#mahonia 'Winter Sun'

[crowleys-bentley-and-plants]

hello mi vida 🌹 here, some plants for the bentley: orchid, mahonia, aloe vera, palm tree, papyrus

the bentley is very grateful for the plants :)

orchid ⇢ what’s a song you consider to be perfect?

like tøp said, dont trust a song that's flawless loll. but system of a down genuinely doesn't have a bad song

mahonia ⇢ what place, thing, activity inspires you most and how do you express yourself when it does?

mm i think a lot of things inspire me, like not even something outstanding, but just the little, everyday moments. it could be the way sunlight filters through the trees or the sound of rain tapping against the window. or seeing the first bloom of a flower in the spring or the way the steam curls up from a hot cup of coffee or hearing an old song that brings back a memory or watching strangers laugh together at a park. or the sound of wind rustling through the leaves or the warmth of sun on my face during a winter afternoon. or even the way shadows stretch long across the sidewalk in the late afternoon or autumn leaves falling down like orange confetti. it's all those little things. i like capturing beauty in the ordinary

aloe vera ⇢ what’s something (mundane) you really want to experience in life?

idk i feel like ive experienced every mundane thing there is tbh lol. ive seen the sunset a lot of times but i dont think ive seen the sunrise so that's something i wanna do

palm tree ⇢ do you have a fictional villain you shouldn’t like but love regardless?

oh i would choose any (well-written) villain above any hero ever i looove villains. some very good ones that are also scary as shit that come to mind are Eli from Vicious and Mayor Prentiss from the Chaos Walking trilogy

papyrus ⇢ if you put your ‘on repeat’ playlist on shuffle, what’s the first song that comes up? what do you like about it / associate it with?

given up by linkin park. reminds me of my dad, specifically cooking dinner together while blasting this song lol

send me plants :)

[tameblog]

Hi GPODers! It has been a while, but I’ve finally amassed enough small submissions to compile another GPOD Vignette. If you’re new, GPOD Vignettes allow me to share submissions that come in on the shorter side. Rather than these beautiful garden photos collecting dust in the GPOD inbox, I decided to compile these contributions whenever I could and piece them together so all of the gorgeous spaces shared with Garden Photo of the Day can have a space to shine on the blog. If you want to check out some past Vignettes, follow these links: Small Gardens with Big Impacts, Containers and Arrangements, and The Plants That Speak to Us. The following submissions came through over the past few months and all spoke to the special parts of our gardens that really strike a chord. Whether it be a particular view or a noteworthy time of year, there was something that made these gardeners stop, snap a photo, and share the moment with other plant lovers.   Mixing edibles and ornamentals with style I’m Heather Jones, owner of Sit a Spell Nursery & Landscape Design LLC and we are located in Saint George, South Carolina. This is my backyard entrance to our fire pit area. I have tea plants, hydrangeas, ferns, roses, mahonia, and liriope in the photo. I’ve been gardening my whole life but during COVID I went back to college to get my degree in horticulture. I have a passion for edible landscaping mixed in with ornamentals and you’ll often find that in different areas of my property. A sublime spot to enjoy the smell of Heather’s fragrant plantings while watching kids and/or pets run and play in the lawn that surrounds. Stepping stones lead you through the arbor and to the sweet congregating spot, while a huge tree provides the perfect shade to escape the heat of summer in South Carolina.   A neon backyard in autumn Every autumn there is one unequaled dawn when my Chicago backyard dazzles in neon gold. It happened today, the peak of luminosity. Enjoy. Jane Friedman When your space is limited, like when your garden is located in a major city, having just one or two plants that put out a particularly vibrant fall display can be enough to absolutely fill your space with color. From these photos, it looks like that is the case for Jane in regard to this marvelous maple in fall. Luminous is exactly the word the describe this glowing foliage. What a magical moment to see the sun shining through these neon leaves, both up close and from a distance! If only this magical color wasn’t so fleeting.   A tropical slice of late summer The next photo comes from Sheila Rowan. While Sheila did not mention where her garden is located, my guess would be Florida or some other tropical locale. From the tall palm to the various lush vines, it looks like Sheila has a topical rainforest right outside her window. Hawaiian sunset vine (Stictocardia beraviensis, Zones 9–11), Purple Queen tradescantia (Tradescantia pallida ‘Purple Queen’, Zones 8–11), and Aechmea Del Mar bromeliad (Aechmea ‘Del Mar’, Zones 9–11) in late summer.   A favorite spot to admire the garden Lastly, we have a special garden spot sent in by Catherine Arcolio. I wanted to share with you a small part of my Mother’s garden. I tend it for her now that she is in her 90’s. This photo is her view from her favorite inside reading spot. She lives on the New Hampshire side of in the Connecticut River Valley, winters in the Northeast are long and weary making so we anticipate and greet spring with special affection and relief. I design and tend gardens for a select handful of clients, so I spend spring through fall outdoors.For the past 12 or so years I have been documenting gardens and nature with a photo and a micro poem every day. The title and poem for this image is: Sweet Riseearly morningheld in spring’sinnocent caress If you’re interested in seeing more of Catherine’s photography and poems, check out her website: leafandtwig.org Flowering crabapple with wild violets in front and native Solomon’s seal behind. Hosta, one hot pink begonia, and 100 year old frog on toadstool birdbath. Water comes out of the frog’s mouth if you’ve gone to the trouble to bury and hook up a hose, which we never do. Birch grove in the distance Thank you to all of the contributors who shared special slices of the gardens they tend! Whether you decide to share 20 or 2 photos of your garden, I am so grateful for everyone that chooses to share your gardens with Garden Photo of the Day. And reminder that while the directions below request that you send “5-10 photos” of your garden, we’ll happily take any amount that you choose to share—just be aware that it might effect the amount of time it takes for your photos to be featured.   Have a garden you’d like to share? Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit! To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden. Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening! Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here. Fine Gardening Recommended Products A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY. Dramm Revolution Adjustable 9-Pattern Metal Hose Nozzle Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. - 15 x 10 x 7 inches - Ergonomic insulated grip - Maximum pressure of 90 PSI - Fully adjustable spray pattern - No trigger lock Source link

[ramestoryworld]

Hi GPODers! It has been a while, but I’ve finally amassed enough small submissions to compile another GPOD Vignette. If you’re new, GPOD Vignettes allow me to share submissions that come in on the shorter side. Rather than these beautiful garden photos collecting dust in the GPOD inbox, I decided to compile these contributions whenever I could and piece them together so all of the gorgeous spaces shared with Garden Photo of the Day can have a space to shine on the blog. If you want to check out some past Vignettes, follow these links: Small Gardens with Big Impacts, Containers and Arrangements, and The Plants That Speak to Us. The following submissions came through over the past few months and all spoke to the special parts of our gardens that really strike a chord. Whether it be a particular view or a noteworthy time of year, there was something that made these gardeners stop, snap a photo, and share the moment with other plant lovers.   Mixing edibles and ornamentals with style I’m Heather Jones, owner of Sit a Spell Nursery & Landscape Design LLC and we are located in Saint George, South Carolina. This is my backyard entrance to our fire pit area. I have tea plants, hydrangeas, ferns, roses, mahonia, and liriope in the photo. I’ve been gardening my whole life but during COVID I went back to college to get my degree in horticulture. I have a passion for edible landscaping mixed in with ornamentals and you’ll often find that in different areas of my property. A sublime spot to enjoy the smell of Heather’s fragrant plantings while watching kids and/or pets run and play in the lawn that surrounds. Stepping stones lead you through the arbor and to the sweet congregating spot, while a huge tree provides the perfect shade to escape the heat of summer in South Carolina.   A neon backyard in autumn Every autumn there is one unequaled dawn when my Chicago backyard dazzles in neon gold. It happened today, the peak of luminosity. Enjoy. Jane Friedman When your space is limited, like when your garden is located in a major city, having just one or two plants that put out a particularly vibrant fall display can be enough to absolutely fill your space with color. From these photos, it looks like that is the case for Jane in regard to this marvelous maple in fall. Luminous is exactly the word the describe this glowing foliage. What a magical moment to see the sun shining through these neon leaves, both up close and from a distance! If only this magical color wasn’t so fleeting.   A tropical slice of late summer The next photo comes from Sheila Rowan. While Sheila did not mention where her garden is located, my guess would be Florida or some other tropical locale. From the tall palm to the various lush vines, it looks like Sheila has a topical rainforest right outside her window. Hawaiian sunset vine (Stictocardia beraviensis, Zones 9–11), Purple Queen tradescantia (Tradescantia pallida ‘Purple Queen’, Zones 8–11), and Aechmea Del Mar bromeliad (Aechmea ‘Del Mar’, Zones 9–11) in late summer.   A favorite spot to admire the garden Lastly, we have a special garden spot sent in by Catherine Arcolio. I wanted to share with you a small part of my Mother’s garden. I tend it for her now that she is in her 90’s. This photo is her view from her favorite inside reading spot. She lives on the New Hampshire side of in the Connecticut River Valley, winters in the Northeast are long and weary making so we anticipate and greet spring with special affection and relief. I design and tend gardens for a select handful of clients, so I spend spring through fall outdoors.For the past 12 or so years I have been documenting gardens and nature with a photo and a micro poem every day. The title and poem for this image is: Sweet Riseearly morningheld in spring’sinnocent caress If you’re interested in seeing more of Catherine’s photography and poems, check out her website: leafandtwig.org Flowering crabapple with wild violets in front and native Solomon’s seal behind. Hosta, one hot pink begonia, and 100 year old frog on toadstool birdbath. Water comes out of the frog’s mouth if you’ve gone to the trouble to bury and hook up a hose, which we never do. Birch grove in the distance Thank you to all of the contributors who shared special slices of the gardens they tend! Whether you decide to share 20 or 2 photos of your garden, I am so grateful for everyone that chooses to share your gardens with Garden Photo of the Day. And reminder that while the directions below request that you send “5-10 photos” of your garden, we’ll happily take any amount that you choose to share—just be aware that it might effect the amount of time it takes for your photos to be featured.   Have a garden you’d like to share? Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit! To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden. Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening! Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here. Fine Gardening Recommended Products A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY. Dramm Revolution Adjustable 9-Pattern Metal Hose Nozzle Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. - 15 x 10 x 7 inches - Ergonomic insulated grip - Maximum pressure of 90 PSI - Fully adjustable spray pattern - No trigger lock Source link

[alexha2210]

Hi GPODers! It has been a while, but I’ve finally amassed enough small submissions to compile another GPOD Vignette. If you’re new, GPOD Vignettes allow me to share submissions that come in on the shorter side. Rather than these beautiful garden photos collecting dust in the GPOD inbox, I decided to compile these contributions whenever I could and piece them together so all of the gorgeous spaces shared with Garden Photo of the Day can have a space to shine on the blog. If you want to check out some past Vignettes, follow these links: Small Gardens with Big Impacts, Containers and Arrangements, and The Plants That Speak to Us. The following submissions came through over the past few months and all spoke to the special parts of our gardens that really strike a chord. Whether it be a particular view or a noteworthy time of year, there was something that made these gardeners stop, snap a photo, and share the moment with other plant lovers.   Mixing edibles and ornamentals with style I’m Heather Jones, owner of Sit a Spell Nursery & Landscape Design LLC and we are located in Saint George, South Carolina. This is my backyard entrance to our fire pit area. I have tea plants, hydrangeas, ferns, roses, mahonia, and liriope in the photo. I’ve been gardening my whole life but during COVID I went back to college to get my degree in horticulture. I have a passion for edible landscaping mixed in with ornamentals and you’ll often find that in different areas of my property. A sublime spot to enjoy the smell of Heather’s fragrant plantings while watching kids and/or pets run and play in the lawn that surrounds. Stepping stones lead you through the arbor and to the sweet congregating spot, while a huge tree provides the perfect shade to escape the heat of summer in South Carolina.   A neon backyard in autumn Every autumn there is one unequaled dawn when my Chicago backyard dazzles in neon gold. It happened today, the peak of luminosity. Enjoy. Jane Friedman When your space is limited, like when your garden is located in a major city, having just one or two plants that put out a particularly vibrant fall display can be enough to absolutely fill your space with color. From these photos, it looks like that is the case for Jane in regard to this marvelous maple in fall. Luminous is exactly the word the describe this glowing foliage. What a magical moment to see the sun shining through these neon leaves, both up close and from a distance! If only this magical color wasn’t so fleeting.   A tropical slice of late summer The next photo comes from Sheila Rowan. While Sheila did not mention where her garden is located, my guess would be Florida or some other tropical locale. From the tall palm to the various lush vines, it looks like Sheila has a topical rainforest right outside her window. Hawaiian sunset vine (Stictocardia beraviensis, Zones 9–11), Purple Queen tradescantia (Tradescantia pallida ‘Purple Queen’, Zones 8–11), and Aechmea Del Mar bromeliad (Aechmea ‘Del Mar’, Zones 9–11) in late summer.   A favorite spot to admire the garden Lastly, we have a special garden spot sent in by Catherine Arcolio. I wanted to share with you a small part of my Mother’s garden. I tend it for her now that she is in her 90’s. This photo is her view from her favorite inside reading spot. She lives on the New Hampshire side of in the Connecticut River Valley, winters in the Northeast are long and weary making so we anticipate and greet spring with special affection and relief. I design and tend gardens for a select handful of clients, so I spend spring through fall outdoors.For the past 12 or so years I have been documenting gardens and nature with a photo and a micro poem every day. The title and poem for this image is: Sweet Riseearly morningheld in spring’sinnocent caress If you’re interested in seeing more of Catherine’s photography and poems, check out her website: leafandtwig.org Flowering crabapple with wild violets in front and native Solomon’s seal behind. Hosta, one hot pink begonia, and 100 year old frog on toadstool birdbath. Water comes out of the frog’s mouth if you’ve gone to the trouble to bury and hook up a hose, which we never do. Birch grove in the distance Thank you to all of the contributors who shared special slices of the gardens they tend! Whether you decide to share 20 or 2 photos of your garden, I am so grateful for everyone that chooses to share your gardens with Garden Photo of the Day. And reminder that while the directions below request that you send “5-10 photos” of your garden, we’ll happily take any amount that you choose to share—just be aware that it might effect the amount of time it takes for your photos to be featured.   Have a garden you’d like to share? Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit! To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden. Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening! Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here. Fine Gardening Recommended Products A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY. Dramm Revolution Adjustable 9-Pattern Metal Hose Nozzle Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. - 15 x 10 x 7 inches - Ergonomic insulated grip - Maximum pressure of 90 PSI - Fully adjustable spray pattern - No trigger lock Source link

[angusstory]

Hi GPODers! It has been a while, but I’ve finally amassed enough small submissions to compile another GPOD Vignette. If you’re new, GPOD Vignettes allow me to share submissions that come in on the shorter side. Rather than these beautiful garden photos collecting dust in the GPOD inbox, I decided to compile these contributions whenever I could and piece them together so all of the gorgeous spaces shared with Garden Photo of the Day can have a space to shine on the blog. If you want to check out some past Vignettes, follow these links: Small Gardens with Big Impacts, Containers and Arrangements, and The Plants That Speak to Us. The following submissions came through over the past few months and all spoke to the special parts of our gardens that really strike a chord. Whether it be a particular view or a noteworthy time of year, there was something that made these gardeners stop, snap a photo, and share the moment with other plant lovers.   Mixing edibles and ornamentals with style I’m Heather Jones, owner of Sit a Spell Nursery & Landscape Design LLC and we are located in Saint George, South Carolina. This is my backyard entrance to our fire pit area. I have tea plants, hydrangeas, ferns, roses, mahonia, and liriope in the photo. I’ve been gardening my whole life but during COVID I went back to college to get my degree in horticulture. I have a passion for edible landscaping mixed in with ornamentals and you’ll often find that in different areas of my property. A sublime spot to enjoy the smell of Heather’s fragrant plantings while watching kids and/or pets run and play in the lawn that surrounds. Stepping stones lead you through the arbor and to the sweet congregating spot, while a huge tree provides the perfect shade to escape the heat of summer in South Carolina.   A neon backyard in autumn Every autumn there is one unequaled dawn when my Chicago backyard dazzles in neon gold. It happened today, the peak of luminosity. Enjoy. Jane Friedman When your space is limited, like when your garden is located in a major city, having just one or two plants that put out a particularly vibrant fall display can be enough to absolutely fill your space with color. From these photos, it looks like that is the case for Jane in regard to this marvelous maple in fall. Luminous is exactly the word the describe this glowing foliage. What a magical moment to see the sun shining through these neon leaves, both up close and from a distance! If only this magical color wasn’t so fleeting.   A tropical slice of late summer The next photo comes from Sheila Rowan. While Sheila did not mention where her garden is located, my guess would be Florida or some other tropical locale. From the tall palm to the various lush vines, it looks like Sheila has a topical rainforest right outside her window. Hawaiian sunset vine (Stictocardia beraviensis, Zones 9–11), Purple Queen tradescantia (Tradescantia pallida ‘Purple Queen’, Zones 8–11), and Aechmea Del Mar bromeliad (Aechmea ‘Del Mar’, Zones 9–11) in late summer.   A favorite spot to admire the garden Lastly, we have a special garden spot sent in by Catherine Arcolio. I wanted to share with you a small part of my Mother’s garden. I tend it for her now that she is in her 90’s. This photo is her view from her favorite inside reading spot. She lives on the New Hampshire side of in the Connecticut River Valley, winters in the Northeast are long and weary making so we anticipate and greet spring with special affection and relief. I design and tend gardens for a select handful of clients, so I spend spring through fall outdoors.For the past 12 or so years I have been documenting gardens and nature with a photo and a micro poem every day. The title and poem for this image is: Sweet Riseearly morningheld in spring’sinnocent caress If you’re interested in seeing more of Catherine’s photography and poems, check out her website: leafandtwig.org Flowering crabapple with wild violets in front and native Solomon’s seal behind. Hosta, one hot pink begonia, and 100 year old frog on toadstool birdbath. Water comes out of the frog’s mouth if you’ve gone to the trouble to bury and hook up a hose, which we never do. Birch grove in the distance Thank you to all of the contributors who shared special slices of the gardens they tend! Whether you decide to share 20 or 2 photos of your garden, I am so grateful for everyone that chooses to share your gardens with Garden Photo of the Day. And reminder that while the directions below request that you send “5-10 photos” of your garden, we’ll happily take any amount that you choose to share—just be aware that it might effect the amount of time it takes for your photos to be featured.   Have a garden you’d like to share? Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit! To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden. Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening! Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here. Fine Gardening Recommended Products A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY. Dramm Revolution Adjustable 9-Pattern Metal Hose Nozzle Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. - 15 x 10 x 7 inches - Ergonomic insulated grip - Maximum pressure of 90 PSI - Fully adjustable spray pattern - No trigger lock Source link

[tumibaba]

Hi GPODers! It has been a while, but I’ve finally amassed enough small submissions to compile another GPOD Vignette. If you’re new, GPOD Vignettes allow me to share submissions that come in on the shorter side. Rather than these beautiful garden photos collecting dust in the GPOD inbox, I decided to compile these contributions whenever I could and piece them together so all of the gorgeous spaces shared with Garden Photo of the Day can have a space to shine on the blog. If you want to check out some past Vignettes, follow these links: Small Gardens with Big Impacts, Containers and Arrangements, and The Plants That Speak to Us. The following submissions came through over the past few months and all spoke to the special parts of our gardens that really strike a chord. Whether it be a particular view or a noteworthy time of year, there was something that made these gardeners stop, snap a photo, and share the moment with other plant lovers.   Mixing edibles and ornamentals with style I’m Heather Jones, owner of Sit a Spell Nursery & Landscape Design LLC and we are located in Saint George, South Carolina. This is my backyard entrance to our fire pit area. I have tea plants, hydrangeas, ferns, roses, mahonia, and liriope in the photo. I’ve been gardening my whole life but during COVID I went back to college to get my degree in horticulture. I have a passion for edible landscaping mixed in with ornamentals and you’ll often find that in different areas of my property. A sublime spot to enjoy the smell of Heather’s fragrant plantings while watching kids and/or pets run and play in the lawn that surrounds. Stepping stones lead you through the arbor and to the sweet congregating spot, while a huge tree provides the perfect shade to escape the heat of summer in South Carolina.   A neon backyard in autumn Every autumn there is one unequaled dawn when my Chicago backyard dazzles in neon gold. It happened today, the peak of luminosity. Enjoy. Jane Friedman When your space is limited, like when your garden is located in a major city, having just one or two plants that put out a particularly vibrant fall display can be enough to absolutely fill your space with color. From these photos, it looks like that is the case for Jane in regard to this marvelous maple in fall. Luminous is exactly the word the describe this glowing foliage. What a magical moment to see the sun shining through these neon leaves, both up close and from a distance! If only this magical color wasn’t so fleeting.   A tropical slice of late summer The next photo comes from Sheila Rowan. While Sheila did not mention where her garden is located, my guess would be Florida or some other tropical locale. From the tall palm to the various lush vines, it looks like Sheila has a topical rainforest right outside her window. Hawaiian sunset vine (Stictocardia beraviensis, Zones 9–11), Purple Queen tradescantia (Tradescantia pallida ‘Purple Queen’, Zones 8–11), and Aechmea Del Mar bromeliad (Aechmea ‘Del Mar’, Zones 9–11) in late summer.   A favorite spot to admire the garden Lastly, we have a special garden spot sent in by Catherine Arcolio. I wanted to share with you a small part of my Mother’s garden. I tend it for her now that she is in her 90’s. This photo is her view from her favorite inside reading spot. She lives on the New Hampshire side of in the Connecticut River Valley, winters in the Northeast are long and weary making so we anticipate and greet spring with special affection and relief. I design and tend gardens for a select handful of clients, so I spend spring through fall outdoors.For the past 12 or so years I have been documenting gardens and nature with a photo and a micro poem every day. The title and poem for this image is: Sweet Riseearly morningheld in spring’sinnocent caress If you’re interested in seeing more of Catherine’s photography and poems, check out her website: leafandtwig.org Flowering crabapple with wild violets in front and native Solomon’s seal behind. Hosta, one hot pink begonia, and 100 year old frog on toadstool birdbath. Water comes out of the frog’s mouth if you’ve gone to the trouble to bury and hook up a hose, which we never do. Birch grove in the distance Thank you to all of the contributors who shared special slices of the gardens they tend! Whether you decide to share 20 or 2 photos of your garden, I am so grateful for everyone that chooses to share your gardens with Garden Photo of the Day. And reminder that while the directions below request that you send “5-10 photos” of your garden, we’ll happily take any amount that you choose to share—just be aware that it might effect the amount of time it takes for your photos to be featured.   Have a garden you’d like to share? Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit! To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden. Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening! Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here. Fine Gardening Recommended Products A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY. Dramm Revolution Adjustable 9-Pattern Metal Hose Nozzle Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. - 15 x 10 x 7 inches - Ergonomic insulated grip - Maximum pressure of 90 PSI - Fully adjustable spray pattern - No trigger lock Source link

[romaleen]

Hi GPODers! It has been a while, but I’ve finally amassed enough small submissions to compile another GPOD Vignette. If you’re new, GPOD Vignettes allow me to share submissions that come in on the shorter side. Rather than these beautiful garden photos collecting dust in the GPOD inbox, I decided to compile these contributions whenever I could and piece them together so all of the gorgeous spaces shared with Garden Photo of the Day can have a space to shine on the blog. If you want to check out some past Vignettes, follow these links: Small Gardens with Big Impacts, Containers and Arrangements, and The Plants That Speak to Us. The following submissions came through over the past few months and all spoke to the special parts of our gardens that really strike a chord. Whether it be a particular view or a noteworthy time of year, there was something that made these gardeners stop, snap a photo, and share the moment with other plant lovers.   Mixing edibles and ornamentals with style I’m Heather Jones, owner of Sit a Spell Nursery & Landscape Design LLC and we are located in Saint George, South Carolina. This is my backyard entrance to our fire pit area. I have tea plants, hydrangeas, ferns, roses, mahonia, and liriope in the photo. I’ve been gardening my whole life but during COVID I went back to college to get my degree in horticulture. I have a passion for edible landscaping mixed in with ornamentals and you’ll often find that in different areas of my property. A sublime spot to enjoy the smell of Heather’s fragrant plantings while watching kids and/or pets run and play in the lawn that surrounds. Stepping stones lead you through the arbor and to the sweet congregating spot, while a huge tree provides the perfect shade to escape the heat of summer in South Carolina.   A neon backyard in autumn Every autumn there is one unequaled dawn when my Chicago backyard dazzles in neon gold. It happened today, the peak of luminosity. Enjoy. Jane Friedman When your space is limited, like when your garden is located in a major city, having just one or two plants that put out a particularly vibrant fall display can be enough to absolutely fill your space with color. From these photos, it looks like that is the case for Jane in regard to this marvelous maple in fall. Luminous is exactly the word the describe this glowing foliage. What a magical moment to see the sun shining through these neon leaves, both up close and from a distance! If only this magical color wasn’t so fleeting.   A tropical slice of late summer The next photo comes from Sheila Rowan. While Sheila did not mention where her garden is located, my guess would be Florida or some other tropical locale. From the tall palm to the various lush vines, it looks like Sheila has a topical rainforest right outside her window. Hawaiian sunset vine (Stictocardia beraviensis, Zones 9–11), Purple Queen tradescantia (Tradescantia pallida ‘Purple Queen’, Zones 8–11), and Aechmea Del Mar bromeliad (Aechmea ‘Del Mar’, Zones 9–11) in late summer.   A favorite spot to admire the garden Lastly, we have a special garden spot sent in by Catherine Arcolio. I wanted to share with you a small part of my Mother’s garden. I tend it for her now that she is in her 90’s. This photo is her view from her favorite inside reading spot. She lives on the New Hampshire side of in the Connecticut River Valley, winters in the Northeast are long and weary making so we anticipate and greet spring with special affection and relief. I design and tend gardens for a select handful of clients, so I spend spring through fall outdoors.For the past 12 or so years I have been documenting gardens and nature with a photo and a micro poem every day. The title and poem for this image is: Sweet Riseearly morningheld in spring’sinnocent caress If you’re interested in seeing more of Catherine’s photography and poems, check out her website: leafandtwig.org Flowering crabapple with wild violets in front and native Solomon’s seal behind. Hosta, one hot pink begonia, and 100 year old frog on toadstool birdbath. Water comes out of the frog’s mouth if you’ve gone to the trouble to bury and hook up a hose, which we never do. Birch grove in the distance Thank you to all of the contributors who shared special slices of the gardens they tend! Whether you decide to share 20 or 2 photos of your garden, I am so grateful for everyone that chooses to share your gardens with Garden Photo of the Day. And reminder that while the directions below request that you send “5-10 photos” of your garden, we’ll happily take any amount that you choose to share—just be aware that it might effect the amount of time it takes for your photos to be featured.   Have a garden you’d like to share? Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit! To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden. Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening! Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here. Fine Gardening Recommended Products A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY. Dramm Revolution Adjustable 9-Pattern Metal Hose Nozzle Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. - 15 x 10 x 7 inches - Ergonomic insulated grip - Maximum pressure of 90 PSI - Fully adjustable spray pattern - No trigger lock Source link

[monaleen101]

Hi GPODers! It has been a while, but I’ve finally amassed enough small submissions to compile another GPOD Vignette. If you’re new, GPOD Vignettes allow me to share submissions that come in on the shorter side. Rather than these beautiful garden photos collecting dust in the GPOD inbox, I decided to compile these contributions whenever I could and piece them together so all of the gorgeous spaces shared with Garden Photo of the Day can have a space to shine on the blog. If you want to check out some past Vignettes, follow these links: Small Gardens with Big Impacts, Containers and Arrangements, and The Plants That Speak to Us. The following submissions came through over the past few months and all spoke to the special parts of our gardens that really strike a chord. Whether it be a particular view or a noteworthy time of year, there was something that made these gardeners stop, snap a photo, and share the moment with other plant lovers.   Mixing edibles and ornamentals with style I’m Heather Jones, owner of Sit a Spell Nursery & Landscape Design LLC and we are located in Saint George, South Carolina. This is my backyard entrance to our fire pit area. I have tea plants, hydrangeas, ferns, roses, mahonia, and liriope in the photo. I’ve been gardening my whole life but during COVID I went back to college to get my degree in horticulture. I have a passion for edible landscaping mixed in with ornamentals and you’ll often find that in different areas of my property. A sublime spot to enjoy the smell of Heather’s fragrant plantings while watching kids and/or pets run and play in the lawn that surrounds. Stepping stones lead you through the arbor and to the sweet congregating spot, while a huge tree provides the perfect shade to escape the heat of summer in South Carolina.   A neon backyard in autumn Every autumn there is one unequaled dawn when my Chicago backyard dazzles in neon gold. It happened today, the peak of luminosity. Enjoy. Jane Friedman When your space is limited, like when your garden is located in a major city, having just one or two plants that put out a particularly vibrant fall display can be enough to absolutely fill your space with color. From these photos, it looks like that is the case for Jane in regard to this marvelous maple in fall. Luminous is exactly the word the describe this glowing foliage. What a magical moment to see the sun shining through these neon leaves, both up close and from a distance! If only this magical color wasn’t so fleeting.   A tropical slice of late summer The next photo comes from Sheila Rowan. While Sheila did not mention where her garden is located, my guess would be Florida or some other tropical locale. From the tall palm to the various lush vines, it looks like Sheila has a topical rainforest right outside her window. Hawaiian sunset vine (Stictocardia beraviensis, Zones 9–11), Purple Queen tradescantia (Tradescantia pallida ‘Purple Queen’, Zones 8–11), and Aechmea Del Mar bromeliad (Aechmea ‘Del Mar’, Zones 9–11) in late summer.   A favorite spot to admire the garden Lastly, we have a special garden spot sent in by Catherine Arcolio. I wanted to share with you a small part of my Mother’s garden. I tend it for her now that she is in her 90’s. This photo is her view from her favorite inside reading spot. She lives on the New Hampshire side of in the Connecticut River Valley, winters in the Northeast are long and weary making so we anticipate and greet spring with special affection and relief. I design and tend gardens for a select handful of clients, so I spend spring through fall outdoors.For the past 12 or so years I have been documenting gardens and nature with a photo and a micro poem every day. The title and poem for this image is: Sweet Riseearly morningheld in spring’sinnocent caress If you’re interested in seeing more of Catherine’s photography and poems, check out her website: leafandtwig.org Flowering crabapple with wild violets in front and native Solomon’s seal behind. Hosta, one hot pink begonia, and 100 year old frog on toadstool birdbath. Water comes out of the frog’s mouth if you’ve gone to the trouble to bury and hook up a hose, which we never do. Birch grove in the distance Thank you to all of the contributors who shared special slices of the gardens they tend! Whether you decide to share 20 or 2 photos of your garden, I am so grateful for everyone that chooses to share your gardens with Garden Photo of the Day. And reminder that while the directions below request that you send “5-10 photos” of your garden, we’ll happily take any amount that you choose to share—just be aware that it might effect the amount of time it takes for your photos to be featured.   Have a garden you’d like to share? Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit! To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden. Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening! Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here. Fine Gardening Recommended Products A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY. Dramm Revolution Adjustable 9-Pattern Metal Hose Nozzle Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. - 15 x 10 x 7 inches - Ergonomic insulated grip - Maximum pressure of 90 PSI - Fully adjustable spray pattern - No trigger lock Source link

[iamownerofme]

Hi GPODers! It has been a while, but I’ve finally amassed enough small submissions to compile another GPOD Vignette. If you’re new, GPOD Vignettes allow me to share submissions that come in on the shorter side. Rather than these beautiful garden photos collecting dust in the GPOD inbox, I decided to compile these contributions whenever I could and piece them together so all of the gorgeous spaces shared with Garden Photo of the Day can have a space to shine on the blog. If you want to check out some past Vignettes, follow these links: Small Gardens with Big Impacts, Containers and Arrangements, and The Plants That Speak to Us. The following submissions came through over the past few months and all spoke to the special parts of our gardens that really strike a chord. Whether it be a particular view or a noteworthy time of year, there was something that made these gardeners stop, snap a photo, and share the moment with other plant lovers.   Mixing edibles and ornamentals with style I’m Heather Jones, owner of Sit a Spell Nursery & Landscape Design LLC and we are located in Saint George, South Carolina. This is my backyard entrance to our fire pit area. I have tea plants, hydrangeas, ferns, roses, mahonia, and liriope in the photo. I’ve been gardening my whole life but during COVID I went back to college to get my degree in horticulture. I have a passion for edible landscaping mixed in with ornamentals and you’ll often find that in different areas of my property. A sublime spot to enjoy the smell of Heather’s fragrant plantings while watching kids and/or pets run and play in the lawn that surrounds. Stepping stones lead you through the arbor and to the sweet congregating spot, while a huge tree provides the perfect shade to escape the heat of summer in South Carolina.   A neon backyard in autumn Every autumn there is one unequaled dawn when my Chicago backyard dazzles in neon gold. It happened today, the peak of luminosity. Enjoy. Jane Friedman When your space is limited, like when your garden is located in a major city, having just one or two plants that put out a particularly vibrant fall display can be enough to absolutely fill your space with color. From these photos, it looks like that is the case for Jane in regard to this marvelous maple in fall. Luminous is exactly the word the describe this glowing foliage. What a magical moment to see the sun shining through these neon leaves, both up close and from a distance! If only this magical color wasn’t so fleeting.   A tropical slice of late summer The next photo comes from Sheila Rowan. While Sheila did not mention where her garden is located, my guess would be Florida or some other tropical locale. From the tall palm to the various lush vines, it looks like Sheila has a topical rainforest right outside her window. Hawaiian sunset vine (Stictocardia beraviensis, Zones 9–11), Purple Queen tradescantia (Tradescantia pallida ‘Purple Queen’, Zones 8–11), and Aechmea Del Mar bromeliad (Aechmea ‘Del Mar’, Zones 9–11) in late summer.   A favorite spot to admire the garden Lastly, we have a special garden spot sent in by Catherine Arcolio. I wanted to share with you a small part of my Mother’s garden. I tend it for her now that she is in her 90’s. This photo is her view from her favorite inside reading spot. She lives on the New Hampshire side of in the Connecticut River Valley, winters in the Northeast are long and weary making so we anticipate and greet spring with special affection and relief. I design and tend gardens for a select handful of clients, so I spend spring through fall outdoors.For the past 12 or so years I have been documenting gardens and nature with a photo and a micro poem every day. The title and poem for this image is: Sweet Riseearly morningheld in spring’sinnocent caress If you’re interested in seeing more of Catherine’s photography and poems, check out her website: leafandtwig.org Flowering crabapple with wild violets in front and native Solomon’s seal behind. Hosta, one hot pink begonia, and 100 year old frog on toadstool birdbath. Water comes out of the frog’s mouth if you’ve gone to the trouble to bury and hook up a hose, which we never do. Birch grove in the distance Thank you to all of the contributors who shared special slices of the gardens they tend! Whether you decide to share 20 or 2 photos of your garden, I am so grateful for everyone that chooses to share your gardens with Garden Photo of the Day. And reminder that while the directions below request that you send “5-10 photos” of your garden, we’ll happily take any amount that you choose to share—just be aware that it might effect the amount of time it takes for your photos to be featured.   Have a garden you’d like to share? Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit! To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden. Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening! Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here. Fine Gardening Recommended Products A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY. Dramm Revolution Adjustable 9-Pattern Metal Hose Nozzle Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. - 15 x 10 x 7 inches - Ergonomic insulated grip - Maximum pressure of 90 PSI - Fully adjustable spray pattern - No trigger lock Source link

[shelyold]

Hi GPODers! It has been a while, but I’ve finally amassed enough small submissions to compile another GPOD Vignette. If you’re new, GPOD Vignettes allow me to share submissions that come in on the shorter side. Rather than these beautiful garden photos collecting dust in the GPOD inbox, I decided to compile these contributions whenever I could and piece them together so all of the gorgeous spaces shared with Garden Photo of the Day can have a space to shine on the blog. If you want to check out some past Vignettes, follow these links: Small Gardens with Big Impacts, Containers and Arrangements, and The Plants That Speak to Us. The following submissions came through over the past few months and all spoke to the special parts of our gardens that really strike a chord. Whether it be a particular view or a noteworthy time of year, there was something that made these gardeners stop, snap a photo, and share the moment with other plant lovers.   Mixing edibles and ornamentals with style I’m Heather Jones, owner of Sit a Spell Nursery & Landscape Design LLC and we are located in Saint George, South Carolina. This is my backyard entrance to our fire pit area. I have tea plants, hydrangeas, ferns, roses, mahonia, and liriope in the photo. I’ve been gardening my whole life but during COVID I went back to college to get my degree in horticulture. I have a passion for edible landscaping mixed in with ornamentals and you’ll often find that in different areas of my property. A sublime spot to enjoy the smell of Heather’s fragrant plantings while watching kids and/or pets run and play in the lawn that surrounds. Stepping stones lead you through the arbor and to the sweet congregating spot, while a huge tree provides the perfect shade to escape the heat of summer in South Carolina.   A neon backyard in autumn Every autumn there is one unequaled dawn when my Chicago backyard dazzles in neon gold. It happened today, the peak of luminosity. Enjoy. Jane Friedman When your space is limited, like when your garden is located in a major city, having just one or two plants that put out a particularly vibrant fall display can be enough to absolutely fill your space with color. From these photos, it looks like that is the case for Jane in regard to this marvelous maple in fall. Luminous is exactly the word the describe this glowing foliage. What a magical moment to see the sun shining through these neon leaves, both up close and from a distance! If only this magical color wasn’t so fleeting.   A tropical slice of late summer The next photo comes from Sheila Rowan. While Sheila did not mention where her garden is located, my guess would be Florida or some other tropical locale. From the tall palm to the various lush vines, it looks like Sheila has a topical rainforest right outside her window. Hawaiian sunset vine (Stictocardia beraviensis, Zones 9–11), Purple Queen tradescantia (Tradescantia pallida ‘Purple Queen’, Zones 8–11), and Aechmea Del Mar bromeliad (Aechmea ‘Del Mar’, Zones 9–11) in late summer.   A favorite spot to admire the garden Lastly, we have a special garden spot sent in by Catherine Arcolio. I wanted to share with you a small part of my Mother’s garden. I tend it for her now that she is in her 90’s. This photo is her view from her favorite inside reading spot. She lives on the New Hampshire side of in the Connecticut River Valley, winters in the Northeast are long and weary making so we anticipate and greet spring with special affection and relief. I design and tend gardens for a select handful of clients, so I spend spring through fall outdoors.For the past 12 or so years I have been documenting gardens and nature with a photo and a micro poem every day. The title and poem for this image is: Sweet Riseearly morningheld in spring’sinnocent caress If you’re interested in seeing more of Catherine’s photography and poems, check out her website: leafandtwig.org Flowering crabapple with wild violets in front and native Solomon’s seal behind. Hosta, one hot pink begonia, and 100 year old frog on toadstool birdbath. Water comes out of the frog’s mouth if you’ve gone to the trouble to bury and hook up a hose, which we never do. Birch grove in the distance Thank you to all of the contributors who shared special slices of the gardens they tend! Whether you decide to share 20 or 2 photos of your garden, I am so grateful for everyone that chooses to share your gardens with Garden Photo of the Day. And reminder that while the directions below request that you send “5-10 photos” of your garden, we’ll happily take any amount that you choose to share—just be aware that it might effect the amount of time it takes for your photos to be featured.   Have a garden you’d like to share? Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit! To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden. Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening! Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here. Fine Gardening Recommended Products A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY. Dramm Revolution Adjustable 9-Pattern Metal Hose Nozzle Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. - 15 x 10 x 7 inches - Ergonomic insulated grip - Maximum pressure of 90 PSI - Fully adjustable spray pattern - No trigger lock Source link

[iammeandmy]

Hi GPODers! It has been a while, but I’ve finally amassed enough small submissions to compile another GPOD Vignette. If you’re new, GPOD Vignettes allow me to share submissions that come in on the shorter side. Rather than these beautiful garden photos collecting dust in the GPOD inbox, I decided to compile these contributions whenever I could and piece them together so all of the gorgeous spaces shared with Garden Photo of the Day can have a space to shine on the blog. If you want to check out some past Vignettes, follow these links: Small Gardens with Big Impacts, Containers and Arrangements, and The Plants That Speak to Us. The following submissions came through over the past few months and all spoke to the special parts of our gardens that really strike a chord. Whether it be a particular view or a noteworthy time of year, there was something that made these gardeners stop, snap a photo, and share the moment with other plant lovers.   Mixing edibles and ornamentals with style I’m Heather Jones, owner of Sit a Spell Nursery & Landscape Design LLC and we are located in Saint George, South Carolina. This is my backyard entrance to our fire pit area. I have tea plants, hydrangeas, ferns, roses, mahonia, and liriope in the photo. I’ve been gardening my whole life but during COVID I went back to college to get my degree in horticulture. I have a passion for edible landscaping mixed in with ornamentals and you’ll often find that in different areas of my property. A sublime spot to enjoy the smell of Heather’s fragrant plantings while watching kids and/or pets run and play in the lawn that surrounds. Stepping stones lead you through the arbor and to the sweet congregating spot, while a huge tree provides the perfect shade to escape the heat of summer in South Carolina.   A neon backyard in autumn Every autumn there is one unequaled dawn when my Chicago backyard dazzles in neon gold. It happened today, the peak of luminosity. Enjoy. Jane Friedman When your space is limited, like when your garden is located in a major city, having just one or two plants that put out a particularly vibrant fall display can be enough to absolutely fill your space with color. From these photos, it looks like that is the case for Jane in regard to this marvelous maple in fall. Luminous is exactly the word the describe this glowing foliage. What a magical moment to see the sun shining through these neon leaves, both up close and from a distance! If only this magical color wasn’t so fleeting.   A tropical slice of late summer The next photo comes from Sheila Rowan. While Sheila did not mention where her garden is located, my guess would be Florida or some other tropical locale. From the tall palm to the various lush vines, it looks like Sheila has a topical rainforest right outside her window. Hawaiian sunset vine (Stictocardia beraviensis, Zones 9–11), Purple Queen tradescantia (Tradescantia pallida ‘Purple Queen’, Zones 8–11), and Aechmea Del Mar bromeliad (Aechmea ‘Del Mar’, Zones 9–11) in late summer.   A favorite spot to admire the garden Lastly, we have a special garden spot sent in by Catherine Arcolio. I wanted to share with you a small part of my Mother’s garden. I tend it for her now that she is in her 90’s. This photo is her view from her favorite inside reading spot. She lives on the New Hampshire side of in the Connecticut River Valley, winters in the Northeast are long and weary making so we anticipate and greet spring with special affection and relief. I design and tend gardens for a select handful of clients, so I spend spring through fall outdoors.For the past 12 or so years I have been documenting gardens and nature with a photo and a micro poem every day. The title and poem for this image is: Sweet Riseearly morningheld in spring’sinnocent caress If you’re interested in seeing more of Catherine’s photography and poems, check out her website: leafandtwig.org Flowering crabapple with wild violets in front and native Solomon’s seal behind. Hosta, one hot pink begonia, and 100 year old frog on toadstool birdbath. Water comes out of the frog’s mouth if you’ve gone to the trouble to bury and hook up a hose, which we never do. Birch grove in the distance Thank you to all of the contributors who shared special slices of the gardens they tend! Whether you decide to share 20 or 2 photos of your garden, I am so grateful for everyone that chooses to share your gardens with Garden Photo of the Day. And reminder that while the directions below request that you send “5-10 photos” of your garden, we’ll happily take any amount that you choose to share—just be aware that it might effect the amount of time it takes for your photos to be featured.   Have a garden you’d like to share? Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit! To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden. Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening! Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here. Fine Gardening Recommended Products A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY. Dramm Revolution Adjustable 9-Pattern Metal Hose Nozzle Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. - 15 x 10 x 7 inches - Ergonomic insulated grip - Maximum pressure of 90 PSI - Fully adjustable spray pattern - No trigger lock Source link

[januishstory]

Hi GPODers! It has been a while, but I’ve finally amassed enough small submissions to compile another GPOD Vignette. If you’re new, GPOD Vignettes allow me to share submissions that come in on the shorter side. Rather than these beautiful garden photos collecting dust in the GPOD inbox, I decided to compile these contributions whenever I could and piece them together so all of the gorgeous spaces shared with Garden Photo of the Day can have a space to shine on the blog. If you want to check out some past Vignettes, follow these links: Small Gardens with Big Impacts, Containers and Arrangements, and The Plants That Speak to Us. The following submissions came through over the past few months and all spoke to the special parts of our gardens that really strike a chord. Whether it be a particular view or a noteworthy time of year, there was something that made these gardeners stop, snap a photo, and share the moment with other plant lovers.   Mixing edibles and ornamentals with style I’m Heather Jones, owner of Sit a Spell Nursery & Landscape Design LLC and we are located in Saint George, South Carolina. This is my backyard entrance to our fire pit area. I have tea plants, hydrangeas, ferns, roses, mahonia, and liriope in the photo. I’ve been gardening my whole life but during COVID I went back to college to get my degree in horticulture. I have a passion for edible landscaping mixed in with ornamentals and you’ll often find that in different areas of my property. A sublime spot to enjoy the smell of Heather’s fragrant plantings while watching kids and/or pets run and play in the lawn that surrounds. Stepping stones lead you through the arbor and to the sweet congregating spot, while a huge tree provides the perfect shade to escape the heat of summer in South Carolina.   A neon backyard in autumn Every autumn there is one unequaled dawn when my Chicago backyard dazzles in neon gold. It happened today, the peak of luminosity. Enjoy. Jane Friedman When your space is limited, like when your garden is located in a major city, having just one or two plants that put out a particularly vibrant fall display can be enough to absolutely fill your space with color. From these photos, it looks like that is the case for Jane in regard to this marvelous maple in fall. Luminous is exactly the word the describe this glowing foliage. What a magical moment to see the sun shining through these neon leaves, both up close and from a distance! If only this magical color wasn’t so fleeting.   A tropical slice of late summer The next photo comes from Sheila Rowan. While Sheila did not mention where her garden is located, my guess would be Florida or some other tropical locale. From the tall palm to the various lush vines, it looks like Sheila has a topical rainforest right outside her window. Hawaiian sunset vine (Stictocardia beraviensis, Zones 9–11), Purple Queen tradescantia (Tradescantia pallida ‘Purple Queen’, Zones 8–11), and Aechmea Del Mar bromeliad (Aechmea ‘Del Mar’, Zones 9–11) in late summer.   A favorite spot to admire the garden Lastly, we have a special garden spot sent in by Catherine Arcolio. I wanted to share with you a small part of my Mother’s garden. I tend it for her now that she is in her 90’s. This photo is her view from her favorite inside reading spot. She lives on the New Hampshire side of in the Connecticut River Valley, winters in the Northeast are long and weary making so we anticipate and greet spring with special affection and relief. I design and tend gardens for a select handful of clients, so I spend spring through fall outdoors.For the past 12 or so years I have been documenting gardens and nature with a photo and a micro poem every day. The title and poem for this image is: Sweet Riseearly morningheld in spring’sinnocent caress If you’re interested in seeing more of Catherine’s photography and poems, check out her website: leafandtwig.org Flowering crabapple with wild violets in front and native Solomon’s seal behind. Hosta, one hot pink begonia, and 100 year old frog on toadstool birdbath. Water comes out of the frog’s mouth if you’ve gone to the trouble to bury and hook up a hose, which we never do. Birch grove in the distance Thank you to all of the contributors who shared special slices of the gardens they tend! Whether you decide to share 20 or 2 photos of your garden, I am so grateful for everyone that chooses to share your gardens with Garden Photo of the Day. And reminder that while the directions below request that you send “5-10 photos” of your garden, we’ll happily take any amount that you choose to share—just be aware that it might effect the amount of time it takes for your photos to be featured.   Have a garden you’d like to share? Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit! To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden. Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening! Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here. Fine Gardening Recommended Products A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY. Dramm Revolution Adjustable 9-Pattern Metal Hose Nozzle Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. - 15 x 10 x 7 inches - Ergonomic insulated grip - Maximum pressure of 90 PSI - Fully adjustable spray pattern - No trigger lock Source link

[notesongardening]

Mahonia ‘winter sun’ for autumn and winter colour

[kwiatyogrodowe]

[sunnytaes]

The Ballad of the Phoenix

❅ Pairing: Hwang Hyunjin x Lee Minho x Lee Felix

❅ Genre/themes: angst with a happy ending (eventually), eventual fluff, adventure, fantasy au, royal au, childhood friends to enemies to lovers, Felix is Steve (but not really), arranged marriage (but not really), prince!Hyunjin, prince!Minho, mage!Felix

❅ Warning(s): alcohol mentions, brief description of an animal pelt, Felix (unfortunately) does not appear in this chapter

❅ Chapter word count: 6.7k

❅ Chapter summary: Prince Hyunjin of Mahonia and Prince Minho of Cerasus have been distant for years after once having been close as children. Their parents want them to marry to unify their kingdoms, but both princes adamantly refuse. They agree to give reconnecting a chance, however, though it proves to be difficult when neither is willing to bend.

❅ Note(s): This fic is for the Clownracha fic exchange and it is dedicated to my lovely Lennie, @decaffedthoughts! Lennie, I hope you enjoy it. I made a playlist for the series, which you can find here. Pls listen to it in order :)

Chapter 1: Forget-Me-Not

The afternoon sun seeped in through the tall windows of the castle, squares of light broken up by the shadows of the window panes travelling across the large canvas set up next to the window. Delicate, practised hands were adding small, vaguely flower-shaped dots of orange to the rhododendron bush on the canvas. In front of the canvas sat His Royal Highness, Prince Hwang Hyunjin of Mahonia, the Kingdom of Winter. 

The young prince was sitting in a decidedly un-princelike manner, hunched over his canvas with his paintbrush clutched tightly in his hand, but the determined expression on his face was certainly that of a king’s. His long hair had been tied crudely out of his face with a stray piece of twine, and his princely outer robes had been tossed haphazardly on the large bed, leaving him in only a white undershirt, the paint-splattered sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and his everyday pants, the piece of linen he used to protect the fine material from paint long since abandoned on the floor. 

Hyunjin’s painting was interrupted by a firm knock to his door, two raps in quick succession, followed by a third a moment later. Hyunjin only knew one person who knocked in such a unique manner and a smile spread across his face. 

“Come in, Seungmin,” the prince called out, rinsing his brush in the wooden bowl next to his easel before placing it on the cloth next to the bowl to dry. 

Hyunjin’s personal attendant and the closest thing he’s had to a friend all his life poked his head into the prince’s chamber, his fluffy brown hair flopping slightly to the side from the angle, his round golden wire-rimmed glasses also falling slightly askew. Hyunjin could only see his collar and a bit of his left shoulder, but he knew Seungmin was wearing the same garb all of the palace staff wore, a royal blue tunic belted at the waist with a gold braided cord, black trousers, and polished black loafers. Each tunic bore the kingdom’s crest — the Hellebore Mountains with the moon rising behind the peak, surrounded by a wreath of plum blossoms — embroidered on the left side, just above the heart, and Seungmin’s featured a small gold pin of the same crest on the mock neckline of his tunic, indicating that he was a member of the royal family’s personal staff. 

Hyunjin did not need to see the rest of his friend’s uniform in that moment to know that not an inch was out of place, with starch-pressed creases in the trousers and shoes so well-polished one could see their reflection in them. Seungmin was often better dressed than Hyunjin, the latter often having the odd paint stain somewhere on his clothing or hands, despite the amount of care he took to prevent that from happening. 

“Your parents are requesting your presence,” Seungmin said, casting a glance at Hyunjin’s canvas. He hummed appreciatively at the painting, meeting Hyunjin’s eyes as he spoke. “It seemed serious, so you might want to make yourself look… a bit more presentable. But quickly, it also seemed urgent.” 

Hyunjin let out a sigh, picking up a rag to wipe the stray flecks of paint off of his hands. Some of the fresher flecks came off easily, but some only smudged deeper into his skin, and others had long since dried. 

Seungmin took his leave, off to do whatever it was he did when he wasn’t taking care of Hyunjin. Hyunjin honestly didn’t know what he got up to in his spare time, but he did not care so long as Seungmin was there when he needed him, which he always was. Technically, the prince’s attendant or his personal maids were supposed to help him dress, but Seungmin had given up on that very shortly after he took on the role, and Hyunjin had also dismissed his maids from assisting him, as it made him feel like a child being doted on, which he hated. 

The rest of the kingdom thought him to be a spoiled, arrogant prince, but Hyunjin and those closest to him, albeit not that many people, knew that was far from the case. The prince did not care what others thought of him, though. He knew that his subjects called him the Ice Prince because of his cold exterior, but he did not mind. He was warm to those who mattered and polite but succinct with those he was unfamiliar with, and if that made him come across as cold, then so be it. 

Hyunjin dressed himself quickly, praying his parents wouldn’t notice the splash of yellow paint that had made it onto the knee of his trousers, and started to make his way to the east wing of Icehaven Palace, where his parents resided. Hyunjin spent most of his time in the south wing, in a former guest room that he had claimed for his own because of the beautiful view of the garden below his window, and the Hellebore Mountains on the horizon, marking the edge of his kingdom. Though it was customary for a prince to stay in the east wing with the rest of the royal family, Hyunjin found himself forgoing custom more often than not, and even though he occasionally returned to his childhood bedroom in the east wing to watch the sunrise, he had called the room in the south wing home for as long as he could remember. 

Arriving at the east wing, Hyunjin made his way to his parents’ shared room, as that was usually where they were when they summoned him together. He nodded at their personal guard, Mingyu, as the taller man stepped aside to let him in. 

Entering his parents’ chambers, Hyunjin was met with the familiar scent of mulled spices and old wood that he came to associate with the space. His mother was sitting in her favourite chaise lounge by the window, the midnight silk of her dress blending into the indigo velvet of the chair. A chalice was perched delicately in her hand, likely containing her favourite plum wine, a Mahonian signature. Hyunjin’s father stood by her side, staring pensively out the window and looking in Hyunjin’s direction when he entered the room. Like Hyunjin, his father had long hair, but his swept past his shoulders where Hyunjin’s only reached his jaw. The king often wore his hair in a complicated braided knot atop his head, accenting his crown perfectly, but now his hair was loose, flowing past his shoulders as the gold crown rested on the vanity next to the queen’s matching one. 

Hyunjin was unaccustomed to seeing his parents so casually, but he did his best to appear unfazed by the sight. He greeted his parents with the low bow customary for greeting Mahonian royals, with one fist clasped over the heart to signify fealty to the crown. When he straightened his posture, his parents were smiling warily at him, as if they were nervous too. 

“Hyunjin, please sit,” his mother said, gesturing towards one of the armchairs facing the chaise lounge. 

Swallowing his nerves, Hyunjin sat in the one closest to the fire. 

“There’s something we would like to discuss with you,” the king said, his focus solely on Hyunjin now. 

“I only snuck out to get paints once, Seungmin had no idea!” Hyunjin blurted, wringing his hands in his lap. 

His father quirked a bemused eyebrow at him, while his mother appeared to be hiding her smile between her chalice. 

“That is not what we were planning on discussing, but we can address that later.” 

“We have always appreciated your independence, Hyunjin, and we would never force you to do something you didn’t want to do, but there is something we would like you to consider,” his mother said, smiling at him warmly. 

Though both of his parents were looking at him with uncharacteristically fond expressions, Hyunjin could not help but feel the anxiety rising in his chest. 

“What is this about?” he asked. 

“We’ve been talking with the King and Queen of Cerasus, and we were thinking it would be greatly beneficial to both kingdoms if you were to get married to their crown prince, Prince Minho,” the queen said apprehensively, as if she knew what Hyunjin’s reaction would be. 

Predictably, Hyunjin shot out of his chair immediately, causing it to tumble backwards and land with a dull thud on the carpet. “If we were to do what?” he exclaimed, eyes frantically darting between his parents. Surely they had to be joking. 

“We are not trying to force you, Hyunjin, but we would like you to consider it,” his father said calmly, ignoring his son’s burst of frantic energy. 

“It seems a little forceful,” Hyunjin chuckled nervously, reaching his hands up to tangle his fingers in the roots of his hair, loosening his ponytail and causing him to look probably about as frazzled as he felt. 

“You don’t have to commit to anything right now,” Hyunjin’s mother explained gently, resting her chalice on the side table next to her. “We have invited Prince Minho to stay with us at the castle for the summer. All you have to do is get to know him better, and tell us how you feel at the end of the season.” 

“I already know how I feel about him,” Hyunjin grumbled, crossing his arms. “He hates me. Why couldn’t it be Prince Yeosang instead?” 

“Prince Yeosang of Celosia has already expressed his intent to marry a commoner,” his father said with a sigh. “Besides, weren’t you and Minho friends? I seem to remember you two running around the Cherry Blossom Palace wreaking havoc everywhere you went.” “Not anymore,” Hyunjin said with a pout, arms crossed defiantly. He was well aware that he was behaving childishly, but he could not bring it upon himself to care. He would continue to refuse marriage to Prince Minho even if it was the last thing he did. 

His mother gave him a look, and Hyunjin sighed, tossing his arms in the air. “Fine, he can stay here. But I make no promises beyond that.” “That is all we ask of you, son,” his father said, something akin to pride in his eyes. 

Hyunjin was dismissed from his parents’ chambers and left in a huff, not even bothering to greet Mingyu this time, leaving the poor guard with his hand lingering halfway in the air. 

Not a single member of the staff dared to speak to him as he thundered through the halls of the castle, a storm forming on his brow as he made a beeline for Seungmin’s room. 

When Minho’s parents, the king and queen of Cerasus, the Kingdom of Spring, first suggested to him that he marry the Hwang prince, he adamantly refused. He’d known Prince Hyunjin since he was a toddler and Hyunjin was a dumpling-shaped infant, on account of their parents being good friends and their kingdoms being allied. The two princes had been friends as kids, Minho had many fond memories of chasing stray cats together through the gardens of his palace and peering through the telescope in the large conservatory in the Cherry Blossom Palace. 

But as they aged, Hyunjin grew distant, and one year at the annual Harvest Ball held in Celosia, the Kingdom of Autumn, Hyunjin avoided him like the plague, even going so far as to run away when Minho tried to approach him. They were still kids then, especially Hyunjin, who was two years Minho’s junior, and Minho knew he should’ve been the more mature one and tried to talk to the other prince about it, but instead Minho reacted in the way he knew best. If Hyunjin was going to act coldly towards him, Minho would be cold right back. 

Years later, after Hyunjin had continued to act coldly towards the elder prince and Minho delivered sharp remarks any time they were forced to be together, Hyunjin had developed a reputation in his kingdom.The citizens started to refer to him as the Ice Prince, not simply because he was prince of the Kingdom of Winter, but because he acted coldly to everyone he met, staying locked up in the castle and refusing to go out to meet the citizens on holidays as was expected of royalty. 

Minho, on the other hand, though he had grown to act coldly towards Hyunjin as the years went by, had earned the title Angel Prince because of his delicate features and his benevolence towards his people. Prince Minho was often seen in soup kitchens helping the needy and donating toys to local orphanages, and had even purchased an animal shelter with his own money to keep it from shutting down. Whereas Prince Hyunjin was feared by his subjects, Prince Minho was revered. 

Though they had been friends as children, Prince Minho was firmly against marrying the frigid prince and moving to his equally frigid kingdom for even part of the year, and he vocalised as much to his parents, who were disappointed but agreed that they would not force him. But when a courier from Mahonia arrived with a letter addressed to him, Minho briefly reconsidered his stance on the Ice Prince. 

Prince Hyunjin had personally written to him saying that his parents had also tried to talk to him about a marriage between the two of them, and while he was not enthusiastic about the idea of marriage, he had made a promise to his parents that he would try to get to know Prince Minho. 

The letter was an invitation for Minho to come stay with him in Mahonia. Minho was not thrilled at the prospect of staying in the winter kingdom, where he hadn’t been since he was too young to remember; both his and Hyunjin’s parents much preferred spending their time together in the warmer Kingdom of Spring. 

Minho was moved by the letter, regardless, because it would have been easy for Prince Hyunjin to continue to avoid him like he had all these years, and the fact that he hadn’t outright rejected the idea without a word to Minho or his parents was enough for Minho to find himself packing his bags with his warmest clothes in hopes that the Ice Prince he knew had thawed his heart since the last time he had seen him. 

The day of Prince Minho’s arrival at Icehaven Palace, Hyunjin was doing his best not to be found. That is to say, he was hiding in a far corner of the library where he hoped no one would think to look. Hyunjin was not much of a reader himself, but he had gone looking for Seungmin during his days off enough times that the prince was very familiar with the royal library and all of the nooks and crannies that would make perfect hiding spots. 

That’s how he found himself wedged in a bookshelf in the least frequently visited part of the library that had been suspiciously cleared of its lower shelves, leaving an oddly Seungmin-shaped void where the books should be. Hyunjin was not a coward, not at all, but there were many things he would rather do than entertain the Prince of Cerasus for weeks and pretend that there was any chance of the two getting married, and folding himself into a pretzel in a bookshelf that was probably pressing bruises directly into his bones was apparently on that list. 

Hyunjin wasn’t sure how long he was going to hide, but he figured emerging at dusk would be a safe bet as he would only have to interact with Prince Minho at dinner and then would be able to excuse himself to his chambers for the night. Judging by soft light filtering in through the domed skylights built into the library, it was mid-afternoon, and Hyunjin would have to be here for a while longer. 

With a sigh, he reached his hand up to the shelf above him that did, in fact, contain books, and grabbed a book at random. As he pulled it off of the shelf, a plume of dust emerged with it, causing Hyunjin to splutter and cough and hold the offending book at arm’s length. Of course Seungmin would only clean the shelves he would need to create his hiding place. 

Carefully shaking out the book and wiping the cover with his sleeve, Hyunjin began to read. He wasn’t too interested in the ancient methods of agriculture of Mahonia, which, despite being the winter kingdom, were still plentiful, but he was bored enough that it didn’t matter as he soon got engrossed in the text for the sake of having something to do. 

Despite the book likely having been relegated to an unused part of the library for a reason, Hyunjin found himself losing track of time. It wasn’t until a pair of black trousers and spotless black shoes appeared in his periphery that Hyunjin became aware of how much time had passed. As he looked up to meet Seungmin’s eyes, the sky showing through the skylight had darkened significantly, dusk being well underway. 

“Just what exactly do you think you’re doing here?” Seungmin said, in the same bored tone he often adopted when Hyunjin was being too erratic for his liking. “And in my hiding place, no less?” Pouting, Hyunjin dog-eared the page and pretended not to see Seungmin’s responding wince. “Didn’t think anyone would be able to find me.”

His whining tone was met with an eye roll as Seungmin crossed his arms impatiently. “Most people would not think to look for you in the library, because everyone knows how much you hate reading. But I’m not most people. Now get up, you’re due at dinner in half an hour and you’re covered in dust. Not to mention your fiancé has been wandering the castle like a lost soul because you didn’t come to greet him.” “He’s not my fiancé!” Hyunjin protested, groaning as he slowly eased himself out of the cramped bookshelf nook, his joints creaking in protest. Seungmin made no move to help him. 

“Visiting prince who your parents are ‘suggesting’ you marry, same difference,” Seungmin said, looking as if he was holding back a laugh as Hyunjin finally stood to meet his eyes, his face red from the sudden blood rush and his long hair tossed haphazardly in his face. With a fond smile, Seungmin picked a few dust bunnies out of Hyunjin’s long hair like he’d done many times before, adjusting the prince’s hair so it was back in the neat half ponytail he normally kept it in. “Let’s go, Prince Dust Bunny, you should wash up before dinner. Wouldn’t want to make a bad impression on your future husband.” 

“That ship has long since sailed,” Hyunjin grumbled, following Seungmin with heavy footsteps as they made their way out of the library. 

“What’s with the book, by the way?” Seungmin asked as they were almost at the grand doors of the library, only sparing a cursory glance back at Hyunjin, who still had the book cradled in his arms like it was more precious than it probably was. “I’ve never seen you get more than ten pages into a book without giving up, you must have been really keen to avoid this prince.” 

“Thought Yunho might like it,” Hyunjin mumbled reluctantly, having in fact brought the book with him instead of leaving it where he found it because he thought Seungmin’s boyfriend, the palace gardener, would enjoy its contents. Hyunjin knew Yunho hated reading, but he did enjoy hearing Seungmin read to him, something the gardener and the prince shared in common. 

Seungmin’s retort died in his lips as a voice called out further down the hallway, “Prince Minho, we should really return to your chambers and wait to be summoned for dinner.” 

Hyunjin froze, quickly thrusting the book in Seungmin’s direction, leaving the poor attendant to scramble to hold it properly. Approaching from the other end of the hallway at what could only be described as a leisurely stroll, was none other than the very person Hyunjin was trying to avoid, with a very flustered guard, one of Hyunjin’s own, trailing after him hopelessly. 

Hyunjin hadn’t seen Prince Minho in years, but he looked the same, only more handsome, if that was possible. Minho had really grown into his features, much to Hyunjin’s annoyance, and his confident posture seemed to indicate that he knew it. 

The winter prince was still frozen in place when Prince Minho and his escort’s path overlapped with his. Hyunjin was regretting not ducking into the nearest supply closet to hide, because Prince Minho looked even more beautiful up close. Warm brown hair, rosy red lips and chestnut brown eyes that narrowed upon seeing Hyunjin. Hyunjin had once known Minho well enough to know when the guarded expression he used with those he wasn’t close to fell over his features, and he could still see the moment it slipped into place as the Cerisian prince stopped in front of Hyunjin. 

Hyunjin wanted nothing more than to avoid eye contact, so he let his eyes trail from the polished boots Prince Minho wore, to the silken white trousers, to the lavender silk robe and matching overcoat gilded in gold flowers. The garment was typical of Cerisian court attire, but he must have been freezing when he arrived. Hyunjin found he did not care about whether the other prince was cold on his journey or not when they finally met eyes, and the air around them was palpably tense. 

Though equal in rank, it was customary for royals to bow to each other upon greeting as a sign of respect. Neither prince moved to bow, choosing instead to maintain prolonged eye contact. Hyunjin was the first to break, because even though he didn’t want to initiate contact, he knew he should based on the fact that he was the one hosting. 

“Prince Minho,” Hyunjin said with the slightest inclination of his head toward the other royal, nothing close to the customary bow. He couldn’t bring himself to bow before the man who had been unkind to him for years, the other prince didn’t deserve that kind of respect. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Seungmin bristle slightly at his cold tone. It was not one he used often, usually reserved for courtiers who thought their status meant others should bend to their will, and Seungmin was unaccustomed to hearing it. The last time Hyunjin had seen Prince Minho had been long before Seungmin was promoted to be his personal attendant. 

“Prince Hyunjin,” the spring prince replied, equally as frosty, his stare seeming to pierce through Hyunjin’s perfectly crafted cold persona that he adopted around the Cerisian prince, straight into his soul. He looked simultaneously menacing and bored, like he would rather be anywhere else in the four kingdoms. He probably did, Hyunjin knew that Prince Minho had accepted his invitation, but he didn’t know how much of that was the prince’s own will and how much of it was his parents’. 

Suddenly, Prince Minho’s demeanour changed, his shoulders loosened as he blinked owlishly at Hyunjin, his gaze trained on Hyunjin’s hair. 

“Is that… dust in your hair?” he asked, seeming almost amused. 

Hyunjin’s eyes widened marginally, shifting his gaze to Seungmin, who had clearly missed a dust bunny in his tidying of his prince’s hair. Seungmin shrugged apologetically but utterly unhelpfully, leaving Hyunjin to fend for himself. Hyunjin took a look at the high, vaulted ceilings, almost as if begging the gods to help him come up with an answer, and failing that, his gaze trailed to the portraits of his ancestors that were lining the hallway in ten foot increments. Neither the gods nor his ancestors appeared to be on his side, because no answer came. 

Squaring his shoulders, Hyunjin looked directly into Prince Minho’s piercing brown eyes before addressing him. “What’s it to you?” was the only thing that came out of his mouth, a childish response he would’ve expected to have given at the age of eight, not twenty two. 

Frustrated and ashamed and utterly unwilling to let Prince Minho see the flush that was beginning to creep up his neck, Hyunjin surged forward, brushing past Minho with a brisk nod to his guard, Seonghwa. A baffled Seungmin was on his tail the entire time as the abashed prince rapidly made his way back to his chambers to wallow in peace. 

Prince Minho of Cerasus arrived at Icehaven Palace in the middle of a blizzard, after eighteen days of travelling across the continent on horseback. To say he was exhausted would be an understatement. He was unaccustomed to long distance travel, only travelling between cities and towns within his own kingdom, and occasionally to Celosia. But neither Cerasus nor Celosia had weather quite this terrible. Minho had never encountered such weather before, and he now understood why the Mahonian king and queen always made the journey to his kingdom instead of asking him and his parents to visit them here. Minho was quite convinced that if he had to live here for any extended period of time, he’d want to get away whenever he could as well. 

His reception was nice enough, the queen greeted him personally in the expansive main hall of the castle, fussing over his tired appearance and snow-covered form. He was assigned a personal guard, as all of his had returned to his kingdom upon abandoning him in a kingdom he had never been to with people he hardly knew (he definitely wasn’t harbouring a lifelong grudge against each and every one of those guards and their descendants), and a personal attendant for his stay in Icehaven Palace. They both seemed nice enough, and were both around his age which would be nice for a change. Many of the guards in Minho’s palace were in their thirties or older, and while they were interesting to be around, Minho did not have the chance to spend time with many people his age.

The guard was a slim but imposing figure, seeming to tower over Minho and looking like he was taking account of every breath Minho took with his wide but piercing eyes, which was a little unnerving, honestly. He was introduced as Lieutenant Park Seonghwa, one of Prince Hyunjin’s personal guards who had been reassigned to Minho for the duration of his stay. If the lieutenant was upset about this assignment, Minho could not tell. The attendant was introduced as Yang Jeongin, who apparently knew all of the ins and outs of the castle and would be able to secure Minho whatever his heart desired, within reason. Minho was polite to his new companions, as he was raised to do, but he wondered all the while how long it would take for him to evade his new shadows and be able to roam the castle without feeling like he was being kept prisoner. 

In the meantime, Minho would have to make do with the situation he was in, so he politely excused himself from the queen, though she was very insistent that he wait just a few moments longer in case her son decided to show up, but it had been abundantly clear to Minho as soon as he stepped in the castle and was greeted only by the queen and a handful of staff members that Prince Hyunjin was not going to grace them with his presence any time soon. 

After Minho insisted on making his leave, Jeongin led him to the chambers where he would be staying for the month he had to live there as Seonghwa carried the small sack of Minho’s belongings he had brought from home. The chambers were well-decorated and nearly as big as his chambers back home, he could tell it was one of the ones meant for important guests. 

The main room had a small sitting area to the right of the door, in front of a fireplace, which Jeongin had rushed in to light as soon as they arrived. The bed against the left wall was massive, much bigger than the one Minho had at home, because he hated feeling small in such a large bed. It was dressed in indigo silk sheets, with a gold brocade on the comforter and pillows. Minho smiled, recognizing the set as a gift from his parents to the Mahonian king and queen many years ago. Minho’s kingdom was the primary exporter of silk across the continent, so it was a safe bet that most if not all of the silk in the castle had been produced in his kingdom. 

Though the bedding was familiar to him, the room also had more animal hides and pelts than Minho had ever seen gathered in one place before. He supposed it was only logical, as they would need to keep warm somehow in the frigid winter kingdom, but Minho shuddered nonetheless at the sight of a particularly realistic white pelt laying across the back of one of the chairs that must have belonged to an arctic fox at some point. 

Probably interpreting his disquieted shudder as a shiver of cold, Jeongin appeared at Minho’s side, wiping the soot from his hands on a white handkerchief with the blue and gold kingdom crest embroidered on it. 

“Would you like me to draw you a bath, Your Highness?” the attendant asked, reaching to help Minho out of the heavy winter cloak he had purchased specifically for this journey. Minho obliged, letting the sharp-eyed man take the cloak off of his shoulders.

“That would be nice, thank you, Jeongin. And you may call me Minho, I do not require honourifics when we are away from the public eye. The same goes for you,” he said, turning to address Seonghwa, who was in the process of placing Minho’s bag in the armoire that was to the left of the door, parallel to the bed. The lieutenant paused, his brows furrowed and wide eyes full of confusion as he pointed to himself as if to say “Me?” 

Minho let out a laugh at seeing the man’s previously intimidating face shift into such an innocent-looking one. “Yes, you. I estimate we are all about the same age, and I don’t have the luxury of being surrounded by people my age when I am at home. So please, refer to me comfortably.” 

As Seonghwa stood there, still dumbfounded, Jeongin piped up brightly “Alright! Minho it is! How would you like your bath?” 

“So scalding my skin turns concerningly red and I have a reason to miss dinner,” Minho replied with a deadpan look on his face. Minho had come to accept that his humour was doomed to be criminally underappreciated, but to his surprise, Jeongin’s face broke out in a gleeful dimpled smile as he scurried off in the direction of the bathing room that lay beyond the bedroom. 

“You got it, boss!” the young attendant exclaimed, sounding slightly too excited about the prospect of drawing Minho the hottest bath he’d ever been in. A surprised laugh bubbled out of Minho’s chest. He could learn to like it here. 

A long bath that left him smelling so floral it reminded him of home and a short nap later, Minho decided to dress himself and wander the castle a bit before dinner. Jeongin had disappeared from his room before his nap, after unpacking Minho’s bag and steaming all of his clothes free of wrinkles and hanging them up in the armoire, a task he did not have to do but did nonetheless. Minho had a feeling the attendant would insist on doing many more things for him over the course of his stay, even though Minho was used to pretty much being left alone at home. Minho wasn’t sure if all personal attendants were this dedicated, as he had not had one since he had nannies as a child, or if Jeongin was just a special brand of enthusiastic. 

Nonetheless, Minho was able to leave his room with one less shadow than he had entered it with, only Seonghwa, who had been posted outside of his door, following him now as he wandered aimlessly throughout the cavernous halls of the castle. 

The layout was considerably different from Minho’s home, with tall sandstone walls and arched doorways and ceilings, instead of the bamboo walls and ornately painted tiered ceilings Minho was accustomed to. He had expected to be cold in the castle walking around in his Cerisian attire, since the place was made almost entirely of stone, but he actually felt strangely warm. Not uncomfortably so, but enough to make Minho question exactly how the castle was being heated, as the small torches mounted on the walls appeared to be more for lighting than heating. 

Now that he thought about it, Minho remembered feeling warmer as soon as he set foot within the palace boundaries. Granted, it had still been cold, because there was still snow everywhere and Minho apparently had delicate Cerisian sensibilities, but to the best of his memory, he had started to warm up as soon as he entered the palace’s outer boundaries, not its walls. 

Minho’s thoughts were broken as he became aware of two things at once. First, Seonghwa’s presence only a couple of paces behind him, much closer than the trailing distance he’d been maintaining up until now. It appeared Seonghwa had been trying to get his attention, which he would have succeeded in doing, had something, or rather someone, not immediately grabbed Minho’s attention as soon as he spotted them. Second, walking closer to him and looking in any direction other than Minho, which let the older know immediately that he was being avoided, was none other than the Ice Prince, Hwang Hyunjin. 

Given that the other prince had not received him despite personally inviting him, Minho had an inkling that Hyunjin had been actively trying to avoid him, and would likely scurry away immediately upon making contact, as he had often done when they were children. Which was why Minho, despite having initially paused upon spotting Hyunjin, continued his leisurely stroll down the hallway, making sure to keep his eyes on Hyunjin the entire time, so that if the other prince looked in his direction he would be forced to make eye contact. 

When they inevitably did make eye contact, Minho stopped where he stood and schooled his expression into the bored one he used when the ladies who worked at the soup kitchen would try to set him up with their sons and daughters, even though he was secretly delighted at the fact that this eye contact appeared to be making Prince Hyunjin squirm. 

Certain that the Ice Prince would run away at any moment, Minho made no move to bow. He did not want to embarrass himself in front of his new guard or the attendant by Hyunjin’s side when he was left in a perfectly polite ninety degree bow in the direction of the space the younger prince had occupied before fleeing. 

“Prince Minho,” Hyunjin spoke first, startling Minho so much that his careful mask almost slipped. He had not expected the Mahonian prince to speak to him at all, though the level of frostiness in his tone was not surprising in the slightest. 

“Prince Hyunjin,” Minho returned, fighting to match the cold tone with his own that he was quite unaccustomed to using. Hyunjin had changed drastically since the last time Minho had seen him. 

He had frustratingly grown to be what looked to be a couple of inches taller than Minho, but luckily they were not standing close enough that Minho had to look up to him. He was sure he’d die if that happened. His face had lost nearly all of its dumpling-like softness that Minho had once fussed over for hours when they were children, and was now angular in a very flattering way, making him look all the more like the Ice Prince he was said to be. His hair was also much longer than Minho had ever seen it, long enough to be kept in a short ponytail, with only a few wisps falling out, and… “Is that… dust in your hair?” The question slipped out before Minho could stop it, but he found himself unable to regret it once he saw the look of panic flash across Hyunjin’s face. It made him look more real, much more like the Hyunjin he once knew. 

“What’s it to you?” the younger prince blurted, before his eyes widened and he darted past Minho, who could only sigh as he watched him leave. Definitely like the Hyunjin he once knew. 

After the mess he had made of himself in the hallway, Hyunjin did not want to attend dinner, begging Seungmin to say he had a stomachache and would be retiring early. It wasn’t a complete lie, as Hyunjin’s stomach felt as uneasy as it had used to feel on the boat rides they used to take to Cerasus when he was a child. But Seungmin refused to lie for him, and said that he would not bring him food later on if he skipped dinner, knowing quite well that Hyunjin had not eaten all afternoon and was likely starving. 

Seungmin’s persuasion unfortunately worked, so Hyunjin found himself seated across from Minho at the long but mostly empty dinner table, his mother having given up her usual spot next to the king so that the two could sit opposite each other. She seemed quite fond of Minho, asking him many questions about his travels and his life back in Cerasus, but Hyunjin tuned most of it out, focusing only on his dinner. He tried not to eat too much, but he was really starving and ended up being the last one to finish eating, well after everyone else had finished. 

After Minho excused himself abruptly but politely and retired to his chambers with Jeongin and Seonghwa on his heels, Hyunjin’s mother shifted back into her usual chair so she could glare at her son properly. 

“What was that?” she questioned, taking a sip of her plum wine as she stared daggers at her son over the rim of her goblet. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Hyunjin mumbled around a large bite of persimmon tart. 

“Manners, Hwang Hyunjin,” his mother snapped, like he was five years old again. Heat rose to Hyunjin’s face as he forced himself to swallow the pastry with a sip of plum wine to wash it down. The sweetness of the wine cancelled out the sweetness of the dessert, leaving his mouth with a bitter taste in it, but Hyunjin couldn’t bring himself to eat or drink anything more now that his parents seemed set on interrogating him. 

“Why do you insist on giving our guest, your guest, the cold shoulder?” his mother questioned. Hyunjin looked to his father for help, but the king seemed very interested in the contents of his wine goblet, swirling it counterclockwise and decidedly avoiding inserting himself in the conversation. 

“He’s mean to me,” Hyunjin grumbled, hating how much he sounded like a petulant child. 

“Have you even spoken to him since he arrived?” the queen retorted. 

“Well-” Hyunjin started, before deciding that the interaction in the hallway did not count as a conversation. “No, but-”

“But what, Hwang Hyunjin?” his mother sighed. Hyunjin remained quiet, because he did not have a way to end that sentence that would not result in his mother scolding him more. He could tell she was starting to get frustrated with him as her nails were tapping rhythmically against the cherry wood table. 

The king chimed in now, placing his hand placatingly on top of his wife’s to stop the tapping. “All we ask is that you try to speak with him, Hyunjin. Perhaps he’s changed since the last time you saw him. Think about how out of his element he must feel here. It needs to be you who reaches out.” Hyunjin knew his father was right, but he hated it. He would rather walk through a blizzard in nothing but his undergarments than be the one to break the years-long tension between him and Prince Minho, but he had made a promise to his parents, after all, and he couldn’t let them down. 

Masterlist.

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[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Thursday 26 November 2020

This burst of yellow flowers from Mahonia × media 'Winter Sun' was visible from a distance tempting visitors into the Winter Garden of Cambridge Botanic Garden, UK. This evergreen shrub is an interspecific hybrid of Mahonia lomariifolia and Mahonia japonica and has more compact growth than other plants resulting from this cross such as Mahonia × media 'Charity'.

Jill Raggett