#olivia the crystal lizard

[knightscanfeeltoo]

Gwyndolin posts a Picture of them sleeping with Oscar and his Lizard Olivia on Twitter...

(Gwyndolin still loves Olivia even though they can't help but feel Jealous when the Crystal Lizard keeps taking the Elite Knight Oscar's Attention...)

[https-kreideprinz]

That's my fuckin' best friend, best friend !

Nico de Angelo x GN! Reader

. . . Now playing: Best Friend by Conan Gray! . .

A/N: Hii. Silly fic where nico and gn!reader are besties who are hanging out in the forest and fucking around 'nd shit, being so super silly :3 (Platonic)

Notes: the sillies

ׂׂૢ Nico Di Angelo

Nico's voice echoed in the forest as he called you over. The sky was a pale orange and soon the stars would be twinkling over your heads with the full moon to bask the both of you in a soft silver glow courtesy of the goddess Artemis. The wind whistled in your ears and the leaves pulling on the branches and fluttering to the forest floor.

Carefully watching your step, you make sure to avoid any holes or hills in the ground, kicking the dirt to flatten the ground and skipping over exposed roots that would most definitely be a tripping hazard if you weren't looking closely.

You look over at your best friend's shoulder, interested in seeing what exactly he was pointing at.

"Gecko." Nico nods, looking at small lizard sitting on the stump. You reach out to pet the small animal and you can't help but smile when it makes a small squeaking noise.

Dragging your finger over the animal’s cold body makes you grin, and you look over at Nico, humming softly, "Do you wanna get ice cream?" You mumble under your breath and the boy freezes, thinking for a moment. "Well, where are we getting the ice cream from?" Nico asked, looking slightly interested.

You paused. There was only one right answer for this question. You let out a soft sigh and shook your head. "The nearest fast-food place with a working ice cream machine." You replied dryly.

Nico grinned and grabbed your arm. "Come on. I want ice cream." He shrugged, yanking your arm. "Let's go before it gets too dark and then you’ll complain about shadow travelling." He smiles and you scoff rolling your eyes. "It's not my fault I get sick after. How do you expect me not throw up after pulling stunts like that?!" You huffed and Nico shrugged.

"Not my problem."

You scowl. Maybe you will strangle him today.

@thementallyunwellapollochild, @apollos-coolest-child, @too-queer-for-school, @chaotic-child-of-apollo, @vintage-wanderers

@solicitedfreakiness, @bows-and-olivia-rodrigo, @iam-sherlocked, @zahrawr-likes-red, @crystal-rayn

@thatonedemigodfromseoul

[therainbowrebels]

"The Guardian of the Gaia, Rebel Nature!"

Introducing the third member of the Rainbow Rebels, Olivia Verde a.k.a Rebel Nature! She is also the first transgender member of the team!

Olivia is another friend of Rose & Emily, a 13 year old girl that loves the environment and her family. Her catchphrase is "It's only natural that..."

Olivia is a shy but gentle young girl who is kind to those around her. She devotes herself to protecting the environment and helping those in need, though she finds herself held back by her doubt and anxiety. She is very smart from her love of research and studying, becoming knowledgeable and observant of the world around her. Olivia is also very caring of her friends and family, especially her pet Lizard.

Using the Green Nature Crystal, Olivia transforms into the Gaia Guardian, Rebel Nature. She uses the Prismagic of life and represents kindness, peace & growth.

[stars-tonight]

hi! i would love to request a haikyuu matchup if that’s okay! i don’t have any preference for a long or short matchup so you can just do whatever you’re feeling like! if you’re feeling up for a long matchup go for it but if you’re not feeling like a long one short is totally fine! i’m good either way:)

i’m bisexual so no preference for gender!

an ideal partner for me would be someone who wants to get to know me as a person & really likes me for who i am. i’d also like someone who loves animals because i have a ton of pets! i’d also appreciate someone who won’t belittle or make fun of me for the things i like (more on that below!) i have no height or looks preference other than someone who’s taller than me! (which won’t be hard to find because i’m very small)

okay a little bit about myself! hi my name is chloe & i use she/her pronouns! i’m 4’10 & curvy which brings a lot of insecurity to me because i’ve got a very large chest for such a petite frame. i have medium length curly light brown hair & green eyes. i love pop music & my favorite artists are taylor swift, gracie abrams, chappell roan, olivia rodrigo, & sabrina carpenter. i am absolutely obsessed with movies & shows too. i just love media. my favorite movies are the twilight series & whiplash (psychological drama!) my favorite shows are greys anatomy, criminal minds, gilmore girls, & bridgerton! i also really love to read & enjoy practically any genre. i collect vinyl & crystals. i dry flowers and just got a kitten! she’s a dilute tortoiseshell named rory and she’s the love of my life i adore her. i grew up with tons of animals so i have chickens, dogs, cats, bunnies, & a lizard! i just graduated high school a year early & now i’m taking a gap year to work & save for college! i have multiple anxiety disorders and i tend to be kind of shy and awkward about meeting new people but when i’m close with someone i’m much more open. i tend to be somewhat brutally honest in certain situations but in others i’m really passive and quiet. i have a tendency to feel like i don’t belong anywhere & i feel really hurt by people in my past so it’s difficult for me to trust that anyone actually wants me for me & not just my body or the idea of me.

my giving love languages are probably quality time, physical touch, & acts of service. my receiving love languages are probably quality time, physical touch, & words of affirmation.

my mbti type is infp!

that’s all i can think of right now but feel free to dm or go in my asks if you have any other questions!

headcanons

🥛 akaashi is very observant so he'd definitely notice if you were ever feeling insecure or anxious

🥛 he'd be the KING of words of affirmation like he'd always know what to say to cheer you up

🥛 i definitely don't see akaashi as the kind of guy to date for fun so he'd definitely be in it for the long run

🥛 hence wanting to get to truly know you

🥛 he'd NEVER laugh at you for something that makes you you

🥛 he's the kind of person to be the only one to listen to you when people talk over you in conversations

🥛 akaashi is also a big reader so i imagine you’d go to the library super often to pick up movies and books

🥛 the librarians and the employees at the local book shop know your guys’s names because you go there so often

🥛 akaashi is also very calm so he’d probably get along with rory

🥛 he might be a bit overwhelmed at first with the chickens or the lizard but he'd definitely read so much about how to take care of them

🥛 and bokuto is like a huge puppy so he already has experience with dogs

🥛 i'm just kidding

🥛 BUT

🥛 i imagine he'd be a great dog trainer, like to where if you sneeze your dog will go get you a tissue

🥛 he’s a tall boy so no need to worry about getting things off high shelves :)

🥛 he doesn't know much about crystals or vinyl records but he'd be so willing to learn

🥛 similarly, he'd always be interested in hearing your movie / show recommendations

🥛 he's just so sweet he'd want to learn everything that makes you happy

🥛 if you teach him how to dry flowers he will 100% spend hours just doing it with you

🥛 gentleman to the max

🥛 pulls out chairs and opens car doors for you

🥛 would offer a massage if you feel stressed out from school

🥛 holds your hand everywhere you go

🥛 especially in crowded areas so you won't get separated

🥛 i imagine sometimes you'll just lay together in silence, sharing a pair of earbuds, and just holding hands or touching each other in some way

runner ups for you are kozume kenma and shimizu kiyoko! (i'm sorry i couldn't decide between the two lol)

A/N: there you go! i hope you like it <3 and thank you for including so much detail it gave me so many ideas!

*i really love akaashi, this man is boyfriend material

[knightscanliketoo]

Olivia and Elite Knight, Oscar in Anor Londo probably visiting a Certain Moon Deity and I can only wonder why...

[knightscanfeeltoo]

i remember when knight oscar came with that lizard if you preorder him, which i did...

[giveamadeuschohisownmovie]

MCU Spider-Gwen movie fancast

So like the “Ultimate Spider-Man” movie pitch I made, the rules I’m following with this post is that this movie will work as an expansion of the Spider side of the MCU. I’m also treating this as if all these characters exist in the same universe. No different dimensions here.

1) Hailee Steinfeld as Gwen Stacy / Spider-Gwen (I mean, why not? She’s already been deemed worthy enough to voice her, so why not live-action)

2) Runner-ups for Gwen Stacy: Stefanie Scott, Chloe Grace Moretz

3) Dacre Montgomery as John Jameson III / Man-Wolf. In this universe, John is Gwen’s love interest who transforms into a werewolf-like creature due to exposure from a lunar crystal. He is the secondary villain of the movie and takes over Peter Parker’s role from the Spider-Gwen comics (that version of Peter turned into the Lizard and was accidentally killed by Gwen during a battle). 

4) David Harbour as Captain George Stacy, police officer and Gwen’s father (ignore the two Stranger Things actors in a row, I chose Harbour as Captain Stacy in the Ultimate Spider-Man post. I need to keep with my own canon)

5) Angourie Rice reprises her role as Betty Brant. In this movie, her role is similar to Ned’s role in “Homecoming”, in that she’s the friend who finds out about Gwen’s secret identity and decides to help her fight crime. 

6) Steven Ogg as Aleksei Sytsevich / Rhino, a mercenary who wants vengeance on Captain Stacy for shutting his operations down and the main antagonist of the movie.

7) Shameik Moore as Randy Robertson, a friend of Gwen Stacy and aspiring journalist like Betty. 

8) Amy Poehler as Helen Stacy, Gwen’s mother

9) Piper Curda as this side character who tries to talk to Gwen Stacy as a running gag throughout the movie (she always approaches Gwen but then something happens that prevents them from speaking). At the very end of the movie, they finally talk and we learn that Piper’s character’s name is Cindy Moon and she wants Gwen to audition for her band, the Cindy Moons. 

(I’m not counting Tiffany Espensen’s Cindy, that’s a different Cindy to me)

10) Kimiko Glenn, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Lacey Chabert cameo as Gwen’s teachers

Kimiko Glenn voiced Peni Parker in “Into the Spider-Verse”

Bryce Dallas Howard was Gwen Stacy in “Spider-Man 3″ 

Lacey Chabert voiced Gwen Stacy in “The Spectacular Spider-Man”

11) Cillian Murphy as Curt Connors, one of Gwen’s teachers and a scientist who tried to help John Jameson when he becomes infected with the lunar crystal. His role here is to foreshadow his eventual turn into becoming the Lizard.  

12) K. Todd Freeman as Robbie Robertson, Randy’s dad and a family friend of the Stacys. 

13) Paget Brewster as Olivia, an OsCorp scientist who develops the Spider-Gwen suit as their answer to Stark Industries’ Spider suit. She forms an alliance with Gwen in order to test the suit out. Although she’s an ally, we learn that her last name is Octavius and that she “can’t wait to tell her brother, Otto, about the suit”. So, in the MCU, both Olivia and Otto Octavius exists (Octo-Siblings?) 

14) Tom Holland cameos as Peter Parker / Spider-Man in the mid-credits scene

[oliviatheheylinwitch]

Olivia Wilkes Tagged By: @wifi-and-wu-lover

Tagging: @failcdmothcr

REPOST, DON’T REBLOG!!!

BOLD any which apply to your muse! Feel free to add more to the list!

COLORS —
red. brown. orange. yellow. green. blue. purple. pink. black. white. teal. silver. gold. grey.lilac. metallic. matte. royal blue. strawberry red. charcoal grey. forest green. apple red. violet. navy blue. crimson. cream. mint green. bubblegum pink. sky blue. pale jade. coral.

ELEMENTS —
fire. ice. water. air. earth. rain. snow. wind. moon. stars. sun. heat. cold. steam. frost. lightning. sunlight. moonlight. dawn. dusk. twilight. midnight. sunrise. sunset. dewdrops.

WEAPONS —
fists. legs. sword. dagger. spear. bow & arrow. hammer. shield. poison. guns. axes. throwing axes. whips. knives. throwing knives. pepper sprays. tasers. machine guns. slingshots. katana. maces. staffs. wands. powers. magical items. magic. rocks. mud balls. claws.teeth. stealth. strategy. summoning an ally.

MATERIALS —
gold. silver. copper. platinum. titanium. rose gold. diamonds. pearls. rubies. sapphires. emeralds. amethyst. metal. iron. rust. steel. glass. wood. porcelain. paper. wool. fur. lace. leather. silk. velvet. denim. linen. cotton. charcoal. clay. stone. asphalt. brick. marble. dust. glitter. blood. dirt. mud. smoke. ash. shadow. carbonate. rubber. synthetics. ribbon.

NATURE —
grass. leaves. trees. bark. roses. daisies. sunflowers. tulips. lavender. petals. seeds. hay. sand. rocks. roots. flowers. fungi. ocean. river. frozen lake. meadow. valley. forest. desert. tundra. savanna. rain forest. crystal caves. underwater. beach. waves. space. clouds. mountains. snow. mist. pond.

ANIMALS —
lions. wolves. foxes. eagles. owls. falcons. hawks. swans. dodo. snakes. turtles. ducks. bugs. spiders. birds. whales.   fish. sharks. horses. cats. dogs. bunnies. penguins. praying mantises. crows. ravens. mice. lizards. werewolves. scorpions. unicorns. pegasus. dragons. ladybugs. scarabs. hummingbirds. cicadas.

FOODS &. DRINKS —
sugar. salt. candy. bubblegum. wine. champagne. hard liquor. vodka. beer. coffee. sake. tea. spices. herbs. apple. orange. lemon. cherry. strawberry. watermelon.vegetables. fruits. meat. fish. pies. desserts. chocolate. cream. caramel. berries. nuts.cinnamon. burgers. burritos. pizza. ambrosia. eggs. milk. salmon

HOBBIES —
music. art. watercolors. gardening. smithing. sculpting. painting. sketching. fighting. writing. composing. cooking. baking. sewing. training. dancing. acting. singing. martial arts. self-defense. war tactics. electronics. technology. cameras. video cameras. video games. computer. phone. movies. theater. libraries. books. magazines. cds.records. vinyls. cassettes. piano. strings. violin. guitar. electronic guitar. bass guitar.harmonica. harp. woodwinds. brass. flute. bells. exploring. playing cards. poker chips. chess. dice. motorcycle riding. eating. sleeping. climbing. running. jogging. parkour. studying. people watching.

MISCELLANEOUS –
balloons. bubbles. cityscape. light. dark. candles. growth. decay. war. peace. money. power. percussion. clocks. photos. mirrors. lighters. pets. diary. journal. fairy lights. madness. sanity. sadness. realism. happiness. optimism. pessimism. loneliness. family. friends. clan. assistants. co-workers. enemies. loyalty. smoking. drugs. Meds. Syringes. kindness. love. hugs. kisses. spring. summer. autumn. winter. farmland. countryside. suburban. village. hospitals.

[wildgrave]

what do u love about ur friends

idk which one of ya sneaky bastards sent this but i’m not gonna complain b/c i will take any possible opportunity to gush about my friends.

update: this got entirely out of hand and i just wrote about like... everyone i talk to. if u talk just ctrl + f ur name (but don’t feel bad if you’re not in here b/c i’m doing this off the top of my head and can’t remember everyone!! also a lot of these are hs friends who don’t have tumblrs but u asked anon so)

i honestly love them all for different reasons tho!! i’m not going to tag everyone but: thanh is great for a straightforward answer & we have the same awful sense of humor which is basically 8 years of memes to reference (also she says no romo a lot which i find rly funny for some reason??). hannah is super loving and supportive and always looking out for me. jessie is wry and clever and honestly has every reason to get annoyed at me 24/7 but somehow doesn’t. whitten i talk to every day and is super rational about my problems which is helpful when i need solutions (also dank memes). gaby is great b/c we both have a lot of the same interests (feminism, art, fashion, shit-talking ppl, etc) and gets riled up about my problems which is great when i need someone to get angry with. colette also gets angry, usually angrier than me, about my problems and is the best person to offer to beat boys up (b/c i know if she gets drunk enough she will fight anyone). kathleen is great b/c we always end up doing something ridiculous and it’s fun and makes a good story. brooke is the fucking funniest person i have ever met and thinks she’s punk rock but is secretly boujee as fuck. amber also thinks she’s punk rock, but has the softest, purest heart of gold of anyone i’ve ever met (also she comes up with the most ridiculously hilarious ways to proposition me). claire and i can talk about absolutely anything and send each other close ups of pimples but also take nudes of eachother and honestly if thats not true friendship then what is?? sofie is honestly brilliant and always has clever comments to make and i’m lowkey in love with her to this day and i mean, if you’re not a little in love with your friends wyd?? mila is so sweet and i can have fun with her doing anything, like we don’t even need to go anywhere we can just have philosophical talks on my bed and it’s chill. sammy and i have only chilled irl once but she’s really quiet and nice but occasionally makes rly snarky comments about straight ppl which are hilarious. lucy is never on skype but when she is we have a fuckin field day and she’s so petty but like... in a funny way? i’ve only hung out with andie once (which i’m trying to change before she goes back to vegas) but she’s so into musical theatre and i love reading her tweets about it b/c i love how passionate she is! dylan makes awful decisions on the daily like... blowjob competition? rly dyn? and it’s so funny to hear about and he gives ridiculous but funny advice and is super australian and always says “bruv” which is super funny to me. jenna i’m p sure is going to be running the world in two years (also holy shit she’s graduating college?? my bb girl is growing up :’)). adja is so funny b/c i thought she was super by the rules in hs but now she’s a wild child. aidan (as in the senior in hs, not the one my age) sends me #relatable memes and even tho we don’t talk often it gets deep as shit when we do (but i lowkey don’t trust him b/c of his opinions of iron fist smh). allie is in my race & ethnicity class and is just nice all around and we DM eachother on twitter sometimes like ‘what was that awful presentation in class’). nick from polisci is so knowledgeable about politics but makes the issues funny w/o being offensive and shannon (also from polisci) dresses rly cute and we have fun conversations & the three of us have a funny group chat for our presentation. quinn is such a wannabe edgelord but is honestly so pure and a good friend. asmaa is the sweetest possible person and we always tease quinn together. ricky continously gives me a hard time about everything but in a funny way and patiently explains WoW lore to me. JT is also fun to play WoW with and makes me feel like a baby b/c he’s and old man. rebecca’s steadfast belief in drarry makes me smile and i love her writing. harri is one of my many wives and her snapchats are amazing (as are her boobs). kinzie i rarely talk to but i can still hit up sometimes like whats up bitch today i had sex while listening to wtnv. cassie, becca, and eleanor are all rly cool and super pretty and nice to chill with and i love their art and photography and general personalities. georgie gave me the sweetest poem and letter last summer when i was feeling down and we have similar aspirations and i’d love to work with her in my career sometime! marko and henry are married istg but anyway marko is such a genuine, honest person and henry is an amazing writer and i loved english with him and it’d make me happy if we were closer. lena is my protege and i am an awful mentor b/c i never see her since i graduated but she is my child. layla is the baddest bitch i have ever met, her nails are always amazing and we can be catty together and blast nicki minaj. sarah is so funny b/c everyone thinks she’s reserved and studious and stuff (and she kinda is) but once you get to know her she is the sassiest person you will ever meet. my sister and i fight sometimes over me stealing her clothes constantly but we bond over how our parents drive us up the wall and also she cooks a lot which means i can steal food. the entire volstovic cycle fandom (dani, scarlett, anna, crystal, etc) are all amazing creators of things and honestly an inspiration. rimsha is the hardest working person i have ever met and i love hearing about her succeed. brady is my fellow gay (tho tbh 90% of the ppl on this list are gay b/c we flock together) and i love him for his snarkiness. all the boys i sat at lunch with in high school (garrison, rex, arun, etc) are such memes but i didn’t realize how cool they were until we graduated and now i’m like, damn i should’ve paid them more attention even tho i saw them every day. my boyfriend is my friend and he’s the most politically active person i have ever met, and he’s such a dweeb, and he makes me smile whenever we’re together (even when i’m trying to be angry at him). feihong acts like a fuckboy but is pretty dang cool if i’m being honest; he’s rly dedicated to what he does. carly and i don’t talk but i appreciate her paintings and selfies and funny tweets from afar. morgan and i were at a fidlar concert once together and we both couldn’t survive the mosh pit (also her instagram captions are fuckin hilarious am i right or am i right?). kelly is a goddamn klepto but we always have fun together drinking coffee and talking about pens and i love and support her art and she does the same for mine. charlotte is chill and i miss just hanging out in her basement b/c she’s such a gemini but in a good way. the ppl i sit with on campus (sumaiya, alex, zuri, etc) are always having interesting convos and share food and it’s a good time. my cousin and her husband (nat and ron) are the most punk ppl in their 30s and they introduced me to the punk scene and i miss them b/c they moved back to kansas. shakey’s photography on insta makes me feel pensive and i want to go to philly just to meet her. miki i’m not super tight with but her writing is a+ and makes me cry and i love rping with her. rina is such a cool mutual and her art is dope. lea is also a cool chic and i love her hair and want her to bake my wedding cake. mousse is so nice to everyone. ellie and i only talk like twice a year at family parties but we can always dive back in and pick up where we left off. the ppl i party w (other aidan, jakob, justin, etc) are dumbasses (i use that term endearingly) but i’m 98% sure they’ve all carried me to the toilet when i’ve been puking my guts out at a party. marley was that friend that ended up going to yale and no one was surprised so i admire her success but also she was always kind to me and always asked how i was doing with my mental illnesses. renee and maria and i bonded over ib art and sga and generally being over-worked by our sponsor. alanna was another one of my proteges who i need to keep up with better b/c she’s badass and funny and has the best eyebrows ever. i don’t talk to sidney anymore but we went thru so much together and supported eachother a lot a few years ago and i still love em for that. eddie is such a dweeb, everytime i see him (which is a surprising amount considering he lives in miami) we act like nothing has changed and go at eachothers throats. rachel m & galen have both grown so so much since i met them and i’m proud of them. rachel s is so fun to talk about hoe things with and laugh at eachother. marco has the best finsta of anyone ever. danny and i talk over snapchat every so often (like every month or so) and we have the weirdest convos like?? let’s name your imaginary lizard. zamzam (from my creative writing class last semester) was super fun to hang out with when she came over and actually everyone in that class (xander, leah, olivia, will, etc) were excellent writers and hilarious and we all bonded. victor is such a bro honestly he’s funny and is very attentive (actually listens) and is fun sober or not. sandra i’ve known since i was a baby and never really talked to until recently but she’s so nice to talk to about small things. alyssa i stalk obsessively on goodreads b/c who else can read that much, istg girl you’re a cyborg (but like a pretty one). rp buds that i haven’t mentioned so far (mario, mackenzie, etc) i value a lot for their companionship and writing. there are tons of ppl from hs that i wish i had gotten to know better when i was there (julia, drea, tina, both erins, bridget, etc). 

and yeah there are more ppl but those are mostly ppl i talk to at parties or dm occasionally or wish i was friends with but admire from afar. anyway. this got long. I JUST LOVE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!

[knightscanfeeltoo]

Olivia and Knightess Lucatiel who is Looking after them for Oscar...

(I'm Too Lazy to add her Undead Scar on her Face...)

[reddirtramblings]

At night when I can’t sleep, I engage in a bit of garden dreaming. Instead of counting sheep, I wander through the everlasting garden in my mind. While meandering, I push away thoughts of garden work because just the images of all I need to do in spring might keep me up all night.

This is about joy, not work.

One of the places I often go is down the main walk of the garden where I sit for a while in the purple chairs.

[bctt tweet=”As J.M. Barrie wrote in A Window in Thrums, God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December. ” username=”reddirtramblin”]

The two beds facing the street in the middle of summer.

When I close my eyes, I see my garden as it was last spring, summer, and fall. The seasons are fluid and usually feature whichever part of the garden is at its best at any given time. There are no limitations of time and space in my mental garden.

[bctt tweet=”The garden of my mind is perfection. It is a foretaste of heaven.” username=”reddirtramblin”]

The garden of my mind is perfection. It is a foretaste of heaven. Bees, hoverflies, and butterflies flit from flower-to-flower gathering pollen and nectar.

One of my honey bees flying to ‘Wendy’s Wish’ salvia, one of my favorite plants.

I envision the golden tummies of my honey bees filled with nectar, and I trust they are well. Flowers unfurl their petals to welcome their beloved with scent and color. I may stop to smell a rose or run my hands through the tall ornamental grasses as I walk. Wherever my mind leads me, that’s where I go.

Rosa ‘The Poet’s Wife’ has no blackspot in my dream garden. She always looks just like this.

Birds sing in the trees. No one is eating anyone else. Not even the praying mantises. No caterpillars are being devoured by birds or wasps. In the garden of my mind, all is well, and no one needs to eat anyone else to survive. Not logical, you say? Perhaps, but this isn’t reality. It’s better.

Benary’s Giant Wine zinnia with a honey bee.

Bordered Patch butterfly, Chlosyne lacinia

Male Monarch butterfly on ‘Bluebird’ aster.

There are times when the garden I visit is in its winter state, receptive for longer days and moisture from the heavens, but most of the time, it’s spring, summer or fall. I like those seasons best so that’s when I visit.

Grasses and other plants in my garden midsummer of 2013. It looks similar now, but the chairs are painted purple. I could no longer find French blue paint.

New border and older garage border.

Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Overdam,’ one of the most beautiful and mature grasses in the garden.

All is harmonious in the garden of my mind.

Paths, back garden and she shed.

If it’s spring, I see daffodils, tulips, and my favorite blue plant, Phlox divaricata ‘Blue Moon.’ In the garden of my mind, there are no voles to eat tulips, no moles to tunnel beneath and upend plants. There is no disease or drought. Instead, the garden of my mind is a cacophony of color. Flowers, grasses and leaves dance and play in the breeze, and the sun is warm on my back as I bend to examine a flower or insect more closely.

After all, I have all the time in the world, and there are no weeds in the garden of my mind.

Phlox divaricata given to me by Wanda Faller years ago.

Phlox divaricata with variegated Solomon’s seal.

Tulips in the garden not eaten by anything.

Double daffodils from John Scheepers bulbs.

Pink and white daffodils have a salmon-hued cup, but in my mind, they are the perfect pink of catalog photographs.

It is supposed to take the average person twenty minutes to fall asleep, and in that time, I can wander quite far. I usually start on the back deck, walking down the steps and opening the gate. My tennis shoes hit the gravel paths crunching beneath my feet. I then turn and look left to the three-tiered borders. Usually, the roses are blooming. Most of my David Austin roses are here, including ‘Darcey Bussell,’ ‘Graham Thomas,’ ‘The Lady Gardener’ and ‘Olivia Rose Austin.’ among others.

Containers on the deck surrounding the chairs.

The tiered borders looking from below on the path.

I have ‘Darcey Bussell’ planted next to Mary in the tiered beds.

Rosa ‘Olivia Rose Austin,’ another newer David Austin rose in my garden.

‘Graham Thomas’ is a strong yellow English rose.

Apricot mystery rose with ‘Niobe’ clematis. What a sweet dichotomy I planted here. Occasionally, a plan works as you want it.

After I stroll the back garden paths, stopping to gaze at my favorite Japanese maple, ‘Tamukeyama,’ I turn left, walk past my little she shed and then climb the hill to the potager where tomatoes are neatly staked, ripened peppers hang on stems in bunches, and beans climb a trellis with basil and lavender planted beneath.

AAS winner ‘Mad Hatter’ pepper is one of my favorites to grow.

Red Racer tomato produces a lot of fruit on a very small plant. It does get some disease, but it hasn’t overwhelmed the plant yet.

‘Valentine’ tomato is a heavy producer of grape tomatoes. It is Indeterminate so make sure you stake it well.

Basil, especially one with red or purple foliage is great in bouquets too. Photo courtesy of Chronicle Books.

Basil and chard I saw planted for fall in an AZ garden.

All this vegetable bounty makes me hungry so I spend a moment or two planning meals around everything ready and waiting. You see, in the garden of my mind, there are no specific seasons or limitations. I just go to that part of the garden I love most in the particular season I love best.

The potager surrounds the red fountain which is the focal point of my vegetable garden.

The potager in July a couple of years ago. This is one of the photos that looks so Mediterranean.

I really like the plant combinations around the red fountain this year. Pineapple sage, ‘Dallas Red’ lantana, ‘Pink Crystals’ ruby grass and ‘Victoria Blue’ salvia (returned from last year.)

Start small with raised beds or containers.

‘Little Fingers’ eggplant in my garden. They were very, very small.

Even with slight flea beetle damage, this eggplant blossom still glows

I love tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, green beans and basil so I visit the potager in its summer months. However, it’s the perfect temperature. Just right for vegetables to ripen, but not sweltering so that I’m begging for water and shade. My greenhouse sits just beyond the potager, so when I choose to visit it, it’s winter.

I cleaned the inside of the greenhouse and grouped the plants by color and type for easier transplanting outside in late April.

Potager planted and cedar mulch for the gardens.

The sweet peas and coleus are growing nicely in the greenhouse.

The greenhouse and cold frames on a cool morning. Notice the condensation on the windows. Everything is nice and warm.

‘Republic of Texas’ orange tree that grows in the greenhouse over winter. The oranges are very good.

Snow is gently falling on the roof, and I look up to see the snowflakes as they fall. The kumquats are ripe, and I pluck one off and chew it tasting first the tang of the fruit and then the sweetness of the peel. I have Meyer lemons and oranges too, but they aren’t yet ripe. Both ripen later than the kumquats and while I can be in any season, my mind seems to acknowledge that everything has its season so all is harmonic and peaceful.

Muhlenbergia capillaris ‘Lenca’ Regal Mist, pink muhly grass with Salvia leucantha, Mexican bush sage.

Maddie posing in front of the street bed. The pink grass is muhly grass.

Pink muhly grass with coleus and Mexican bush sage in 2016. The clumps have just gotten bigger.

Pink muhly grass is starting to show its fall colors.

If I’m still not sleepy and want to wander, even more, I may go out to the bed that faces the street and check out the pink muhly grass. My faithful and beloved dog, Maddie, is there. I’ll then go walk over to the cutting garden beds and see if the zinnias are still going strong.

I always grow several varieties of sunflowers in the cutting garden. I look forward to them each year.

‘Strawberry Blonde’ sunflower.

Here, they bloom with the sunflowers and other annuals to give the pollinators more to eat while also gracing my table with flowers. I may take scissors in hand and cut a bouquet. Suddenly, I’m back inside arranging the flowers. If I see a flower spider, I’ll gently blow it back outside on another flower. I do this in my real life too. I don’t usually kill insects unless I must. Although, in the garden of my mind, no one eats anyone else, we know that birds, snakes, lizards, and other insects must eat to survive. Over the years, I’ve learned to let everything exist pretty much in balance unless something gets way out of hand. Then, I do occasionally intercede.

Usually, by this time, I’ve drifted off to sleep where I may continue to stroll grateful to God that I have a garden in which to go. I’ve spent the last eleven years on this blog, and years before in articles and in garden talks, teaching people how to garden.

If I could give you one gift, it would be this.

One day, I may no longer have the strength to toil in the dirt, but I will still have the garden in my mind.

Please remember, gardening isn’t only about the practical things like when to sow, plant, water, and harvest. It’s also about the garden that resides in our souls, in our dreams. As you drift off to sleep, try thinking of these.

      In the garden of my mind At night when I can't sleep, I engage in a bit of garden dreaming. Instead of counting sheep, I wander through the everlasting garden in my mind.

[largodrive]

Tulum Guide

By Olivia Dorman

Tulum is one of the most beautiful beach in the Mexican Caribbean and has become a favorite designation for bloggers and instagram lovers alike. Tulum is definitely the place to be! I was intrigued after seeing model after model, brand after brand shooting in Tulum. I was convinced after our buyer and owner both went and raved about the food, the beach, & the atmosphere. What more could you ask for?

High season is October to March, with the biggest crowds from January to March! We went in May and it was beautiful, just a little humid and rainy (well a lot humid and a little rainy). It worked for us because the crowds had definitely thinned and the beach was still incredible. We also managed to avoid too much of a seaweed problem which starts to clog up the beach and ocean in the summer. 

Keep scrolling to see the highlights and hiccups from my trip and our favorite spots to explore, eat, and relax while in heaven. 

We had a bit of a bumpy start to our trip when the car I'd arranged with the hotel didn't show up to take us into Tulum at 6:30am (after flying all night). But after negotiating with the myriad of taxi's out front, we hopped in a shuttle van to drive us the hour and a half to our hotel. I'd definitely recommend having your driver stop by an ATM outside of the airport to get pesos out because you'll get a much better exchange rate than changing at the airport. They'll also stop at a gas station for you to get waters and such, which I'd recommend, but we didn't do because we were exhausted and just wanted to get to the hotel. Forever Boyfriend brushed up on his already very good Spanish with the cab driver until we made it to Papaya Playa Project. (~$200USD round trip) 

Tip: I would not book a round trip with the taxis outside the airport, they make it seem like a good deal, but there is a chance that they won't show up at the specified time to take you back to the airport. Which happened to us and we’re still wrestling to get our money back.   After arriving and leaving our bags with the front desk to take to our casita at check in, we went and had breakfast outside overlooking the gorgeous beach. I had the Chilaquiles and a fruit juice. So good and fresh tasting. They have their own bee hives and gardens on the property so a lot of the ingredients are super fresh. We spent the rest of that day laying on the beach in their lounge beds and ordering from the waiters that walked around. It was the perfect way to start a vacation and the best way to forget about the rough morning. 

Where to Stay:

Papaya Playa Project: At the start of beach strip that is Tulum, Papaya Playa Project was a beach side oasis. Each room is a separate little house “casita.” Ours was up on a cliff looking out over the water with our very own hammock to sit out front. Each bed had a mosquito net around it which made it very dreamy. We had a AC thank god but we definitely could have slept with the floor length windows open. It’s a little on the glamping side (there was both a lizard and a crab in our room at one point) but it was so beautiful it didn’t matter. I would 100% recommend this hotel, but there are so many good ones that I'm sure you can't go wrong. 

The only negative I would have to say about PPP was the location. Being located at the top of the strip, it’s pretty far (2 miles) from the center where most of the good restos are. We ended up spending a lot of time and money in cabs (~$5 a trip). But I also think it made it a little quieter so it’s all depends on your perspective.

What to do:

Ruins & Cenotes: I'd highly recommend going to see a Mayan ruin to get to know this area's rich history. The Tulum ruins are another good option if you want something closer! Also, definitely visit one of the area's beautiful cenotes, natural sink holes that expose underground water! We visited El Gran and it was breathtaking. This was one of my favorite things we did! The water was nice and cool and has excellent photo opportunities #instaheaven. Dos Ojos and Ik Kil are suppose to be other amazing options too. 

We started the day by hiring a taxi to take us to Coba (about an hour from Tulum) and El Gran Cenote. We paid about $100 USD round trip. We got to ride just the two of us in a nice air conditioned car and he patiently waited for us outside each site. Ask your hotel's front desk about helping set up transportation.  

When we arrived at Coba, we paid the ~$8 entrance fee and walked around and saw some initial ruins. My tip I would 100% pay the ~$5 for a petty cab to bike you to the main ruin. It’s not THAT far of a walk, but boy is it hot and sticky. And if you’re lucky you’ll get a nice native Mayan who will give you some history on some of the structures along the way. 

Coba was one of the largest Mayan cities in Mexico and features the largest temple pyramid in the Yucatan peninsula. You can climb to the top of the pyramid and stand above the trees. The steps are very steep but totally doable. You’ll be nice and sweaty when you get to the top but the view is beautiful. 

After meeting back up with our taxi, we went to El Gran Centoes.  To preserve the natural purity of the water and the turtles and fish that live there, they ask you to shower in an outdoor shower before swimming in the cenotes and they require all natural sunscreen. (We skipped buying extra sunscreen because we were not going to be there that long and there was plenty of shade but if you think you'll be there for a couple hours I'd definitely bring some.) Float in the crystal clear waters and explore the deep caves by snorkeling or diving. It’s bliss!   

Shopping: And of course, no vacation is complete without a little shopping! The shopping in Tulum is fabulous! There’s tons of little boutiques along the main road with unique clothing, jewelry, and other fun goodies. I love finding things from local artisans and KM 33 had the most amazing local jewelry, hats, and bags. Definitely take a stroll down the main drag and see what you find! 

 Yoga: As a very eco-friendly and health conscious destination, many of the hotels  offer daily yoga classes! We managed to take a couple while we were there and i

Where to eat: 

Posada Magharita: If you've reached your limit with Mexican food, take a trip to the dreamy Italian oasis, Posada Magharita, and dine on fresh pasta, delicious wine, and the juiciest tomatoes you'll ever taste. Sitting with your toes in the sand and looking out at the cotton candy sky as the sun dips below the horizon, you won't regret coming here!

Casa Jaguar: Located on the jungle side, Casa Jaguar has fantastic drinks and even better food. When we went, it had been raining so we were sat at one long table with the other brave tourists who ventured out during the rain. It ended up being super fun and intimate and we made some new friends. Bring bug spray, order a drink, any of the freshly made menu items, and I promise you'll leave a happy camper!

Kin | Toh: Lounge above the trees, sip on a luxurious cocktail and take in the sunset over the jungle at this luxury restaurant.  Described as Mayan and Mexican fusion, wn dined on exotic menu items such as sour worms, black ceviche, and ant tostada (these are not the actual names but alas i did not take a pic of the menu and they change their menu often). Definitely the most luxurious dinner we had, but even if you can’t splurge for dinner - come for a drink and lounge in the hammocks that extend out over open air.  

The Real Coconut: Out of the Sanara hotel, The Real Coocnut is the epitome of Tulum wellness. Everything on the menu is gluten, grain, dairy and refined sugar free and features sustainably sourced ingredients. We started with the Very Berry Chia Parfait to share (i'd get your own it's so good) and then I followed that with the avocado toast with two poached eggs, charcoal lemonade, and an amazing coconut chai tea latte! With offerings such as Super Bone Broth Blend, Healing Green Pressed Juice, and Fruit Bliss Bowl, you won’t feel guilty about anything you eat here! 

Raw Love: If you love acais bowls (and who doesn’t?), you will love Raw Love! Technically on the beach, but a little further inland from the ocean, they had the most amazing smoothie bowl i’ve ever had with authentic coconut, fresh fruit, and beautiful presentation. It was the perfect light breakfast for the last day of our trip. 

Others:

Hartwood was supposed to be amazing but they weren’t open while we were there. :(

Mateos - We ate here and loved the live music but it felt super Americanized, but the sunset on the second floor is supposed to be amazing.

To Bring: 

- BUGSPRAY!!! - and don’t wear black it attracts those suckers like no other

- Sunscreen obvi (natural if you want to go to the cenotes) 

- Any of these bikinis

- Or this one (I mean honestly you could get away with only wearing bikinis which I highly recommend)

- A book to read (i read this one and this one while there)

- Comfortable sandals (these are my FAVORITE) 

- Shorts

- Breezy dresses (this one, this one, and this one would be perfect)

Go book those tickets! And let me know what your favorite part of Tulum was! Adios! 

[knightscanfeeltoo]

Oscar needed a Break and decided to read some Good YA Novels...

(he definitely deserves a break after watching too many horrible movies from the asylum...)

[knightscanfeeltoo]

Gwyndolin, Snakes, Olivia and Oscar just trying to Stay Warm because of Cold Winter...

(i just wanna draw one more gwyndolinxoscar drawing...)

[knightscanfeeltoo]

Two Babies...

(i nearly forgot about wednesday again, i'm sorry...)

[knightscanfeeltoo]

Johan holding a Rock Lizard thinking they are Adorable but Peewit Disagrees, Not Trusting Anything in Lordran...

(I don't Blame Pirlouit after they got Attacked by some Treasure Chest Monster before...)