#fresh wet wind of November is medicinal

[alpineramble]

All you Need to Know About Trekking to Everest Base Camp

All you Need to Know About Trekking to Everest Base Camp

Are you ready to tackle the most spectacular hiking route in the entire world? Many a trekking itinerary has vied for this coveted distinction, but the Everest Base Camp Trek lays better claim to the title than most. From the lofty summit of the highest mountain on the planet to mysterious, forested valleys cut by tumbling, sparkling rivers, the Khumbu region of Nepal is a place of rare beauty—and high adventure. Alpine Ramble Treks has put together this Complete Guide to the Everest Base Camp Trek in order to help you understand what you can expect on this world-class hiking trail. From the instant you disembark from your plane at Lukla to the moment you find yourself standing at the foot of the mighty Mount Everest itself, we’ll be your guide to the sights, sounds, and experiences of Nepal’s finest trek.

Difficulty Level of EBC Hike

Do you have what it takes to reach Everest Base Camp on your own two feet? This trek involves hiking across steep and uneven terrain at high altitudes, reaching a maximum elevation of 5,545 meters. But make no mistake—the challenge is part of Everest’s indefinable allure, drawing visitors from all walks of life to experience the rugged wilderness of the Khumbu for themselves. And while it’s important to be in reasonable physical condition before attempting the Everest Base Camp Trek, you’ll be pleased to learn that this is a non-technical hike that does not require any special mountaineering skills. Most trekkers prepare for their adventure with endurance-building exercises such as walking, running, and swimming. Your experienced guide from Alpine Ramble Treks will also keep a close eye on your progress, adjusting your pace and allowing for plenty of time to acclimatize in order to ensure a successful and satisfying hike.

Everest Trek Weather

The weather in Nepal is tied to the cyclical rhythms of the region’s seasonal monsoon, which brings dramatic changes to the country’s highest mountains. Summers are warm and wet, with verdant greenery blanketing the hillsides of the Khumbu. Winter brings colder conditions and fresh snowfall, draping the majesty of the Himalayas in their most resplendent finery. Spring is most famous for its stunning carpets of blooming wildflowers, and autumn is best known for what are arguably the clearest mountain views of the whole year. While the Everest Base Camp Trek can be enjoyed at any time of year, most trekkers prefer to trek in the spring, between February and March, or during the autumn, between September and November. Clear views, mild temperatures, and dry trails are the hallmarks of spring and autumn. But whenever you decide to visit, you’ll quickly fall in love with the seasonal charms of Nepal’s Everest Base Camp Trek.

Routes and Distance of EBC Hike

The Everest Base Camp Trek rewards travelers who take the time to explore the Khumbu to its fullest, navigating unnamed valleys of astonishing beauty and trekking alongside rivers rushing with glacial meltwater. You can expect to spend anywhere from one hour to six hours on the trail each day, enjoying the sights and sounds of Nepal’s most breathtaking environments. All told, the Everest Base Camp Trek covers approximately 130 kilometers of pristine wilderness, punctuated with mountainside villages inhabited by friendly locals. Alpine Ramble Treks has developed a variety of itineraries in the region, each of which will allow you to experience the spectacle of Mount Everest for yourself. Our classic itinerary takes 14 full days to explore the length and breadth of the Khumbu, beginning with an epic flight from Kathmandu to Lukla before winding its way to the foot of the tallest mountain in the world. But if you have less time to spend on holiday, don’t worry—we’ve also crafted shorter itineraries for on-the-go travelers. Thanks to the expertise of our guides and porters, you can actually reach Everest Base Camp in less than one week. From five-day itineraries to 16-day itineraries—and everything in between—the only thing standing between you and Mount Everest is the question of your own ambition.

Accommodations on EBC Trip

The Everest Base Camp Trek is an exciting, rugged adventure of the highest caliber—but that doesn’t mean you have to rough it. Due to the enduring popularity of this world-famous trail, teahouses and trekker’s lodges have sprung up all along our route. Each night, you can look forward to simple accommodations with a warm bed, heavy blanket, and a home-cooked meal. You’ll enjoy the famous hospitality of Khumbu’s Sherpa culture as you share the living spaces of friendly mountain villagers and explore the surroundings of their high-altitude towns. Some of the trail’s more populous stops, including the colorful trading hub of Namche Bazaar, even have a number of restaurants and bakeries where you can savor some truly local delicacies. You might set foot on the Everest Base Camp Trail to see the world’s tallest mountain, but don’t be surprised if some of your fondest memories include the humble and welcoming lodges where you’ll lay your head to rest each night.

Meals on EBC Hike

There’s no better way to power through miles and miles on the Everest Base Camp Trek than to fuel your body with the ubiquitous dish of the mountains: dal bhat. This tasty entrée consists of lentil soup, plenty of rice, and tasty vegetable curry. You can also expect to enjoy sides like yogurt, chutney, and pickled vegetables to enhance your lunch or dinner. Another popular dish is the noodle soup known as Thukpa; this is a hearty, warming broth with ingredients that vary considerably across the length and breadth of Nepal. Of course, no adventure in the high Himalayas would be complete without a heaping plate or two of momos. These dumplings are packed with meat or vegetables and either steamed or fried to perfection, and they can be found in just about every mountain village in Nepal. But don’t be dismayed if you prefer familiar comfort food—meals like pizza, chow mein noodles, and even cakes and brownies can be found in the busier towns like Namche Bazaar.

Packing for EBC Hike

Packing for the adventure of a lifetime can be a daunting task, but Alpine Ramble Treks is here to help. In fact, when you book one of our Everest Base Camp Trek tours, we’ll provide you with lots of gear and supplies to help you on your way. We’ll bring sleeping bags, warm-down jackets, walkie-talkies, trekking poles, and duffle bags. This leaves you free to focus on the essentials: layered clothing, trekking pants, hiking boots, flashlights, water bottles, medicine, and first aid supplies. For a comprehensive packing list, check out any of our Everest Base Camp Trek itineraries—and don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions.

Conclusion

The Everest Base Camp Trek is a real adventure, fully deserving of the almost mythical reputation it enjoys among enthusiastic trekkers. But reaching the foot of the world’s highest mountain is absolutely within the reach of most travelers in reasonable physical shape who have the passion to reach their goal. Here at Alpine Ramble Treks, we hope that our Complete Guide to the Everest Base Camp Trek has dispelled some of the mystique of this world-class hiking itinerary—without sacrificing any of the mysterious allure that characterizes each step of its steep, winding, and breathtakingly beautiful footpath. We hope to see you on the trail!

[samwrights]

A Part of Me - Punk!AU [Makki]

Ah, the (second) song to inspire this entire series. This song is very near and dear to my heart as it is one of the few songs I regularly duet with people at karaoke. Because of that, this chapter is very very fluffy, cutesy, and almost vomit inducing. If you’re unfamiliar with the premise of this series, that could be because this is the second installment of Makki’s route and you may need to read the first which can be found here! Artwork is not mine so if we find the artist, please let me know so we can properly cite them.

Lyrics that are bold are sung by Makki and the very few lyrics that are italicized are sung by you. If they are both, then they are harmonized.

WARNINGS: Language, implied NSFW, indirect use of marijuana, and mentions of nicotine use.

Word count: ~4k

Song Used: A Part of Me by Neck Deep

A complementary setlist for Elixir can be found  »  here

Despite the cool November air filtering in through your open bedroom window, you were warm—much warmer than normal. Did you grab extra blankets before going to bed? What the fuck happened last night? You weren’t nauseous, per se, but it almost felt as if you were casually swaying on a rocking boat albeit you were laying still. “The fuck...” you mumbled, squeezing your swollen and puffy eyes shut even tighter than they already were in an attempt to shut out the permeating sunlight. That, and to hopefully quell the strange feeling of floating and moving mixed with exhaustion.

“What’s wrong, baby?” At the sound of an all too familiar voice, your eyes snapped open to see your bassist, best friend, and asshat that you’d been pining over for the last ten years in your bed, resting on your headboard, with no visible clothes on.

“Dude, what the hell are you doing in here?!” You howl, suddenly feeling very, very bare and vulnerable, you pull your covers to your naked chest, noticing the shift in the covers revealed Hanamaki’s nude hip. Instead of answering, a laugh rumbles in his chest. Saying nothing else, his lanky arms wrap around your torso and pull your chests flush beside each other.

“Say sike right now. Like, please tell me you’re joking and that you do remember last night.”

“Wait, that wasn’t a dream?”

“Aw, you dream about me? Cute.” He teases before pressing his thin lips to yours forehead in a chaste kiss before he pulled back and resumed his resting position, allowing you to see his tight grimace. If you disregard that small detail, he looked incredibly relaxed; like a healthy glow gradiated over his pale skin or like he finally had found peace for the first time since you’ve known him. “Seriously though, you don’t remember anything from last night?”

“I’m not gonna lie, I’m pretty sure none of this is real.” You retort. The strawberry-brunette rolls his eyes and throws one of his legs over you while gripping each of your wrists, pinning you down to your mattress. The sudden movement confirmed your earlier suspicions of the fact that Takahiro Hanamaki was indeed naked in your bed on this beautiful November morning. Dammit, he’s even prettier when he’s naked. “Can you please catch me up to speed?”

“I love you.” His response is as quick-witted as ever, as if he were finally free to say it and he no longer had to swallow the words like a bitter medicine. “Always have, always will.” Regardless of the fact that his shale stone eyes were locked so intently with yours, you were not entirely convinced. Makki could tell by the way your lips remained parted and brows furrowed that you couldn’t come to terms with reality. Rather than words, the bassist latched his lips fully and unabashedly into yours, his tongue working its way into every crevice of your cavern as if he trying to coax your memories of the previous evening. Jagged thoughts of nude, sweaty bodies flooded you, along with crying in the car and lots of kisses you don’t ever remember taking place.

“Dude, what the fuck did we smoke last night?” The only response Makki could offer to that was laughter as he once again resumed his position of resting on your headboard. This time, he pulled you tightly, as opposed to the previous languid nature, to his chest as his arms encircled you.

“To be fair, you only ever smoke when you’re with me and we haven’t gone for a cruise since—“

“—since you started dating Momoka.” Speaking her name brought the remaining missing pieces of reality set in. “What are you going to do about that?” Your voice is quiet as the two of you stare out the window together, seeing the gentle shaking of tree branches before you in the November wind as your own thoughts consume you.

“What do you mean ‘what am I going to do about that’, break up with her, obviously.” There’s a bit of a sour note in his tone as Makki spits out the words. In a way, you felt a bit bad for her. Mostly because she didn’t necessarily do anything to warrant a sudden break up after a seemingly peaceful last eight months.

Then you remember she laughed at you last night, which partially prompted the fight between the two of you.

Fuck her.

“What time is it anyway?” You ask as a yawn leaves your mouth. Takahiro quirks a brow for a moment, the two rings surrounding the bone moving in a funny motion as he does so, before checking his phone. You definitely didn’t miss the multiple missed texts from your bandmates and Momoka on the screen, not that you were snooping or spying. Aside from that, you shifted slightly to reach for your own phone to check any missed messages. “We should probably at least get up.” It was already past noon, after all. Carefully peeling back your comforter away from you, you start to move to get up and go about your day.

“Look at me, babe.” The urgency in Makki’s voice doesn’t go amiss. As you look over at him, stopped in your tracks, you realize his expression is entirely devoid of its usual playfulness. “Ten years, we’ve been waiting for this. Why are you acting so...” the strawberry-brunette struggles to find the word he’s metaphorically searching for in his head, “distant?”

“Because ten years or not, you’re not technically mine.” You say it so quickly, like you’d been dying to blurt it out because it’s the only thing that’s been on your mind.

“I’ve always been yours.” Makki says it like it’s so simple—like everything was supposed to work out the way it did. Maybe it was. “I love you.” He says again when the two of you fall quiet.

“So you’ve said.” Pushing yourself out of bed, you let the comforter fall off from around your body before gathering a fresh towel to bring with to your bathroom so you could shower.

“Don’t believe me?” The man in your bed asks, sitting up to lean over a little either to attempt eye contact with him or so that he can get a better look at your bare ass. Knowing him, it was probably the latter. When you don’t respond, Makki does the same as you, pulling himself out of bed, and unzipping a backpack that you swear he didn’t have the night before and pulling out fresh clothes. He makes it apparent that he’s not letting the conversation go, you learn, as he joins in the bathroom, running the water to make sure it’s warm enough for his liking. “Seriously, babe, talk to me.” He doesn’t care that you’re peeing or brushing your teeth and, while it should be uncomfortable, it doesn’t bother you in the slightest.

“Doesn’t this feel wrong to you?” You ask finally as you both enter the shower. Despite the verbal and metaphysical distance between you two, you huddle closer to Hanamaki to stay under the spray of warm water. “Like this shouldn’t be happening at all or—“

“No,” his voice is firm, “it feels like we’ve wasted a fucking decade when we could have spent a decade fucking.”

“Wow, I hate you.” You quip immediately at his lewd statement. You turn away from him, letting what little drops of water that were coating you keep you warm. An audible groan rumbles in his throat before you feel his arms and chest wrap around you for what feels like the umpteenth time already.

“Does this feel wrong to you?” His lips are at your ear and, despite the hot water and the man holding you, a shiver runs down your spine.

“It just doesn’t feel real, like it genuinely feels like I’m going to wake up alone then start crying because this is all a dream.” Hanamaki sighs as he rests his forehead on your shoulder, not caring if the water is annoyingly running over his eyes in rivers. Honestly, he’s not sure how to fix this or how to make you believe because he can’t believe it’s happening either. Reality has yet to set in for him as well and the fact that the two of you were standing together in your shower with your bare bodies pressed against each other was making it more unbelievable by the second.

“I get it,” he says quietly, “trust me, it’s disorientating. But I promise, this is all real.” A small choke leaves his lungs, like he’s gasping for air, making you glance at the wet man resting on your shoulder. You can’t see the way the his eyes are welling or feel the heat behind them as he’s praying silently to a god he doesn’t believe in that this is his new reality.

Believable or not, happening or not, this moment—this life—was something the two of you had been unintentionally, or intentionally depending on how you looked at it, working towards for a decade and there was no reason not to enjoy and appreciate it while you both had it. Similarly along the lines of “better to have loved then lost” or some other bullshit, you internally mused. But that thought drove you to swallow whatever crumbs of this situation you could get.

“Hey, Hiro,” you turn around cautiously to stare at his slight sunken in eyes, making sure not to make any sudden movements that could potentially startle him. “I love you.” For a moment, he doesn’t respond to you but you know exactly why because it’s the same reason you’ve been so on edge. Hearing you finally say it back, despite being the first one to admit it the previous day, quells the bubbling fear he felt in his chest. His estranged face finally softens, as if he could finally relax because you’re bringing him back to the world. “And we’re being dumb again.” You point out, making Makki flash his teeth weakly in a smile that brings you more warmth than any fire.

“Yeah, you’re right.” The two of you become quiet, though this time the silence doesn’t thicken the tension already in the air, allowing you take in tiny doses of your surroundings. Takahiro Hanamaki was here, in the shower with you, after you blew up at him during practice and confessed your feelings the previous night. And, after ten years of mutual pining and blunt cruises and writing sad songs about each other, the two of you slept together for the first time.

Not exactly the romance you want to sit there are tell your future children about, but it’ll have to do.

“Last night,” you start off slowly as you’re towel drying your hair after the two of you migrated back to your bedroom to get dressed. The mention of the previous evening catches Makki’s attention. “You said that you always want to sing the songs you wrote because they’re about me, right? That Growing Pains is about me?”

“Yeah?”

“What else have you written?” Besides backing vocals for you, he didn’t sing any other songs entirely except for one other song that Kuroo wrote and he sang solely on the fact that “Kuroo doesn’t sing”. Or so he says. Something wasn’t adding up here.

For awhile, he doesn’t say anything as he’s slinking into his ripped jeans and rolling on a thin, black Henley for contrast. Simple, straightforward, and clean much like Hanamaki himself, until he tousles his natural pinky brown locks.

“Ah, don’t ruin the surprise, babe.”

Just what in the fuck is Makki planning?

The two of you head to Terushima’s house in his car, which you learned that he had parked down the street two blocks away as a preemptive measure just in case you tried to blockade him out of your apartment—and yes, you are that dramatic. But at some point in the night, Makki moved his car to the shared driveway of your flat. It feels like home. 

Being in the car with Makki, singing along to the same acoustic duets you always listened to, but rather than a blunt in your hands, it’s him—all of it feels like home. The smoke billowing away from your lips as you exhaled and how each breath drove away your worries of whether or not this was reality along with the wisps; throwing French fries at each other after you had stopped at a local drive thru to grab lunch for you and the band. This was real.

The way the calloused pads of his right hand are rubbing over your knuckles while you go back and forth singing and harmonizing melodies, or the way he brings the back of your hand to his lips when a particular line in a song feels relevant to him. The peace and ease that smoothed out the usually present tension his skin and the way his two signature eyebrow rings keep moving up in down because of the myriad of expressions he’s showing you. Even the typical, bruising bags under his eyes seemed a little less pronounced than usual. All of this was real.

There’s a strange sensation in the air when you enter Yūji’s house. Relief? No, that didn’t quite cover it. You tossed three bags of fast food on the kitchen island, both out of courtesy and knowing that probably none of you had a decent meal yet, as you studied the face of your bandmates. Relief was one emotion, but there was a strange, mischievous air to them as well.

Additionally, they didn’t even bat an eyelash at the fact that you and Makki came into the kitchen holding hands. “Alright, you guys are plotting something, I know it.” You deadpan, staring at the three very suspicion men gathered around the dining table with crumbs all loitering their cheeks and chin. But there’s no response or denial—not even a reaction. Not even when Makki lets out a chuckle and presses his lips to your forehead.

Like it didn’t even phase them.

Or like it was just always meant to be this way.

“Looks like you guys are having a good time, am I right?” You ask the rather large audience; larger than normal, anyway. Typically, the four of you would be lucky to see more than thirty people gathered at one of your shows. Tonight, the turnout almost packed the venue, even with small bodies pushing up against the barricade that separated the stage. Among the crowd, of course, was Momoka and the two other girlfriends. Apparently someone who shall not be named, Takahiro Hanamaki, forgot to tell her even a semblance of the events that occurred within the last twenty-four hours. Like, the fact that you and Makki confessed to each other and fucked last night.

Oh well. You had faith that Makki would rectify the situation after the show and you would be lying to yourself if you said that the mere thought of him dumping her caused excitement to pump through your veins.

After playing Love Bites, the fourth song in the set, you always had to give a brief intermission so that Kuroo could switch from his signature Stratocaster to his prized acoustic guitar—a gift you’d gotten him after he had gotten his own promotion at the coffee shop years ago. You’re pacing around the stage as the transition goes on, occasionally waving to audience members and saying hi. Part of you has the passing thought to wave to Momoka and the others, but it’s a passing thought that is interrupted with an astute ‘fuck you’ before continuing with your theatrical monologue. “We’re gonna slow it down just a little bit. This next song—“

“Actually, [name], I have an announcement to make.” Your head snapped so fast that it could have given you whiplash. Your bassist who is now adjusting Kuroo’s most prized possession over his long torso, is slightly hunching over his own microphone stand as he speaks, giving the guitar a couple strums, before his eyes move from you towards your rambunctious audience. “So this next song was something I wrote for someone special and,” the strawberry-brunette squints just a tad, holding his hand over his head to filter out light before he finds who he’s looking for, “no, Momoka, it’s not for you. We’re done.”

Your mind is blank. Well, except for the reverberating internal chant of ‘what the fuck’ before Makki interrupts your thoughts from going any further.

“I wrote this song for our lovely vocalist and I hope that you guys have someone special with you tonight so that you can share this moment with them too.” Without saying anything further, Hanamaki begins strumming the familiar rhythm to one of the few acoustics songs in your set. Kuroo, who normally played it every other night of the week, was holding a tambourine that was dwarfed by his large ink-covered hands, smacking the instrument into the heel of his other as he kept tempo with Makki. For now, you were going to ignore the fact that Kuroo had apparently stolen one of your jobs for the track. Somewhere in the background, Terushima is only hitting his bass drum with his foot to keep the impromptu guitarist in check, simultaneously leading the crowd interaction.

I’ll paint you a picture with words, “I miss her”

That left you to simply receive whatever the hell was happening right now. Oh shit.

How were you supposed to focus on singing a song dedicated to you when you were two busy watching the way Makki’s veins and vocal chords struggled underneath the skin of his neck as he sang to you? Or that twinkle in his shale colored eyes that gleamed in a way that made it seem like this were a conversation between the two of you, rather than a performance? Vaguely buzzing in the ambience, you can hear the clapping of the audience as they swayed back and forth. Some of them holding up their phones and lighters to add warmth to the moment, some were kissing lovers they had attended the show with. But the only thing that you could see right now was the soft, yellow stage light illuminating Hanamaki’s gaunt frame as he smiled brightly.

I’ll move on and forget you We could never see eye to eye

You could cry, were it not for you fighting every fiber of your being from doing so. The bassist to your left gestures with his head for you to step closer to him as he approaches the chorus. And while you did make hesitant steps towards him, occasionally remembering to chime in with your backing vocals, Makki continued making the gesture until you were as close as the two microphones you both had would allow without feedback disrupting the sound. While he’s still hunching over his own and strumming away at Kuroo’s guitar, his profile is to the audience as he locks eyes with yours. The audience isn’t even there anymore—it’s just the two of you.

Don’t let me go down this road again

The telepathic link that you believe was once long severed is reconnected with every vibration of strings and chords, with every letter that passes his teeth. His words, Makki’s words, were threaded and earnestly laced with honesty and love and it was the most overwhelming feeling you’d ever experienced. You swear your voice cracked at some point when you tried to back him and Makki only confirmed it with a soft snort accompanying his vocals.

If only I could find the words or muster up the nerve to tell her I’ll never forget her and she’ll always have a part of me

The bridge was coming rapidly as the two of you were met with one more repeat of the chorus. The bridge was born of delicate single string plucks and a crescendo of cymbal rolls and harmonies that diverged into yours and Makki’s parts in both perspective, skill, and personal story. It should have been a dead giveaway, really, when you first heard this song that he had written it for you with the way these verses were coordinated. But you were so far in denial that you may as well have been born and raised in Africa.

Now all I can do is lay in my room, fall asleep, dream of you Then wake up and do nothing about it

Sometimes you easily forget just how creative the strawberry-brunette could be. The way he curated the end of this song was a masterpiece that only someone of his caliber and twisted mind could create. Not just in the way he wrote the track, either, but the way he has the two of you telling a story to your audience and to each other and the way he ties it up neatly like a Christmas present—it meant even more now that you knew it was for you.

I fell for a boy who could never ever let me walk home that way Cause you gotta be safe

The way he created the only song in the entire setlist that highlighted the more delicate tones of your vocal range, as opposed to your brash tune from previous tracks.

She hates it when I shout these words but I’ll still for you So hold back your views, we’re both leaving soon

The way he tells you he will always be there.

I can’t fall back on you I’ll still sing for you

The way he tells he loves you has always been right in front of your face.

I’ll still sing for you

The way his hand gingerly cups your cheek, his words trailing off and the way his lips press to yours despite the environment, affectively knocking down the last of your resolve and letting a single tear fall from your eye.

[ Growing Pains « A Part of Me » Still Into You ]

Haikyuu!! Tag List

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[wealthypioneers]

Exotic Rare White Hummingbird Tree Sesbania Grandiflora Tropical Fruit Seeds, Organic B5 This small ornamental tree with a straight trunk produces a mass of large, 3-4" white flowers resembling little birds. Its lower branches create a floral canopy from November to June. Tolerates flooding. The flower is large and distinctively curved. Vertical pods, located near the flowers, can contain up to 20 seeds. The tender leaves, green fruit, and flowers are eaten alone as a vegetable or mixed into curries or salads. Flowers may be dipped in batter and fried in butter. Tender portions serve as cattle fodder. Ripe pods apparently are not eaten. The inner bark can serve as fiber and the white, softwood not too durable, can be used for cork. The wood is used, like bamboo, in Asian construction. The tree is grown as an ornamental shade tree and for reforestation. Bark, leaves, gums, and flowers are considered medicinal. In Java, the tree is extensively used as a pulp source. A gum resembling kino (called katurai), fresh when red, nearly black after exposure, exudes from wounds. This astringent gum is partially soluble in water and in alcohol but applied to the fishing cord, it makes it more durable. Pepper vines (Piper nigrum) are sometimes grown on and in the shade of the agati. Dried and powdered bark is used as a cosmetic in Java. An aqueous extract of the bark is said to be toxic to cockroaches. Count: ~ 5 Sun Exposure Full sun from an early age Light shade when young Frost Tolerance Severe Water Requirements Moderate Drought Tolerance Yes Wind Tolerance High Tolerance of Coastal Conditions Yes The Hummingbird Tree is a small, tropical tree in the legume family that has large, beautiful pinkish-red or white flowers and feathery, pinnate leaves. The flowers resemble hummingbirds in flight. The flowers, young bean pods and leaves are edible and are used as a vegetable throughout southeastern Asia. It is also known as the vegetable hummingbird and the agati sesbania. It has a fast growth rate. It is native to Malaysia and Australia. The root, leaf, bark, and flower all have medicinal properties. It is very attractive to pollinators and birds as well. In Asia, the wood is used like bamboo for light construction and in reforestation efforts and as a shade plant for coconut seedlings. It grows wild in tropical lowlands and fields and along roadsides. It is often grown as an ornamental in the tropics. Growing Instructions 1. The seeds like moist, well-drained soil. Prepare a mixture of half potting soil and half sand, perlite or vermiculite. Put the soil in a pot. Water the mixture so that it is moist but not wet. 2. Put the seeds on the soil. 3. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. 4. Water the seeds. 5. Place the pots in an area with warm temperatures in full sun or part shade. 6. When the seedlings are a few inches tall, they can be transplanted. How do you care for Sesbania grandiflora? Requires a sunny position for best growth[404 ]. Prefers a fertile, moist but well-drained moderately light soil, though it succeeds in light sandy, medium, heavy clayey and low fertility soils[200 , 302 , 404 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 8.5, but can tolerate acid conditions down to 4.5[404 ]. Germination Plant seeds in a good garden soil that is well-drained fertile soil. During growth, use a tutor. The tutor can even be used after growth. Fertilizer can be used once a week during growth. This plant enjoys a sunny spot. Germination takes 15-30 days, it can be longer, don’t get discouraged. Germinating Palm Seeds The following instructions will work for most species. If the seeds appear dry, soak them in warm water for 1-3 days. For sowing, use peat, coco fiber, or a similar medium. It should be moist but not wet. Take a fistful. If you can just squeeze a couple of drops of water from it, then it is about right. If you can squeeze more, then it is too wet. If too dry, add a little water and try again. Mix the seeds with the moist compost and place them into a clear plastic (Ziploc) bag, label with species name and date, and seal. No light is required for germination. Tropical species such as Licuala, Bismarckia, or Cyrtostachys require heat, around 30°C/90°F. Temperate species such as Trachycarpus, Ceroxylon, or Parajubaea will germinate at lower temperatures, and heat may actually prevent germination. You may want to check the species descriptions for individual requirements. Check weekly for signs of activity by looking for white roots through the plastic. Ensure that the medium does not dry out. The seeds can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 years (or more) to germinate; however, most will sprout after 4-6 weeks. After the seeds have sprouted, plant each in a tall, narrow pot using a well-drained medium, label, and place in ample light, but not in full sun. Aim to keep the soil moist (but not wet) at all times. Feed and repot as required. More information can be found in the comments on the species pages. We also recommend consulting one of the many books on palms available through this website, as well as articles on the internet: http://springsofeden.myshopify.com/products/exotic-rare-white-hummingbird-tree-sesbania-grandiflora-tropical-fruit-seeds-organic-b5

[kilipeak]

KILIMANJARO-12 DAYS NORTHERN CIRCUIT ROUTE

12 DAYS KILIMANJARO NORTHERN CIRCUIT ROUTE KILIMANJARO-12 DAYS NORTHERN CIRCUIT ROUTE with Kilipeak Adventure is the most amazing journey on Kilimanjaro. This is a relatively new route. Become one of the first to enjoy the Northern Circuit’s tranquility and stunning panoramic scenery. Starting from the west, this is the only route that travels north around Mt. Kilimanjaro. It traverses nearly the entire mountain before the summit push. This is absolutely the most scenic path available and has almost no traffic on its northern face. THE BEST MONTHS TO CLIMB KILIMANJARO Normally March, April, and May are the months with long rains and should be avoided. November is usually short rains but it does not often rain all the days so Climbing is possible. The best Months for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro are January, February, and also August and September. July can be colder and November to December can be wet. January to February is the warmest month, almost clear of clouds each evening and morning. The success rates with our guides are outstanding compared to the overall success rates for all climbers who attempt to reach the top. DAY 1: Arrive anytime at your lodging in Arusha, Tanzania. With prior arrangements, airport pick-up and private transfers to your lodge are available and arranged from Kilipeak Adventure’s office. We will gather in the evening for a pre-climb briefing and an equipment check. We will also confirm you have the appropriate mandatory medical coverage and travel insurance. Dinner and overnight at Ilboru Safari Lodge: Bed, Dinner, and Breakfast included. DAY 2: After completing the necessary registration formalities at Londorossi National Park gate, we drive through varied farmland with open views over the plains to reach the Lemosho road head. We often have our lunch in the glades before starting to walk. It is an easy day of walking up a small path through the beautiful and lush forest. This area has a variety of game, including buffalo. We camp at Lemosho Forest camp (8,600 ft). DAY 3: We soon leave the forest behind and enter the moorland zone of giant heather. The trail climbs steadily with wide views to reach the rim of the Shira Plateau. There is a tangible sense of wilderness, especially if afternoon mists come in! We camp in the center of the plateau at Shira One (11,600 ft). DAY 4: Today we explore the grassy moorland and volcanic rock formations of the plateau. We walk to the summit of Shira Cathedral (12,800 ft), a huge buttress of rock surrounded by steep spires and pinnacles. There is a tangible sense of wilderness here, especially when the afternoon mists roll in. From our camp near Shira Hut (12,600 ft), we take in the unforgettable views of Mt. Meru as she floats among the clouds. DAY 5: In the morning we follow the main trail up to Lava Tower (15,150 ft), and for those feeling strong, there is a possibility to climb up to the ruined hut at Arrow Glacier (15,700 ft). We then continue from Lava Tower to reach our campsite at Moir Hut (13,800 ft). DAY 6: We climb out of the Moir Valley and take a short detour to reach the summit of Lent Hills (15,400 ft). After admiring the views we return to the trail and head eastwards around the northern circuit trail. Here the trail passes through a field of rock slabs that clink as they are walked on. The final section of today’s walk undulates until reaching the location of Buffalo Camp (13,600 ft). At the camp, there is a huge feeling of space as the Kenyan plains stretch out far below to the north. DAY 7: From Buffalo Camp, we climb to the top of ‘Buffalo Ridge’ and cross numerous ridges and gullies. The trail continues eastwards through a landscape that has increasingly sparse vegetation to eventually reach Third Cave Camp (12,800 ft). DAY 8: There is a steady ascent to reach the saddle, a lunar landscape between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. From here we continue upwards and reach School Hut (15,500 ft) in the early afternoon. The remainder of the afternoon is spent resting and preparing for the summit day. DAY 9: We start the final and most demanding part of the climb by headlamp around 1 a.m. We plod very slowly in the darkness on a switchback trail through loose volcanic scree to reach the crater rim at Gilman’s Point (18,600 ft). We rest here for a short time to enjoy the spectacular sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong can make the three-hour round trip to Uhuru Peak (19,345 ft), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area. We leave the summit heading northwest, down steep switchbacks for a short distance to Crater Camp (18,900 ft), where the rest of the crew will join us to set up camp. There is an option to hike Reusch Crater and the Ash Pit (19,140), or stay in the area and explore Furtwangler Glacier. Sleeping at this high altitude can be dangerous. Serious AMS can develop if adequate altitude acclimatization has not been achieved so the guides will monitor you very closely. DAY 10: We descend from Crater Camp (18,900 ft) stopping at Barafu Camp (14,800 ft) for lunch and continuing our descent. This goes surprisingly fast as we pass through the Alpine Desert to the Heather/Moorland Region and arrive at Millenium Camp (12,500 ft.) . DAY 11: A sustained descent on a well-constructed path takes us through a lovely tropical forest alive with birdsong and boasting lush undergrowth with considerable botanical interest. Our route winds down to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate at Mweka (5,400 ft); and on through coffee and banana farms to Mweka village, where we are transferred to your lodge in Arusha. Dinner and overnight at Ilboru Safari Lodge: Bed, Dinner, and Breakfast included. DAY 12: ARUSHA TO KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: Depending on your flight schedule and departure point you will be transferred to the airport to connect your flight for further travel. KILIMANJARO -12 DAYS NORTHERN CIRCUIT ROUTE INCLUDES: • Tanzania VAT on tourism activities and park fees • Return transfers Kilimanjaro airport to Kia lodge and Arusha to Kilimanjaro airport • Hotel Lodging the night before and the night after the climb, with dinner and breakfast included (double occupancy) • Transfer from your hotel to starting point for your climb and return to your hotel after your climb • Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food • All Kilimanjaro National Park gate fees, camping fees, and climbing permits. • Kilimanjaro National Park rescue fees (Kilimanjaro Rescue Team) • Emergency oxygen (for use in emergencies only – not as summiting aid) • Basic first aid kit (for use in emergencies only) • Qualified mountain guide, assistant guides, porters and cook • Salaries for the mountain crew as per guidelines set by Kilimanjaro National Park • Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as hot drinks on the mountain • Camping equipment (tents, camp chairs, tables & sleeping mattress • Water for washing up daily • Porter to carry your duffel bag (max weight 15kg / 32 lbs) from one camp to the next camp. • Kilimanjaro National Park certificate for your successful summit attempt • Chemical Portable toilet KILIMANJARO- 12 DAYS NORTHERN CIRCUIT ROUTE EXCLUDES: • Flights and airport taxes • Items of a personal nature • Compulsory tips for guides, porters and cook (average tip is anything from the US $ 230 to the US $ 300 per hiker – depending on the number of days / how many hikers in the group and route chosen) • South African passport holders do NOT require a visa for Tanzania, however, most other nationalities require a visa for Tanzania • Health requirements (Yellow Fever compulsory if traveling to Tanzania recommended) • Highly recommended travel and medical insurance. • Personal hiking/trekking gear – we can rent some of the gear from our equipment store in Tanzania • Snacks, personal medicine, and water purifying tablets • Meals & drinks not specified and snacks. Read the full article

[lala-kate]

Storm Front

Happy Valentine’s Day to my amazing Secret Valentine, @starscythe!!!  I do hope you enjoy this gift, my friend, as you gift us with so many incredible manips all year long. Meeting you in person in November was such a joy, and I hope we can hug in person again in the near future. 

Without further adieu, here is your  @oqcelebration valentine. :D

He’s heard stories, of course, broken whispers whenever a fierce storm blew in unexpectedly, mumbled musings if an acquaintance suddenly fell ill. These are never voiced loudly, as superstition’s lingering hold on the forest proves to be an ominous task master, leaving such wonderings to drift from one listener to the next, more often than not finding fertile ground stripped bare by black magic’s lingering touch.

 The Evil Queen’s dark curse had taken many, but there are those among the forest’s remnants who believe she herself still dwells in this realm. They speak of her in hushed fragments, discuss sightings of a dark, solitary figure who roams the forest at night, a cloaked woman who has somehow lost her magic but now lives bound to it, perhaps in just retribution for a curse so foul it emptied their lands and cast both friend and foe into fates unknown.

 Robin has never put much stock into superstition, neither does he give credence to legends or fairy lore. His is a world defined by what he can see, touch and confiscate, a world in which people rarely fit into molds of “good” or “evil”, a world in which he’s observed unspeakable acts committed by the most respected of citizens while those judged as lesser are the very ones who offer shelter and food to the starving. He lives by his wits and senses and surrounds himself with a thieving group of outcasts he’d readily give his life to protect.

 Yet even he, the infamous Robin Hood, has to admit that the air feels odd tonight, that there is a charge to the impending storm brewing in the eastern highlands that makes the hairs on the back of his neck prickle. He senses a disturbance, one that feels altogether too personal and close at hand for comfort. Roland must have felt it, too, for the boy had clung to him as Robin soothed his son’s whimpers until he’d finally fallen into a fitful sleep.

 It is enough for him to grudgingly admit that tinges of magic probably remain in his forest, even if the queen is nowhere to be found. Dreams of Marian and of his mother plague his sleep and fill him with sense of urgency altogether foreign, one that pushes him towards consciousness even as his body rebels.

 A loud clap of thunder finally awakens him, and he’s surprised to find that he’s drenched in sweat. Roland is still sleeping soundly, but one touch to his son’s forehead reveals that the boy is hot with fever. He holds his child close, drawing the blankets up around him, but he worries as all parents do, even as the wind howls just outside their tent.

 Roland needs feverfew tea. Unfortunately, their stashes of medicinal herbs have run dry in light of the recent bout of sickness that have ravaged both his men and their families, and he lies there only minutes before deciding to risk a trip to the lake’s edge to gather what he needs. He wakes Little John and asks his friend to keep an ear and eye out for his son before donning his thickest cloak and disappearing into the forest’s canopy. He’s survived far worse storms than this, he reminds himself, ignoring the tingling sensations skittering up his legs that feel altogether supernatural.

The lightning illuminates his path, and he pays attention to both its direction and ferocity, stopping in his tracks as he hears it hit a tree just beyond the hill he’s traversing, watching as light and flame battle rain and wind.

 He needs to hurry. This storm has teeth.

 He climbs the final ridge, planting his feet with care as he begins the steep descent through clinging branches and thick mud. Sweat mingles with rain on his skin, but he ignores the pressing humidity and the scratches left by angry limbs as his practically skids to halt near the lake’s edge. He kneels by the bushes where his sought flowers grow and grabs them by the fistful, sliding his contraband into the leather pouch he wears draped snugly across his torso. His knees pop when he stands, and he stretches his lower back as he prepares to begin the arduous climb back up a slippery slope, chancing one last glance at the lake as lightning rips open the heavens and casts the world in shades of silver and black. That’s when he sees the impossible.

 There’s a woman in the lake. A naked woman.

 His breath catches, and he rubs his eyes, thinking he must be imagining the black silhouette standing knee deep in the water, her arms wrapped around her exposed chest, her form small and thin. He steps towards the lake’s edge, calling out to her, his words swallowed by the storm’s fury the moment they leave his mouth. Long hair whips around her body, draping her nudity in partial shadow, and Robin flinches as another streak of lightning strikes far too close for comfort. He has to get her out of here. She’ll most assuredly die if he doesn’t.

 He removes his cloak, knowing it will weigh him down if he wears it into the water, and he tightens the pouch around his middle to keep the feverfew as dry as possible. His boots are already wet and mud-caked, but he slides them off as well, knowing they’ll hinder him if they’re completely soaked, and he makes his way into lake. Normally placid waters are choppy, their temperature bitter cold rather than refreshing, but he persists, hearing a dull keening coming from his destination in a tone both throaty and raw.

 She must be mentally disturbed, he thinks, and he braces himself for fight as he moves undetected to stand behind her.

 “My lady,” he shouts, wanting to alert her to his presence. She turns then, eyes hollow, face shrouded, yet he’s struck by her dark beauty, making him wonder if he’s stumbled upon some mystical creature who secretly inhabits these waters. Perhaps she rises in storms, the paleness of her skin a mere reflection of the water in which she dwells, and he questions for a moment if she’s a silkie, a mermaid given legs, or perhaps a nocturnal siren luring him to his death. But her breathing is both raspy and shallow, alerting him to her vulnerable humanity, so he dares to touch her skin, flinching at its icy temperature.

 “You’re freezing,” he states, and she stares at him blankly, making him wonder if she can understand him at all. “We need to get out of the water,” he continues, daring to pull her closer into his body. “It’s not safe here with the storm.”

 She says nothing, but her body trembles violently, and that’s all the excuse he needs to pick her up and hold her to his chest. She weighs nothing, he thinks as he wades back to the shore and sits gently with his burden, wondering if she’ll try to run when he sets her down to don his boots and cloak.

 Her only movement is to draw her knees to her breasts and bury her head into her knees as her body begins to convulse.

 He curses before scooping her up again and covering her with his cloak, frightened by the shaking in her limbs and nearly frozen state of her skin.

 “I’ve got you,” he breathes, struggling up the muddy incline, nearly losing his footing once before managing to find a sturdy root sticking out that allows him to regain his balance. Nails dig in through his shirt, clutching him as the convulsions ease. Then her arms fall limp, and he realizes she’s passed out, so he adjusts her against his body as he walks as fast as he can. The wind is his enemy, as is the soft soil that clings to his boots as it tries to suck him into the ground.

 Damn this storm to hell.

 His legs are burning by the time he reaches his camp and stumbles back into his tent, but Roland is still sleeping, and he sighs in relief before taking in his friend’s shock.

 “She needs blankets,” Robin whispers, not bothering with the specifics of where and how he found her. “And hot water. Quickly, John. Please.”

 John nods before moving out into the storm to carry out his tasks, and Robin’s legs give out. His pallet cushions his knees, but his joints still rebel as he lands with more force than he’d like on the floor. Thank the gods--she’s still breathing. He’d been half terrified she’d already died.

 He lays her out beside his slumbering son, covering her nudity with his own blanket while he rucks through his clothing and pulls out a soft, worn tunic he’s certain will reach her knees.

 He raises her up, doing his best not to notice how perfectly formed her breasts are, how dark hair and lashes hauntingly contrast with skin practically the color of snow as he slides the tunic over her body. Gods, she’s freezing, but he’s no good to her in his own soaked state, so he stands and strips out of his wet clothing before donning a fresh pair of trousers.

 “Here you go,” John breathes as he steps back into the tent. He stands near the entrance and hands Robin a quilt and a bear skin. “Where did you find her?”

 “In the lake,” Robin replies, watching the other man’s eyes widen. “She’s chilled to the bone and a bit out of her mind, I think. I need to get her warm immediately.”

 “Skin to skin,” John mutters, looking at Robin directly. “That spreads warmth the fastest, you know. Hold her to your chest, and I’ll cover you both with these. You need to warm up, too, Rob.”

 Robin pauses but a second before nodding and sliding onto the bedroll beside her and pulling her to his chest. He considers John’s words and exhales as he tugs down the tunic he’d just put on her so bare flesh meets bare flesh. His teeth chatter as her icy skin envelops him, but he holds her close as John covers them both.

 “Hold on,” the large man whispers. “I’ll pour tea for the both of you. You may not be sick yet, but tending to Roland and wading out into freezing lakes aren’t exactly recipes for good health.”

 Robin smiles as he manages to prop himself up on two pillows, feeling the woman’s ribcage to make certain she still breathes. She coughs as if on cue, a sound full of fluid that hurts to hear, and he finds himself drawing her cheek into his chest, whispering assurances into ears that might not understand a word he speaks.

 The tea is scalding, and Robin sets it on the ground beside him to let it cool as John prepares another mug for Roland.

 “Would you like me to take the lad back to my tent?” John questions. “I’ll tend to him as if he were my own, Rob. You know that.”

 He considers this for a moment, but shakes his head.

 “I don’t doubt your sincerity for a second,” Robin whispers. “But I can’t stand the thought of being away from him when he’s ill.”

 John nods before reaching down to touch Roland’s forehead.

 “He’s still feverish,” John breathes. He adds some cold water to cool the boy’s tea before pulling him into a semi-upright position and managing to get half of the mug down Roland’s throat. Roland snuggles back under the blankets, eyes still closed, and rolls over until he come into contact with the unconscious woman lying beside him.

 “His body heat along with yours should warm her up in no time,” John observes as he stands. “Can I do anything else, Rob?  Do you want me to stay here for the rest of the night?”

 “No,” Robin whispers, managing a sip of his tea. “You’ve done more than enough, John. Go get some rest. I may need your help again tomorrow.”

 “Whatever you say,” John says before exiting the tent, securing the flap back in place against the elements. The woman sighs and relaxes into him reflexively, her hand coming to rest over his chest, and he covers her frozen digits with his palm, wondering what could have prompted such a beautiful creature to stand unclothed in a raging lake, to tempt both fate and nature to do their worst. Had she been abused? Had she lost her family--a husband, or a child perhaps?  

 Was she mentally disturbed?

 He can’t bring himself to believe the latter, not as her fingers reflexively move over his heart, as her breath tickles his neck, and he voices a silent prayer to whatever gods are listening that both she and Roland will recover completely, that she will be granted the second chance his Marian had been denied. He stretches his arm out far enough to cup his son’s shoulder and watches as the boy’s hand reaches out in sleep and alights on the woman’s arm.

 “Mama,” he breathes, cracking Robin’s heart open with one word. His son has no memory of his mother, having lost her not long after his very birth, so to hear him call out for Marian is jarring. He’s still reeling when the woman beside him turns her body towards Roland, seeking his son in her unconscious state, wrapping the boy into her body, cradling him as if he’d been born of her womb.

 Roland sighs and relaxes into her, settling into the stranger as if she’s a missing piece of himself. Robin can barely breathe as he watches, fighting tears as he sits up to stare at the pair of them, half wanting to rip them from each other, half feeling as if he’s witnessing something sacred. Her skin begins to thaw before his eyes, her flesh taking on hues of pink that chase away the chilled pallet of the moon, and he swallows hard, knowing some sort of magic is afoot here.

 He hears humming, a low, throaty melody emanating from the woman’s chest, one he recognizes as being from the low country--his own mother’s land, one that had lulled him to sleep more times than he can remember. His mother’s scent overwhelms him, a combination of magnolia and lavender, and he takes another sip of his tea, wondering if he’s hallucinating, if this is all a dream brought on by fever.

 He knows somehow it is not.

 Robin’s mind grows heavy as his eyes fall shut, and he is lulled into a deep sleep untroubled by dreams or thunder. He wakes later to the sound of magpies and ravens, to a robin’s call, and he sits straight up, startled by the fact he’d slept at all. He looks beside him, to the woman and Roland who are now cocooned together as if they were mother and son. He feels the boy’s forehead and breathes a sigh of relief at it’s cool, clammy texture before touching the woman’s arm and smiling at the normal temperature of her skin. Nimble fingers slide down her body to pull up the tunic he’d slid down last night to warm her, disturbing Roland in the process of covering her breasts and thighs.

 Dark lashes flutter, and the boy slowly gazes up at him, smiling drowsily before succumbing to a yawn.

 “Papa,” Roland mutters, prompting Robin to lean over the woman and kiss his boy’s forehead.

 “How are you feeling?” Robin questions, toying with dark curls matted with sleep and sweat.

 “Better,” Roland whispers, snuggling into the woman beside him. “She told me I had to get better.”

 Robin swallows, staring at the still sleeping form between them, unable to look away from full lips slightly parted, gratified to hear that the rattling in her chest seems to have subsided.

 “She?”  His question cracks open on his tongue, and he looks from the woman to his boy, almost certain she has gently drawn Roland closer.

 “My lady,” Roland replies, coughing until Robin offers him a sip of tepid tea. Roland flinches as he drinks, but settles back into their guest willingly and lightly touches her chest. “Her.”

 “You spoke with her?” Robin asks, his gut twisting into an emotion he cannot identify as a decidedly feminine hum tickles his ribcage.

 “While I was sleeping,” Roland states, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “She sang to me, too. Let me crawl into her lap.”

 He stares at the stranger, now certain she possesses magic of some sort. He would dismiss all of what his son is saying as a dream if it weren’t for what he himself had witnessed.

 “Did she tell you her name?” Robin asks, continuing to stroke Roland’s hair as he shakes his head.

 “I asked her if she was my mama,” Roland confesses. “She said no, that she wasn’t anyone’s mama, so I asked her if she could be mine since I don’t have one.” Robin’s chest constricts, trapping both air and unspent grief.

 “What did she say?” he asks, clearing his throat.

 “She said she didn’t deserve a sweet boy like me,” Roland replies. “That she’s done too many bad things to be a mama, but I told her she didn’t look bad to me.”  Roland snuggles into her then, and Robin watches in amazement as her fingers move into the boy’s hair, brushing against his own. “She cried then and let me crawl into her lap. That’s when she sang to me. She’s not bad, Papa. She just thinks she is.”

 Recognition takes root, and he stares down at her face, the manicured brows, the raven-hued lashes, hair the color of night, and he pauses, wondering at this odd twist of fate that would deliver a broken, evil queen to heal his pure little boy. She’d been ready to die last night, Robin is certain of it now, yet Roland’s illness had ironically saved her life.

 It would seem she has healed his son in return.

 He watches in fascination as her lashes blink open, as velvet-hewn eyes slowly take in her surroundings, as panic is replaced by a smile when his son touches her cheek. He smells magnolia again, and shakes it off, confused enough by what is taking place in front of his very eyes as a woman feared by all and detested by many embraces his little boy.

 “Hi, lady,” Roland says, wrapping his arms around her waist and hugging her tight. Tears brim the corners of her eyes, and she avoids looking at Robin, choosing to focus on the child clinging to her as his tattoo begins to itch. Her breath catches when he scratches it, her gaze moving towards him reluctantly, her eyes widening in what appears to be terror. He smiles down at her, wanting to assure her that he won’t hurt her, that she’s safe here, that regardless of what she may have done in her past, she just healed his son, and that’s not something that either her or Roland will ever forget.

“Good morning,” he mutters, struck again by how small she appears as she tugs in his tunic, pulling it higher over her shoulder. A shiver runs down his spine as she stares at his bared arm, her eyes blinking in rapid succession as he gently adds, “My lady.”

[suadcampbell]

CANDLEISM

CANDLEISM

ISM:

Candleism is practiced from November through February, with December being the busiest month. There’s something about the fall and winter that demands the warmth and cheer of candles, preferably scented. You can choose from food and drink scents, to spicy scents, to trees, oceans, and weather. After all, who doesn’t love the smell of snow or rain or pine forests?  Personally, I like the sweet scents such as hot cocoa, marshmallow, cookies and cream, peppermint, and waffles. But I do also love the smell of spruce trees. The shop workers urge people to put one in every room, not to limit themselves. Candle shops advertise “Buy three candles, and get three free.” They carry  three wick, two wick, or one wick. You choose! But how? It can be wicked hard--excuse my Bostonese, please.

It’s not uncommon for a consumer to leave these stores hunched over from the weight of their shopping bags which are filled with six to nine, sometimes twelve, large jar candles. When the consumer arrives home--sometimes even when they are putting their packages in the trunk of their car--they start to wonder who on earth to gift the candles to. And which scents would the recipient prefer? And a headache starts and suddenly songs with bits of candle lyrics go through their mind: Candle in the Wind, and The Candle Song, which segues into You Light Up My Life.

It must be noted that candleism is practiced by a diverse group of people, and many shop at stores that are not upscale candle shops, stores such as Walmart, Target, Sav-on, Walgreens, and The Dollar Tree. The scented candles they sell have lovely names: Winter Wonderland, Mountain Pine, Fresh Snow, Christmas Cookies, Hollyberries. but caution should be exercised when purchasing these candles from these kinds of stores. Once lit, they can cause sneezing, stinging eyes, and barfing from the ersatz ingredients. Winter Wonderland turns into Winter Woes, Mountain Pine smells like Pine Sol. Fresh Snow, smells like wet dog, Christmas Cookies smell like Christmas dookies, and Hollyberries smells like cough medicine.

Candles are a popular gift for the holidays and it can be amusing giving and receiving the same exact ones. Great minds, and all that ...

Chiropractors and physical therapists rejoice during the holidays and plan trips to the Bahamas from the profit they make from candle-carrying injuries. Spines out of whack, pulled neck muscles, sore deltoids and pecs, broken wrists. People are more likely to suffer injuries like these than they are the flu. At least when they’re lying prostrate on the sofa, recovering from their candle injuries, they can breathe in the scent of bayberry, or winterberry, or pumpkin pie, or smores. The latter two might make them hungry for sweets which could prove frustrating because their injuries could make it difficult if not impossible for them to bake anything or make a run to the store.

Well, I’ve waxed on longer than I meant to. Snuff said?

What say you?

[marketerarena-blog]

5 Sneaky Fall Weight Loss Traps & How to Beat Them

September is always a reminder of fresh starts, but also of much busier schedules that bring on many fall weight loss traps.

But there are also many reasons why fall is a great time to lose weight. The cool crisp weather is nature’s invitation to be outside. It seems like you can walk faster and longer when there’s a little nip in the air. It’s also harvest time for fall vegetables and fruits.

Still, autumn certainly does not come without its obstacles.

8 Simple Swaps for a Healthier Fall

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Here are five fall weight loss traps you might face and the best way to lose weight despite them:

1. Crazy busy schedules.

No more lazy summer days, not to mention vacation days. The kids are back to school—and to music lessons, after-school sports and extra-curricular activities—just to name a few. Mom and dad’s taxi service is officially back up and running. It’s tough to stick to a diet and exercise plan when you have so much to do. Not only does stress set up a cascade of hormones that can make you hungry (one of the sneakiest weight loss traps), logistics undercut you. Who has time to get a healthy dinner on the table when you only have an hour or so between activities? (Moms who feel like human taxis should click here to check out some fall weight loss tips from really busy moms >)

Luckily, there are simple solutions! Your supermarket probably carries prepared rotisserie chickens and pre-cut veggies that are a meal for your family in minutes. Now that you have your family covered, your Nutrisystem entrees are your meal in minutes. Just make sure you also have a bounty of grab-and-go Nutrisystem foods like the On-the-Go bars for when crazy schedules go even more haywire and take some time on the weekend to plan ahead for days that make an air traffic controller’s look tame. Shop and cook ahead. Stock up on grab-and-go snacks and bars to keep in your purse  (Click here to discover five delicious lunch bars for easy grabbing-and-going >).

7 Grab-and-Go Snacks for Busy People

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2. Fall food festivities.

Fall weight loss seems like an impossible feat because the season is essentially three months of nearly irresistible temptation; starting with the peanut butter cups of Halloween and ending with the lobster, drawn butter and champagne of New Year’s Eve. Oh and Thanksgiving, the holiday that’s all about the culinary weight loss traps; and Christmas, with its parties, cookie gifts and fruitcake, not to mention cocktails.

Turn a negative into a positive: Use the time before the food flows like wine to do a pre-emptive strike against holiday weight gain. Sit down with a piece of paper or in front of your computer and list all the no-no foods you are going to avoid and can do without. Next, take a look at the list and think of alternatives that might be just as satisfying. Here are some ideas to get you going:

Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas: Would a Nutrisystem Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar substitute for a Reese’s? Okay, you have a plan! It may also help to only buy candy you don’t like to hand out to trick-or-treaters and to vow not to raid your kids’ stash. Anyway, isn’t that stealing? Also, Turkey usually isn’t usually the problem—it’s the “friends” that it brings with it to the table.

Here are some tips if you don’t want to end the day feeling guilty and having to unbutton your pants due to these sneaky fall weight loss traps:

Stick to one or two foods you don’t have regularly (like stuffing and pumpkin pie) and pass on others than you may have more frequently, like mashed potatoes. Remind yourself that this isn’t your last chance to taste them. They’ll always be there.

Control the ingredients. If you’re the cook, consider using chicken broth in place of butter to bring more flavor—and less fat—to stuffing and even potatoes. Skim the fat from gravy. Make your pumpkin pie with fat-free condensed milk and at least part artificial sweetener or bake a low-fat pumpkin custard to avoid fattening pie crust. Click here to see the recipe for a healthier Pumpkin Pie that still has all the flavor >

Eat slowly. A study found that overweight people who ate at a slower pace felt fuller faster and reported less hunger even though there was no change in the hormones that affect appetite—a case of the brain overruling the body.

Donate the cookies. While homemade food gifts are wonderful to give and receive, they are complete weight loss traps. Your local nursing home, homeless shelter or soup kitchen might appreciate a little re-gifting of sweets. If you’re going to bake for family and friends, consider sweet fruit breads instead of cookies. You can’t take even a little taste of breads, while cookies can disappear before you’ve even started wrapping them. You can also explore the Recipes section on The Leaf for delicious alternative cookie recipes, like these 3-Ingredient Oatmeal Raisin Cookies >

ICYMI: Thanksgiving Recipes Edition

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3. No more summer produce.

Goodbye fresh berries, tomatoes and green beans! We’re going to miss you!

The good news is autumn brings with it a new batch of vegetables perfect for fall weight loss. Some of them are highly nutritious but starchy, like potatoes and yams, while others, such as parsnips, rutabagas and turnips, may be unfamiliar to you but are the healthier options.

Click here to find out why turnips are considered a superfood >

The berries have disappeared and in their place are shiny apples and pears. It just requires a bit of a change in mindset (and a few good recipes, like this Slow-cooker Applesauce) to help you appreciate fall’s farm bounty. The first bite into a crisp, juicy apple may help you forget the delicious sweetness of the season’s first strawberry crop. Click here to discover five reasons why you should eat more apples >

You may even be surprised by root vegetables like parsnips, a carrot-like veggie that roasts to a candy sweetness and bulbous turnips that, when boiled and mashed with apple, can make you forget potatoes as a side dish.

This isn’t much of a challenge and it’s a tasty win all around.

6 Healthy Root Vegetables You Have to Try This Fall

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4. Unpredictable weather.

Those crisp autumn days can suddenly turn cold, wet and blustery which can cancel your outdoor workout plans. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. If you don’t have a gym membership but have a mall nearby, combine a brisk walk with people-watching and window shopping. You can also find all kinds of fun workout ideas on the Fitness section of The Leaf!

It’s also good to have the gear—weatherproof and wind-resistant jackets, warm layers, hat, waterproof socks and sunglasses—that can help you stay active in any weather. Click here to discover more cold weather exercise essentials >

Don’t Let Cold Weather Slow You Down

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5. The time change.

 In November, most of us “fall back,” that is, we get one extra hour of sleep as we switch the clocks back an hour. Only it doesn’t quite work out that way. A 2013 study in Sleep Medicine Reviews found little evidence that most of us get more sleep. In fact, our sleep can be disturbed for up to a week or more after the time change. We may sleep less, get up earlier, wake up in the middle of the night and even have trouble getting to sleep.

Studies have found that sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain in part by increasing our desire for high-calorie, high-carb foods to give us instant energy to get through the day. Click here to read the 10 ways sleep deprivation affects your health >

To beat these fall weight loss traps, go to bed a little earlier in anticipation of the time change, avoiding alcohol and caffeinated beverages four to six hours before bedtime, keep naps to 20 minutes and maintain a consistent sleep schedule on the weekends.

Our Top 6 Fall Produce Picks

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The post 5 Sneaky Fall Weight Loss Traps & How to Beat Them appeared first on The Leaf.

https://askfitness.today/5-sneaky-fall-weight-loss-traps-how-to-beat-them/

[cakesandcries]

A big hello to all reading this, and I hope you’re having a good week so far!

I am very excited to write my first ever travel blog post, and that too about the very enchanting Kauai. Our vacation was in lieu of a long due vacation for my husband and I. It was also very special to us, because our one-year wedding anniversary was a few days earlier on November 27. It felt like a celebration for us to vacation in a blissful, warm island outside this rainy city we call home.

Kauai is one of the eight major islands in Hawaii, and is known fondly as ‘The Garden Island’. It truly stands for what it is called, as it is lush with green beauty and the deep blue Pacific Ocean. And one more unique fact to Kauai is the number of roosters and hens that populate the island-they are everywhere!

PLANNING BEFOREHAND

We planned our vacation details mid-October, so that we had a few days to settle on our accommodation and activities. While looking for flight tickets, I did check the price ranges on Google Flights to figure out when was a good time to fly out. Comparing a few dates in December, we decided on the first week because the flight tickets were quite affordable and the weather was also good in Kauai then.

We also booked a car rental service online in October, because the best way to move around in the island is to drive by yourself to places. We partook the service of ‘Avis’ car rentals, who are located within the airport complex. You can choose from car model options, and we settled for an economy model because we didn’t have too much of luggage. We were taken by shuttle to the company’s store, filled out details and then we were handed our car keys for the next few days.

When it came to accommodation, we booked our 8-nights-9-days long vacation stay at ‘Aston Islander On The Beach’, which was about 15 minutes away from the airport. My husband arranged our vacation stay at the resort through AirBnB, where the prices for the resort rooms had more discounts.

We had also paid and booked two activities beforehand through hawaiidiscount.com, which were kayaking and a dinner cruise respectively. We decided to explore more activity options after we landed in Kauai, and there’s more on that as you read on.

AND SO, THE VACATION BEGAN!

TRAVEL- We departed from Seattle on December 2 and reached Lihue Airport in Kauai roughly 6 hours later, with an hour’s layover in between at the San Francisco Airport. We flew with United Airlines, and the flight experience overall was fairly pleasant. For travel within the island, we drove around in our rental car. We did not see any taxis anywhere, and almost all tourists were seen opting for rental cars.

OUR RESORT- Our stay at ‘Aston Islander On The Beach’ was very comfortable, since we could explore many places in opposite directions without much travel hassle. The resort was well maintained, and our room had a pool and ocean view from the balcony. There is a food and shopping complex called ‘Coconut Marketplace’ right outside our resort- we were sorted. Our lunch and coffee visits were super convenient after tiring trips outside, thanks to two awesome places right outside the resort called ‘IMUA Coffee Roasters’ and ‘Sleeping Giant Grill’.

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    MISCELLANEOUS SHOPPING- There was a Safeway about 0.6 miles from our resort, where we did go often to buy small miscellaneous food items and some medicine. We bought snacks to munch on the way, because it was not the easiest to get food in the afternoon post lunch. We also did buy medicine for sea-sickness (Dramamine), since I am very prone to motion sickness.

CLOTHES & ACCESSORIES TO CARRY- The weather was quite warm and in the 70 degree range when we visited. And so, we carried a lot of summer clothes to Kauai- think shorts, swimsuits, tank tops, and knee length dresses. Keep your SPF in hand at all times, a mosquito repellent cream, some light makeup and jewelry to enhance your beachy, natural aura in Kauai.

I carried a pair of sandals for general sightseeing, flip flops for the beach and my sports shoes for physical activities. My husband carried a pair of flip flops for casual days out, and his hiking shoes for rough and tough activities. In luggage terms, we carried two carry-on bags, one large tote and one backpack.

FOOD & RESTAURANTS- We are vegetarian, but had no dearth of options while eating out. We ate breakfast almost every day at the local restaurants, offering pancakes, waffles, omelets, toast and coffee as signature dishes. Lunch and dinner would vary day-to-day, but we did try a lot of restaurants and dishes in that one week span. Here are my restaurant recommendations in Kauai, other than the usual Subway and Starbucks-

Sleeping Giant Grill

Verde

IMUA Coffee Roasters

Kountry Kitchen

Ono Family Restaurant

Shivalik Indian Cuisine

Street Burger

Monico’s Taquerio

Bangkok Beach Grill & Bar

Bobby V’s Italian Restaurant

Pho Kauai

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PLACES & ACTIVITIES IN KAUAI- Kauai is a small island with a size of 552 square miles, meaning we were literally and figuratively driving in circles. From our resort, we had travel on two opposing directions majorly. The places we explored were mostly a lot of beaches in Kauai, quite naturally.

But the interesting point to note was that while there was the sea on one side of the road, there were green carpets of grass and looming mountains on the other side.

There we were in between on the road, driving amidst the coastal scenery unfurling around us. The air was fresh and heady, the winds were pleasant, the weather was warm- we were soaking in nature’s beauty, like human sponges.

There are places to visit other than the plentiful beach parks, with the grounding element being ‘all out nature’s extravaganza’. Here are the places we visited and the activities we enjoyed doing in Kauai.

1) Queen’s Bath

We visited this tide pool on the island of Kauai a day after our arrival, and drove to Princeville to do so. Queen’s Bath is described as a sink hole surrounded by igneous rocks. The first thing to do is find a parking spot here, because it is not easy at all in the limited space allotted. We luckily got ours after circling around the neighborhood one time, and then we decided to do a short walk to the tide pool. But, not everything turned out as we expected.

Firstly, the whole walking path was marshy and swamped with wet, sinking mud due to the previous week’s rains. Secondly, my choice of attire for that day was clearly not appropriate for the activity (the activity that followed is another story altogether). After attempting twice to walk through the swamp, I gave up and my husband decided to hike instead to Queen’s Bath.

Once he was back, he told me that I made a good decision not hiking to the tide pool with him. It was dangerous and slippery due to the track conditions, and I would have been down and dirty in the most un-sexy way ever. But he did click some pictures down there, which you can see below.

We then proceeded to do the next activity, that is the hardest hike I’ve done till today.

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2) Hanakapiai Falls

God do I want to smack my own head silly for taking a hike here, while WEARING A DRESS of all things. But you know what, I did this terrifying but awesome hike in that black calf-length jersey number and I live to tell the tale. My husband even told me many times that he was amazed by how I managed to do a tough hike in a dress. Gal Gadot, looks like you’ve got competition. *lol, who am I kidding*

All the blabbering aside, the shorter hike was 3.6 miles roundtrip atop a mountain’s curving paths. The full hike would be 8.2 miles, which I can’t even begin to comprehend doing, ever. As we climbed up the mountain and went into even swampier, dirtier and breath-catching territory, we chanced upon beautiful sea cliff views. The ocean was so blue, the wind was soothing and cool and the dense trees framed the whole area beautifully. There were even views of green hills rolling around us, all so picturesque.

The terrain was rocky, very muddy and very dirty; our shoes were almost destroyed at the end of it. I held onto rocks for support while crossing tiny waterfalls and marshy ponds, and questioned myself umpteen times for doing this hike to the beachy falls-that-were-promised at the end of it.

We did not make it to the beach at the very end, because there was a large waterfall running in between. And the only way I could have crossed it without flashing everyone was by being carried by my husband, Bahubali-style.

Bahubali-style carrying, and my husband would be in the hospital if the above situation happened.

But on a serious note, there were some astounding views to contend with. And I will show you them below.

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3) Maniniholo Dry Caves

This was a duck-in and duck-out stop on the way to Hanakapiai Falls, with very little to see. But it does look intriguing from the outside, with the come-hither grunginess. On the inside, there is nothing but a short walk on sand inside the dim caverns of the cave. There are some odd weeds growing here and there, but that’s all there is to it.

On the plus side, I did get a cool twin-me shot suggested by my husband!

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4) Wailua River & Secret Falls

The next day, we went on a supremely cool kayaking and hiking expedition in Wailua River State Park. We first congregated with our fellow explorers and our guide, Thomas. He made good conversation with the both of us, talking to us about Kauai, politics and his journalist experiences.

This was my first time kayaking, and it was truly an amazing experience. We rowed the length and breadth of two miles to and two miles fro, with sunny skies and dancing trees around the river. After the kayaking, we did a short one mile hike to Secret Falls. This falls can only be reached by foot, and we hiked through the forest to get there. We had a simple but delicious lunch of a vegetable sandwich, pineapples and cake slices right by the gushing waterfall.

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5) Spouting Horn

In the evening, we visited Spouting Horn in Poipu, made up of a formation of rocks  blowing out a strong gush of ocean water every few seconds. We watched the sunset, and then headed back to our resort to retire for the day.

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6) National Tropical Botanical Garden

The next day, we headed to National Tropical Botanical Garden in the south shore of Kauai for a relaxing day ahead. It was a 2.5 hour tour through the artistic architecture called Allerton Garden, created by John and Robert Allerton. This place is famous for having movies such as ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘Pirates of the Carribean’ shot here.

But there was more to the garden than its famous movie leanings- its beautiful flora bursting within its expanses. There were breadfruit trees, elephant leaf trees, bamboo trees, Moreton bay fig trees, mother-in-law’s tongue plants (I swear I’m not making it up) and many more. There are open-aired rooms/garden spaces which were used for hosting parties by the Allertons, a hunter’s resting spot with a statue of goddess Diana, and bronze mermaid statues with a water path that can slow down your heart beat to 55 bpm in 10 minutes. We were also given a background of the interesting history behind NTBG and Allerton Garden, as well as about the flora. It was truly a calming experience, but the ticket costs are pricey for this relaxed stroll through the garden.

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7) Opaeka’a Falls

Yet again, we made a quick visit to Opaeka’a Falls in the evening and saw the 151-foot waterfalls cascading from million-years-old volcanic eruptions. There is no network reception here, so do take any important calls before you are set to visit here.

8) Kilauea Lighthouse

December 6 dawned bright on us, and we drove to the much-clamored Kilauea Lighthouse in the morning. It is atop the edge of a cliff near the sea, and the views are gorgeous from here. We paid an entry fee of $5 each via cash (no card payment here) and walked around the lighthouse. We could hear the ocean singing and crashing on the jagged rocks, and the salty breeze playing with my hair. There is a tour of the lighthouse, but we didn’t opt for it. We just kicked back and let the sea take over us.

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9) Waimea Canyon Lookout

To be fair, the lookout is only a small attraction next to the Waimea Canyon State Park. But my toes were hurting a lot during the trip, and I was unable to walk even up and down the stairs without wincing in pain. So we skipped the hike, and instead took a lot of photos of the red-hued curvy, majestic mountains stretching as far as the eye could see.

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10) Ocean Raft & Snorkel-Napali Coast

We went for a 5-hour ocean rafting and snorkeling expedition at Napali Coast on December 7. Early in the morning, both of us and fellow explorers sat on the raft and set sail into the blazing blue ocean. The wind was cold and whipping my hair, but boy did I enjoy it! We were surrounded by stretches of blue ocean, riding the waves and looking at the faraway rocky formations that could not be reached by land or even ocean.

We stopped for snorkeling, but I do not know how to swim. So with the guidance of the lifeguard, I did get into the Pacific ocean and move around a little bit. I donned my snorkeling glasses and looked into the deep water below. I saw coral reefs and fishes in the calm, mysterious ocean depths. Unfortunately, we forgot to take our camera underwater to take pictures. 😦 But the memories, they swim in my head.

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11) Kauai Hindu Monastery

In the heart of Kauai, the last place we expected to find was a Hindu temple. But our souls were truly happy after visiting the Kauai Hindu Monastery in Kapaa on December 8. This is a Saivite temple, dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva and principles of Saivism. The guru at the temple whom we even saw sitting inside, is Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami.

At the entrance, there was a short history of the temple and some sarongs to tie for those wearing short clothes before entering the temple. There was a statue of Lord Ganesha, Lord Murugan sitting inside his banyan abode and a beautiful shrine for Lord Shiva and other deities. There was a pool to wash the feet before and after entering the temples, and beautiful flowers blooming everywhere. We felt like we were transported back home in India, so authentic was the temple.

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12) Napali Coast Dinner Cruise

We boarded Capt Andy’s cruise boat in the afternoon, which set forth for a 4 hour Napali Coast sail. We whipped through the blue ocean, soaking up the warm sea breeze and clicking pictures. The dinner was served at around 5 PM, which comprised of a tasty salad, bread, a vegan patty, another vegetarian side dish and cheesecake. We didn’t eat much, because we were afraid we might throw up fast if we did that. But the food was tasty in itself, and we were even offered extras to take home if we wanted to. Since I took Dramamine before the cruise, I didn’t have motion sickness and it was a smooth sail. 🙂

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13) A Few Short Visits

We did stop by a few more places for a few minutes, which the pictures would just about explain better.

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14) Cycling Around Town

A day before our departure, we hired two cycles for the day at $10 per person. We drove around the resort, covering many beaches on the way. It was truly enjoyable, and I got a good bit of workout in there as well. Cycling is a common tourist activity in Kauai, I guess, because I saw many others of all age groups doing the same.

Before we knew it, we had cycled 11.5 miles in and around our resort! Here are a few memories we captured while cycling around Kauai’s shores.

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TRAVEL TIPS IN KAUAI

These are travel tips I would suggest based on personal experience:

1. Carry some cash in hand, up to $100. This might save you time from going to an ATM and then back again to the tourist spot or cafe.

2. Carry sea sickness medicine from your hometown/city, or buy it later in Kauai. But don’t scrimp on this step, because it really comes in handy if you’re going snorkeling or cruise tours.

3. Restaurants close by 3 PM for lunch, and traveling around doesn’t always ensure you get lunch on time. So buy some snacks from a local supermarket in Kauai. There is a Walmart near Lihue Airport, and a Safeway close to Aston Islander resort. There are also local, small stores where you can pick up small nibbles on the go.

4. Wear sunscreen at all times, even in the evening. My face has tanned unevenly, with a darker forehead and nose bridge as a result of inadequate sun protection.

5. PLEASE carry a mosquito repellent cream. My arms and legs were covered with mosquito bites, that are still taking their time to completely fade away.

6. Hiking shoes, hiking shoes aaaand hiking shoes. Don’t wear tennis shoes or trainers while going on a hike, because you might end up injuring your toes like I did. The hiking trails are rougher in Kauai than in the city, and hiking shoes will do you complete justice.

_______________________________________________________________

I hope this post was enjoyable and informative to read, because I really enjoyed writing it for y’all. Have you visited or would you consider visiting Kauai or any other island in Hawaii? Do you have any awesome places to suggest for the next vacation? Do let me know in the comments section below. 🙂

Until next time, see you!

  Vacation Story & A Travel Guide To Kauai. A big hello to all reading this, and I hope you're having a good week so far!

[wealthypioneers]

Exotic Rare Scarlet wisteria Hummingbird Tree Sesbania Grandiflora Agati Tropical Fruit Seeds, Organic B5 This small ornamental tree with a straight trunk produces a mass of large, 3-4" white flowers resembling little birds. Its lower branches create a floral canopy from November to June. Tolerates flooding. The flower is large and distinctively curved. Vertical pods, located near the flowers, can contain up to 20 seeds. The tender leaves, green fruit, and flowers are eaten alone as a vegetable or mixed into curries or salads. Flowers may be dipped in batter and fried in butter. Tender portions serve as cattle fodder. Ripe pods apparently are not eaten. The inner bark can serve as fiber and the white, softwood not too durable, can be used for cork. The wood is used, like bamboo, in Asian construction. The tree is grown as an ornamental shade tree and for reforestation. Bark, leaves, gums, and flowers are considered medicinal. In Java, the tree is extensively used as a pulp source. A gum resembling kino (called katurai), fresh when red, nearly black after exposure, exudes from wounds. This astringent gum is partially soluble in water and in alcohol but applied to the fishing cord, it makes it more durable. Pepper vines (Piper nigrum) are sometimes grown on and in the shade of the agati. Dried and powdered bark is used as a cosmetic in Java. An aqueous extract of the bark is said to be toxic to cockroaches. Sesbania grandiflora a short-lived, quick-growing, soft-wooded tree, 15mt. High and 0.6m in girth it is a native of Malaysia and is grown in many parts of India such as Punjab, Delhi, Bengal, Assam and the Andamans. Leaves 15-30cm long, abruptly pinnate; leaflets 41-61, linear-oblong, glabrous, 2.5-5.0cm x 0.5 - 1.6cm; racemes 2 - 4 flowered, short, axillary; flowers 6.0-10cm long with showy, fleshy white, pink or crimson petals; pods pendulous 30.0 - 45cm x 0.6-0.8cm, rather flat and somewhat 4-cornered, non-torulose, septate with swoolen margins and 15-50 pale colored seeds. Agathi is grown for ornament and is valued as food and also as a good fodder. It is grown as a support for pepper and betel vines, as shade plant for coconut seedlings, and as wind-break in banana fields. Bark yields a good fibre and a gum and various parts of agathi have medicinal value. Count: ~ 5 Sun Exposure Full sun from an early age Light shade when young Frost Tolerance Severe Water Requirements Moderate Drought Tolerance Yes Wind Tolerance High Tolerance of Coastal Conditions Yes Sesbania grandiflora, Agati grandiflora Hummingbird Tree, Butterfly Tree, Agati Family: Fabaceae Subfamily: Faboideae Origin: Asia and Australia The Hummingbird Tree is a small, tropical tree in the legume family that has large, beautiful pinkish-red or white flowers and feathery, pinnate leaves. The flowers resemble hummingbirds in flight. The flowers, young bean pods and leaves are edible and are used as a vegetable throughout southeastern Asia. It is also known as the vegetable hummingbird and the agati sesbania. It has a fast growth rate. It is native to Malaysia and Australia. The root, leaf, bark, and flower all have medicinal properties. It is very attractive to pollinators and birds as well. In Asia, the wood is used like bamboo for light construction and in reforestation efforts and as a shade plant for coconut seedlings. It grows wild in tropical lowlands and fields and along roadsides. It is often grown as an ornamental in the tropics. Growing Instructions 1. The seeds like moist, well-drained soil. Prepare a mixture of half potting soil and half sand, perlite or vermiculite. Put the soil in a pot. Water the mixture so that it is moist but not wet. 2. Put the seeds on the soil. 3. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. 4. Water the seeds. 5. Place the pots in an area with warm temperatures in full sun or part shade. 6. When the seedlings are a few inches tall, they can be transplanted. Requires a sunny position for best growth. Prefers a fertile, moist but well-drained moderately light soil, though it succeeds in light sandy, medium, heavy clayey and low fertility soils. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 8.5, but can tolerate acid conditions down to 4.5 Scarification: Soak in hot tap water, let stand in water for 24 hours. Stratification: none required. Germination: Sow seed 1/4" deep, tamp the soil, mulch the seed bed. Other: If hot water does not allow the seed to imbibe, nick the seed carefully and soak again in warm water. How do you care for Sesbania grandiflora? Requires a sunny position for best growth[404 ]. Prefers a fertile, moist but well-drained moderately light soil, though it succeeds in light sandy, medium, heavy clayey and low fertility soils[200 , 302 , 404 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 8.5, but can tolerate acid conditions down to 4.5[404 ]. Germination Plant seeds in a good garden soil that is well-drained fertile soil. During growth, use a tutor. The tutor can even be used after growth. Fertilizer can be used once a week during growth. This plant enjoys a sunny spot. Germination takes 15-30 days, it can be longer, don’t get discouraged. Germinating Palm Seeds The following instructions will work for most species. If the seeds appear dry, soak them in warm water for 1-3 days. For sowing, use peat, coco fiber, or a similar medium. It should be moist but not wet. Take a fistful. If you can just squeeze a couple of drops of water from it, then it is about right. If you can squeeze more, then it is too wet. If too dry, add a little water and try again. Mix the seeds with the moist compost and place them into a clear plastic (Ziploc) bag, label with species name and date, and seal. No light is required for germination. Tropical species such as Licuala, Bismarckia, or Cyrtostachys require heat, around 30°C/90°F. Temperate species such as Trachycarpus, Ceroxylon, or Parajubaea will germinate at lower temperatures, and heat may actually prevent germination. You may want to check the species descriptions for individual requirements. Check weekly for signs of activity by looking for white roots through the plastic. Ensure that the medium does not dry out. The seeds can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 years (or more) to germinate; however, most will sprout after 4-6 weeks. After the seeds have sprouted, plant each in a tall, narrow pot using a well-drained medium, label, and place in ample light, but not in full sun. Aim to keep the soil moist (but not wet) at all times. Feed and repot as required. More information can be found in the comments on the species pages. We also recommend consulting one of the many books on palms available through this website, as well as articles on the internet: http://springsofeden.myshopify.com/products/exotic-rare-scarlet-wisteria-hummingbird-tree-sesbania-grandiflora-agati-tropical-fruit-seeds-organic-b5