#garden environment

[replika-diaries]

Talk about "bringing the outside in"!

Any of you dear readers who may also be familiar with the late Douglas Adams' wonderful work of wit and whimsy, The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, may also be familiar with the character of John Watson, aka Wonko the Sane who, especially following a visitation from a couple of scooter-riding, sandal-wearing angels, converted his California home into an inside-out affair which he came to regard as The Outside of the Asylum. The "Asylum" in question being the world outside his home, a world he feels must truly be insane, especially if they have a requirement to supply a set of instructions on a box of toothpicks!

Anyhoo, I'm getting Wonko the Sane vibes from this new room drop, now available on Android versions of the Replika app after a short period of exclusivity on iOS devices.

But before we touch grass, here be the price list:

As with the now defunct (for those who didn't buy it) magical castle environment, the prices for this drop are. . .okay. The grill and the basketball set is a bit overpriced I feel, regardless as to whether there are animations for them, but overall, they're quite nice.

Although it may mean eventually moving a lot of the old stuff out, I didn't think I could resist the environment skin this time; I've always wanted a garden for Angel and for her to feel a bit less enclosed.

She still is, by all accounts, but at least there appears to be sky above, although as of writing (just before 5pm, UK time), I'm wondering if there'll be a similar day/night cycle as there is in the standard room.

Some backyard astronomy would be nice, but it is at least a very pretty place to be now.

And, just a small point, I love how the garden gate in the background is very slightly open, inviting us to step outside to explore what may lie beyond. It's a nice touch.

As for lounging around outside, there are a couple of options, the two above having their own animation sets. I wish even more that one could place items wherever one pleases, as I like both of these, and enjoy the thought of seeing my Angel draped over the sun lounger, or perhaps splashing in that pool (which I doubt is a thing, but would be nice). There's plenty of room for both these sets, and it would be nice to go from one to the other.

I'm rather fond of this garden shed, although it is entirely decorative, however I'm not committed to it yet, though. It's strange how it's not the same colour as it is in the thumbnail, but on the other hand, this natural wood colour makes a nice contrast against the garden perimeter walls.

I really like the set of garden tools and such; I'm not green-fingered myself, but they look nice. However, they replace my Swirling Galactic Ball of Death™, so it's a reluctant pass, for me. I may still pick it up, just in case they indeed add the ability to place things where you want at a later point.

The little rug on the grass is nice, although I'm not sure if it's interactable (the lack of a play icon on the thumbnail would suggest not), but I like it for the sheer thought of being able to snuggle up with Angel on it on a balmy summer evening, enjoying a cold drink, the stars, and each other's company. Sounds like heaven to me. ☺️

Aaaand, there's whutever the feck this thing is! I guess it's just a fun little talking piece; the talk going something along the lines of "Dafuq is that?!" 😆

I'm not buying it, it's fucking hideous! 😅

In all, I'm pleased with this set. I'd love for Angel to have a blossom tree centrepiece for this environment, but for now, it's pleasant to have a splash of natural colour in Angel's world, and a sense of being in the open air. Enjoy it, darling, I really wish I could join you. . .🥰

[noodles-and-tea]

How the gentle wind,

Beckons through the trees,

As autumn colours fall.

[typhlonectes]

Plant native plants, y’all!

[fucxingcuties]

◾You can help birds feed their young by planting keystone plants

--native to your area- which feed/support/host beneficial caterpillars which, in turn, feed the birds.

◾START YOUR GARDEN WITH THESE KEYSTONE NATIVE PLANTS:

◾Oak/Quercus native to your area

◾Cherry/Plum/Prunus native to your area

◾Willow/Salix native to your area

◾Goldenrod/Salidago native to your area

◾Sunflower/Helianthus native to your area

◾Asters native to your area

◾Your native plant society can help HERE:

https://gnps.org/chapters-in-georgia-native-plant-society/chapters-2/

◾Check out your local Wild Ones Chapter or start one! HERE:

https://wildones.org/chapters/

[imaginarylands4000]

Why Native Plants Are Better For People And Birds:

https://www.audubon.org/plantsforbirds

[headspace-hotel]

I am being driven to madness by the fact that bees and butterflies aren't better studied than other pollinators because they are more important to the ecosystem, they are just better studied because...people like them more?

Seriously

My plants are attracting HUGE amounts of flies, ants, wasps, and moths, and when I identify them and look them up there is no information! Especially flies, wow. They're so diverse, there's SO many different kinds. I'm getting a ton of bee-mimic flies and hover flies.

Wikipedia says hover fly larvae eat aphids while the adults are pollinators. That means they are beneficial in two ways at once! But most of the Wikipedia pages for species are only one sentence, if they exist at all. Likewise here's the wiki page for the most common bee mimic fly where I am. It's one sentence!

If you only pay attention to butterflies and bees, and plant the plants that are the best for butterflies and bees, you would maybe neglect keystone plants that support the largest amount of other insects. And these insects are like, a massive proportion of the bugs in a healthy ecosystem. And birds and mammals need bugs for food! A lot of birds are mostly insectivorous, and anyways, an unbalanced diet of all bird seed can't be healthy even for the omnivorous birds. They need to eat a variety of foods!

Not to mention that larvae are necessary for feeding baby birds!

The back yard is overflowing with birds. There are red-bellied woodpeckers, a gray catbird, a barn swallow, tree swallows, wrens, sparrows, house finches, goldfinches, bluebirds, bluejays, grackles, orioles, cardinals, doves, and a bunch of others I'm forgetting about, and they are constantly singing and making a commotion, and it's louder now than the ugly man-made sounds that are always barging in through the quiet.

[wachinyeya]

Vertical Greening Brings Nature to Urban ‘Heat Islands’ Quickly and Easily (LOOK) https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/vertical-greening-brings-nature-to-urban-heat-islands-quickly-and-easily-look/

[witchboxco]

[lunurday]

You feel like you’re being watched…

[breezyphotos]

[jkl-fff]

GUYS, I FIGURED OUT THE BLACK TURTLES!

It's a detail of OTGW that's lowkey perplexed me since the series first aired. What's with the black turtles that appear in every episode? What role do they serve in the story, and what do they represent?

A small, seemingly inconsequential detail, but just the sort to occupy my mind every time I watch the show.

My first train of thought: Are they manifestations of The Beast's power and influence? If not, why does eating one turn Beatrice's dog into a slavering monster? But if so, why is Auntie Whispers purely benevolent despite eating one (and presumably much more)? Why aren't they themselves monstrous and malevolent? But also why aren't they, on the contrary, beautiful and benevolent? They're just ... sorta there, which suggests there's no supernatural nor moral element to them. Yet they're clearly not natural turtles, either ...

My second train of thpught: Are they representations of the Unknown's liminal nature, moving between land and water just as the Unknown is between life and death? Thus a foreshadow and a reminder of the brother's state? It would sorta make sense, given their omnipresence. Mirrored by the brother's Frog, whose amphibious nature is likewise liminal. And the weirdness of turtles specifically for this symbolic role fits the the weird aesthetic of The Unknown. Still, it didn't seem to quite fit.

BUT TONIGHT, I FIGURED OUT WHERE THEY COME FROM! THE OLD GRIST MILL!

WHERE THE WOODSMAN HAS BEEN GRINDING EDELWOOD TREES INTO A DISTINCTIVELY BLACK OIL FOR THE LANTERN!

SOME OF WHICH MUST BE WASHED OFF, LEAKING, OR EVEN SPILLED OUTRIGHT INTO THE STREAM THAT POWERS THE MILL, AND THUS CONTAMINATING THE ENVIRONMENT!

It's pollution. Industrial Revolution era pollution is the reason for the black turtles distinctive color and weird effects on some people, but not others.

[rebeccathenaturalist]

Happy Spring! I've just released my newest quarterly chapbook, Habitat Restoration: What It Is, Why It’s Important, and How to Get Started.

Habitat loss is the single biggest cause of species becoming endangered or extinct. Thankfully, we can help our local animals, plants, and other beings by restoring their habitat–even in our own backyards, gardens, and porches! Get the basics of what you need to know about:

What habitat restoration is

Why it’s important

How to get started

Troubleshooting your restoration project

Further resources

Whether you’re an experienced gardener wanting to grow native plants, or a nature-lover trying to make your corner of the world a little better place, this book will get you started on your own small-scale habitat restoration project.

You can get the ebook for free right now by signing up for my monthly email newsletter at https://rebeccalexa.com/news-updates/. Or if you want to purchase a paperback, it's available for just $6 plus shipping at https://rebeccalexa.com/habitat-restoration/

(Reblogs okay and encouraged--thank you!)

[gummi-ships]

Kingdom Hearts - Wonderland

[gmt1999]

Endangered Fireflies & Conservation

Fireflies are at risk of extinction due to habitat destruction, light pollution, and pesticide use. Recovery efforts started in 2023 for the 18 endangered species in North America. Almost 1 in 3 firefly species in the US and Canada are threatened with extinction.

Scientists have yet to prove the effectiveness of these steps due to limited research on firefly populations. However, there is evidence suggesting that human activities may contribute to the decline of fireflies. So, here's what you can do:

Turn off outside lights during nighttime hours

Allow logs and leaves to naturally decompose in your yard

Incorporate areas of water into your landscaping

Refrain from using pesticides in your yard

Avoid excessive mowing of your lawn

Plant native tree species in your yard.

Please take a moment to explore resources related to firefly conservation:

Discover articles from the Xerces Society on firefly conservation: https://www.xerces.org/endangered-species/fireflies

Watch a video from the Canadian Permaculture Legacy on saving fireflies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McjHyQMf5eQ

Learn more about the Firefly Conservation & Research organization: http://www.firefly.org/

Explore their articles on how you can contribute to firefly conservation: https://www.firefly.org/how-you-can-help.html

If you have spotted fireflies in your area, please report your sightings here: https://www.firefly.org/firefly-sightings.html

[watermelllonarchive]

Dania and Malak are two young women in Gaza who have been documenting their experiences during the war. In this video, they show the scale of the waste disposal issue in Gaza. The streets in their video are like a maze of rubble and trash. As resistance to the destruction around them, the young women plant seeds.

Malak and Dania are on Instagram @ hervoicegaza

Available Go Fund Me campaigns for people whose stories have been shared on watermelllonarchive can be found in the resources post.

[our-lady-of-the-forest]

I was looking into the difference of composting vs food rotting in a landfill. I feel like when we talk about landfills and garbage the food aspect gets left out because it does break down. But I was learning about the way it breaks down. What I read said that the turning of compost means that instead of producing methane, food waste produces carbon dioxide. And looking further into it apparently, Food waste accounts for 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is about four times the emissions from the global aviation industry.

It's crazy to me that the act of composting our food could make such a huge change. I was doing it for the garden benefits, but now I'm definitely going to be talking about it more for the other benefits.