in terms of sun, shade and exposure.

For structure invest in larger hedging and trees. For colour spend money on bedding plants and bulbs. Further research in books, garden centres and online will throw up so many planting suggestions. Potted flowers and plants are a great option for adding easy colour and the movability means you can change your design when the mood takes you. Be sure to plant them with plenty of drainage and water regularly.

Image credit: David Giles

The late, great garden designer Rosemary Verey once famously said, ‘True gardening is as much about the bones of a garden as it’s planting.’ Indeed, few outdoor schemes are complete without some form of hard landscaping. The materials used – from paving and aggregates to decking and decorative edging – will add texture, character and structure, leading the eye through the landscape.

While the best time to redesign your space is in winter when plants are dormant, looking at it in summer gives you the chance to really understand how you use the space. Or if you just want to add new surfaces, you can do so now and reap the rewards this summer.

Will you be using any of these garden landscaping ideas to create the space of your dreams?

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Veranos de la Villa 2018. Ghostpoet, Javier Gallego (con Seward) y Jhana. 18 de julio, Puente de Segovia, Madrid.

No sé por qué me pinto los morros si hago beatboxing. Y empieza la fiesta de Jhana. Una Jazz de los 2010, que intenta contagiar aquella energía. El resto, salvo esa introducción y curso acelerado de composición de beats acid-jazz no pasa de lugares comunes sobre el buen rollo y el reggae que, es cierto, levanta, contagia y hace sonreír. Pero no tiene mucha mayor trascendencia o, mejor dicho, hay más de verbena que de poesía en lo que hace. Lo cual nos lleva a a la cola del pez, y a (la poesía de) Radio Futura.

Seward, con toda su tempestad y su teatro, parece un artista a tener en cuenta, aunque sea por desbordamiento. Una banda rítmicamente descabalada, exceso, ruido… Podrían ser The Doors o un puntal del dark-folk. Se resisten, sin embargo, a entrar al zoológico. Javier Gallego, que recita ocurrencias surrealistas (no puedo negar su pertinencia), no alcanzará ninguna revolución convirtiendo las cuchillas de afeitar en máquinas de auto-destrucción. Aute ya tiró la toalla hace treinta años.  De buenas intenciones, están llenas las cunetas. Al menos, ha recordado que el puente que hay detrás suyo, delante nuestro, fue destruido para que no pasaran los fascistas hace ya 80 años. La paradoja sería hoy, que estaríamos defendiendo la infame catedral de dos colmenas para obreros.

Ghostpoet va zigzagueando entre el Rock y el Trip-Hop, y en muchas formas, me recuerda a Portishead. Tal vez sin la voz trágica de Beth Gibbons, pero con una mezcla de arrogancia, cortesía y distancia que justifica su estado intermedio entre el estrellato y lo alternativo. La brevedad de sus canciones, ese sonido bastardo que puede sobarse con el Metal o hacer migas con el Drum and Bass, la sequedad con que rugen los solos de guitarra o la brevedad, sin transiciones, de los temas, todo ello da una sensación de locura, de tormenta de fogonazos, de confusión premeditada. Y tal vez no esté contando mas que estribillos tomados de aquí y de allá, pero sin duda es el autor del panegírico a la lógica defenestrada más lucido, acertado y retorcido. Y el retratista lúcido de nuestra tristeza cínica, que cobardemente no resolvemos poniendo fin a nuestra intranscendencia.

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🔮

Send me 🔮 for me to consult the cards and see who you loved in an alternate timeline 

Caleb Carter

It began with a spark.

Not the usual romantic kind. Not a sultry gaze or bite of a lip.  

A literal spark. An ember that rose up from Caleb's palm, hovering and flicking in the dark, before he ignited the air and sent coils of fire dancing in a wild beat between them. The rhythm matched his aura: intense and crackling with only the faintest hint of whimsy.  

A Verbena and a Hermetic. A sphere of life and a sphere of force. It wasn't the most logical pairing.

Or maybe it was the most natural. Wildfire can sweep through a forest, turning it to ash, and when the dust settles, new life grows in spaces that the weight of old trees had tried to keep from the light.  

And of course, when fire burns too hot, when skin puckers and blisters beneath the heat, it's healing hands which the victim turns to.

Beth soothed Caleb. Tempered the edges of his pride and cooled him when hot-headed abandon threatened to take hold. She was the one who guided them towards balance. And what he offered in return was the opposite. He cut down caution to send Beth along the path of ambition. When she doubted, he poured confidence into the gap. There was no touch or word or sibling threat that could ever derail Caleb's faith in his tiny, golden mage.