#small globe thistle

[samirafee]

#ECHINOPS RITRO - SMALL GLOBE THISTLE🌿*️⃣

@samirafee

[thebotanicalarcade]

n15_w1150 by Biodiversity Heritage Library Via Flickr: The botanic garden ;. London :Simpkin & Marshall,1825-. biodiversitylibrary.org/page/52553103

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

Wool-Carder Bees: these solitary bees harvest the soft, downy hairs that grow on certain plants, rolling them into bundles and then using the material to line their nests

Wool-carder bees build their nests in existing cavities, usually finding a hole/crevice in a tree, a plant stem, a piece of rotting wood, or a man-made structure, and then lining the cavity with woolly plant fibers, which are used to form a series of brood cells.

The fibers (known as trichomes) are collected from the leaves and stems of various plants, including lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina), mulleins, globe thistle, rose campion, and other fuzzy plants.

From the University of Florida's Department of Entomology & Nematology:

The female uses her toothed mandibles to scrape trichomes off fuzzy plants and collects a ball of the material under her abdomen. She transports these soft plant fibers to her selected nest site and uses them to line a brood cell. Next, she collects and deposits a provision of pollen and nectar into the cell, enough pollen to feed a larva until it is ready to pupate. Lastly, she lays a single egg on top of the pollen and nectar supply before sealing the cell. ... She will repeat this process with adjoining cells until the cavity is full.

These are solitary bees, meaning that they do not form colonies or live together in hives. Each female builds her own nest, and the males do not have nests at all.

Female wool-carder bees will sometimes sting if their nest is threatened, but they are generally docile. The males are notoriously aggressive, however; they will often chase, head-butt, and/or wrestle any other insect that invades their territory, and they may defend their territory from intruders up to 70 times per hour. The males do not have stingers, but there are five tiny spikes located on the last segment of their abdomen, and they often use those spikes when fighting. They also have strong, sharp mandibles that can crush other bees.

There are many different types of wool-carder bee, but the most prolific is the European wool-carder (Anthidium manicatum), which is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, but has also become established as an invasive species throughout much of North America, most of South America, and New Zealand. It is the most widely distributed unmanaged bee in the world.

A few different species of wool-carder bee: the top row depicts the European wool-carder, A. manicatum (left) and the spotted wool-carder, Anthidium maculosum (right), while the bottom row depicts the reticulated small-woolcarder, Pseudoanthidium reticulatum, and Porter's wool-carder, Anthidium porterae

Sources & More Info:

University of Florida: The Woolcarder Bee

Oregon State University: European Woolcarder Bees

Bohart Museum of Entomology: Facts about the Wool Carder Bee (PDF)

Bumblebee Conservation Trust: A. manicatum

World's Best Gardening Blog: European Wool Carder Bees - Likeable Bullies

Biological Invasions: Global Invasion by Anthidium manicatum

[storiesbyrhi]

Witch!Reader x Bat/Vampire!Eddie Munson Series Masterlist The Grimoire The Timeline

Warnings: canon typical violence, horror genre typical violence/some infrequent gore, swearing, animal death, no beta, death in childbirth (mentioned, not described), abusive parents, suicide, spiders/bugs, grief/mourning; light smut; warnings updated each chapter.

Synopsis: No witch has stepped foot in Hawkins since 1845, but when Vecna opens the ground and poisons the town, a voice begins to call to you. Have you been brought back to this cursed place to heal the townspeople’s wounds, to save a hexed bat that always finds its way to you, or to redefine your history with a reunion 150 years in the making?

Chapter Summary: Seven witches and a vampire walk into a human Halloween party in Hawkins, Indiana. 3676 words.

1986

When the witches came to Hawkins, only the animals sensed a change. Squirrels and cottontail rabbits played in the fields. Foxes and deer lined the horizon. Bats swooped, each of them enamored with Eddie – a bat, from what they could tell, but different.

“They think I’m a God,” Eddie had told you once he realised the influence he had on them.

You’d laughed at him. “Well, I think they think you’re a fun toy.”

The flatlands that sprouted homes were surrounded by a fauna-filled welcoming party that would have given any mortal driving by a heart attack. Naturally, you’d been building wards and glamours to keep the coven safe.

When you felt your sisters close, you walked by each of their homes. Eddie had made good on his promise to give them something. Beside the front door to each of the houses was a potted plant that he had grown. The plants he chose were, to him, symbolic of the witch who would take over care of it.

Asphodel for Ev, carolina for Meg, globe thistle for Mel, bluebell for Ash, lycoris for Hailey, and though a little cheesy, a black bat plant for Kelsey.

The fall sun was out, so Eddie would see the witches’ arrival in his small and fluffy form. He settled on your shoulder as you stood and watched the cars go from pinpricks on the horizon to loud and finally, finally, here.

Meg came screaming out of her car. “Does he want pats?!” She bypassed you entirely, holding her hands out for Eddie. If he felt demeaned, he didn’t let on. Eddie let Meg scoop him up and cradle him in her hands. She wandered off with no further greetings.

“How’s he gonna feel about that?” Kelsey asked, pulling you into a hug immediately.

“He is very preoccupied with making a good impression. It’s sweet actually. So… he will probably let her baby him for hours.”

She laughed then looked at you seriously. “Hi,”

“Hi,”

“I’ve missed you,”

“Stop, you’ll make me cry,” you said, holding in your feelings. “So, uh, where…” Turning around, you saw Meg and Mel’s empty cars. “Where are the others?”

“Uh… There’s Ev,” Kelsey pointed.

Ev was already on the edge of the woods, befriending the fox family you’d come to love. A little further in, Mel was taking photos of the old trees.

Suddenly, Hailey’s voice cut through the air. “Every room has bookshelves!”

As you and Kelsey walked to Hailey’s house, you noticed Ash, suspiciously whispering into her garden of dahlias, pointing to the bluebell Eddie left on her porch.

“Guess the fae boyfriend’s moving in too,”

“She told you?!” you screeched.

“And you told Eddie, guessing by that bluebell,”

“Oh, if you think that’s on the nose, wait till you see what he picked for you.”

…

By the last week of October, your coven was well on its way to establishment. Each witch had a list of things they felt were required to feel at home. Mostly, they worked on their houses and gardens. More wards were put in place not only around the valley but around all of Hawkins. The witches embedded themselves in the fabric of the town, starting the long process of helping it flourish again.

Your sisters were excited at the extended invitation to the Byers Halloween party by Dustin. Costumes were the topic of conversation over forest walks and shared dinners. Eddie continued to charm everyone with his mysteriousness when asked what he would be going as. Bets were being placed. He’d pick something cool or clever. He’d be beautiful.

…

You could not have been more different if you tried.

Eddie wore his hair in a low bun. The blue long-sleeved polo shirt and dark bootcut jeans were so normal it made you feel uncomfortable. As requested, you’d performed a simple illusion spell to make his black boots appear brown. It was only when he held the round, orange, plush toy cat did it make any sense.

“Jon Arbuckle,” he announced.

“No, yeah, I figured when you got the toy at Walmart… It’s just… You look…”

Eddie grinned. He saw how unsettled you were.

“I… Um. I think you need something else,” you told him. Reaching out for his ginger cat, he let you take it. Closing your eyes and expanding the illusion spell, you charmed the toy into looking like the actual Garfield. “Here… This helps.”

Eddie took the cat with a shrug. “And you?” He looked you up and down with a predatory gaze. It made your spine arch involuntarily. “I’m afraid I do not recognise this character.”

There was no magic in your costume – just good old fashion arts and crafts. You wore a very, very long yellow-blonde wig and a golden headpiece with a red jewel at its center. Your white dress was also adorned with golden armour. The knee-high boots were painted gold too. More painted plastic armour on your arms and a plastic sword held high.

“Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!” you proclaimed. “Princess of Power!”

Eddie cackled.

“She’s from Masters of the Universe. She’s very, very cool,”

“I believe you,” Eddie replied. “You look every part the Princess of Power.”

 When you joined the coven by the cars, each looked more confused than the last. Kelsey was the first to break the silence.

“Uh… Nice costumes,” she said.

“This is Garfield,” Eddie replied, holding the cat out.

“It sure is, buddy. This isn’t going to weird the humans out at all.”

Kelsey and Mel sat in the back of your car as you drove.

“The makeup suits you,” Eddie told Mel.

“Yeah, I know this is a costume, but this look is like… It’s working for you,” you added.

Mel, in her Siouxie-best black just shrugged. “Stole a lot of the clothes from Ev.”

In Meg’s car, Ash was giving the other three witches a stern talking to about what she believed were ‘cop out’ costumes.

“Dude, I’m not in costume,” Meg argued. “These are just my clothes!”

“Every year you do this, Ash…”

“What’s the point in being a witch if you don’t do Halloween?” she frowned.

“What’s the point in going as Sandy if you don’t have someone going as Danny?” Hailey asked.

“Maybe she does,” Meg mumbled.

All the girls whispered out little ohhhhhhhhs at Ash’s expense. They wondered, pointedly and out loud, if fae do Halloween. What does a fairy dressed like Danny Zuko look like anyway?

“I left the Catskills for this?” Ash whined, secretly amused, and very much comforted by the fact the coven seemed to be accepting of her fae friend.

…

“You came!” Robin was very drunk, therefore unable to hide her true emotions, which were a combination of surprise, fear, excitement, and grief.

“I’m Jon and this is Garfield,” Eddie introduced before you could say anything.

Robin looked at him carefully. “I kinda thought you’d, you know, come as Dracula or something,”

“He’s aiming for soft and harmless,” you explained. “But if you want stereotypical vampire, Ev’s got you covered.”

Ev waved and bared her plastic fangs.

“Riiiight…” Robin said slowly.

“YOU CAME!” Dustin yelled, pushing Robin out of the way, and beaming with pure excitement. “Oh, hey, cool costume!” he complimented Eddie. “I like your Garfield. Nice touch,”

“Thank you,”

“So, do you have to be, like, invited in formally?” he asked, voice lowering, though the music was so loud nobody would be able to hear him anyway.

“Only because I’m house trained,” Eddie whispered back.

Dustin laughed, pointing to him. “Funny. I like a… funny… vampire, I guess… Come in!”

It was only a little before 10:00 pm but the party was already raging. The Byers’ house was filled with people, some of whom you knew, some not. Everybody needed an excuse to let loose and pretend to be okay for a little while, and you felt they were owed at least that.

The backyard was lit with party lights and whatever else could be hooked up to the power. The moon was waning, with barely 4% illumination. The night was dark and cool, and fires burned in emptied-out oil kegs.

It did not take long for your coven to splinter off and enjoy the night. You sipped at the purple coloured punch Robin offered you, surprised that it had much of an effect on you at all.

“Russian recipe,” Hopper grunted as his eyes followed Eddie around the party.

Eddie, who could not drink the punch, was designated driver one of two. Sobriety would not impede his fun though. As it were, nobody would let anything impede their fun.

…

Seven witches and a vampire walk into a human Halloween party in Hawkins, Indiana.

10:14 pm

Hailey introduced herself to Nancy in the kitchen. Nancy was distracting herself from all the things brewing in her unconscious by opening bags of chips and unnecessarily pouring them into bowls.

“Is Pride and Prejudice your favourite of Jane’s work?” Hailey asked.

Nancy looked at her. “Nobody’s recognised me.” The Elizabeth Bennet costume was accurate, albeit not exactly iconic.

Hailey smiled. “You look great.”

Nancy blushed, shook her head a little. “It’s hard to pick a favourite,”

“Tell me about it. Lizzy’s got to be one of her best characters though.” She left out the part about how she’d helped Jane Austen shape Lizzy into something more than what society expected of a woman, let alone a woman in story.

Nancy nodded. “You… Sorry, what are you?”

“I’m a witch.”

Nancy hesitated. “Oh… Yes, but… What are you dressed as?”

“I’m a witch,” Hailey repeated.

“You’re a real witch who dressed up as a-”

“A witch, yeah.”

Nancy still looked confused.

“See, I have a broom.”

10:28 pm

One was in a lab coat, the other in a red puffy vest. One held a huge remote made of cardboard and glue, the other a video camera.

“You really committed,” you praised them.

“We tried to get Jonathan to come as the DeLorean but he’s trying to look cool for Nancy,” Will explained.

“I think the DeLorean is very impressive,” El added. “It would be a cool costume.”

You nodded. “He could have made it a Transformer situation… So, what did he end up coming as? I couldn’t work it out,”

 “Joe Strummer,” Will replied.

“Ah, right.”

Honestly, Jonathan looked like he could have been Joe Strummer or James Dean or a young Lou Reed. Maybe one of the Beat Generation guys. All those white poet musician types ended up looking the same to you.

10:43 pm

Dustin followed Meg through the house, entirely unconvinced. “That’s gotta be a costume,”

“No, Dustin, these are just my clothes,”

“But you look like a pilgrim!”

Meg looked down at her floor length skirt. The billowing cotton. The soft corset cinching her waist. “I mean… I am hundreds of years old… and I take really good care of my clothes.”

Dustin’s mouth was agape. “But you’re magic! You have real magic and you don’t even use it to make a badass costume? And you’re a witch! Aren’t you contractually obliged to celebrate Halloween?”

“No,” Meg replied with a casual shrug. “Why are you interrogating me? There are much more worthy victims in this coven then me,”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, apparently your friend Steve Harrington is haunting Mel. And Ev is dating a werewolf, so…” And with that Meg walked away from Dustin, smirking at the chaos she’d caused.

11:02 pm

You sat in a plastic chair that was probably too close to the open flames in front of it. As you pulled it back and lined it next to Joyce, she smiled at you.

“How’s your night?” she asked politely.

“Uh… Interesting… Yours?”

She nodded and you knew what she meant. “You seem different,” she told you.

You sighed, nodded as she had. “I am. We all are, I think,”

“I think so too.”

Together you sat in comfortable silence and watched the happiness of the party.

“I was glad, you know, when I heard you were staying. Hawkins needs…”

“Help?” you guessed.

Joyce nodded. “And hope. You and your friends… It’s good.”

11:36 pm

“Why didn’t he come? It’s not like it’s a full moon,” Mike Wheeler asked Ev.

“He wasn’t invited,” she answered, looking over the top of him, searching for someone to save her from the teenage conversation.

“Ohhhhh, is it like… Like how vampires can only come in when invited? Did the stories get it wrong and that’s actually werewol-” Lucas Sinclair tried.

“No! Not like that,”

“Is it like when we all thought Dustin’s girlfriend wasn’t real because we never saw her,” Mike asked Lucas then.

“He’s real,” Ev assured them.

“Suzie’s real too,” Lucas began to explain. “They met at camp and-”

“Yeah, yeah. That’s great. Um, who told you about him? My boyfriend, I mean. Who told you?”

Mike and Lucas looked at each other, neither wanting to be the rat.

12:01 am

“You have somewhere to be?” Mel asked Eddie when she saw him watching the clock above the fireplace.

He smiled. “No. It’s… Midnight… Always feels like something is going to happen when the clock strikes twelve,”

“Sometimes it does,”

“Sometimes it does,” he agreed.

12:23 am

The juxtaposition of Erica’s soft face next to all the faux leather, duct tape, and corn syrup blood was both amusing and disconcerting.

“I thought Mad Max was Lucas’ girlfriend’s thing?” you asked her.

Erica was in the kitchen, mixing a feral concoction she was probably going to offer to her brother and all his friends. Not you though. You got a genuine Erica Sinclair smile.

“She’s still in the hospital,”

“What? Why’d nobody tell me? I’ll go and-”

“We don’t know where. Her mum took her. Wouldn’t tell Lucas anything.”

It would be easy for you to find Max. To find her and heal her. It felt a lot like meddling in human affairs though. But what were you now if not a witch that meddled? What was the worth of a rule if it prevented you from helping a teenage girl get out of pain sooner?

Erica saw it on your face. She knew scheming when she saw it. “Oh, you gonna go do some witchy stuff?”

“Maybe… So… the costume,”

“Lucas already gave me shit about it, okay?”

“Oh, no, I was gonna say it’s a cool thing to do. An ode to Max.”

Erica poured some Pabst into a red plastic cup. “To Max,”

“To Max,” you cheered. “Wait… How old are you? Gimme that.”

12.46 am 

Nancy and Jonathan danced together in a bubble of their own. It didn’t matter the tempo of the song or if anyone else was on the lounge room dancefloor. They danced.

1:14 am

“Are you kidding me?! Of course you should!”

“I think there are more than enough books and films to satisfy the human curiosity for the undead,”

“Yeah, but none written by an actual undead,” Dustin continued to argue. He’d been going at it for ten minutes straight. “If you won’t write your own story, Interview with the Vampire style, then you should write about all the others… About what they get right. What they get wrong,”

“And what point would that serve?” Eddie asked.

“Well, I would want to read a book by a real vampire,”

“It may not be in the best interests of anyone to discover that vampires were indeed real. Nor that witches are. Nor the horrors that have befallen your town, Dustin,”

“No! No, man. We gotta get the truth out there!”

1:32 am

Robin and Mel found a quiet patch of grass to lie back on.

“So… He just showed up?”

“Yeah,”

“And you’ve never met him?”

“No,”

“And he doesn’t want anything?”

Mel shrugged. “I don’t know… I don’t think he really knows what he’s doing here. He could move on if he wanted.”

Robin thought about it. “What’s the afterlife like? For us, I mean?”

“For humans? We don’t know exactly. It’s almost like there is an infinite number of possibilities…”

“But Steve – Steve Harrington – has decided to haunt a witch he’s never met?”

Mel shrugged again. “I don’t think it says anything about you or the others that he’s not haunted you instead… I think he probably wants to let you all move on.”

Robin sighed deeply. “You got some sort of potion to help with that?”

“There’s no cure to grief, magical or otherwise…” Mel said softly.

“I was afraid you’d say that,” Robin replied, her fists twisting into the grass and pulling the blades free from the soil.

2:07 am

“I guess that’s what a fae Danny Zuko looks like,” Ev deadpanned.

She stood next to Kels, watching as Ash and the tiny winged creature danced around one of the drum fires. The fairy was dressed from head to toe in leather. He had glittering tanned skin and dirty blonde curls cut into a typical 80s mullet.

“She looks happy,” Kels said.

“Mmm,” Ev hummed. “Did you hear his name? Cyprian,”

“Yeah, you’re right, a fae named Cyprian is a lot better than a werewolf named Randy.”

Before Ev could respond, Lucas appeared next to the witches. “What is that?”

“That, my mortal friend, is a witch dancing with one of the fae,” Kelsey explained, wrapping an arm around Lucas’ shoulder.

“Why does it look like Billy Hargrove?”

“He, not it, and I don’t know who Billy Hargrove is, but if he’s half as hot as that fairy is, then cheers to Billy Hargrove.”

2:39 am

The night was burning away fast, you couldn’t slow it down. There was something so beautifully human about it that you wanted to keep safe. Wanted to hold it in your hands. Be in it forever.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

Eddie’s voice whispered in your ear and his arms wrapped around your waist. He caught you leaning against the back door frame, watching the world go by. His head came to rest on your shoulder.

“It has all been worth it,” you told him. “Everything we did. For them. To get them here. Everything that happened had to happen, the exact way it did.”

They were not without their scars and their grief. They were changed and could never go back. But they were alive and hopeful and strong. Your strange little humans. You’d watch over them for generations to come.

3:13 am

“Magic begins when our bodies come right to the edge of their sensory and linguistic abilities and… something… keeps going anyway…”

The party had begun to wind down. Most of the witches were getting ready to leave, and the human population had thinned out to a handful of people.

Eddie was towards the back of the assembled crowd, watching you intently.

“And now, in the witching hour when the veil is so thin… The air is thick with witchcraft.”

You were using your most dramatic voice as you strutted around a drum of fire, the entire party’s attention on you. The humans were wide-eyed and hushed.

“In this place and in this hour, we may manifest what was not there into existence…”

Your sisters were trying not to laugh.

“Who will be brave and make their wish?” you posed to the crowd.

For a moment it was silent, only the crackling of the flames audible. Even the music had been turned off. Then, someone cleared their throat and stepped forward.

“Yeah, I wanna make a wish,” Erica declared, looking entirely unbothered by the mystique. If anything, she looked like this wish was her birthright.

You conjured a candle in your hand and held it out to her. “Courage, dear heart,” you told her.

3:52 am

“The first train out of town is leaving. Come on!” Meg yelled.

Mel, Ash, Ev, and Hailey said their goodbyes and followed Meg out of the Byers’ house.

“Family breakfast tomorrow?” Ash asked you as she hugged you goodnight.

“I’ll make pancakes. Better make it a brunch though,”

“Cool. Good luck with that one,” she laughed, nodding over to where Kels had Hopper cornered and ten points deep in an argument about whether hotdogs constitute sandwiches.

“Hot dogs are a sandwich. A sandwich consists of two pieces of a type of bread plus fillings contained within the two slices. A hotdog bun is a bun sliced in two, making it two slices of bread. The only difference being that one side of the two halves are still joined. It still however, is two halves that are obviously independent of each other with a filling separating them, therefore a sandwich. One might ask, ‘well in that case, is a calzone a sandwich?’ No. A calzone is enclosed entirely in bread. The two halves are entirely connected. This makes it fit into the pie category. Not the same as a sandwich, but parallel. One might also say, ‘well what if I don't have a bun, so I use a piece of bread as a substitute.’ Yes, using only one slice of bread no longer puts it into the sandwich category. This now aligns us into the toast category. Toast being a single slice of bread being used as a vehicle for a topping.”

4:20 am

“Five! Four! Three! Two! One!” Jonathan counted down.

The clock above the fireplace struck twenty minutes past four and the room of teenagers and young adults cheered.

4:37 am

The drive home was peaceful; you kept the radio low and listened to the first rumbles of a storm that was brewing way over beyond Indianapolis. It would arrive tomorrow afternoon. You could smell it in the air.

“They’re special,” Kelsey said from the passenger seat next to you. “Your humans,”

“Even if some of them think a hotdog is not a sandwich?”

“Even if some of them think a hotdog is not a sandwich.”

After seeing Kels into her house, you and Eddie finally retired to your home.

“Happy Halloween, my beautiful little witch,” Eddie cooed when you crawled into bed with him.

“Happy Halloween, my lovely, lovely, vampire.”

End Note: Sorry for going a little M.I.A. I had writers' block (still do) and have felt a weird sort of disconnect from my online world. I'm slowly getting back into it though.

Accurate: the moon phase for October 31, 1986. Not accurate: 420 being associated with weed in 1986, I think that happened sometime in the 90s.

Also, I took a quote from A Spell in the Wild by Alice Tarbuck and paraphrased it a bit ( “Witchcraft starts when our bodies come right up to the edge of their sensory and linguistic abilities and life keeps going anyway.”).

Finally, the hotdog/sandwich argument is a direct quote from the irl Kelso, my inspo for Kelsey.

Fic Taglist:  @paranoidmunson  @idkidknemore @paprikaquinn @stardustworlds @loz-brooke @wyverntatty @vintagehellfire @dark-academia-slut @scarletwitchwhore @becks1002 @mrsdollardog @heyndrix @luceneraium @rosaline-black @devilinthepalemoonlite @goldencherriess @iamwhisperingstars @wiltedwonderland @blueywrites @breezybeesposts @jadehowlettthewolf @spikesvamp79 @foreveranexpatsposts @tortoiseshellspells @wingedpeachjudgegiant @stardustmunson @live-love-be-unique @fangirling-4-ever @reanimated-alice @b-irock @gh0stlybunnie @myown-worstenemy-2003 @woozzz @cyberxlust @hiscrimsonangel @buckysbarne @m00nlight101 @word-wytch @spicysix @briasnow-blog @goth-cowgirl-03 @moviefreak1205 @pastel-pillows

All Eddie Taglist: @solomons-finest-rum @ruinedbythehobbit @sweetpeapod @thorfemmes  @corrodedhawkins @grungegrrrl @lilzabob  @averagemisfit03 @ches-86 @ilovecupcakesandtea @onehotgreasymechanic @hazydespair @mel-the-fangirl @eddies-hid3out @siren-lungs @aheadfullofsteverogers @hiscrimsonangel @dashingdeb16 @cultish-corner

[flowerishness]

Echinops (globe thistle) and Bombus (bumble bee)

I have never seen a bumble bee with a pollen basket this full before. As I watched her methodically go from flower to flower on this globe thistle, it was pollen she was after and the globe thistle was happy to oblige.

Wind-pollenated plants produce enormous quantities of tiny pollen grains on the one-in-a-million chance that one will land on a member of the same species. Insect-pollinated plants produce far fewer but much larger pollen grains, packed with protein to attract hungry bees. They also make nectar which is the fuel that keeps those little wings beating so fast. It's true that the bumble bees eat most of the pollen but using the 'bumble bee taxi service' is still a much more efficient way to get those pollen grains to their designated target.

Unlike honey bees, who make huge amounts of honey so the entire colony can survive the winter, bumble bees only make a small amount of honey⁠—just enough to feed the colony for a couple of days during bad weather. At the end of summer, new queens and drones emerge. After mating, the queen finds a nice little hole in the ground to crawl into and hibernates through the winter.

[krirebr]

Surprise blurb bomb!

It’s been a long week, and you need something to bring at least a little brightness to your life. Flowers should do! So you head to the florist, the new one you’ve been hearing rave reviews about from all your coworkers. You walk in to see so many beautiful displays, but you just need something small for the vase on your counter. Whoever this woman was, she was insanely talented. You’ve got your nose close to a carnation when something tall enters the corner of your field of vision. You look up to be greeted by a smile, and are offered help from a man who introduces himself as the owner of the shop, the new florist. He sends you home with all your favorites, first one on the house. Little so you know, there’s a lot more where that came from. Who’s your babe?

First off, Essie, did you know I worked as a florist for five years?? I can't remember if I've talked about that on here before or not. But that means this little blurb hit wonderfully close to home!

And I swear, I'm not going this direction just because he's my favorite, but my first thought here was genuinely Curtis. There's just something about those big, rough hands doing such delicate work. And just, like, think about the look on canon!Curtis's face when he walked into the greenhouse car. He's the only choice for me.

Warnings for me fully unleashing my flower nerdery below.

But so, since I spent a significant portion of my life in floral shops and learning about them, I enter this new one with a critical eye. What's the cooler situation? Have the roses been left out in room temps? I'm touching everything to determine freshness. And what about the arrangements? Is it all just roses and baby's breath (which I, of course, call gyp, because I'm being obnoxious) and leather leaf? Is this the sort of place my grandma would think is great?? I am, in short, being a real dick.

So I am immensely pleased when I find several of my favorites - lisianthus and stock, green ball dianthus, blue globe thistle, multiple kinds of wax flower, ruscus and seeded euc and my beloved variegated pitt. The anthers have been picked out of the lilies. All the flowers are wonderfully fresh. The arrangements are all interesting. There's nothing for me to be judgemental about!

Curtis, of course, notices just how thorough and attentive I'm being as I walk through his shop. So he comes over to see if there's anything in particular I'm looking for. When I answer his question with a thousand of my own, he's not just patient, he's excited that I care so much. That I want to talk about the ins and outs of his shop, want to hear all his random flower opinions because I have so many of my own.

He has to pause our conversation multiple times, because there are actual paying customers that need his help. But he always comes back. And I always wait while he works. Finally, I realize that this quick errand has already taken me well over an hour. But before I'm able to leave, Curtis goes over to the case and pulls out the arrangement of lizzy I've been staring at this whole time. "Here," he says, "on the house." When I try to protest, he says "I'll be happy, knowing this one's going to such a good home."

That's got me kind of speechless, so I let him box it up for me. As I turn to go, I tell him I'll definitely be back. "I sure hope so," he says, his voice a little rough, and with a look that makes my knees go weak.

My house is definitely going to be full of flowers as I try to find any excuse to visit that flower shop in the next few weeks.

[buriedpentacles]

Messages Sent on my Walk

Following on from my post How to Discern Sign from Coincidence, I thought I'd talk about some signs/messages I was sent on my walk the other day and how I've interpreted them!!

A White Feather Caught between a Nettle and Thistle

I spotted this out of the corner of my eye and the imagery was quite jarring to me, it really pulled me in.

The feather was clearly a contour feather; these help create the bird's structure and keep them aerodynamic. It was caught between a common nettle and blue-globed thistle (not native so odd to see wild where I live). Though it may be hard to see in the photo, there is a spiderweb just in front of the feather and a small cranefly on the feather - though these aspects didn't seem as important or significant.

I confirmed it's meaning later with tarot- it was a message regarding myself and the plunge I have taken in my spiritual practice.

A Shadowy Friend

In the corner of my eye, I could see a shadowy figure follow me for a while. He left after I noticed a small tennis ball tucked under a bush and moved it to a more visible spot by the gate for any dogs and their owners passing by. Clearly, that act satisfied him and he disappeared, I'm used to spirits dawdling by me and that specific area - for some reason, spirits congregate there and I think it's because it's a literal and metaphorical crossroads (a point between nature and man-made, water and earth etc).

I confirmed later with tarot what it was and that my act satisfied the lingering spirit.

Blocked Stream

I glanced down at the stream running next to me, to the specific area where I had previously performed a small spell and saw leaves and sticks blocking the area completely - perhaps put there by someone, or blown there by the recent storms. I felt a pull to it, a voice in my mind telling me that this was a sign relating to my spell. I felt a slight bit of sadness as I thought perhaps it was a symbol that the spell had failed but the falling sticks and leaves belonged to a Sycamore tree who loomed over the water - Sycamore's are protectors, wise and old trees that offer guidance and shelter. After I stood and moved from that spot, a white and tawny cat hopped over the same spot and through a gap in the bush ahead.

I confirmed later, with tarot and meditation, that it was indeed a messgae that challenges would lay in between me and my spell's outcome, but that these challenges will be overcome.

Non-Signs that I Saw

Along this work, I also spotted a periwinkle, a flower that reminds me of my childhood, a young purple snapdragon - I was very excited to see a few of these, and hope they grow strong. I also saw the bindweed and brambles commonly found in the area, though many of the blackberries were ripening now. I spotted lavender, a Buddleja bush and a Hairy Willowherb. None of these carried messages, nor were they signs, but I enjoyed seeing them still and found peace and meaning in each of their presences.

[room-surprise]

When does Dungeon Meshi take place?

This is an excerpt from Chapter 2 of my paper, "Real World Cultural and Linguistic Influences in Delicious in Dungeon." Dungeon Meshi takes place in the year 514, however we don’t know how that number relates to anything else in the Dungeon Meshi world, so it isn’t really useful for identifying what era Kui is trying to depict.

It can’t be that the Ancient Cataclysm happened 514 years ago (it was still referred to as ancient history by Thistle and Delgal a thousand years ago), and it can’t be when the current elf queen’s reign began (she’s only 372), so it’s either marking some other major event, like the beginning of the reign of a royal family or the end of a war, or they reset their calendar at regular intervals, such as every two-thousand years for record-keeping purposes.

In the real world, 514 CE would have been the early Medieval era, just after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, which left Europe fractured into many small Germanic kingdoms competing with each other. It was also the beginning of the Asuka period in Japan, and the end of the Northern Wei Dynasty in China.

This has some similarities to the world we’re shown in Dungeon Meshi: the Western elves have abandoned most of their land in the Eastern hemisphere, leaving the local dwarven, gnomish and tall-man people (whose cultures are primarily Germanic) to fight amongst themselves for the land. A massive upheaval caused by a major imperial power collapsing.

However, based on character behavior, culture, clothing and technology, Dungeon Meshi appears to be set in a vaguely Renaissance (1450 CE-1650 CE) time period, with some elements from classical antiquity (800 BCE-500 CE), the Medieval era (476 CE-1300 CE), as well as some hyper-advanced steampunk/magic technology and modern day anachronisms. (Potential spoilers beyond the cut.)

The technological and artistic development of the different cultures is very different, with the long-lived races appearing to live a more modern lifestyle than the short-lived races. In the extra materials, Toshiro implies that Falin might find the Island of Wa “primitive” because they lack the social and technological advancements that come from contact with the long-lived races, and the Western elf Fleki calls the Eastern Continent a “primitive land” while complaining about the quality of life.

Based on this and additional evidence, we can reasonably conclude that the elven lands in the West are probably the most “modern”, followed by the lands in the Eastern hemisphere, with the Eastern Archipelago lagging the furthest behind.

Because of this difference between the races, it makes sense that we see a mix of different eras and styles of technology and clothing. For example, we see characters wearing Neolithic fur garments, Greco-Roman tunics, and Medieval garments as everyday clothes at the same time that other characters wear Renaissance and even 19th century-influenced garments.

Meanwhile, many things in the Dungeon Meshi world have also remained unusually stagnant for far longer than they did in the real world. Realistic oil painting seems to have remained unchanged for more than a thousand years, and Medieval-looking clothing that was worn a thousand years ago is still being worn in the “present” day, virtually unchanged.

There are also some things that are much more advanced than the Renaissance period, like steampunk elevators, and magical communication that works through birds/fairies/crystal balls/telephones and allows for instant contact across the globe… A huge advancement that should impact every element of life and society, thanks to the ability to easily exchange information.

In the real world, instant communication is the foundational element that makes things like precise time-keeping, time-zones, advanced banking, stock markets and news reporting possible… So one can assume that some of these things might possibly exist in some form in the Dungeon Meshi setting.

[nncastle]

Seeds Purchased from Stonecrop Gardens, NY

One of the biggest benefits of membership at Stonecrop is access to their amazing seed bank. Members can purchase rare seeds for $1 a pack. These are plants that are sometimes extremely difficult to find at nurseries and that work perfectly for my area. Here is a list of what I purchased from them...some I've already begun.

The seed collection got suddenly a lot more interesting.

Rarium: Centaurea macrocephala

Rarium: Digitalis parviflora

Rarium: Echinops exaltatus

Rarium: Hosta sieboldiana var. elegans

Rarium: Polygonatum giganteum

Rarium: Salvia coccinea 'Brenthu

Seminum: Acmella oleraceae

Seminum: Actaea japonica (syn. Cimicifuga japonica)

Seminum: Actaea racemosa (syn. Cimicifuga racemosa)

Seminum: Actaea simplex 'Brunette' (syn. Cimicifuga ramosa 'Brunette'

Seminum: Agastache foeniculum 'Alba'

Seminum: Allium angulosum

Seminum: Allium tuberosum

Seminum: Amaranthus hybridus var. erythrostachys 

Seminum: Ammi visnaga

Seminum: Anemone virginiana

Seminum: Anethum graveolens

Seminum: Angelica gigas

Seminum: Anthriscus sylvestris 'Raven's Wing' 

Seminum: Aster tataricus

Seminum: Astilboides tabularis (syn. Rodgersia tabularis)

Seminum: Astrantia major

Seminum: Calendula officinalis

Seminum: Campanula takesimana 'Alba'

Seminum: Cuphea viscosissima 

Seminum: Cynoglossum amabile ‘Firmament’

Seminum: Emilia coccinea

Seminum: Helleborus orientalis

Seminum: Ipomoea lobata (syn. Mina lobata)

Seminum: Monarda punctata

Seminum: Nigella damascena 'Miss Jekyll Blue'

Seminum: Papaver somniferum Mix

Seminum: Salvia farinacea

Seminum: Verbena bonariensis

Anemone virginiana. Interesting thing about this plant is that for years I've pulled it thinking it was a weed. On the years that I forgot to pull it, I was like, man that is pretty! So I now leave it alone. It's drought tolerant and the flowers are loved by pollinators. I'll be planting some more from seed as well.

Anethum graveolens - Dill

Centaurea macrocephala - Started Seeds 5/3/2024 - This plant is too cool for school!

Category: Rarium | Sub-Category: Perennials for Sun

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Centaurea macrocephala

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 3′. Great Golden Knapweed. Caucasus. A large, leafy, robust plant bearing sturdy stems topped with incredible, rich golden yellow, hemispherical, thistle-like blooms. The fringed, rusty brown coloured involucre of bracts is very prominent and persists. Midsummer. Makes excellent dried cut flowers. Sun.  3, D & T2

Digitalis parviflora - Started seeds 5/3/2024 - Really different foxglove. Love it.

Category: Rarium | Sub-Category: Perennials for Sun

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Digitalis parviflora

Family: (Plantaginaceae)

(P) to 2′. Spanish Foxglove. This is a true perennial species of Foxglove, native to the mountains of northern Spain. Plants form a rosette of dark, deeply veined, green leaves bearing in early summer, tightly packed spikes of small, rusty orange-red to chocolate brown flowers on stiff, leafy, upright stems. Eye-catching. Well-drained soil. Sun. 4 & T2

Echinops exaltatus

Category: Rarium | Sub-Category: Perennials for Sun

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Echinops exaltatus

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 6′.  Tall Globe Thistle.  Eastern Europe to Russia.  Globular flowerheads composed of numerous, tiny, pale blue florets.  Flowerheads to 2-½ inches in diameter stand tall on sturdy, downy-white stems and mature into dense, prickly seedheads.  The bold, greyish green, thistle-like foliage forms an impressive clump.  This summer-to-fall bloomer is a magnet for bees, hoverflies and butterflies.  Sun.  4 & T2

Hosta sieboldiana var. elegans

Category: Rarium | Sub-Category: Woodland

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Hosta sieboldiana var. elegans

Family: (Asparagaceae)

(P) to 3′. “…most sumptuous of all the Hostas.” (GST**).  Huge, broad, glaucous, heavily textured, bluish green leaves form magnificent, stately clumps that add accent and poise to the woodland garden.  The pale lilac-white flowers appear in early to midsummer, though they barely emerge from beneath the foliage.  3 & T3, then it may need 40º for 2-3 months.

Polygonatum giganteum - Started 5/3/24

Category: Rarium | Sub-Category: Woodland

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Polygonatum giganteum

Family: (Asparagaceae)

(P) to 7′. Giant Solomon’s Seal. Statuesque and unmistakable. This spectacular giant is similar to Polygonatum biflorum in everything but size. Bell-shaped, greenish white, tubular flowers hang from the tall arching stems in early summer with the dark blue berries following in fall. Moist soil. Shade/partial shade. 3 & 6

Salvia coccinea 'Brenthurst'

Category: Rarium | Sub-Category: Annuals for Sun

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Salvia coccinea 'Brenthurst'

Family: Lamiaceae

(A/TP) to 2.5′.  A cool-coloured cousin of the red bedding Salvia with numerous spikes of bicoloured,  lipped blooms.  The pale whitish pink upper hoods and three lobed, deeper pink lower lips contrast nicely against the dark tinted calyces and stems.  Blooms late summer and lasts until frost.  Sun. 4 & T2

Acmella oleraceae - Toothache Plant

Category: Seminum | Sub-Category: Annuals for Sun

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Acmella oleraceae

Family: (Asteraceae)

(A) to 10″.  Toothache Plant.  South America.  A profusion of rounded, orange-yellow disc florets with brownish red centres resemble eyeballs.  Creeping, bronze-green foliage has numbing properties when chewed, hence the common name.  Easy to grow.  Very unusual and fun; a “must have”.  Summer blooming.  Sun.  3 & 6

Actaea japonica (syn. Cimicifuga japonica) - snakeroot

Category: Rarium | Sub-Category: Woodland

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Actaea japonica var. acerina (syn. Cimicifuga japonica var. acerina)

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 3′.  A Japanese native with handsome maple-like foliage that has long, pointed lobes.  Slender branched spikes of white, tufted flowers bloom in September and October.  Moist soil.  Sun/partial shade.  3 & 6A

Actaea racemosa (syn. Cimicifuga racemosa)

Category: Seminum | Sub-Category: Woodland

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Actaea racemosa (syn. Cimicifuga racemosa)

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 6′. Early Snakeroot, Black Cohosh. An eastern North American native with branched wands of white, bottlebrush flowers. Blooms prolifically in June. Light green, divided foliage remains at three feet tall. Partial shade. 3 & 6A

Actaea simplex 'Brunette' (syn. Cimicifuga ramosa 'Brunette')

Category: Seminum | Sub-Category: Woodland

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Actaea simplex 'Brunette' (syn. Cimicifuga ramosa 'Brunette')

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 6′. One of the darkest leaved Cimicifugas. Stems are a rich purplish brown with pure white, upright, fragrant flower spikes in September. Not all seedlings will be as dark as ‘Brunette’, but definitely worth a try. Partial shade. 3 & 6A

Agastache foeniculum 'Alba'

Category: Seminum | Sub-Category: Perennials for Sun

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Agastache foeniculum 'Alba'

Family: Lamiaceae

Short-lived perennial to 3.5′.  White Anise Hyssop.  A white cultivar of the above. Sun/partial shade.  4 & T2

Allium angulosum - mouse garlic

Category: Seminum | Sub-Category: Bulbs

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Allium angulosum

Family: (Alliaceae)

Hardy bulb to 16″. Mouse Garlic. Europe. Loose heads formed by multiple, cup-shaped flowers of pale purple. Blooms June to August. Sun. 3 & 6

Allium tuberosum - this already grows wild here

Category: Seminum | Sub-Category: Bulbs

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Allium tuberosum

Family: (Alliaceae)

Hardy bulb to 18″. Garlic Chives. Southeast Asia. Spherical, white blooms freshen the flower garden throughout August. Sun/partial shade. 3 & 6

Amaranthus hybridus var. erythrostachys

Category: Seminum | Sub-Category: Annuals for Sun

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Amaranthus hybridus var. erythrostachys

Family: (Amaranthaceae)

(A) to 5′.  Peruvian Tassel Flower.  Many branched panicles of crimson, tassel-like flowers accentuated by the deep maroon foliage of this plant, creates drama in the border.  Sun.  3 & T3

Ammi visnaga - Started Seeds 5/3/2024

Category: Seminum | Sub-Category: Annuals for Sun

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Ammi visnaga

Family: (Apiaceae)

(A) to 3′.  Khella, Toothpick Plant.  Egypt.  Grown since antiquity for medicinal purposes.  This sophisticated Queen Anne’s Lace relative produces masses of feathery, delicate, aromatic foliage topped with wide, compound, flat umbels of tiny, greenish-white flowers.  An excellent and unusual filler; most desirable for cut flower displays.  Well-drained soil.  Sun.  3 & T1

Angelica gigas - Started seeds 5/3/2024

Category: Seminum | Sub-Category: Perennials for Sun

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Angelica gigas

Family: (Apiaceae)

(B/P) to 5′. This terrific Barry Yinger introduction from Korea and Japan is a stunner. Dramatic, deep maroon, spherical flowerheads emerge from red-flushed, bulbous, leafy sheaths above glossy green, dissected foliage. The afternoon sun intensifies the colour and lends this plant another dimension. Please note, insects, especially hornets, also find it irresistible. Sun/partial shade. 3 & 6

Anthriscus sylvestris 'Raven's Wing'

Category: Seminum | Sub-Category: Perennials for Sun

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Anthriscus sylvestris 'Raven's Wing'

Family: (Apiaceae)

(B/P) to 5′.  Lacey compound umbels of tiny, five-petalled, creamy white flowers, reminiscent of Queen Anne’s Lace, float on hollow, dark stems above fern-like, dusky purple-coloured foliage.  Long bloomer that provides an airy elegance to the border.  Always admired in our Flower Garden.  Self-seeds gently.  Sun/partial shade.  3 & 6

Aster tataricus - this is already thriving in the garden

Category: Seminum | Sub-Category: Perennials for Sun

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Aster tataricus

Family: (Asteraceae)

(P) to 7′.  Tatarian Aster.  Siberia.  Tall, long-blooming Aster with glorious, loose sprays of bold, lilac-blue daisies with yellow centres.  Dense clusters of wide, lance-shaped leaves.  Tough, durable plant that will thrive in a variety of conditions.  No staking needed, blooms late – September and October and well worth the wait.  Sun/partial shade. 3 & 6 & Δ

Astilboides tabularis (syn. Rodgersia tabularis) - Planted some last year, started a bunch of seeds - we'll see. 5/3/2024

Category: Seminum | Sub-Category: Woodland

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Astilboides tabularis (syn. Rodgersia tabularis)

Family: (Saxifragaceae)

(P) to 4′. William Robinson described it best, “A bold growing and handsome species with huge peltate leaves and plumes of creamy white flowers.” Leaves reach a height of 2 to 2.5 feet. A superb plant to use as a focal point in the garden. Definitely stimulates conversation. Partial shade. 4 & T2

Astrantia major

Category: Seminum | Sub-Category: Woodland

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Astrantia major

Family: (Apiaceae)

(P) to 2.5′. Great Masterwort. Central and eastern Europe. No garden should be without this effortless and beautiful plant. Several greenish white, often blushed pink flowerheads each arranged in a dome with a “collar” of bracts. Dense clumps of divided basal foliage. Content in the flower garden or in the woodland. Summer blooming. Great in flower arrangements, too. Sun/partial shade. PC- 4 weeks. 4 & 7 for 4 weeks, then T2

Campanula takesimana

Category: Seminum | Sub-Category: Woodland

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Campanula takesimana 'Alba'

Family: (Campanulaceae)

(P) to 2′. Korea. An outstanding white variety of the beautiful Campanula takesimana. Leaves large in basal rosettes. Branched inflorescence of large, pendant bells on nodding stalks. Flowers are pure white with purple spotting within. Blooms July to September. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T2

Cuphea viscosissima - Seeds already started 5/3/2024

Category: Seminum | Sub-Category: Annuals for Sun

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Cuphea viscosissima

Family: (Lythraceae)

(A) to 20″. Blue Waxweed. A North American native and one of our most revered annuals. This non-stop summer bloomer has six deep, magenta-purple petals with the upper two being the longest and a tubular green calyx covered in fine purple hairs. An easy-care annual that requires no deadheading or staking. Very sticky stems trap unsuspecting insects. Self-sows. Sun. 4 & T3

Cynoglossum amabile ‘Firmament’ - chinese forget me not

Category: Seminum | Sub-Category: Annuals for Sun

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Cynoglossum amabile ‘Firmament’

Family: (Boraginaceae)

(A) to 2.5′.  Chinese Forget-me-not.  Producing all summer long a profusion of sky-blue, five-petalled flowers.  Reminiscent of the Forget-me-not, only taller.  Self-sows.  Sun.  3, D & T2

Emilia coccinea

Category: Seminum | Sub-Category: Annuals for Sun

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Emilia coccinea

Family: (Asteraceae)

(A) to 3′.  We love this selection of Tassel Flower.  A native of Tropical Africa that produces a profusion of orange to scarlet, thistle-like flowers in terminal corymbs.  Best if inter-planted or grown closely together.  A real beauty in our Red/Orange/Yellow Bed.  Sun. 

Helleborus orientalis

Category: Seminum | Sub-Category: Woodland

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Helleborus orientalis

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(P) to 2′.  Lenten Rose.  Europe.  Leaves are wide, dentate, glossy and evergreen.  Nodding, cup-shaped, pinkish rose, five-petalled flowers have numerous cream stamens.  An understated, long-blooming beauty.  Early spring.  Partial shade.  3 & 72° for 6 weeks, followed by 25-39° for 6-8 weeks.

Ipomoea lobata (syn. Mina lobata) spanish flag

Category: Seminum | Sub-Category: Annuals for Sun

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Ipomoea lobata (syn. Mina lobata)

Family: (Convolvulaceae)

Annual vine to 10′.  Spanish Flag or Firecracker Vine.  Mexico.  An excellent, vigorous, twining vine with attractive, tri-lobed leaves and single-sided, six-inch long racemes of tubular flowers held on slender red stems.  The flowers gently arc upward and outward, away from the vine, and mature from red to pale yellow, creating a gradient from the top to the base of the raceme. Blooms freely from mid to late summer until frost. The flowers are highly attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. A show-stopper on a tripod.  Sun.  1, 2B, 3 & T3

Monarda punctata - Started seeds 5/3/2024

Category: Seminum | Sub-Category: Annuals for Sun

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Monarda punctata

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(A) to 3′.  Horse Mint.  Native to the Great Plains of the United States.  Dense whorls of pale yellow, hooded flowers spotted with purple-brown.  Each whorl is surrounded by large, pink-tipped, green bracts.  The narrow, toothed leaves have a grey cast.  A very showy plant.  Sun.  4 & T1

Salvia farinacea

Category: Seminum | Sub-Category: Annuals for Sun

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Salvia farinacea

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(A) to 3′. Mealy Sage. Native to Texas and Mexico. Tubular, two-lipped, violet-blue flowers are densely congested in whorls along erect stems creating a 4″-8″ spike above the numerous grey-green, lance-shaped leaves. The common name is in reference to the mealy-white (sometimes purple) appearance of the sepals, which are covered with felted hairs. A long-bloomer. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T2

[dknuth]

Last Day in Tunisia

Today is our last day in Tunisia. We drove back to Tunis with a couple of what I thought were minor stops along the way.

We stopped at a spring that fed an 80 km Roman aqueduct to Carthage. They built a small temple over the spring.

Along the way, we saw more groves of olives and hedges of prickly pear along with wheat fields.

The big stop of the day was the ruins of Roman Thuburbo Majus, apparently a major Roman town, but not much of a ruin. Of course, by now we have seen enough temples and baths that they need to be spectacular to make much of an impression; these didn't.

I spotted a brilliant Glandular Globe Thistle.

I have been using the Seek App regularly to identify plants on the trip and it says I've added 40 new plants to my list. But since I didn't have a huge list before it's still pretty small compared to Steve Balling's. Since the information in Seek is crowd-sourced there has to have been knowledgeable people there before to make the identifications, and often that's not the case on my trips. This time I suspect these are all plants found around the Mediterranean. Often it can't identify plants at all.

Finally, we went to a very touristy neighborhood of Tunis. It was very pretty but in a Disneyfied way and full of tourists. So not really interesting.

We have a last dinner tonight, then I have a 1:50 AM flight to Frankfurt on the way home.

[toririvas]

A list of character interactions that me and my dad think would be really funny, interesting, wholesome, or whatever. Crossing universes of SS&S, VC and Superpowereds.

- D&D night but it's Hershel DMimg for the dorkass squad (Alex, Lance, Donald, and Tim)

- conversely those five being friends through the multarian internet and having like, the ultimate Fortnite fiveman squad

- Roy, saddled with his boyfriend Chad, looking at Social Disaster Austin: oh my god there's another one. Mary are you seeing this shit.

- "so what did you do when you first saw green eyes over there?" "....dropped a couch and broke a door frame." "shit you're somehow worse than Chad all he did was shatter a beer"

- I CANNOT STOP THINKING ABOUT IVAN AND NICK. Like. Oh my god imagine it. Shut up. Ivan /knows/ someone like him. Someone who had their sense of self trained out for one job. Maybe for one it's endless chaos and one it's running a small empire. It's the same. Do you understand am I saying nonsense--

- NOBODY PUT IKE AND NICK IN THE SAME ROOM. BAD AUDIO. as they're endlessly puzzling each other out like "how much of you is fake"

- Nick, getting an intuition: I think I should talk to you.

- Johnny Three Dicks, blinking demurely: little ol me?

- Alice and Thuggernaut, looking from those two to each other: this will not end well.

- Will and Tori would be unstoppable. They'd take over the world.

- ELLIE ALICE POWER HOUR. let's teach Ellie how to have a sense of self a little more! let's let Alice have her girl stuff and friends!

- my dad: globe and ivan would meet at a cooking class. (me: and grumph.) dad, nodding solemnly: and grumph

- warren is just a good fit with the SS&S crew in general?

- SO IS KYLE. Kyle needs to be a solid middle of the pack guy. It's where he works. He's so wound up. He'd try to hang with Chad/Roy/Austin out of habit but he wouldn't vibe.

- I NEED TO SEE A SLUGFEST OF BEV/ROY/GABBY/AUSTIN/REN.

- ivan meets dean Blaine and just takes a nap because he doesn't have to worry about Shit All. also they'd be yearning buddies.

- who would excel at whose programs? like would the rookies be able to handle lander training. could melbrook (sophomore year) handle the desert trial.

- hannah and warren. "my fucking teacher made me wear medieval times wizard robes for almost a year." "why didn't you just fucking grow a pair and melt his ass." "choke." "you're not my type." (grudging respect)

- hannah and tori but they're roommates is the funniest au i can think of

- again owen ivan and thistle in the "accidentally adopted a wayward angry twenty something" club

- hannah tori and gabby in the "accidentally adopted by a really powerful guy" club

- again holy shit do not let nick and johnny interact do not do it the world would collapse

- would sally and janet get along or would they not. they're so similar. but yet.

- eric would absolutely hang with the apprentices

- nobody let shallura and tori meet

[pr1ncesspopstar]

Time in a Bottle - FFXIV Write 2023 - Day 26: Last

Ao3

-

Mist curled off the cobble paths that defined the small settlement of Revenant’s Toll. A constant veil of rain cloaked Mor Dhona as far as the eye could see, stretching the storm’s grasp over the edge of the horizon every which way. Water droplets skipped and sang with glee across the person-less city, warding all to stay inside until the rain was done with its fun, else they get drenched.

Halditar and Estinien lounged in the Seventh Heaven’s doorway, staring out into the haze. The awning was only just enough to protect the dragoon and once-dragoon from an impromptu shower, the humid air from inside flowing out as the cool air flowed in.

“So much for pushing off early.” The brusk man hid a sigh under his breath. His companion had her eyes locked skyward, staring at the endless sea of gray above. The sun was completely covered, all signs of time hidden behind the day. 

“It’s not going to end until tomorrow. Seems we’re stuck here then.” She agreed. Despite what most would say was dour weather, no one seemed to mind or fret. The shade cast by the sky was comfortable, and the temperature pleasant. The Warrior of Light closed her eyes and just listened for a moment. 

The sound of rain hitting the leaves of the trees, branches weighed down and tapping against the metal lamp posts musical. Not far off, Moondrop the chocobo whistled from the stables, eager to roll about in the rain and clean her feathers. If she had a restless night’s sleep, Halditar could have imagined herself drifting off. She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the scent of fresh water and earth. Somewhere, lightning must have cracked the sky as a low rumble shook through the earth.

“I’m going to head in. Try not to disappear as soon as I turn my back.” She asked the dragoon, patting his shoulder as she turned away from the open door. The tavern was empty of all but a few scholars and the Wandering Minstrel, whose harp’s song stood kindly alongside the crackle of the fire and pen on paper of the few guests that filled seats. A sound that haunted the entire building, even the Rising Stones as Halditar walked down into the sanctum.

Another song joined the bard’s, Tataru humming as she penned in a ledger, fingers occasionally clacking abacus beads together as she sorted through their finances. The roegadyn kept her gait as light, so as not to disturb the peace.

Everyone had taken to their own activities while sharing the common space. Thancred and F’lhaminn spoke softly over warmed cider, the smell of apple and spice mingling nicely with the ozone left by the storm. Urianger’s star globe cast small reflections of golden star shapes on the walls, cards laid out before him on the table in some sort of reading. Alisaie and Krile were across from him, conversing about things regarding fate and magic and aether in hushed voices. The couches had been co-opted by Y’shtola, G’raha, and their many, many books. Shtola was quietly spilling over them still, her own cup of cider warming her hands, while Raha had at some point drifted off into a light slumber. He wasn’t alone, though. Thistle, the sneaky bullpup that she was, had wormed her way happily into the miqo’te’s lap and was snoring atop one of his open tomes. And-

“Halditar, over here.” Alphinaud called the warrior of light over softly, so not to break the concentration of others. She approached where he sat, grinning as she saw the familiar play mat in front of him.

“Finally picking up my favorite hobby, I see.” She said and looked over the triple triad board. He has a few card sets, complete with matching, organized sleeves like some of the more refined gambler types she ran into when wasting time at the Saucer.

“Indeed. I figured it’d be nice to test my skills with a new type of strategy game. Though,” the young man grinned, a bit of a fire in his eyes as he looked up at the hero he knew was a loyal friend. “It’s not as challenging to play against one’s self instead of a real opponent…”

“Oooh, you’re gonna regret tempting me, boy. If you think I’ll go easy on a beginner, you’re in for a rough time.” Halditar didn’t hesitate to claim the seat across from him and pulled out her own multiple decks, worn and a bit creased, but lovingly played. Alphinaud grinned and leaned, laying out his cards with a single swift moment.

“Please don’t. I want my victory to feel satisfying.” He challenged back, and the game was afoot.

Thunder roared again, a low rumble that warmed all to stay where they were. The Warrior of Light saw no problem at such a request, the sense of time slipping away as she was enraptured in the game and the surrounding environment. As if it was a spell, the rain conjured this small moment of peace for all the Scions basking in and enjoy sharing company in parallel activities. A time that couldn’t last, but a memory that certainly would.

[flownintothesun]

            ⋆ ✰ ⋆ ─── a plot, a ploy, a starter for @dutyworn .

       𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓... 𝐈𝐒𝐍'𝐓 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 — not that she’s entirely too familiar with the concept of gravity, for all the good that does her. Because wherever she is, gravity matters, and so does a sudden lack thereof that leaves her weightless and bumping into the ceiling. She can’t even compare it to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland — because unlike most little girls, she’d never had a copy when she was young. Dominik has never really left her without — there are other books, and music, and paints and canvasses — though oftentimes Dominik takes them when she’s done, and they disappear to wherever he disappears to when he’s not with her, and she’s on her own again.

     Except now, the controlled doors are open and Dominik’s not on the other side of them and there is a siren and bright red flashing lights illuminating the frame of the studio-like space she’s spent nearly all of her life in. Something tells her that’s not supposed to be happening — because for one thing, it never has in all of her twenty-four years of existence. Yes, she may very well fancy herself Alice, topsy-turvy and in a strange new world — were she to have ever made the fictional acquaintance of the lass. It’s definitely an experience — being jammed up on the ceiling with odds and ends of varying size and shape. Her hair is flyaway, and so is her dress, which she bunches into one hand, pulling tight around her for modesty’s sake as she swims along the ceiling with one hand toward something called ‘freedom’ that she can’t fathom — either because it’s too good to be true, or because it’s a concept she could never understand.

       She barely remembers life before Dominik. She’d only been four years old, after all. Even the things she believes to be true are most likely not. The only keepsake she has from a time before is a necklace with a flower woven into a heart shape — according to a botany book that she’s read cover to cover — it’s called a thistle. She can quote the entry back to herself for how many times she’s looked it over.

     Thistle. A weedy species of Cirsium, Carduus, Echinops, Sonchus, and other plant genera of the family Asteraceae. The word thistle most often refers to prickly leaved species of Carduus and Cirsium, which have dense heads of small, usually pink or purple flowers. Plants of the genus Carduus, sometimes called plumeless thistles, have spiny stems and flower heads without ray flowers. Canadian thistle (Cirsium arvense) is a troublesome weed in agricultural areas of North America, and more than 10 species of sow thistle (Sonchus) are widespread throughout Europe. Some species of globe thistle (Echinops) are cultivated as ornamentals. The thistle is the national emblem of Scotland.

     So few of the words mean anything to her. She sees things on television, she hears them sung about in song, and reads about them in her books — but they are things meant for someone else, never for her. What is Scotland? Was it once a home to her?

     Breaching the door frame makes her heart flutter and pound, or maybe that’s the weightlessness — everything rushing to her head all at once. She finds herself at the end of a long, rounded hallway. To her right is a wall with a few doors scattered about, and to her left is the vast enormity of everything — space, as far as the eye can see along a wall almost completely made up of windows. “Woah!” she gasps, and tries to step back, which of course doesn’t do her a lick of good. Her heart’s ratcheting now, in full-blown panic. Where on Earth is she? Or rather....where...not on Earth...is she?

[eventflowerslondon]

Fall Wedding: Give Your Bridal Bouquet a Seasonal Touch

Ask a few people about their favourite season and most of them will give an answer: autumn. Take a large sample and it will not differ much from the small cohort when it comes to their favourite season. Autumn or fall gives you a large variety of options to decorate your bridal bouquet. Though brief, autumn graces the nature with colourful blooms and vibrant leaves.

The season brings us some wonderful collections of colourful and fragrant blooms like dahlias, hydrangea, zinnias, pieris, astrantia, globe thistle and many more. This is the second most sought-after season for weddings. In this blog post, we will discuss some most stunning bridal bouquet ideas shared by a renowned wedding florist in London. 

Classic Autumn

Colourful blooms and changing leaves are the best inspirations for florists to decorate bridal bouquets for fall. Dahlias, zinnias and toffee roses are among the most popular flowers for this season’s weddings. These blooms are often paired with snowberries, rudbeckia and hanging amaranthus to create a warm colour palette that speaks of autumnal varieties in colours and fragrance.

Autumnal Jewel Tones

Jewel tones are becoming a hot favourite for wedding flower decorations and bridal bouquets. This is a great way to incorporate colours and fun in keeping with the playful nature of the season. With scabiosa, delphiniums, thistles and dahlias in their prime, it is possible to explore creative possibilities that these bright blooms offer, allowing florists to create a truly splendid jewel-toned colour scheme.

Orange Creamsicle

A single colour can have different shades. An experienced wedding florist near me always loves experimenting with different shades of a single colour. Choose a main colour for your bouquet and make playful combinations with other hues. These citrus-inspired bridal bouquets look gorgeous and are a true reflective of fall weddings.

Toffee Tones

Toffee roses always look marvellous in bridal bouquets. The tone nicely complements the changing and captivating colours of nature in autumn. You can easily highlight the caramel tone with pure white or incorporate similar shades for a complementary effect.

Elegant Ivories

Ivory perfectly matches the backdrop of changing hues in leaves and blooms, becoming an elegant choice for your autumn bridal bouquets. Snowberries, waxflower, phlox, dahlias, Quicksand roses, pieris buds – there are so many options to create a simple and soft colour palette.

Wrapping Up

Think out of the box without limiting yourself to a traditional autumn colour palette. Have fun with colours, from a range of red to dusty pinks, raspberry tones to burgundy.

[aisphotostuff]

Echinops @ Peckham rye Park ..London by Adam Swaine Via Flickr: With boldly coloured, nectar-rich flowers that are loved by pollinators, and striking foliage, statuesque Echinops or globe thistles..Among the wealth of perennials available to the gardener today, few match the drama of globe thistles. They are known for their true-blue, spherical inflorescences, each of which starts life as small grey-green mace-like globe, before individual blue flowers open from the top of the sphere down

[bethestaryouareradio]

Showers of Flowers

“Everything is coming up roses–for me!” Ethel Merman

My friend, Linda, texted me to tell me she was thinking of my garden. “Our roses are ridiculously on steroids and growing like crazy! Have a wonderful day,” she wrote. I texted her back that my entire garden was on steroids. I’m not sure I’ve seen such full blooms before: everywhere, everyplace, all at once!

My artichoke plant has grown to gigantic proportions, producing huge, delicious globes as it continues developing new buds. The edible artichoke is the immature bud of a cultivated thistle plant before it flowers. The bracts, the heart, and the stem are what we consume as a delicacy. Unless you eat a baby artichoke, the choke is hairy and inedible. Tomatoes planted in early April are flowering, while the ones planted at the beginning of May already feature small fruit.

My optimism for a great summer is at an all-time high because the hills are still green, beauty is bountiful, the birds are singing, butterflies are flitting about, and my garden smells like a perfume factory. Between the night jasmine and the fragrant roses, the aromas in the air spray the scents of botanical incense.

Yes, I am still battling the wild weeds. Each day I get closer to uncovering the field of flowers amassed beneath the tangled tendrils of unwanted plants. Although my garden is filled with flowers of many species, in this article I am concentrating on the contribution of roses to our landscape.

In my April 24th, 2024 column titled Social Climbers (https://lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1805/Digging-Deep-with-Goddess-Gardener-Cynthia-Brian-Social-Climbers.html ), I mentioned passionflowers and climbing roses. Today, you get to see photos, too. 

My passionflowers are especially robust and decorative this year. There are 500 species or more of this unique, flamboyant, and fragrant pollinator magnet. Passionflowers prefer moist soil with good drainage and full sun exposure. They thrive in zones 9-11 where temperatures range between 60-90 degrees. Remember that it is a vine requiring solid support structures for climbing. Some, but not all varieties produce edible passion fruit. Native tribes foraged passionflowers for a multitude of uses including medicinal applications.

Roses. Oh, the roses. Check out the photos of two of my glorious, rambunctious rose climbers, Lady of Shalott and Gertrude Jekyll, both English roses from David Austin. Not only have they climbed above the weeds, but they are adorning limbs on my magnolia tree and covering my fence. 

Lady of Shalott is a repeat-flowering, hardy rose, part shrub, part climber, that is disease-resistant with rich orange-red buds that open to form bounteous chalice-shaped blooms of salmon, pink, and peach with 60-plus petals. The voluptuous fragrance has hints of clove, spice, and apple. 

The Gertrude Jekyll rose climber, named after the famous gardener, displays about 80 petals of gorgeous rosette-shaped blooms in splendid shades of pink with the most strong scent rose fragrance. Flowers flow freely branching all along the climbing stems. Because our climate is warmer than what it prefers, it repeats less often.

Over the years I have purchased and been gifted many varieties of roses. My favorites are the roses that came to prominence in the 1970s–the English roses. Most are crosses between Old Roses and Modern Hybrid Tea and Floribundas that retain the fragrance of the Old Rose with the repeat-flowering and disease resistance of the Modern Rose. English roses were bred not only for color and flowering capacity but also for their fragrance and versatility. These roses can be tall, short, bushy, graceful, arching, upright, rambling, or climbing. The scents range from fruity to musky. One of the best reasons to grow English roses is their high disease resistance. Another plus is the bountiful bouquets they make as cut flowers, displayed alone or in tandem with other species.

Roses are adaptable plants and can be used in numerous ways. Planted in groups of three or more, they look lovely in mixed borders with other perennials. Formal rose beds can be outlined with clipped boxwoods. Rose hedges line pathways, producing a mass of color throughout the seasons. In urns or pots, a single rose bush makes a satisfactory statement.

Rose Requirements

Caring for roses requires time and patience, but roses are not fussy. Growers recommend planting roses in areas where a minimum of 4 hours of sunlight daily will shine on them. Generally, the more sun the better unless the temperatures soar, in which case roses benefit from afternoon shade. Roses need air circulation and space for their roots to grow without competition from neighboring trees, bushes, or other plants. I do my heavy pruning in January and February. This is also the best time to plant bare-root roses. In March, when the leaves are unfurling, I sprinkle alfalfa pellets around each plant as an organic, slow-release nutrient that breaks down with the rain or irrigation. At this time, apply a rose spray as a preventative measure to control blackspot, powdery mildew, and rust, following the directions. In spring and mid-summer, feed your roses with an organic fertilizer. Mulch with wood chips, shredded bark, redwood, or pine needles to improve the appearance of the beds. Mulch aids in retaining moisture, suppressing weeds, and stabilizing the plant. For pest control, let nature do its magic with the birds and bugs battling the bad actors. Deadheading is a must from May through December to maintain continuous flowering. This is the most arduous task because if deadheading is not maintained, rosehips form, and the flowering falters. Appropriate watering is essential. The soil needs to be moist but not soggy. Water deeply in the morning or evenings. Attend to container moisture requirements as pots dry out quickly in hot weather. From December to January, I allow the rosehips to form. Birds enjoy a winter feast. The cycle repeats when the heavy pruning begins.

May you enjoy showers of flowers on steroids this spring. Everything is coming up roses for me and I hope for you, too.

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing

Read Lamorinda Weekly: https://lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1807/Digging-Deep-with-Goddess-Gardener-Cynthia-Brian-Showers-of-Flowers.html

For more gardening advice for all seasons, check out Growing with the Goddess Gardenerat https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/books. Raised in the vineyards of Napa County, Cynthia Brian is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3 which was just honored as the 2024 Nonprofit of the Year by the Moraga Chamber of Commerce. Tune into Cynthia’s StarStyle® Radio Broadcast at www.StarStyleRadio.com. Her newest children’s picture book, Books in the Barnyard: Oh Deer! from the series, Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventures is available for discounted pre-sales at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store. Hire Cynthia for writing projects, garden consults, and inspirational lectures. Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com  

Check out the article about Stella Bella’s Barnyard adventures: https://lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1807/Lamorinda-Weeklys-Goddess-Gardener-uses-her-farm-experience-to-write-Stella-Bellas-Barnyard-Adventures-for-kids.html

Thank you for reading StarStyle® Empowerment . This post is public so feel free to share it.

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