#my works: tolerable topiary

[orxna]

"I will do my best." And she means it, even as she shudders at the statue that she knows is not a statue. Her grip on Celly's lead so tight her fingers whiten from the tension.

Orana keeps her eyes upon Solas' back, the breadth of his shoulders beneath his mantle. Terrified that if she looks she will see faces she has grown to recognize. Some who have been kind to her, some who have fully believed in the propaganda the archon has carefully crafted around her. She is a hero here, not just to those who are not aware that she has been taken against her will. Even some who do know simply believe that she is safest beneath the careful eye of the Tevinter Empire.

Still, it is tiring and Solas' stride even slowed for the sake of stealth is so much greater than her own. It wasn't this hard when she was working with the Inquisition, she wasn't at the level of their warriors and scouts but she could keep up well enough. Now she feels as if her lungs will burst as she struggles to not be left behind. The pain in her feet is old enough that she can numb herself to it but the way air burns her throat is uncomfortably novel.

When Solas' hand wraps around her wrist Orana nearly stumbles, leaning into the bulk of the man's side to steady herself. Her stuttering breaths come in inconsistent wheezes, half exhaustion and half panic. Celly keeps pace beside her, a low whine in the back of her throat as the interloper forces her mistress forward in spite of her clear distress.

Orana notices it, and through gulping gasps commands, "Steady." And her hound does just that planting herself closer to her mistress on the side opposite of Solas, elder and canine bracketing the herald to keep her from falling. Pushed between the two Orana does her best to stabilize her gait, flagging as it may be, if another push is what's required of her she will keep moving.

She tolerates the burning in her chest and the ache of her feet, physical pain will wax and wane, she tells herself. "I-If you take the servants path--" Out of breath she can't quite finish her sentence but she nods towards the little gap between lovely topiaries that decorate the outside of the mighty fence of the Archon's personal villa.

Inside lies a small desire path laid by hundreds of weary feet wishing to spare themselves just a bit more of a walk baring whatever goods they were sent to retrieve. She knows the guards are barely aware of it, viewing it with no more suspicion than a deer path--A convenient shortcut taken by animals, not their betters.

It will spit them out somewhere in the vicinity of the city markets, Orana has only been a few times and never taken down this path. Instead, she had asked after it from an elven servant after spotting it while leaving the estate accompanied by her full honor guard and a handful of handmaids. Perhaps Solas already knows of it, however Orana does not want to be useless, a doll dragged from one toy castle to another.

Solas nodded. Kirkwall it was, then. It was a bit risky, given how close Varric had come to finding him this past decade. Solas could at least take her as far as Hightown, though he may need some direction. He'd visited but once after his deal with the Carta for the red lyrium idol fell through, and then he'd been mostly confined to the Gallows. He remembered enough of Varric's stories to know that Lowtown Kirkwall was no safe haven, however, regardless of who was viscount.

While Orana gathered what little she had, he stepped back out into the hallway to listen for any approaching guards. As of yet, only the stone effigy of the guard he'd petrified remained. 

"Come then," he said. "And stay close. I can mask our escape, but do not stray behind." He called a cloak of darkness and shadow around them. Their forms flickered into near translucence, a trick Cole had employed many times in the past, and useful for slipping out of enemy lines. He quickened his pace down the corridor, keeping an eye on her and the dog to make sure they stayed close. 

They passed the ashes of the guards who had gotten in his way. He barely gave them a thought, so focused on retreading his path back to the courtyard and concentrating to keep her shielded. At the entrance to the villa proper, he paused and sent a silent command to the spirits still fighting - only moments longer, and then flee. They would cover Solas' shadowed departure through the Archon's own front door. He looked down at Orana then, and said softly, "Do not let your gaze linger, da'len. Simply move with me."

Valor and Justice had waged a bloody battle. None of the foes they had struck were left alive, and beneath the carnage the faces of the guards were twisted in fear and confusion. Yet still more guards and a dozen more elite mage units poured in from the barracks. They hadn't much time.

"Stay with me," he ordered, and focused fully on the gate separating them from relative freedom. There would still be archers and magic from the ramparts, but once through the gate they would have a better chance of proceeding as a cloaked three rather than flanked by avenging spirits.

With a flash of purple from his eyes, he wrent the iron into a twisted opening large enough for them to pass through. He glanced down at her, noticing that even with this short burst of energy, she seemed drawn. She'd been kept in a gilded cage, after all. No master wanted their slaves robust and healthy. He took her by the wrist with a firm grip and propelled them through the gate. He could apologize later if it was necessary. Right now, they needed to move.

The din of battle behind them snuffed out almost immediately as Valor and Justice disappeared. He could not tell if they'd been bound or slipped unharmed back into the Fade. He hoped it was the latter, but he couldn't check now. The sounds of fighting were replaced with more alarms and the cries of the survivors running to the battlements and into the villa. With luck, the Archon's honor guard would remain split long enough for Solas to get them into the city proper and disguised enough for their journey. 

Though of course, they wouldn't walk to Kirkwall. They'd go through the Crossroads. The eluvians were now all his, even that which lay apparently dormant in a hovel in Kirkwall's alienage.

[darkofthemoonfic]

A Tolerable Topiary

Rated T | 4497 words, Oneshot | No major archive warnings apply

When Hermione Granger is tasked with planning a charity event, she approaches the task with the care and dedication she gives all things. When the event in question involves quidditch, she is less prepared than usual. Add in a certain co-event planner and it’s a recipe for animosity.

Read on AO3

Sneak peek below!

It had to be a mistake.

A gala for visiting diplomats she understood. Hosting the President of MACUSA or the Australian minister was easy enough, and the majority of the work Hermione could split with the assistant, secretary, or whatever other title was bestowed upon her foreign counterpart’s staff.

“You’d like me to plan a gala for quidditch players?” She asked, hoping that she’d misheard. Though no other word in English, French, or the small bit of Mermish she knew sounded anything like the dreaded sport.

“Not entirely,” Kingsley replied. He sipped from a glass mug full of steaming jasmine green tea. The smell was soothing, though the conversation set her stress levels to high. “This event will hold two functions. The first, of course, to offer a bit of merriment.”

“Yes, of course.” Hermione agreed. It was an election year, after all, and nothing encouraged voters like morale.

“The second, we want to bring attention and funds to a new program for players with disabilities.”

“That sounds lovely. I wasn’t aware of such a program.” It would have gone through her desk, surely.

“It’s in its infancy — only became known to me in the last month. They’re calling it Yearn to Fly. This is a chance to get some of our wealthier donors in the same room as famous players and encourage them to open a few pockets. Perhaps get volunteers for a match in the spring,” Kingsley said.

“I can talk with Millicent about reserving the Ministry Ballroom that weekend. And I believe we still have a contact who can help book the Weird Sisters,” Hermione replied, scratching down notes quickly. She’d need to send a dozen memos when she got back to her desk.

“I’d like to do something unexpected and perhaps more grand. Different from our usual. The organization’s founder was adamant it be unique.”

Hermione’s stomach dropped. She always relied on the events staff at the Ministry to help her with these things. Millicent was always planning parties and knew all the best vendors. It took a lot off of her own to-do list.

Kingsley continued. “The Tutshill Tornados have offered the use of their pitch, and because it’s the off-season, the owner of the team has assured me that some of their staff will be made available to assist you with the preparations.”

It was a relief to know there would be someone there to help her. Planning a party was one thing, but planning a quidditch party, on quidditch turf, was another. She’d need someone who knew the lay of the land.

“Excellent. Shall I make a trip there next week?”

Kingsley pulled a billiards ball from his desk — number 7 — and handed it to her. “You’ll meet with them in twenty minutes to discuss and divide the work.”

Zero time to prepare, how wonderful. She took the portkey and returned to her desk, getting a head start on the things she could handle internally, like the catering and formal invitations. Then she slipped into the lavatory to check her appearance. Curls tamed and framing her face, blush a little faded but a quick retouch fixed that, and she’d already removed the coffee stain from her jumper that morning. With her wool coat on and a scarf around her neck, she was as ready as she could be.

[jtargaryen18]

His Inheritance ~ Ch 2 Preview

Coming 6/2

The car slowed as it drove up the ornate curved drive of a huge brick mansion, lit up by several lights quickly being covered by the snow. It was the centerpiece of a sprawling manicured landscape dotted with trees, flower beds, and topiaries enshrouded by shadows.

Dyson brought the car to a halt, grinning at you over his shoulder as he parked.

“What do you think?”

“Does it matter?” you bit back.

Dyson turned back to shut off the engine, his exhale a huff of frustration.

“It does,” he said carefully. “This is your home now.”

You sullenly stared out the window you were huddled against. “No, it’s not.”

“Listen,” Dyson turned and paused until you met his gaze. “You’re a good girl. You’re a smart girl. And a smart girl would be looking at the big picture right now. Your father, God rest his soul, is gone now. You’ve got no one else.”

“I should have my father’s estate and my freedom,” you said bitterly.

“And you’ll get that,” he explained. “Once you’re married to Steve.”

“Liar.”

Dyson quirked a salt and pepper brow at you.

“I’m not going to be free.” The tears were coming. “I’m never going to be free. I’m going to be here, a bird in her cage.”

“Don’t be like that,” Dyson’s tone softened. “Steve’s not the villain I think you made him in your head. He’s a good man.”

“He’s a good crime boss.”

“He’s that too.” Dyson didn’t take the bait. “All you have to do is make him happy. That’s all. That doesn’t sound so bad, right? Be his little wife, have a couple of kids. You’ll never want for anything. You won’t have to work a job. You’ll be safe.”

You snorted. “Until he gets arrested. Or killed. Then what happens to me?”

Dyson tapped a finger to his temple. “See? Smart. Once you know Steve better, you’ll realize that nothing’s going to happen to him. No one is going to get to him.”

That’s what every man of power thinks.

“And you might as well know now that Steve… is a man with strong appetites,” Dyson said diplomatically. “He’ll have other women on the side and that will take some pressure off you, right? You just turn a blind eye, work on your hobbies, raise the kids. It will all work out. You’ll see.”

You could tell the older man was fighting not to laugh at what must have been an incredulous look on your face.

“You do know it’s 2021, right?” you finally managed to ask. “It’s not the 50s or 60s. Jesus…”

On top of being forced to marry a man who terrified you because you apparently had no other options, you would have to tolerate mistresses?

“Maybe not, but it’s the way things are,” he continued. “In time, you’ll come to appreciate it.”

“Or get an STD,” you shot back in a shaking voice, tears just starting to spill from your eyes.

A flash of panic crossed Dyson’s face. One thing you’d learned early on. The man would literally do anything to appease you once you started to cry.

“Princess, this is going to happen regardless of what you think you want,” Dyson explained slowly. “You can make it a good experience and just count your blessings. You have a lot to gain in being Steve’s wife you know. He needs you. This marriage will solidify his position. It’s a win-win.”

Well, didn’t you feel valuable?

“If you get on his bad side?” Dyson continued meaningfully, “You could end up so miserable this will seem like a happy memory. What’s it going to be?”

A light flashed on in the corner of your eye and you saw the front door was open now, Steve silhouetted in the doorway of the mansion that was to become your prison.

Your mind spun as you took a deep calming breath.

“He’s waiting,” Dyson said before opening the door and climbing out of the driver’s seat.

Your eyes scanned the grounds around the massive home. It was snowing heavily now, and you could only see lights from other homes far in the distance. And it was cold. The glass of the window at your shoulder was frosted around the edges.

When Steve descended the stairs, your sped heart up. In fear? In trepidation? A beat later, your door opened, and Steve held out a hand to you to help you out of the backseat.

Why did it feel like if you took his hand your fate was sealed?

[lavendersies]

Willuz prompts:

- Willow and her bumblebee Palisman grow an extravagant topiary of her and Luz, adorned with beautiful bouquets of flowers (as well as make delicious honey) for Luz to thank her for everything.

- Kind of a recap of Season 1's Luz and Willow adventures, but with the notable highlight that Willow gives Luz an appropriate flower bouquet as thanks of helping her out (can be combined with previous prompt if preferable)

- Amity and Hunter argue which of the two Luz loves the most, only to find Luz on a date/making out with Willow in a secluded, forested area, maybe with blossoming flowers (this is a non-serious fic as an allegory to the whole shipping war at the moment, but could come off as a bit mean :P)

- Luz practices with her Glyphs once more to make nice flowers and topiaries for Willow.

- Willow has a crush on Luz and can't help but feel a little jealous when she and Amity get close instead. Willow is too shy to confess her feelings for Luz, fearing rejection, and doesn't want to be in hot water with Amity again after they're finally getting along since their breach years ago. Willow wants to be happy for them, but Gus notices her depression.

- Boscha has thrashed Willow's beautiful plant garden, a passion project that's been taken years, and Willow is despaired by this, too depressed to continue and rebuild. Luz decides to fix the garden and improve it.

@Arendalphaeagle gave theses wonderful prompts so I have went with fourth one. The request was suppose to be uploaded on A03 but it didn't work out so until further notice all Willuz requests will be uploaded here. Feel free to drop ya'll request in my ask box. Enjoy.

A flower for Willow

Luz tapped the symbol emitting a green light and a single flower merge. She looks over at her spell book that specializes in plant magic for something new. She had committed her time to mastering a new glyph, hoping it would create the perfect gift for Willow. Luz didn't care if she spent the whole night out here and woke up with tired eyes caked with crust. Starting earlier this week would have been the wise thing to do but studying for her witch classes ate up the time. In a sluggish motion the sun disappeared behind the trees, allowing the moon to provide a dim light and usher in darkness. Luz casted a luminous orb as she read the instruction on how to evoke multiple flowers. She read the guide once more then traced the symbol on paper and activated it. A patch of lavender and lilac flowers bloom before her, this was just what she needed. Luz would allow her artistic skills to do the rest, she took her book and went inside. 

She found Eda knocked out on the couch with an empty cup of apple blood dangling from her hand. A smile spread on her lips seeing the grey-haired witch in her apple blood coma. King was probably upstairs waiting for Luz's return so they could continue watching an anime series that she had downloaded on her phone. Upon entering the room Luz sees King scowling one of his stuffed animals.

When he noticed her presence. He stopped chiding the pink rabbit, "Oh hey Luz, are you ready to watch soul eater with me?" He asked, sitting on the sleeping mat.

"Not tonight love," She replied.

"Why not?!" King whined.

Luz faced the opposite direction and stripped from her outwear into pj's. She put them near the mat and got out her sketch pad.

"I have to finish a gift for Willow," she said, sitting down to begin sketching her friend's face.

"You can finish it tomorrow, I've been watching all week for us to watch soul eater!" 

"Sorry King, I promise we will watch it together tomorrow" she assured.

The furry demon grumbled under his breath and joined her on the mat. "What are you drawing anyways?" He asked, peeking over her shoulder.

"A picture of Willow" she responded.

"What's the occasion?"

"None, I just want to do something nice for my friend," she said.

"Do you have anything else in mind?"

Luz had finished Willow's eyes and moved on to her nose, "Tomorrow I'm 

going to create a plant statue with this picture".

"I want a plant statue of me!" King cried. 

Luz chuckled.

"And you've been doing a lot for Willow lately, last week you went out of your way to get her that plant baby".

Luz's heart raced, she already knew the next words coming, "She sounds more than a friend" King commented. 

"Friends do things for each other all the time" Luz struggled to tolerate her frisky heart, hoping the tone of her voice wasn't a dead give away.

"Eh, if you say so."

The room fell in silence and Luz worked diligently on Willow's portrait. The plant witch dominates her thoughts, now her heart flutters thinking of those olive green eyes behind the thin-rimmed glasses. The way her ear twitched at sudden noises. Willow had been nothing but a sweet-heart since day, she deserved the world and Luz was willing to give her it. Although these feelings bloomed, she didn't know if it was mutual on Willow's end, and she would keep them buried away. When Luz finally looked up from her sketch-pad King was fast asleep at the edge of her mat. She set aside the finished product and got some rest.

Later that night, Luz had woken up to relieve her heavy bladder, she carefully stepped over a sleeping King and visited the bathroom. After washing her hands, she found herself outside.

 The moon's bright orbs brighten her path as she walks through the woods. Luz was a moth drawn to light, she felt compelled to keep moving. The orbs glowed rapidly like glistening gems, Luz could hear the vibration. She was led into the opening and a massive bush that resembled Willow's head came in view. 

Woah...

"Thank you Luz!" It says

"Huh?"

Its large yellow luminous remind her of fireflies, she had accidentally swallowed one when she was seven.

"Thank you" it repeated.

"What for?" Luz asked.

She didn't get a response to her question,7 the bush thanked Luz on an endless loop. Suddenly, gravity reeled her forward and its mouth opened wide, swallowing her. 

Luz was expecting to be engulfed in darkness, her eyes were squeezed shut. She felt warmth and a chubby body press against hers, opening her eyes. Luz realized it was Willow. She embraced the plant witch hug and gently ran her hand along Willow's turquoise hair. 

"Luz!" 

Everything faded. Luz woke up in her makeshift room with an annoyed little demon held prisoner in her arms. "Luz let go!" He whines struggling to break free.

"Sorry.." she said sheepishly.

Luz released him and King scurried off on all fours. She took care of her personal hygiene then returned to the room for her uniform. When Luz went downstairs, Eda was waiting at the door with her staff. She wore her pajamas. "Can we take the tub?” 

“No, its for emergencies only”

“Please” Luz said, giving the grey haired woman pitiful eyes.

“I’m immune to those” Eda stated dismissively.

“But you can’t be the coolest witch without it,” 

“Keep it up and you’ll be walking to school” Eda said heading out the door. 

--

The schoolyard was still empty when Luz hopped off the staff. She watched Eda fly away, disappearing over the autumn colored trees. Luz took out her plant magic textbook and turned to the page about manipulation. After she got a good understanding, she pulled out the portrait of Willow and drew two symbols on them. Luz crossed her fingers and tapped the paper, a stem sprouted forth and the leaves took on the form of Willow's face. Two Lilac flowers blossomed on both sides, the topiary was the size of a miniature house plant. She had expected bigger  but before Luz could sulk her crush arrived. 

"Willow!" She quickly hid the plant behind her back.

"Hey" Willow smiled. 

Luz felt butterflies tickling her stomach, she forced a skittish smile and revealed the topiary. Willow eyes widened with astonishment, she took the plant from Luz's hands.

"Aww thanks" Willow shifted the plant in her other arm and gave her a hug. Luz no longer had butterflies pestering her insides. The euphoria buttered her up, if Luz hadn't stopped herself she would have kissed Willow. For a brief moment, the turquoise haired witch stared at her. Luz was about to look away but Willow touched her cheek and gently kissed her lips. She led Luz by the hand towards the school building. 

[auntarctica]

When it comes to your inspiration for Reboot and Original DMC, what calls to you to help build the world, scenarios and characterizations of Dante and Vergil? And do you intend to write more of both?

Interesting. Thank you so much for dropping me a note! Easy question first: yes, absolutely; I am writing more of both DmC Reboot and DMC classic. I’m primarily an original writer, but this is my one actual fandom, and my one true pairing. I’m definitely an institutionalized lifer in that respect; got in early and I’m never getting out. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Here’s what I’m working on: Reboot-wise, I have the next chapter of Do Not Speak Against the Sun well underway, and there will be at least one more chapter after that, if not three(?). (Haven’t decided whether to save those ideas for a different fic or use them here – I know every writer in the world can relate.)

Classic-wise, I have underway:

- an interstitial, Dante-centric flashback-heavy fic that loosely spans the period post-4 up to V’s appearance in 5 in vignettes, with occasional forays into nostalgia and his past with Vergil, which is called Donec Gratis Eram Tibi (In the Days When I Was Dear to You).

- Confraternity, the post-5 fic that will follow that one.

Both of those are continuations of the Opera Omnia.

(Now I feel weird because whenever someone asks what I’m working on I always want to know what they’re working on but since you are a wild anon I cannot do the requisite social dance and it consternates me…) As for inspirations, like regrets, I have a few. I’m sure that a great deal of my Weltanschuuang is informed by my past as an opera singer (before I quit to write full time), and being a dual citizen of the US and the EU, straddling the Old and New worlds – which is part of why the backdrops of both Classic and Reboot are equally appealing to me.

History, philosophy, psychology, classical mythology, art and human nature are all sort of baked into DMC, no matter the iteration, and I think that those of us who are drawn to it tend to already have those interests; a pre-existing passion for those subjects. In seeking to augment those worlds, it’s only natural to draw on what’s already in the narrative and flower outward from there. The way my mind strains it, DMC Classic is ultimately a classical/gothic fantasy with nods to modernity, and DmC Reboot is ultimately a modern fantasy with nods to gothic classicalism, so that tends to really inform some of the choices, both maximal and subtle, that I make when I go to write in one or the other. For instance, if I had chosen to name a DMC Classic fic Do Not Speak Against the Sun, I would have named it in the original Latin. But Reboot is not as neoclassically or gothically weighted as Classic, (even if we can absolutely assume Vergil’s Ivy League classical education) which is why I feel the translated phrase works better. I really tend to like resonance – self-referentialism, themes that call back to themselves, or reappear like leitmotifs, gaining greater significance as they go, and foremost, this idea that everything in existence is interleaved and cantilevered and nothing is irrelevant. Although Reboot and Classic each have very different approaches, and thematic aspects the other lacks, there are also a lot of themes that they share – and it’s fun to play within both those congruencies and the discrepancies.

One thing I really like is the idea of toying with resonances between the universes - things that might surface in the narrative in both worlds, but in completely different contexts.

For instance, there were a few places in Do Not Speak Against the Sun where I saw a chance to incorporate a turn of phrase or piece of dialogue from my longstanding DMC classic fics - one example would be in Consanguinity where Vergil surveys the overgrown courtyard of the manor and remarks in the narrative that “the topiary [is] growing unchecked”. Reboot Vergil actually says this sentence out loud, but the context is (cough cough) rather different.

So I peppered in quite a few things like that.

I think of them as cryptic little love notes to repeat readers – the ones who maybe know your words even better than you do. It’s a really gratifying interaction when someone picks up on one of the little callbacks, or remarks on the architecture – writing is largely a solitary pursuit by nature, so those interludes of mutuality are all the more valuable.

I ended up doing it with some lines from the games, as well – subverting the infamous “how about a kiss from your little brother” - which also, intriguingly, necessarily changes the speaker of that line, purely because Reboot changed the canon.

Things like that, I think, add to the general idea that both sets of Dantes and Vergils can coexist in the greater Zeitgeist, in parallel, never even knowing when their universes graze up against each other in those odd little moments - and that’s a parity I like, these resonant and recognizable moments - the familiar subverted. It is both new and old, recognizable and surreal.

(Though that’s a fic I’d like to write too, some day - after all, the Yamato is already capable of opening interdimensional portals; canonically it’s not much of a stretch for any of them to wind up in the others’ world - and I’m sure that crossover has been done many, many, many times, but hey, the world can tolerate one more stab at the ol’ canon… ;) ) I think it’s rather to the credit of the developers of Reboot that while they changed the canon significantly, the characters are still recognizable – as they should be, in any good fanfic AU (which, let’s be fair, is basically what Reboot is). While different circumstances have emphasized different aspects of their personalities – and their resultant relationship dynamic and evolution - the core values and motivations of the characters remain intact. In DMC 5, Vergil posits a rhetorical question, addressed to Dante, as he sits beneath the Qliphoth awaiting him – I’m probably badly paraphrasing here, but essentially he says, “If things were reversed that day, would I have your life, and you mine?” It’s an interesting moment, because it seems like an almost wistful musing from him—and yet an uncharacteristically simplistic one. Vergil seems like a guy who believes in multifactorial influences, and not apt to think it could be as simple as “Dante got all the breaks”, so we can surmise that perhaps he summarily mentally answered his own question with a wry, chagrined, “no”. He cannot ultimately let himself believe he is a pawn of fate, and that he had no hand or control in his own destiny—that would be contrary to his entire worldview and self-concept.

And while it would be a convenient and face-saving philosophy to blame fate, or Dante, and he allows himself to entertain the thought, briefly, I believe he rejects it.

What I find interesting is that Reboot actually sort of also answers that question, by having Dante be the one who was disenfranchised and Vergil the one who had all the breaks, and we see that lives are shaped by more than mere circumstances, and that Vergil’s core personality, the parts that remain consistent across universes – curiosity, impulsivity, innovation, creativity, ambition, individualism, idealism – will always lead him through a more dramatic arc than Dante, and subsequently a more resplendent redemption.

There’s a famous Teddy Roosevelt quote that suits what I see as Vergil’s general philosophy, in either universe:

“The credit belongs to those who are actually in the arena, who strive valiantly; who know the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spend themselves in a worthy cause; who at best know the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if they fail, fail while daring greatly, so that their place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” And I think that intuitive consistency across universes is what I rely on most heavily when I go to write either one - the rest is all set-dressing; superficial, and circumstantial. Even if Vergil’s personality is different, or expressed differently, his character is consistent; his theory of mind, his worldview. Same goes for Dante. All that said, I’m not sure I actually addressed what you asked, so if there are more specific questions or things you wanted to know that I completely elided, please feel free to shoot a follow-up. I am at your disposal!

[the-hopeless-existentialist]

Different Types of Herb Garden Designs

Formal Herb Gardens The plant garden designed and grown properly is possibly the pinnacle of herb gardening! The best examples of these types of gardens are often located around the grounds of stately homes and mansions. They were initially designed to be looked down upon from the top terraces or flooring of these grand houses. The key features of these gardens are meticulous and time consuming hedges and proprietaries layered in designs reflecting the beauty of the geometric world. From the hands on a genuine backyard artist, wheels, perfect circles and all manner of shapes are modeled and crafted to make breathtaking pieces of living art.

Formal herb gardens must consist of finely cut borders and hedges, well defined lines, low walls, and should always include a center piece like a statue, sundial or fountains to make a strong focal point.

Rock Gardens Since they grow well in confined spaces and are more tolerant of varying water levels in their land, many herbs are perfect candidates for a Rock Garden. This sort of garden requires extra work however in the subject of pruning and control of your herb plants growth, because of the fact that a number of the more vigorous herbs out there can attempt to take over your backyard! You should attempt to find stones for your rockery that appear natural and take note of how they pile and put together in their original environment. The ideal rockery's look as if they are naturally there and you've built your home around it!

Cottage Gardens The idea for a Cottage herb garden appears to be a huge mess but really it's a carefully thought out, planned connection of a combination of herbs, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials in a beautiful blend of colors and textures that looks great throughout the year.

Topiary Topiaries are the "artist's herb garden". Creating topiary demands patience, hard work and almost constant pruning and shaping of your herb plants to make such shapes as pyramids, arches, balls and columns. In some wonderfully gifted gardener's instances, even creatures and buildings appear at the hands of those talented craftsmen.

There are two chief ways to make these structures. Train the plant from a young age by pruning and staking or produce the framework of your favorite design from metal or cable and grow the plant within the construction, pruning it into its new shape with time. Some great herbs to use for these kinds of gardens are ivy, honeysuckle, mint, bay laurel, cypress, buxus and lavender to name but a few. The secret to achieving a fantastic topiary is regular pruning. It can be all but impossible to return an overgrown topiary back to its original type.

Hedges The notion of hedge herb gardens actually deserves its own article on account of the many diverse forms they can take. The important ideals of a hedge herb garden however are to maintain them nicely pruned and manicured, grow the hedge to have a slight taper from top to bottom to permit decent light through the base of the hedge and be certain that the distance between hedging plants is less than half the planned height of the hedge. Additionally it is wise to keep a few additional potted plants, growing plants of the same type as your own hedge to permit for replanting of dead regions of your hedge.

Perennial Border A perennial border is normally made out of herbs like mint, lemon balm, Bertram, fennel, angelica and other such as ginseng. It's a terrific concept because in the warmer months once the blossoms are in full flight, they disperse and fill their garden bed with color and fragrance. Then when the warmer months set in, they die back to their root systems leaving a bare strip that produces a more spacious look.

Xeriscape gardens Xeriscape gardens are fantastic for those anglers confronting the tragic burden of water restrictions! A periscope is understood to be a specially designed garden containing plants with similar water conditions. Many herbs fall into the category of a minimal water, drought resistant xeriscape and many culinary herbs may actually be successfully grown in regions only getting a paltry 1cm of water per week!

You may identify herbs that will succeed in such states by their leaves and also roots. Those herbs with little silvery colored leaves, long tap root systems and also herbs originating from the hot dry areas of the Mediterranean will thrive in a xeriscape garden. These gardens are best watered infrequently, but deeply, to promote deep root growth. A great suggestion is not to water these plants when they seem strong and vigorous. If they don't appear to recover when the heat of the day has gone, then it's time to give them a drink! Terrific herbs at a xeriscape are Artemisia, Betony, Catnip, Chamomile, Jerusalem, Marjoram, Rosemary, Thyme and Yarrow however there are many more.

This brings us to the end of the introduction to a number of the most popular types and designs for herb gardens.

Pick one that suits you, your environment and your environment or just create your own! The choice is yours!

Find out more about THE HOPELESS EXISTENTIALIST and how he sees life at his blog

Tips on Garden Design

I know you probably have read gardening books which gave you some tips on garden design, and been told by everyone who has ever planted a garden and believes they too are a professional gardener, and want to talk about their secret strategies on garden design.

Who am I to change lanes or counsel delivery on such a well traveled road, a work done so far better by my predecessors? I would but ask your indulgence as I attempt to share the impressions form the scenes I beheld and impart them to you through my gardeners eye.

Have you ever been driving in the nation, and as you pass an ordinary house, suddenly the whole place takes on a sudden beautiful eye catching quality. It is kind of shocking, realizing what it was that caused by this wonderful transformation.

First glance it was just any normal home on a piece of sculptured floor, until your eyes were transfixed by the backyard. With no doubt in your mind you knew this is how a garden was intended to be.

Such a feast of beauty for the eyes, it enhanced the whole grounds and home. I would have taken notes from this guy because of his Tips on Garden Design.

These people I have to admit had an eye for beauty that he was a ground artist, and deserved a trophy with this gorgeous gardening design. She had impeccable taste for colour

I've often likened a well designed garden unto an artist's use of a sculptured masterpiece, the rows being his brush, or chisel, the plants his paints, the floor his easel and canvas.

Some of the garden paths were made of sand, though other paths were composed of different colors of soil. These methods would work in larger gardens also. An expanse of manicured lawn space awakened the beds of flowered plants and the soon to be harvested food parts of the garden.

I recall thinking that the individual living here must have held a significant stressful job. In the center of the expanse of garden beauty was a pond constructed with unique sorts of piled marble,shale,and ordered white limestone. Colored underwater lights lit the pond centre. 

On the right side a small vine-covered gazebo held two seats facing out over the pond. You could tell it had been organized to encircle the vast majority of a well deserved artistic endeavor.

Two my way of believing a man built this for the enjoyment and love of his wife, the house, the fenced in yard, the sculptured ground masterpiece. As well to alleviate the stress of the everyday hardships, so you find a garden could be of use for many things besides just food.

[helatherwhite]

11 Best Easy to Grow Indoor Air Purifying Plants

Plants are a lovely addition to any home, but did you know that there are actually air purifying plants that can help make your home a healthier place to live? It's true–there are actually many indoor plants that clean the air and remove toxins.

Plants are a favorite thing that many like to add to their living situation. Plants bring nature inside, and that's a good thing. Connecting with nature has been shown to have many health benefits, but even that aside, plants simply beautify any environment. But there's more–it's really true that plants clean indoor air.

In this article, we will talk about plants that are pretty to look at, but also are some of the best indoor plants that clean the air and remove toxins from your living environment.

Air Purifying Plants–a Healthy Addition to Your Home

We all want our homes to be a safe place to retreat. We work hard to make sure our family feels comfortable and supported, we strive to serve nourishing whole foods, and we carefully research before bringing things into our home that might contain toxins. And yet, our physical homes are sometimes not the healthiest place to be because of poor indoor air quality. Did you know that one of the easiest ways to improve air quality is to grow air cleaning plants indoors? It's true.

Now, before you say you have a brown thumb and kill everything, let me say that there are some plants that are super hard to kill. If you try you can kill them, but you’d have to try.

For years, I believed that I could not grow indoor plants. The reality was, I preferred to grow plants outside since those plants feed my family, and thought that indoor plants were too fussy. So, I used the “brown thumb” excuse.

Then I came across a study from NASA about indoor air quality and decided that indoor plants were worth trying to figure out. I wasn't interested in all indoor plants–just the indoor plants that filter air. Because in my life, things have to have more purpose than just being decorative.

You probably already know that houseplants (or any plant at all, for that matter) are good for exchanging carbon dioxide and oxygen, but did you know that some plants are also good at removing toxins such as formaldehyde, ammonia, benzene, trichloroethylene, and xylene? It's true!

Why We Need Air Purifying Plants

But just where do these toxins come from? Well, from many places, but they definitely come from the out-gassing in the building of the home, from furniture, from cleaning products, and pretty much anything we bring into our home.

In years past, homes were more ventilated than they are today. Windows and doors weren’t quite sealed all the way and indoor and outdoor air were more easily exchanged. Homes were built with windows on opposite sides of the room so the windows could be opened easily for a good cross breeze.

These days, most homes are built air tight to reduce energy consumption with ventilation only happening through the attic. This is one reason why air purifying house plants are so important and worth the effort.

The good news is the 11 plants I’m sharing with you today are easy to keep alive with very little care. Each plant has its own growing environment requirements, so in addition to the tips that I'm sharing, be sure to check the tag that comes with your plant or ask the workers at your local nursery.

General Guidelines for Growing Indoor Air Purifying Plants

Use potting soil rather than soil from your garden

Potting soil is developed for growing plants in containers–not in the ground. Container plants need loose soil, but they also need the soil to be able to hang on to some moisture and not let the water run straight through. This was probably my biggest issue with growing houseplants. I wanted to use the soil and compost from my garden because it was free and grows amazing vegetables. However, it didn’t work well indoors.

This post may contain affiliate links from which I will earn a commission.

Important Safety Note – Please be cautious and use a face mask when using potting soil as there are known cases of people getting very ill from potting soil spores. (source)

Low light doesn't equal no light

All plants need some light in order to grow. They use the light and chlorophyll in the leaves to make food. If you find that a low light plant isn’t doing well consider putting it on a covered porch for a few days (not in direct sunlight) or near a sunny window.

Here is one “DIY lighting system” that a friend taught me; she has two “sets” of indoor plants. They aren’t identical but they’re interchangeable. One set is in the house while the other set is on the covered porch. She swaps them out every couple of weeks. It only takes about 10 minutes and she’s now able to enjoy air filtering houseplants in her home that has very little natural lighting.

Start small and then grow

When I got serious about growing air filtering plants indoors, I first got a bamboo for the bathroom. I decided that if I could keep it alive for three months, I’d get another plant, rather than purchasing multiple plants at the get go. My advice is to not start growing all of these air filtering plants at the same time since it will easily be too overwhelming.

11 Easy to Grow Air Cleaning Plants

While there are many houseplants that clean the air, some are proven to do so and are also easy to grow. According to a NASA study, the following plants remove toxins such as formaldehyde, ammonia, benzene, trichloroethylene, and xylene from the air, making them some of the best indoor plants for air purification. (source)

One thing to note, however, is that according to the Humane Society several of these plants can be poisonous to pets, so be aware and do your research if you have curious dogs or cats. (source)

Peace Lilies (Spathiphyllum ‘Mauno Loa’)

Peace Lilies remove formaldehyde, ammonia, benzene, trichloroethylene, and xylene from the air which makes one of the best air purifying plants. Peace lillies like bright, indirect sunlight; although they’ll grow across the room from a window, they won’t flower unless they are in the sunlight, so put them near a window if at all possible.

Peace lilies like evenly moist, well-drained soil.

Peace Lilies (Spathiphyllum ‘Mauno Loa’)

Boston Ferns (Nephrolepis exaltata)

Boston Ferns remove formaldehyde and xylene from air. They are a tropical plant and like moderate temperatures and lots of humidity with lots of indirect sunlight. A bathroom with a window is a good place to grow Boston ferns.

Mist the leaves of your Boston Fern with water several times a week, or put the pot in a shallow tray with pebbles and water, to increase the humidity around the plant. Boston Ferns also like the soil to always be moist.

Boston Ferns (Nephrolepis exaltata)

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum elatum)

The Spider Plant is another plant that removes formaldehyde and xylene and also likes consistent soil moisture. Spider plants like a lot of indirect light so place them near a sunny window.

They grow well in hanging pots as long as you keep the soil moist.

Snake Plant / Mother-in-Law’s Tongue (Sansevieria laurentii)

The Snake Plant removes formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, and xylene from the air. It is also one of the hardiest plants around.

While Snake Plants like any indirect sunlight, low or high, just don’t put this plant where it gets direct sunlight. It also doesn’t require much watering and can go two to four weeks between watering. Make sure the soil completely dries out between watering so the roots don’t rot.

Snake Plant: Mother-in-Law’s Tongue (Sansevieria laurentii)

Weeping Ficus (Ficus benjamina)

The Weeping Ficus removes formaldehyde and xylene from the air. Ficus plants like bright light, so put it near a window that gets light.

Ficus is a tree and will keep its tree shape regardless of how big it is which makes it an interesting plant if kept in a smaller pot. Like many of the other plants mentioned, Ficus like a humid environment and will do well with a weekly misting. But they don’t like their roots to always be wet so if the top of the soil is damp wait a few days before watering again. A weekly watering should be sufficient.

Weeping ficus (Ficus benjamina)

English Ivy (Hedera helix)

English Ivy removes formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, and xylene from the air. Ivy is a fun climbing plant and looks nice in hanging pots, dangling from shelves, or growing up a topiary.

This ivy likes humidity, so a weekly misting with water is a good habit. It also likes bright light but indirect sunlight is best as direct, harsh light will burn the leaves. English Ivy is on many noxious weed lists so be sure to check your local list before planting it outside.

English Ivy (Hedera helix)

Aloe Vera (Aloe vera)

Aloe Vera is a common household plant mostly used for treating minor burns, cuts, and scrapes. But it’s also an air filtering plant. Aloe vera removes formaldehyde and benzene from the air.

Aloe vera is pretty hard to kill as long as you give it bright light and don’t over-water it. It stores a lot of water in its leaves and only needs to be watered once or maybe twice a month.

Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)

The Bamboo Palm and other palms like the Parlor Palm remove formaldehyde and xylene from the air. Bamboo palms prefer bright indirect light but will tolerate medium and even low light if you don’t over water the plant.

When the top 1/3 of the soil depth is dry, water until the soil is evenly moist. Don’t let the Bamboo Palm sit in the excess water that drains from the pot. Other than that these plants are pretty easy to grow indoors.

Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)

Pot Mum (Chrysanthemum morifolium)

The Pot Mum or Florists Mum is another superstar when it comes to removing indoor air toxins. The pot mum will remove formaldehyde, ammonia, benzene, trichloroethylene, and xylene from the air.

Pot mums like bright light and damp soil. You’ll probably need to water this plant twice a week. Most people only keep pot mums around while they are flowering and toss them when the flowering season is over. However, you can put them outside (as long as they don’t freeze) and they will probably flower again the next summer at which time you can bring them back inside.

Pot Mum (Chrysanthemum morifolium)

Golden Pothos (Scindapsus aureus)

The Golden Pothos or Devil’s Ivy removes formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene from the air. This is another fun trailing plant that can be grown in hanging pots, draped off shelves, or climbing a moss pole.

If you have a friend with one of these plants, ask for a cutting and root well in a glass of water. After they’ve developed roots, transplant into a container.

Golden Pothos plants prefer bright indirect light and regular misting with water. However, they do not like water-logged soil so let it dry out before watering again.

Golden Pothos (Scindapsus aureus)

Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata)

The Dragon tree removes formaldehyde, ammonia, benzene, trichloroethylene, and xylene from the air. It’s also a really interesting-looking plant, adding an Asian or modern feel to the environment. Dracaenas like bright indirect sunlight but can acclimate to lower-light situations, but the leaves will be thinner. For better growing, let the top 50% of the soil dry out before watering and don’t let the pot sit in a saucer of water.

Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata)

As you create a safe home for your family, don’t overlook the air that you are breathing. There are many things we bring into our home that affect the quality of our indoor air. Growing indoor plants that clean the air and remove toxins is an easy and fun way to improve air quality and add beauty to our homes.

Have you tried to grow any of these air purifying plants? Share your experiences in the comments below.

Angi Schneider lives on a small homestead along the Texas Gulf Coast with her husband and children. For over 25 years they have sought to reduce their dependence on commercial products and the grocery store by growing food, living a DIY lifestyle and cooking simple, tasty meals from scratch. Angi shares their journey on her site, SchneiderPeeps.com.

The post 11 Best Easy to Grow Indoor Air Purifying Plants appeared first on Whole New Mom.

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How To Hang Indoor Plants

If you're in the market for plants that are not ferns, flowers love baskets too! What plants grow properly in hanging baskets?

For a lovely show of indoor plants, hang small pots at varying heights near a window. As much as I love my stay hanging baskets, if these don't work next year it is faux plants and no one will be ready to inform from the road! Use cool pots and planters to grow your plants. This wall planter gives you a place to store your plants in addition to different hanging objects, freeing up your flooring for extra important things, like chairs and tables. Hanging pots are best for plants that don't develop very tall or require much horizontal area for root methods, reminiscent of herbs. One of our favourite hanging plants at Geo-fleur HQ is a scindapsus pictus which has beautiful silver green leaves, that in some gentle can almost look iridescent.” Lipstick vines are available in red, pink, or orange, and they make wonderful houseplants as they tolerate low mild situations and infrequent watering. Finally, adding hanging baskets to an existing collection of houseplants creates a layered look, with plants from flooring to ceiling. Slightly, there are some features of hanging baskets that seize our admiration and improve our interior design in a manner ordinary potted plants cannot. Hanging baskets full of plants can brighten up any room in the house. When it comes to soil, most houseplants just want an everyday light-weight potting mix. I know air can dry out roots, so don't know if components to a potting mix for indoor plants can be a wise selection. Plants could appear wilted and thirsty, but take care to refrain from watering till a few week after re-potting to make sure that any roots damaged during re-potting have healed. Our variety of indoor hanging plants includes not only artificial hanging baskets but in addition boxwood topiary balls that look great in suspended displays. Apart from the above mentioned plants, there are various other ornamental hanging plants and potted plants as properly that are used for indoor areas. These plants need indirect gentle and dry soil that requires small quantity of water. By using ornamental hanging plants and indoor potted plants , you'll be able to clean air and make your workplace freed from pollutants. provides 92 indoor hanging pot plants items from China top selected Planters & Pots , Garden Supplies , Patio, Lawn & Garden , Residence & Garden suppliers at wholesale costs with worldwide supply. And hanging planters are the best as a result of I simply imagine that the plants are having a lot extra fun than if they are simply on the bottom. Plant winter hanging baskets between September and October, and it doesn't matter if they're frosted as the plants are should be hardy. Thegardengranny with small foliage and flowers create a fine texture that adds a touch of subtlety to your landscape. • Hang the planter basket from the hook and add your plants! For that reason, listing a few of the most popular of these should make choosing plants for hanging baskets a bit simpler. Fortunately, there are several succulent plants which are nice candidates for hanging baskets. This indoor diy plant stand requires a round wood to place the plants on. It doesn't eat much space, which is why it matches nearly wherever. Maybe hanging the plants on the wall or placing them on the bottom is so-so, then one of many plant stand ideas you want is a pole stand. Best Plants for Hanging Baskets: A Thriller, A Filler, and a Spiller. The Finest Plants for Hanging Baskets on Entrance Porches. The hanging indoor garden is admittedly doing it for me, just because the number of plants you can have hanging from it and how effective that would look. After you could have positioned the pot inside your knit rope basket, do not forget to add the flowers and plants to full the yard look. These are the most well-liked plants for hanging baskets - think petunias , geraniums , calibrachoa and trailing fuchsias, verbena and lobelia. Other trays distinctive flowers for hanging plants Now there are two alternatives for plants that are truly memorable hanging.

[foamingkitty]

Angela McAllister’s Top Ten Favourite Children’s Books

Angela McAllister is the author of A Year Full of Stories and the recently published A World Full of Stories. Two wonderful books which my girls are really enjoying at the moment. Angela’s ability in collecting such wonderfully rich stories and comprising them into these two beautifully illustrated books is a gift and I’m so happy she agreed to share her top ten children’s books with us. You’ll agree it’s a fabulous list and I’m rather inspired to look up a few from her list for my girls. Enjoy and thank you Angela!

1. Next Stop Grand Central by Maira Kalman  – This book is a masterpiece. On my first trip to New York I had to get an extra suitcase to carry all the books I bought and this one is my favourite. It tells of the extraordinary variety of people who work in Grand Central Station and the life that goes on there from dawn to dusk; the maintenance, the services, the restaurants, the greetings and partings, the hints of exotic destinations, all of life is here, full of colour and quirkiness. Even minor characters are so fascinating that you want to follow them out of the book into whatever life they came from. Maira Kalman’s vivacity is expressed not only in her compelling illustrations but also in the way she paints pictures with words. It’s a great book to inspire young writers.

2. Over and Under by Kate Messner –  Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal. In contrast to the more zany books on this list, here is something as gentle and full of wonder as snow itself. A girl and her father ski through the snowy woods, while we are simultaneously shown the secret world under the snow where the smallest forest animals stay safe and warm. This is a wonderful example of the exciting growth of non-fiction picture books and has become an instant favourite. I particularly like the pages at the end with extra information, further reading and links.

3. A Near Thing For Captain Najork by Russell Hoban – Illustrated by Quentin Blake. This sequel to the equally wonderful How Tom Beat Captain Najork And His Hired Sportsmen is a riot of a story about a boy who invents anti-sticky while fooling around with his chemistry set. When he uses this amazing new technology to create a mechanical jam-powered frog, his adversary, Captain Najork, pursues him in a five-man undulating snake, to settle an old score. The climax is an arm-wrestling match between two of the most extraordinary female characters in children’s literature. I love this for its exuberant nonsense. It’s the perfect pairing of two masterful picture book creators.

4. The Man Whose Mother Was A Pirate by Margaret Mahy – Illustrated by Margaret Chamberlain – I can’t possibly have a top ten without pirates in it, or either of these brilliant Margarets! An ‘ordinary little man’ who works in a drab office is persuaded by his mother, an old retired pirate, to take her to visit the sea. In a liberating journey of discovery, the man comes to understand his true nature and becomes a pirate himself. This is the book to read if you ever need reminding how good it is to be alive, but beware, you may feel an irresistible urge to go the sea afterwards.

5. The Green Ship by Quentin Blake – This is a magical book that tells the story of a summer holiday in which two children, staying with their aunt, discover a topiary ship in the neighbour’s garden. A beautiful relationship grows between the old neighbour, her gardener and the children. Together they make imaginary voyages around the world, cross the equator and brave a storm. Quentin Blake’s sketchy, atmospheric illustrations here have quite a different feel to those in the first book on this list. It’s a lovely evocation of how age and youth can make believe together. Perfect for anyone who would love to play in an old, overgrown garden.

6. The Two Admirals by David McKee – When a famous retired Admiral moves into a quiet village the locals are proud to have him there. They don’t complain about his powerful presence. They tolerate him boasting that he can do everything better than anyone else. However, when a second self-important admiral moves in and the two start to compete with each other in absurd ways, life becomes intolerable for the villagers. If only all larger than life, boastful characters could be dealt with by offering a prize to the one who could keep the peace longest! David McKee also gave us the wonderful Mr Ben and King Rollo books along with many others. Most of all, I love the tremendous wit and warmth with which he observes people. Pure joy!

7. The Witch’s Children by Ursula Jones – Illustrated by Russell Ayto. How I wish I’d written this book! It’s a fairy tale fizzing with energy and invention. I love the great design and characterisation in the illustrations and there is so much content that you find something new with each reading. The story is packed with drama – it’s almost like watching a play.

8. In The Attic by Hiawyn Oram – Illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura. Another fabulous exploration of the imagination, showing how creative the state of boredom can be. With so much constant stimulation around children now it’s more important than ever to allow the quiet time needed to develop imagination. It takes tremendous skill to write such a spare, evocative text as this and Satoshi is a genius with astonishing poetic energy and inventiveness in all his work.

9. Time To Get Out Of The Bath, Shirley by John Burningham – This is a great example of how a picture book can offer a distinct visual narrative alongside the text. While Mum busies about in the bathroom, the reader shares Shirley’s imaginary adventure as she shrinks to be very small and rides her toy duck away through the waste pipe, to a land of witches, knights and an eccentric royal joust. At once familiar and strange, there’s plenty of delicious detail to discover and lots to discuss when sharing this. The world of fantasy plumbing on the endpapers inspired hours of inventive drawing in our house.

10. Bijan and Manije by Ali Seidabadi – Illustrated by Marjan Vafaian. This ancient Persian story, rewritten by Nicolette Jones is one of several books from Tiny Owl who are bringing wonderful Iranian writers and artists to our bookshelves. When I went to the Sharjah Book Fair in the UAE last year I was particularly moved by some of the illustration from Iran and this rich, colourful book is a great example of the exciting work from that region. Folk tales and legends have universal appeal and never age. How wonderful that we can tell our children a story that began in the 10th century!

Vanessa x

The post Angela McAllister’s Top Ten Favourite Children’s Books appeared first on Babyccino Kids: Daily tips, Children's products, Craft ideas, Recipes & More.

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5 Favorite Xeric Plants for Many Regions

The palette of plants that can tolerate challenging dry conditions is growing, extending their usefulness from xeric regions to friendlier climes. Our friends at American Nurseryman asked noted plantsman Nicholas Staddon to recommend a few of his favorite selections. These woody and perennial plants that are rugged enough to withstand reduced supplemental water — and are able to provide pleasing forms and delightful colors.

Herperaloe parvifloria ‘Perpa’ Brakelights® Photo: Monrovia

1. Hesperaloe parviflora

“My first selection is a Hesperaloe parviflora, the red yucca,” Staddon says. “There’s a variety which has been on the market for a couple of years, actually probably about four years, called Brakelights (Hesperaloe parviflora ‘Perpa’ Brakelights® PP# 21729). It’s the result of a breeding program run by Ron Gass, who owns Mountain States Wholesale Nursery, and it is, without a doubt, one of the most floriferous Hesperaloes on the market.”

The species is native to Texas and northern Mexico, so it’s tough as nails and thrives in full sun and reflected heat to Zone 5.

“Brakelights® is a smaller, more compact grower” than the species, Staddon describes. “Hesperaloes over a period of time can get very big and very rambunctious.” This slow-growing selection, however, forms a 2-foot clump of very narrow, blue-green leaves, from which spring extended flower stalks sporting brilliant blooms. “This is the reddest of all the hesperaloes,” Staddon claims. “And she sets little or no seed, so because of that, she has an extended flowering season. She will rebloom on the same stem, which is very unusual. Depending on where you are, the blooming season might change a little bit, but in my garden [in southern California], I’ve had a Brakelights that started blooming in September and the flower is just coming to its end now [early June].”

The desert willow. Chilopsis linearis ‘Monhews’ (Timeless Beauty®) Photo: Doreen Wynja for Monrovia

2. Chilopsis linearis

Close up: Chilopsis linearis ‘Monhews’ Timeless Beauty® Desert Willow. Photo: Doreen Wynja for Monrovia

“This is a smaller tree or large shrub, the desert willow. It’s a plant that is really gaining in popularity, and breeders are doing more work with it,” Staddon claims.

“It’s very versatile; it makes a wonderful single plant in a small garden, and it’s been used along freeways,” he adds. “Chilopsis has been a real foundation of many gardens and landscapes in the Southwest for many years, but more and more people are starting to discover this plant. There are lots of varieties out there; you’ve got the seedling selections, which can go from kind of whitish to soft pink to soft purple. There are other great varieties on the market: There’s one called Warren Jones™, which has more of a soft pink flower with a yellow throat. There’s a pure white called ‘White Storm’, which has wonderful pink buds and then a pure white flower. Timeless Beauty® is one of the better seedless varieties on the market.

“They can get quite large, and they tend to be more multistemmed. They are deciduous, but they provide a profuse season of flowering; great for the pollinators as well,” Staddon concludes.

In general, desert willow is fast growing and can reach to 25 feet tall and wide at maturity in full or part sun. It’s hardy to Zone 6.

Read More from American Nurseryman: 5 Colorful Xeric Plants 

3. Muhlenbergia capillaris

Deer grass — Muhlenbergia capillaris — is becoming more and more popular out West, according to Staddon. “Muhlenbergias are almost a household name in the Southwest,” he states. “Probably one of the best known varieties is Regal Mist®; once again it’s a seedling selection from Mountain States. Rarely do you ever see just one of these. They’re planted en masse, and in mid- to late summer they have this marvelous seed set, where the tops of the plants will get covered with these great purple flowers. And if you plant them where you get an afternoon breeze coming through, the seed heads will actually move with the wind. That alone makes you feel cool.”

Deer grass: Muhlenbergia capillaris ‘Lenca’ (Regal Mist®) Photo: Doreen Wynja for Monrovia

Staddon says that Regal Mist has “by far the most visual display; real nice pink flowers at the end of the season. She’s evergreen, so she’s going to show in the spring and all year around.

“I think one of the things that people love about them so much is whether they have flowers on them or not, they still look absolutely just fantastic,” he adds.

Regal Mist® reaches about 3 feet tall and wide and has a fast growth rate. It thrives in full sun and locations with reflected heat in Zone 6. According to Mountain States, reseeding has not been an issue.

4. Cupressus sempervirens

Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) is “a plant that has ruled the roost in the Southwest for many years — really, up and down the West Coast,” Staddon says. “It’s just synonymous with that Mediterranean climate out here. It’s used as a wind break, it’s used as an accent plant, it’s used as a container plant.”

Italian cypress: Cupressus sempervirens ‘Monshel’ Tiny Tower® Photo: Doreen Wynja for Monrovia

The species is slow growing and can reach up to 100 feet or so, but there are two cultivars that Staddon deems worthy of mention:

“One is a Monrovia introduction called Tiny Tower®, and Tiny Tower has probably been out there for 15, 16 years,” he states. “It’s used extensively by homeowners and also by the design community. It’s a much smaller growing flavor of the species — it probably will top out at about 30 to 35 feet [by 3 feet wide], and it maintains a really nice, upright, narrow habit. It tends to do better in the warmer, drier climates, so in the Southeast, even though it might be warm down there, they might get some spider mites.”

Tiny Tower® is said to maintain its narrow, columnar form without pruning, making it an excellent choice for formal plantings or as a container specimen in zones 7 to 10.

“The other variety is called Swane’s Golden,” Staddon says. “Swane’s Golden was created by Mrs. Swane, who was a nursery owner and breeder in New Zealand, and it has been around for absolutely donkey’s years. Again, it’s a smaller grower, very nice upright, compact habit and has a wonderful gold cast to it; it is by far one of the most popular golds of the Italian cypress.

“These plants could be used as hedgerows, they could be used as accent plants in the landscape, and they’re just wonderful for container plants as well,” he adds. “Some people will even shear them into topiary. Because they’re so tight and compact, they make a great spiral. I’ve never seen a plant bigger than 8 to 20 feet high. This is a really interesting plant, because it goes in cycles of fashion; it’ll be fashionable for seven or eight years, and then it’s not fashionable, and then everybody wants it again.”

Swane’s Golden is hardy in zones 7 to 9.

These C. sempervirens selections are very narrow and very columnar. “Both of these varieties are marked improvements; they do maintain a more columnar, upright growth habit. The traditional Italian cypress can get branches that can get large and the plant can open out. But these are good, narrow upright plants,” Staddon explains.

Read More from American Nurseryman: The Basics of Xeric Landscaping

5. Callistemon

The distinctive bottlebrush plant is one that’s not to be missed.

Bottlebrush plant: Callistemon citrinus ‘Little John’ Dwarf. Photo: Doreen Wynja for Monrovia

“A plant that really is in vogue in the Southwest and Texas is Callistemon (bottlebrush); they’re very, very popular,” Staddon says. “There’s a new one on the market that’s been out a year or so, which is called Slim™ (Callistemon viminalis ‘CV01’). Slim is a really upright, columnar plant. It comes from a breeding program in Australia called Tuffy Plants, and it’s readily available on the market here. It’s such a unique plant; so different from every other callistemon that’s out there.”

Slim is a prolific bloomer, and in spring to summer — nearly year-round in mild climates — it’s “festooned with flowers, absolutely covered with flowers,” Staddon describes. “Callistemon has these wonderful, bright red flowers that are really favored by pollinators.”

Slim reaches about 8 to 10 feet tall by 3 to 4 feet wide, much narrower than other selections, making it suitable for a variety of uses. “Its primary application is for a hedge, or a triangle of three in the garden to make an architectural statement. I think this plant is going to be an absolute winner,” Staddon claims.

Another favorite of Staddon’s is Little John (Callistemon citrinus ‘Little John’), which has been around for years and “continues to be planted in pretty much every landscape,” he says. “Gardeners use the plant extensively in their own gardens; great for a hedge; great for a triangle of three. It’s an early season, but long season bloomer, it has these wonderful, bright red flowers that are really favored by pollinators. Little John is really fun, because the foliage has a blue cast to it, so you’ve got a bluish-greenish foliage against the red flowers.”

Little John is a slow growing selection, reaching only 3 feet tall by 5 feet wide.

Both bottlebrush choices are hardy in zones 8 to 11.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on AmeriNursery.com. Nicholas Staddon is known as “The Plantsman,” consultant and strategic marketing partner for Village Nurseries Wholesale. Staddon previously served as the director of new plants and national spokesperson for Monrovia Growers for over 25 years.

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