#my backyard ecosystem keeps growing

[jedi-bird]

Photos are a bit blurry but it's the best my phone can do. More birds keep showing up each year. Today I got to see our resident hummingbird sitting on the juniper and later on a red-whiskered bulbul landed on the plant I can't identify but is clearly not a tomato plant. Also enjoy some house finches merrily singing away.

#adventures in gardening #my backyard ecosystem keeps growing #i downloaded an app that can identify the birds based on their calls #because i like knowing who's out there so i can keep them happy

[shalotttower]

Pholcus phalangioides

Title: Pholcus phalangioides

Fandom: The Collector (2009). Can be read as an original inspired by the source, because I took some creative liberties.

Summary: There's a spider in your bathroom, it lives under the mirror cabinet and you a) don't want to kill it, and b) are too scared to touch it, so now you can either keep giving it one side eye after another, or ask your neighbour for help.

Word count: 4000+

Characters: Asa Emory x Reader

Notes: yandere Asa, spiders and insects descriptions, stalking, voyeurism of sort - Asa watches Reader without her realizing it, kidnapping, vague hinting on body horror, non-con touching, Reader is socially awkward. Asa is not 100% in-movie-character Asa (he actually talks lol), a huge chunk of him is based on my headcanons.

You have this problem - a spider problem, to be precise. Not that it's too big of a deal, but...it also is.

Spiders are generally okay.

They eat unwanted guests, like flies and mosquitos or even other spiders. Make cool webs, which is probably one of the most complicated forms of art, not to mention a mathematical pattern to it - a combination of radial and circular symmetry. The golden ratio in nature.

In general they're important for keeping a backyard ecosystem nice and intact.

But.

But there is a spider in your bathroom, right under the sink cabinet, with thin legs, a long body, and of course - eyes. Quiet, kept to itself, really chill spider who doesn't move much except to crawl around a little and sometimes look at you when it catches you looking.

It probably lived in hiding somewhere, before deciding that dark spaces weren't up to its standards anymore and making an appearance. You haven't swatted it away, caught it, struck it with a paper - mostly because you're not good at killing living creatures, and secondly because the spider isn't doing any harm, just observing your every step, and generally being present.

When you check your makeup bag, it watches. When you brush your teeth, it watches. When you close the cabinet door it wiggles and your heart goes "ee" as if someone shocked it with a static charge. This yellowish-brown witness of your everyday activities, silently approving and judging, lately makes you feel like a nuisance in your own bathroom. You desperately wish there was a way to make it move to another corner. A less centralized one, less straight in your face. Yet the thought of touching it makes you cringe inwardly; your mind conjures images of different scenarios involving spider-related unpleasantries - accidentally squashing it, or getting bitten and dying a slow, miserable death.

It's gotta go.

Because the more you see it, the more your brain tries to assign it human features. And the longer it stares, the bigger the chance it might grow a pair of lips to say "get out of my bathroom".

The thought comes to you in the morning while setting a breakfast plate on the kitchen counter. The house is quiet, all windows are open and you stare through one of them at your neighbour's fence. You rarely see him, though the parked car is always a giveaway of his presence. Emory, that's what the mailbox says, and he has a neat garden, not an extravagant type, but everything is carefully trimmed and arranged into simple patterns.

There's even a stone bench by a small tree. Does it actually get used on sunny days? Probably no. He seems like a loner, from what you've seen so far: tall and pale, with wire-rimmed glasses and still grey eyes. Very focused and put together, a turtleneck and dark trousers kind of Mister. Never waving when passing by, though he does glance sometimes - sharp and attentive.

Once you caught him leaning over a bush with back straight and head hanging low. Your stomach gave this funny, nervous twitch, like when a stranger tries to start a conversation in public. He looked your way and then resumed whatever he was doing.

"Whatever" appeared to be something small, sharp limbs and a shiny body. It looked like a beetle, stretched to an absurd degree, and the way he held that thing felt strangely intimate. The same way you'd cradle a baby animal in your hands, rubbing its forehead with a fingertip. Emory put it in a plastic box, sealed it, and went into his house, not sparing you another glance.

This particular memory - of long fingers and a careful grasp - is what makes you think that maybe, possibly, theoretically, he could handle one pesky spider for you. You've seen him with insects a couple of times after, no doubt Mr. Emory is one of those who glue bugs to display boards. The creepy friend in the bathroom must be right up his alley then.

Five minutes later the two of you are staring at each other in awkward silence. Bothering barely acquainted neighbours isn't usually high on your list of priorities, especially if said neighbours look like they prefer being alone. You know it's odd, you know it probably crosses some boundaries, yet here you are.

With a crease on his brow and a tight mouth, Emory isn't thrilled at this sudden visit. Maybe he was in the middle of something, or is just uncomfortable with people invading his space. In any case, you clear your throat.

"Good morning. I live in the house across the road. The white porch? With-"

"I know," it's a dry reply. Not rude, more matter-of-factly; his eyes are fixed on you with a hint of unsettling peculiarity which makes you shift from one foot to the other.

He's not pest control, you think. Or obligated to help in any way. Emory can tell you to kindly fuck off right now and close the door, why did you even come here? It's stupid and intrusive. You're almost ready to take it all back and go home, pretend like nothing happened and just deal with that spider yourself, when he speaks again.

"What do you need?"

He has a quiet voice, a very even direct tone that doesn't encourage small talk, but prompts answers. Now and without pointless filling.

"I know how it's going to sound," you start, cringing inside, "and apologize in advance for bothering you, but I had an impression you collect...bugs."

"Insects. Arachnids."

"Right. So I was thinking if you'd mind removing a spider from my bathroom. I don't want to kill it, but I can't- I can't touch it."

His gaze slowly shifts from your face to the house behind you. As if Emory has an x-ray vision, or a complete mental map of your household layout. Ha, this would be ridiculous. There's no apparent disapproval in his pale face, but something else, a different kind of assessment. Evaluation of how much it is worth spending time on someone with an overgrown lawn? His eyes return back and you feel pinned down.

The longer he stays silent, the more you wish for the ground to open and swallow you whole.

"If you can't I totally understand-"

"What kind of spider?"

It's your turn to stare. How are you supposed to know, you've never studied spider biology. It looks like any other common variety, except creepier because it refuses to leave its spot and stay in the sewer where it belongs. "I...light-brownish, with long legs. Thin? Slender," there's more you could add but any further description will probably make you sound like a total dunce who can't recognize basic arachnids. "Kind of big."

You expect a 'sure', maybe 'I'll be there shortly' or 'no'. What you get is Emory moving past you and walking up your front porch. The scent of laundry detergent and soap, very clean, hits your nose before you rush to open the door.

"Uhm. Second floor," you explain, awkwardly shuffling after him. For the first time since the day you moved in, you worry about what someone might see inside the house. As far as clutter goes, your place is acceptable, perhaps a few forgotten cups around and yesterday's sweater thrown on a couch. Surely, it's not too bad.

Emory, however, doesn't seem interested in the surroundings. The staircase doesn't even creak under his weight, despite the house being around a century old. He steps over the little border which always makes you trip if you walk too fast, like it's not there. Like the corner you often bump your hip into doesn't exist either. He navigates your home with effortless precision, an inward kind of certainty that makes your eyebrows rise. Maybe...the houses on your street have the same blueprint.

Either way, he walks into your bathroom without hesitation, turning on the light. You hover by the doorway, unsure: should you offer something to drink, ask him if he needs anything else or just step away and leave him to do his thing?

The spider is there, hiding under the cabinet, when Emory leans over to observe it. He's probably seen many different specimens, you think, and this isn't interesting at all compared to the ones who have an intricate design or unique behavior.

"She's a part of the Pholcidae family," Emory says suddenly. Just like that there's 'she', instead of 'it', and the spider twitches and shifts. "Daddy long-legs. Harmless."

He puts his palm up close to its back. At first, it seems startled, but after a moment slowly calms down, and moves a leg - left then right - getting familiar with his hand.

"Docile creatures," Emory continues, while the spider walks along the edge of his palm. No running around, no random leaps, stick-like limbs touch and probe him with curiosity, much like you'd study something new. "They stay in the dark, hide in the corners while feasting on smaller things. Your intruder is a useful tenant."

It makes you feel slightly nauseous, how nonchalant he is about holding something that prompts recoil on instinct.

"Do you want to hold her?" Emory turns to you and there's a faint, strange smile on his lips. It doesn't reach his eyes and makes him look like an alien who tries to mimic human expressions based only on observation. His pupils are so dark that you can barely tell the difference between the irises and the rest. They seem bottomless, absorbing all light, but reflecting none in return. You take one step backwards, shaking your head.

"I'll pass."

He keeps staring at you for what feels like forever before returning his attention to the spider crawling on his skin. Emory reaches into his back pocket for a small container.

"Are you not setting her outside?" You ask. "She...she doesn't look like, uh, a rare species."

Not that you're an expert.

"No," Emory closes the lid with a quiet click. "She isn't one. But I'm going to keep her."

And he does. The little captive spider rests at the very bottom of a plastic case when you send the man on his way and thank him for the help. Emory accepts it with a nod, no further words, and then there's only his back when he leaves. The morning air rushes in, crisp and fresh, smelling like grass, tree leaves and soil.

*

It feels like you blink, and three days go by. You still keep an eye on the bathroom cabinet by some sort of habit, however there's nothing out of the ordinary lurking there, no creepy critters and definitely no thin legs scattering in multiple directions. All is well, now you can brush your teeth, take care of business and even lean close without fear something might fall on your head.

It's just a spider. You googled it later, and how common it is around the continents should be a bit ridiculous. Keeping it might equal to going on a beach and picking the most unremarkable pebble you see; Emory certainly could find hundreds more Daddy long-legs wherever he pleased - parks, gardens or forests.

So...why?

The question gnaws at you, together with that smile and cold grey eyes hidden behind glasses' frames. The weirdest part wasn't the expression, it was how you couldn't read it. Despite the obvious display of human emotion, however misplaced and alien, it failed to reveal anything. The smile was there, and yet nothing broke through it, not amusement, nor politeness - or any kind of feeling whatsoever.

Your neighbour is odd.

Not necessarily scary, though there's a sense of mystery surrounding him, it makes you feel like standing next to an iceberg and only seeing its tip. Or you've just read far too many psychological thrillers and your imagination likes to conjure up the wildest scenarios, trying to turn each and every thing into something sinister.

Maybe you should just chill and get some tea, and stop being so dramatic about a guy who came over and politely removed a spider for you.

*

They're not a unique species. Not even remotely uncommon.

He taps the container gently with his index finger, making the spider move back and forth. She doesn't have venom, no poisonous chemicals to injure and kill. Hiding in abandoned corners she does, patient and careful, waiting to catch the wrong fly.

You're just like her. Nothing exciting. Not unique.

Your movement patterns are similar, concealed in a different package you're still predictable: getting home from work, cooking dinner, watching TV shows. Everyday routines.

Fear is a part of your nature. Awkwardness which comes with socializing: you shuffle when uncomfortable, avoid prolonged eye contact and don't like confrontation, he noticed this right away. A quiet type, keeping mostly to yourself unless you need something urgently; and then you rush, like a scared Daddy long legs. There's this shiftiness, an inner desire to be less visible, but also a yearning for recognition because the lack of it hurts. And he saw all those small things, catalogued them one by one, as you moved into his street and became a constant presence.

Asa has never thought about keeping something - someone - so mundane before. Never. He likes rare things, spectacular, and those collected in the basement, they all are, especially when he's finished with them. They're extraordinary, displayed under glass cases and preserved for eternity.

He doesn't collect common species. Daddy long-legs are abundant everywhere around him.

But.

There's the way you linger by the kitchen window during the morning routine, slowly sipping hot coffee. When your lips purse and eyes lose focus for a moment. Or how the corners of them wrinkle sometimes when you have a genuine, amused laugh. It's something like warmth. There's no label for the feeling - positive, negative or neutral, it just is, like one single, meaningless element in an ecosystem.

He shouldn't want someone so average.

And yet Asa watches from the corner of your living room, crouched on the floor by a plant.

You don't hear him, too invested in your personal bubble. Well, he had enough time to polish his craft and figure out how soundless he can be when moving through spaces, how much weight he needs to place onto soles to avoid creaking wood and floorboards.

It's interesting to see you interact with your environment, unaware of being watched. There's an invisible pattern behind each action, even if you think everything is randomized. The web you wove around yourself is cozy, and Asa follows its threads while you check the phone and frown at whatever notification pops up. He is considering. Contemplating this impulsive desire he has yet to identify.

Would it be worth it? Keeping you. Adding you to the collection and seeing what comes out of it, how far his usual approach might take him with you in the same conditions. You're just a face with features. So...ordinary. He wants to pick you apart and look inside to make sure it's not some strange sort of mimicry, camouflage of a different nature hiding something else entirely.

There's this vague idea how those features may feel when touched. He can recall them accurately, even when you've never stood too close. Asa watches quietly from his hiding place, memorizing a displeased mumble and then a frustrated gesture.

You seem so alive.

Those below who are frozen in time now were too, before Asa decided to give them a purpose and make something special and worthy of his attention. They were alive like you, but now they're something better.

What purpose you have remains to be seen.

Asa decides then.

A plain trunk is nestled in the corner behind a coat hanger, no fancy latch or keyhole needed, only an ordinary padlock. You'll fit in nicely, squeezed in the cramped space, it won't be the most comfortable experience, but it's not for long and then...then he can show you the room where others stayed before, and where you'll be next.

Asa looks around one last time: the front door is locked, blinds down, lights off - you get up from the couch and head upstairs, right on the dot. Your house is easy to navigate despite the darkness; Asa knows his way around it, having been here already more than once. A step after a step he follows the soft padding of your bare feet, and when the steps halt, he pulls out a cloth. It's a heavy kind of pleasure to be able to stand right behind and admire your nape, there's a strange sort of vulnerability to it.

Something raw and very exposed.

It takes only a few movements, he catches your yelp into one of his hands and holds it clasped tightly as you thrash. Your nails dig into the fabric of his turtleneck but fail to leave any marks. He's never tired of it, the initial fear of his specimens realizing that their secure habitats are ruined. He doesn't mind this fight for survival.

"Shh," Asa breathes into your ear. "Shh."

The struggle doesn't last long - you're not a fighter - and when your body goes limp, he picks you up. Your perfume is surprisingly light, a very sweet and pleasant aroma, not overwhelming at all like he'd expect it to be.

It's nice.

He puts you in the trunk, a boxy space barely big enough to fit you curled on the side, it's going to take around thirty minutes to reach the hotel and another three to put you in the right cell. You'll sleep the rest of the journey, which is fortunate for everyone. It's always easier to deal with a specimen if they're resting.

The lock clicks softly - it's time to go home.

*

Something runs down your cheek - a drop, a bead of sweat, a touch - and you blink, trying to make sense of it. The surroundings are unfamiliar, blurry shapes with undefined outlines that stretch and wobble before your eyes. Your jaw hurts, clenched so hard that teeth grind together, and it takes a conscious effort to relax.

Where...what?

The living room, a TV program, a soundless whisper that froze the hairs at your nape, then someone was behind you. You remember a sickly sweet smell, and after that nothing but a haze and the dark, and the sensation of being squeezed into a shape. Your legs feel numb, arms too, like you spent hours immobile in one position. Slowly the world sharpens back into focus, but instead of relief there's only dread.

You're in a room.

No bigger than a regular bathroom and void of any furniture beside a cot-like bed, a toilet in the corner and a sink. The walls are a bluish-gray with thin cracks, tiny fissures that create uneven lines from the ceiling all the way down to the floor.

And there's a man, observing you quietly through the thick glass.

You don't notice him immediately, too busy assessing your new location, and when you do the air feels heavier, difficult to move past your throat. He's wearing a mask. Black rubber or something, covering everything except his eyes. He presses two palms against the barrier separating you, the silence stretches into an eternity.

'Who are you? What do you want?' - these are kind of questions you should be asking, but they don't come out. You remain glued to the spot, counting the passing seconds by their painful tick-tock-tick-tocks. One minute turns into two, and he...just stares without moving a muscle in a beyond unnerving manner. Your gaze dips lower to check his clothes, perhaps find a pattern to identify this person later.

There's none. Everything is plain black, like a uniform made to be invisible - turtleneck, pants, even gloves and boots.

It seems that your silence somehow pleases him, because a few moments later he leaves without looking back.

You don't know how much time passes; there's not a window around, only a bare, stark bulb, yellowish in its brightness and casting unpleasant shadows all over the floor. Not a single sound. Traffic, voices of distant passersby or birds - all is absent and doesn't provide even a bit of understanding where the hell you are.

In the end, you...sit down on the bed and wait, because what else is there? Everything is eerily silent and very, very uncomfortable: this emptiness, the absence of noise, the endless ticking of an invisible clock. It's difficult not to cry, but you try your best, somehow it feels important to remain composed. There has to be a reason behind this. There must be one, and you repeat it over and over, like a mantra to soothe the nerves and present your mind with some semblance of logic: once you figure out what's going on, you'll figure out how to get out as well.

Pulling loose threads from your sleeve is poor entertainment, if anything, the strain of boredom and unease gradually grows into anxiety so sharp that you almost miss the sound of approaching footsteps.

He's back again, the masked stranger who stands in the doorway with hands clasped behind his back. A pair of light grey eyes is a splash of different color, but they are blank. They watch with distant curiosity of an animal trainer monitoring a newborn cub. The comparison makes something ugly squirm inside you. A part of you wants to make a run for it, the other keeps yelling that it would be immensely stupid.

One, two, three, four steps he takes into your cell. Your back meets the wall, the chill coming from its solid surface cuts right through the layers of clothing. Five, six. He stops only when there's less than arm's reach between you, then leans to brush away loose strands of hair sticking to your temples. Your stomach goes taut. This scent. Laundry detergent mixed with soap. The turtleneck, grey eyes, very collected kind of Mister.

A sickly shiver of revulsion shoots down your spine, making you curl tighter into a ball. Emory cups your jaw with both hands - they're cold even through the gloves material. This is too close, an unwanted and unpleasant violation of boundaries, and yet he continues to examine your face, like you're some sort of an object he can handle however he pleases.

Your cheek gets a light pat. Any theories about his identity stay unvoiced, mostly because you fear the reaction they might prompt. Something tells you that screaming is a bad idea too. 'Be quiet,' an insistent whisper says deep inside your skull, 'be still.'

His thumbs press to the corners of your mouth. "Open," he orders, and you can't not, even though the whole thing sounds and feels bizarre. "Wider."

There's a quiet click. A flashlight, of those small ones you can easily hold in one hand, shines right into your eyes, making them water from the unexpected brightness. "Don't bite or I'll remove all of your teeth."

It's a simple threat, delivered with such a calm tone, there's no need for yelling when words are that clear and straightforward.

He inspects your mouth, the edges of teeth and gums, your inner cheeks, and you let him, clenching your fists. There's not much you can do, at least that's what you keep telling yourself to ease the heavy, sinking feeling of powerlessness. Your mind chants 'too close' on a loop, urging to wiggle away; you stay. It's unclear what exactly he's looking for - dental or oral diseases, a sore throat, cavities, or the lack of them?

It lasts forever until he straightens back up and puts the light away.

"Good," Emory states. There's another pat to your head before he turns around to leave. "No biting."

The door panel slides with a soft hum, locking shut. And the silence, and the waiting, and the mind numbing monotony is back again.

#shalott fanfiction #yandere #the collector #the collector (2009) #asa emory #asa emory x reader #slasher fanfiction #slashers

[solarpunkani]

Y'know someone's probably waxed poetic about this already but it's on my mind so I'm gonna do it again.

When it comes to encouraging people to learn about native plants and habitat and involving themselves and their yards in the wider ecosystem, you gotta meet them where they're at.

And maybe that means they won't go as far into it as you are or would like them to in your wildest dreams. But even small steps count towards the bigger picture and I think we need to appreciate that more.

An example from my own life is my mom and the current gardening project we're working on. We're planning out the garden beds in the front of the yard by the mailbox--my mom's previous plantings for the most part haven't worked out, so I'm taking a crack at it.

I'm a pollinator gardening enthusiast who cares more about attracting as many butterflies bees and hummingbirds as possible than keeping things 'neat' and 'tidy'. However, not only do we live in an HOA neighborhood (though not as intense as some other stories I've heard), but I know my mother--an interior designer who has a deeply vested care for making sure the exterior of the house looks as Nice as possible.

We're still getting a pollinator garden in the front though. How? I'm meeting her where she's at, I'm making some concessions, she's making some concessions, but ultimately we're making something that works for the both of us. She doesn't want the plants too tall and messy? We'll trim them back in fall and winter--the insects can use the backyard garden to nest in. She doesn't want things too wild and bushy and weedy? We'll add a nice mulch to the beds, keep things a bit spaced out until they grow in to their larger sizes. She doesn't know the latin names for the plants I'm asking for, let alone how to pronounce them to ask for them at a garden center? That's fine, I don't know the Latin names for most things anyways, let's just use common names.

Does she care that the garden will attract butterflies and hummingbirds? Not intrinsically--she sees it as more of a bonus, if anything. She just cares about what color everything will be and if it'll be easy to maintain. The fact that they're native plants barely registers as a plus side to her. And honestly? That is fine.

If I approached this problem with a hardheaded attitude on how I wanted it to be just as wild and free as my backyard garden? There wouldn't be any native plants in the front beds. It's not like I didn't teach my mom things, but I didn't lecture her like she was lesser just for not knowing or caring as much about native gardening as I do. And that, ultimately, made her more open to the idea than she would've been if I looked down on her like I've seen too many people do to others.

Not everyone is going to develop a deeply seated care about native plants and Latin names and I don't think it's reasonable to expect that. Meet people where they're at and you just might get a lot more done. Meet people where they're at and you just might find they'll get excited enough to learn more--but if they don't want to learn more, that is fine.

We can't expect everyone on the globe to suddenly become plant experts rattling off Latin names left and right and professionally ID'ing native and invasive plants. In the same way we wouldn't expect everyone to suddenly learn the ins and outs of learning code, or how to synthesize medicines, or how to properly build a house. And that is fine. Because we can lean on those who do know when these things come up.

I lost track of where this was going but. Y'know????

#out of queue #ani rambles #may delete later #like idk between the CPBD channel and some posts ive seen on here #it feels like a lot of people expect EVERYONE to learn ALL the Latin names for everything and thats just not realistic #Latin names make me fuckin dizzy just hearing them out loud 99% of the time #we can't admonish your everyday homie for referring to things by their common name and not knowing the ins and outs of native gardening #you attract more flies with honey than vinegar. don't look down on people for things they don't know and instead lift them up #thats the best way to get people curious about wanting to learn more #and lead by example. show good results and people will be interested. #i put up a bird feeder for the first time like 2 years ago and just this weekend my mom decided to buy a window feeder because she likes #seeing the birds. does she care about providing habitat for wild creatures? no she just likes seeing the pretty birds. #im not gonna lecture her for not putting up a birdhouse and birdfeeder and just wanting to see the birds??? thats stupid #if she wants to get into more then she'll get into more and if she doesn't even a small contribution is still a contribution yknow? #like if someone's doing something actively/with risk to be harmful by all means talk to them about it but like #dont be fuckin rude guys #im going to bed

[ghostoffuturespast]

22 September 2023 - Friday Field Notes

Field work is not glamorous.

It doesn’t matter what field you work in. Often times you’re outside for hours on end, the weather doesn’t cooperate when you need it too, you’re covered in sweat, in dirt, you’re overworked, you’re underpaid, your organization is understaffed, you don’t have the resources or the equipment you need to do the work, and trying to get people to give a shit and effect the change that needs to happen is a perpetual uphill battle that rivals Sisyphus’s eternal punishment. But you adapt, you improvise, and you do the work anyway.

Because it’s important. Because it matters. To me. To you. And to every living thing on this planet. You do it so things can grow and thrive.

Part of my job doing restoration work is removal and management of invasive species, like this Mullein pictured above. Now, Mullein is a plant that originated in Europe and Asia and was brought over to North America for cultivation purposes.

However, it didn't originate in the ecosystems in N. America, didn't evolve along with the local flora and fauna, it has no biological checks in the Great Plains to keep it from overrunning an area like it would in Europe or Asia. Not having any biological checks allows species to create monocultures, which isn't great because it reduces the overall biodiversity of an ecosystem, making it less robust and unable to support the vast array of wildlife you should find in a given area. Some species in the Great Plains do utilize the Mullein as a resource, but again, since it didn't evolve here many species are essentially losing food and habitat because of this plant.

Monocultures also reduce the effectiveness of a habitat's ecosystem services that help support life for all living organisms. Including us. Clean air, clean water, nutrient rich soil to support the growth of food, capturing carbon to sequester to reduce climate change... All reliant on biodiversity. All reliant on populations of native plants.

It's not enough to just remove invasive species though. You can't take something out, without putting something back in. Good land management and stewardship practices should also restore ecosystems. Rabbitbrush and Rocky Mountain Bee Plant are both species that are native to my local area, and are a resource for all manner of species.

And that Bee Plant, we planted that last season. It was the only one that grew, but look at all the seed pods on that thing! Hopefully those seeds will go on to make even more Bee Plants and support even more wildlife!

I watched this documentary series last week for work and I'd highly recommend it. It's about the native seed supply chain in the western United States for restoration efforts. A really large area, that needs as much helps as it can get.

https://ser-insr.org/native-seed-film - You can watch it in sections, or they have a couple of different lengths depending on the time you have. But if you only have 12 minutes to give, for sure watch the introduction.

Now, I'd like to point out, these large scale efforts are important, but restoration efforts don't have to be big or elaborate. If you have a spare planting pot or a backyard, you have the ability to restore native habitat. You can bring those ecosystems to you. And it doesn't necessarily require you tearing out your whole yard or sacrificing the plants you do grow.

It may require a bit more homework (you're gonna have to research what plants are native to where you live), and some trial and error, but there are a lot of gorgeous native plants out there that require very little work once they're established compared to "traditional" garden plants.

Humans have carved out huge swathes of land for our own purposes, often to the detriment of other living things and ourselves. We've destroyed entire habitats and ecosystems due to human vanity and simply walked away. Cut our losses. Those habitats and ecosystems are lost. But the land is not gone. And who's to say all those things that are lost can't be found.

It's not easy work, but with some compassion, and a little bit of knowledge, and the willingness to be patient, perhaps we can weave the land back together. Not the way it was, but rather better.

A ghost can dream, right? And perhaps this Pronghorn does too.

It's hard to appreciate the subtle beauty of the prairie. It's not a forest. Not the ocean. Most people might only see grass and not see the richness. The diversity. But I've done a shit-ton of digging this week to try and install a native plant garden.

Field work, manual labor and sweating outside with a shovel, is not glamorous.

But I'm doing this so people can hopefully see the beauty of the prairie, so they can see the beauty in the land around them and perhaps consider planting some native plants of their own. So every living thing out here, big or small, can have a home.

And here's a Megacyllene (sp?), probably a Locust Borer Beetle. It has wasp stripes to dissuade predators from trying to eat it.

#nature #field notes friday #restoration work #short grass prairie #plants #habitat restoration #native plants #locust borer beetle #pronghorn #rocky mountain bee plant #rabbit brush #mullein #land management #land stewardship #native seed restoration #little ghost on the prairie

[ovaruling]

sometimes the view outside my kitchen window is so idyllic i almost feel unworthy of the peace and harmony the animals there show me. the doves and grackles and jays and cardinals and warblers and ibis and woodpeckers all eat together, alongside squirrels and (at dusk) raccoons and possums.

natural fungi grow happily and undisturbed nearby, breaking down fallen leaves and seed fragments and making the soil a happy place for underground friends like worms and burrowing reptiles and amphibians. the canopy of the large trees overhead provides shade in the rising heat and shelter from the rain and wind, even for the butterflies. the blooming flowers on the edges provide sustenance for pollinators and the large 35-year-old trees nearby provide a variety of homes for all who visit this little clearing of mine. there is nothing wasted here. everything is made use of in this little microcosm. everyone, down to the tiniest insect, has a role.

my neighborhood used to boast large patches of untouched old growth forests when i was very young. one of my earliest memories was crying to see them cut down for development. these animals have been displaced so violently, now considered “pests” viable for extermination in the new mowed backyards where their homes used to be. they have nowhere to go and limited places to forage for food.

it’s nothing like those beautiful long-gone forests, but i’m more than happy to keep providing something, however ersatz, for them until i have enough resources to purchase as much land as i can here to replant native flora on, where the forests used to be.

it will take my whole life to be able to secure something like that—but i am determined to give back to the place i grew up in, no matter what i have to do to achieve it, or how long it takes. i will make reparations for what we have taken from the creatures we share this land with. i will give them back at least one approximate forest. it won’t ever be the same, i can’t ever get that perfect ecosystem back. but i can give them something in the vast human-developed desert of nothing.

for now, this is the best i can do. but i still think it’s something.

#i also protect them every time i do a successful TNR of the neighborhood stray cats #it’s all connected. everything i do has a purpose

[anipgarden]

One thing I've found important but also sometimes difficult to learn is that the difference between a 'butterfly garden' and a 'biodiverse habitat' is that you gotta accept that sometimes things are gonna die.

This isn't to say that you shouldn't try to tend to things. If I find a bunch of oleander aphids harassing some of my young milkweed plants, I'll get the hose and spray them off no problem--hard to tend a garden and save milkweed seeds if they're getting the life sucked out of them before they can even go to seed. If I see a lot of snails starting to devour some of my flowers and turn them into brown mush, I'll pick them off and toss them to the neighborhood ducks.

But with that being said, creating a biodiverse environment for wildlife means there's gonna be prey animals and predator animals, and some insects may fill several niches. I plant milkweed and other flowers so monarchs and other insects can enjoy them as a host plant and a nectar source. Some years, I can barely even find large caterpillars because the wasps just go ham and pig out. That doesn't mean I'm gonna hunt down any and every wasp nest and spray it to death for being oh-so-mean to my precious baby caterpillars! They're just trying to survive, just like everything else in my garden!

And in the grand scheme, everything is part of a cycle that feeds everything else. The caterpillars feed the wasps, which then feed the cardinals and chickadees and mocking birds. Later in the summer, I always see some ladybugs, and my aphid problems drop even without me bringing out the hose. Sure, the snails are a major problem for me, right now. But they might be feeding things I'm not even seeing, late at night--like blindworms, or possums, or frogs, and maybe even the birds are going at them when I'm not outside.

The literal basis of my pollinator garden is so things can eat other things--the caterpillars feed on the milkweed, after all. I can't deny that they're part of an ecosystem, and the effort in trying to just sprays poisons everywhere for no real reason.

If I really wanted to, I could try and collect every single tiny little baby caterpillar and keep them in a little container, so I can rear them by hand, if it hurts too much to think of them getting eaten by wasps. My next door neighbor did that. Brought in 26 caterpillars to protect them from outside enemies, and promptly ran out of milkweed. Out of all that, only maybe 10 tops made it. And the instant she set out her stripped-bare plants again, there were already more monarchs coming in and laying seeds on the stems of plants that just barely were starting to leaf back out.

Nature's a balancing act. Monarchs have been dealing with pests like wasps through all this time. Every time I wonder where the caterpillars are, I sure can still find a few dozen eggs on my plants. Butterflies are still dropping by, still laying tons of eggs on my plants. And it's not like I go out there five times a day to count caterpillars--for all I know, there could still be dozens of those little guys growing up where I don't even see them.

I feel like I'm losing my point. Long story short, if wasps are eating some caterpillars in my backyard, I'm not gonna lose my mind. I want my garden to be part of a wider ecosystem, not a members-only club.

#ani rambles #out of queue #pollinator gardening #'but Ani if you don't mind things dying in your garden why are you killing snails' I spent MONEY on those plants #and they're always my non-milkweed favorites they're going after!!! #coneflowers rudbeckias zucchini squash foxglove I'm not allowed to have nice things because of those fuckers #am I being a bit unfair to them???? maybe #but also you try picking off 100 goddamn snails from your fuckin flowers after a rainy day and see how you feel #'ani make your garden less moist to handle the snail problem' I live in FLORIDA #if I don't water things'll bake OR it'll just rain anyways for three days straight and all of a sudden my rudbeckias are dead #I need to attract some goddamn snail eating frogs but until then im putting them in a bucket and feeding them to #the ducks that live in my neighborhood

[pynkhues]

Top 5 of your own plants AND top 5 dream plants to own

MEGAN, asking me to choose between my plant children is basically criminal at this point, haha. At last count, I have over fifty of them, which is - - y'know, a lot of plants.

It's kind of a wild thing to me, because I had about three at the start of the Melbourne lockdowns, but I found they were just something that helped me feel really connected to the world during that 263 days of isolation. It sparked such a passion for gardening and plantcare that I don't think I had before - just getting to nurture these little slices of potted life and watch them grow and change during a period of my life that felt drawn to a halt was very special, and it's been something I've really gotten to take out of a few very challenging years.

But yes, haha, my plants! Top five in no particular order:

(All of my) Peperomias

I have about six peperomias, a few of them are cuttings of this lady right here, but I have a few other sub-species of her too. Peperomias are great because they're so easy to look after and have such great shapes to them. They also have SUCH fascinating flowers which you can see on one of my other ones here:

The flowers are these long, spindly soft-green stem extensions, and this picture doesn't really do them justice in reality. They're beautiful, hardy plants though, and I love them a lot.

My snake plant

She just keeps growing and she has such height to her, which you can only kinda see in this pic, haha. Anyway, I love her, A+ lady.

My monstera

I've posted about this one before, but I've had her since she was about 10cm tall, so the fact that she's now up to my sternum is bananas. (Yes, I know I need to buy her a new moss stick because the one she has is way too short, and better tuck her aerial roots, but in my defence, she grows very fast).

My crucifix orchid

She's not flowering at the moment, but I still think she's a megababe. Plus I think aerial roots are sexy and any home gardener cutting them off is WRONG. Embrace the wild things your plants do! It's their world, we're just living in it, etc etc etc.

My rubber plant with bonus Oreo

A terrible photo of my rubber plant, but Oreo loves to hide under her leaves, and this is the best photo I have of that, so I hope you get the gist anyway, haha.

Top Five Plants I Want

My dream these days is to have a proper native garden to provide sanctuary to native wildlife, particularly native bats, birds and bees (the three B's!) I'm pretty passionate about decolonising gardens, so even though I love a lot of non-native plants (including virtually all of the ones above), I do think that our gardens should prioritise native flora and try to restore our natural ecosystems.

I rent, which is a big part of why most of my plants are transportable, but I'm hoping soon I might be able to start fostering a native garden.

In that, five of the plants I'd want would be:

Lemon Myrtle

I adore lemon myrtle, both as a plant and as food. It's delicious, beautiful, and just this incredible plant? I love her.

Waratahs

Gorgeous showstoppers!!

Kangaroo Paw

Kangaroo Paw's are probably one of my favourite native plants period, and I did actually have one for a long time, but I'd planted her out into the backyard and the soil at the place I live isn't very good quality, and despite trying to treat it, she died, which is a bummer. I'm hoping I have better luck next time!

Native Bluebell

We have a whole lot of these in the park near my house, and I just think they're really pretty. Tumblr's not letting me upload a pic, but you can see them here.

Wattle

Yeah, okay, she's Australia's national flower, but I am in love with herrrr. Golden Wattle still takes my breath away when I see her in full flower, and the idea of having that at home is magic.

Ask me about my top fives!

#thank yooouuuu #megan knows my kryptonite is talking about plants hahaha #rl #welcome to my ama #top five meme #i do want to have more flowering plants #i have a few #but because most of my plants are indoor plants it doesn't really lend itself to that

[taimio]

Unveiling the Breathtaking Beauty of Mediterranean Gardens: Explore Southern Europe's Flourishing Plant Species!

Dreaming of a lush, vibrant garden that flourishes with minimal effort? Turn your dream into a reality by incorporating Southern European plants into your outdoor space. By exploring the rich flora native to Southern Europe, you can create your own Mediterranean garden in no time. This carefully curated guide, "Creating a Mediterranean Garden: Top Plants That Thrive in Southern Europe," is your pathway to a garden blooming with diversity, color, and grace. We delve into the unique characteristics of various plants native to Southern Europe and how you can integrate their beauty into your garden. Let's take a journey through the warm, welcoming climates of Mediterranean countries and bring a little bit of their spirited greenery to your backyard. So, if you're ready to transform your garden into a botanical wonder, keep reading and let's embark on this green-fingered venture together.

Creating A Mediterranean Garden: Top Plants That Thrive In Southern Europe

I've always been captivated by the lush beauty of a Mediterranean garden. The vibrant colors, aromatic scents, and tranquil ambiance have a way of transporting me to the sun-drenched shores of Southern Europe. In my quest to recreate this enchanting oasis in my own backyard, I've discovered a diverse array of plants that not only survive but thrive in the Mediterranean climate.

First on my list is the Bougainvillea, a flamboyant climber that adds a splash of vivid color to any garden. Its vibrant bracts, ranging from deep magenta to sunny yellow, create an impressive display against the backdrop of azure skies. Just be prepared for its formidable thorns, which seem determined to protect its exuberant beauty.

Next, we have the Olive Tree, an elegant symbol of the Mediterranean. Its gnarled trunk and silvery foliage exude a timeless charm, making it a focal point in any garden. Not only does it provide shade and a touch of Mediterranean elegance, but it also gifts us with the precious olive fruits that have been cherished for centuries.

No Mediterranean garden would be complete without the Lavender. Its fragrant purple flowers evoke images of rolling hills in Provence, instantly transporting you to a state of tranquility. The aroma of lavender not only delights the senses but also attracts a myriad of beneficial insects, creating a harmonious ecosystem in your garden.

For a touch of whimsy, Bougainvillea and Jasmine can grow together, intertwining their branches, and creating a stunning floral tapestry. The jasmine's delicate white flowers release an intoxicating fragrance in the evening, perfuming the air and enchanting all who pass by. It's a sensory experience that no Mediterranean garden should be without.

I am constantly amazed by how these resilient plants not only survive but thrive in the harsh conditions of Southern Europe.

If you're looking to add some height and drama to your garden, the Italian Cypress is an excellent choice. Its tall, slender silhouette brings a touch of elegance and sophistication, reminiscent of the Tuscan countryside. Plant them in a row to create a natural screen or use them to frame a pathway for a dramatic effect.

Lastly, we have the Rosemary, a staple in Mediterranean cuisine and a versatile herb with a delightful fragrance. Its needle-like leaves and delicate blue flowers add texture and charm to any garden. Not only is it a culinary delight, but it also has medicinal properties and is believed to enhance memory and concentration.

Creating a Mediterranean garden is a labor of love, but the rewards are immeasurable. The vibrant colors, intoxicating scents, and serene ambiance transport you to a world of sun-kissed bliss. So, roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and let nature guide you on a journey to Southern Europe, right in your own backyard.

For a more in-depth guide on creating your own Mediterranean garden, check out the related article Creating Your Own Mediterranean Paradise: A Guide to Southern European Plants. Happy gardening!

Learn more about gardening with Taim.io!

#Southern European Plants

[klenvs3000w24]

01: A Continually Blossoming Relationship with Nature

Hey everyone!

I am excited to dive into this course and connect with my classmates, professor, and teaching assistants. This week, we are to reflect on our relationship with nature, and for me, that connection truly began when I moved to a new house beside a ravine, walking path, and forestry.

Around the age of six, I was lucky enough to have moved to a house that backs onto a park with many trees, open grass areas, a ravine, and natural inhabitants such as squirrels and mallard ducks. As a child, I enjoyed the outdoors, mainly as a space for playing games such as tag and hide and seek with my friends and family. I started to learn the unique features that come together to form a complete ecosystem. While it was by no means academic knowledge, I understood that the ‘big tree’ in the backyard was perfect for hiding behind, and I had begun mapping out all the desire paths for accessible escape routes to use during games.

Growing into my adolescent years and now as a young adult, my relationship with nature has evolved to become a space that provides me with peace, grounding, and a breath of fresh air, both figuratively and literally. Whenever I have been having a hard day, I find spending just 30 minutes outside with nature can turn it around. The modern day has many opportunities for stimuli that keep our brains constantly occupied, such as completing schoolwork, watching TikTok, playing video games, and more. As a result, we sometimes forget to take time to allow our brains to rest. For me, my relationship with nature does just that. Specifically, there is a bed of rocks on the ravine that I always visit as it provides me with a sense of place.

My relationship with nature has further developed with a summer job that allowed me to learn more about local tree species. With a group of 5 other young adults, we spent the summer collecting data on tree species in Long Branch, Ontario, including their height, canopy width, DBH (diameter at breast height), and health status. Through participating in this job opportunity, I was fascinated to learn how to identify different tree species; common species in Long Branch include the white cedar, Norway maple, and white spruce. More importantly, I recognized the value tree canopies provide to our ecosystems as they filter air pollution, produce oxygen, regulate temperatures, and provide habitat for other organisms. Similar to many other areas, the tree canopy percent is nowhere near the target; Long Branch’s tree canopy covers 15%, while the goal for Toronto is 40%. This experience has further solidified the information I have learned from academic and news resources that we must do what we can to help with environmental conservation. As a result, my relationship with nature has further developed as I now recognize that nature is not only there to care for us, but I equally have to show care for nature.

[my-survival-farm-pdf-book]

My Survival Farm by Dan F Sullivan

Many people seek to identify a working method to help them sustainably produce food while taking very minimal care of their farmland due to different reasons. This is a challenge affecting thousands of people worldwide, and they seek to identify a solution to help with this. Modern farming techniques combined with proper farmland management can create a self-sustaining food-producing ecosystem. My survival Farm is a simple creation whose design is to help you produce healthy and organic foods. This system will help you have a numerous times more efficient farm than traditional gardens. Moreover, it helps you have tons of healthy and nutritious food supplements for your family all year round. The good thing about this system is that you can use it even under extreme weather conditions. The crops such as vegetable fruits and any medicinal plants live in harmony while benefitting, thus increasing their productivity. The plants' harmony enables them to survive under harsh weather conditions. This program was created to help people get enough food to supply when there is a food shortage or a disaster. 

The gardening or agricultural technique you’ll learn in the “My Survival Farm” course is called permaculture. It’s a practical method for creating sustainable ways of growing food while working with nature. The process the system talks about is called permaculture. According to them, it’s basically a way of replicating what nature is already doing. Nature is the best at growing foods. So as you learn to grow foods like nature, everything will change for you and you’ll create your own food supply. Supposedly, you can do all this from your own backyard. And the beauty is, it doesn’t take much effort to make some very amazing things happen for yourself in a very short time, from a sustainable food, standpoint. No doubt, getting into mistakes whenever you start farming is inevitable. Since you are not very familiar with this growing crop method, you can be prone to making mistakes, and at times, you might give up if you do not get the aspired results. Well, you should not be scared. There is this section of the course specifically designed to address that. You will be introduced to the basics that will get you started. Remember, the moment you start your survival farm, you will differ from your neighbors.

My Survival Farm Offers Many Benefits, you don’t have to spend money on chemical fertilizer because you can use garden waste, or even animal waste (horse manure), to make the soil healthy. How to plan, design and put into action high-yield survival garden that will literally keep you and your family fed for life, no matter what hits you, even when everyone else around you is starving to death. Step-by-step instructions on how to plant over 125 plants inside your permaculture garden. Plus, special instructions on choosing the right ones for your climate. You get the full table of plants that work well with one another as well as the ones you should NEVER be put together. A hotlist of perennials that you don't have to re-plant every year. How to take care of pests naturally, and without using any pesticides. You don’t have to break your back setting it up and maintaining it (if you compare it to traditional gardening). It also serves different functions aside from growing food and medicinal plants. You can use this method to any space size. If you have a small space, it can help you make the most out of it. You just need a good garden design before you start, to make sure everything will work well.

My Survival Farm is a complete guide based on an attentive analysis of the actual situation of Venezuela. The target is to help people to avoid a financial crisis that can occur at any moment. You can easily download it on your device and become informed on what method to apply in the case of an economic emergency. Today the entire world has to deal with various types of environmental problems like global warming and climatic changes which may lead to a shortage of food due to various types of infections and wars. In this situation, this eBook can educate you on how to survive you and your family in any circumstances. This eBook also includes five bonuses like Veggie profits, Canning Authority, SHFT Water, Blueprint for Family Survival and Checklist and Action Plan for Perma-culture to make your efforts easier and more effective. Dan’s writing is easy to understand, and he never complicates concepts and processes. But besides that, the sheer volume of material you get alone makes it worth the price. It’s hard NOT to recommend. Furthermore, the 60-day money-back guarantee makes your purchase risk free. It’s a no-brainer.

Click Here to Order My Survival Farm from its Official Website

[samwisethewitch]

Building a Magical Home

One of my favorite quotes about the magic of homemaking comes from Cory Hutcheson, host of the New World Witchery podcast. He says, “Home is a transformational act. It is the thing you do to turn a space into a space… that is full of ritual and significance and meaning. So there is sort of this ongoing relationship you have with the space that makes it a home.”

The act of creating a home, of making a space your own, is inherently magical. But if you want to make your space feel a little more witchy, here are some ideas to get you started.

Charms and Talismans

Making your own magical objects can be a powerful way to bring magic into your space. The best thing about making your own charms is that you can make them look however you want, so it’s easy to disguise them as ordinary household objects. You can make a charm for any intention by combining objects based on their magical correspondences.

I’ve talked about protective charms in previous posts, so I’m not gonna spend a lot of time on it here. The simplest protective charm is keeping a large piece of iron under your bed to keep away nightmares, evil spirits, and negative energy. You could also make your own protection charm, like a witch bottle.

You can create a “happy home” charm to bring peace, harmony, and happiness into your home. This charm could include herbs like basil, rosemary, lavender, peppermint, and/or bay leaves, as well as other items that you associate with peace and good fortune, like lucky coins, crystals, or black cat fur. Write your desires for a harmonious and happy home on a piece of paper, fold it up, and add it to the charm. You could store these items in a green bag, bury them in your backyard (in this case, make sure you’re only using biodegradable plant matter — leave out the coins and crystals), or place it inside a household object like a lamp or an end table.

If you suffer from insomnia or other sleep issues, try making a dream charm to help you sleep well and have sweet dreams. To make a simple dream charm, fill a blue or purple bag with lavender, chamomile, peppermint, and any other objects that you associate with peace, restfulness, and sleep. If you want to have lucid dreams or receive psychic messages in your dreams, include a bit of mugwort. Place the charm in your pillow or under your mattress. (I personally swear by this one, as it’s helped a lot with my insomnia.)

Charms are great for homemaking magic because you’re actually creating a magical object, which can then become a permanent fixture of the space.

Magical Decor

You can use magical items to decorate your home to bring certain qualities into that space.

Hanging or displaying a broom is said to bring good fortune, protection from evil, and good hospitality. Cauldrons are used to represent the Goddess, rebirth, and raw potential. Horseshoes hung above door frames bring safety and luck to all who cross under them, and keep unwanted guests away. If you can get them legally and ethically, animal bones, teeth, claws, and feathers can represent the spirit and energy of that animal. You can also put up images of spiritual and occult symbols — I have an image of the Sun tarot card hanging in my bedroom to promote positivity and growth.

If you need to be a little more subtle with your witchy decorations, working with the magic of color is a great way to do that. Gathering a lot of items of a single color in one room changes the energy of that room. Here’s a quick guide to give you some ideas:

Yellow is associated with divination, mental clarity, the element of air, success, communication, and inspiration.

Purple is associated with divine power, spiritual awareness, mystery, astral travel, magic, and authority.

Blue is associated with healing, psychic abilities, the element of water, peace, truth, and patience.

Red is associated with protection, the fire element, sex, power, vitality, and love.

Orange is associated with ambition, creativity, breaking through blockages, and career success.

Pink is associated with romantic love, friendship, self love, compassion, and emotional well-being.

Green is associated with nature, herbalism, the earth element, money, wealth, prosperity, and luck.

Brown is associated with grounding, animal magic, stability, and balance.

White is associated with purification, cleansing, the full moon, new beginnings, healing, and spiritual growth.

Black is associated with protection, truth, outer space, banishing, and transition.

Decorating your home with colors that are meaningful to you can create a powerful magical space. You may also have your own color associations (for example, yellow is a very “happy” color for me), so feel free to incorporate those into your decor as well!

Growing Magical Houseplants

Most witches feel a very deep connection to nature and draw power from the natural world, but we can’t all live in a cottage in the heart of the forest. Even if you live in a tiny apartment in the city, you can still bring nature into your space by keeping houseplants. Many popular houseplants have magical uses, and many popular magic herbs can be grown inside. Here are a few to get you started.

Aloe. This is one of my favorite plants. Aloe brings luck and protection, especially protection on an energetic/spiritual level. I like to keep aloe in my bedroom to protect me while I sleep, as well as to bring luck and inspiration while I’m working at my desk.

Basil. Basil is very popular in money spells, and will attract prosperity and luck to your home. However, it also has protective properties — both spiritual protection and protection from bugs, since basil is a natural insect repellent! Basil can also be used in love spells, and is just generally a good plant to have around for good vibes.

African Violet. This flowering plant attracts positive spiritual energy into your space. It has associations with the moon and the water element, and is very good for promoting spirituality and psychic power.

Rosemary. Rosemary is one of those herbs that every witch should have on hand. It’s so darn versatile, it can be used as a substitute for virtually any other herb, and can be used for almost any intention. Some of the most common magical associations for rosemary include: cleansing, purification, protection, healing, mental activity, and enhancing memory. According to author Deborah J. Martin, there’s an old English saying that, “Where rosemary grows, the woman rules the house.” Like basil, rosemary is a natural insect repellent.

Lavender. Lavender brings peace, love, and gentleness, which makes it a perfect addition to any home. It can be used in spells for cleansing and purification, enhancing psychic abilities, and stress relief. Lavender is also a powerful addition to love spells. Keeping lavender in the bedroom can aid in restful sleep, while lavender in the kitchen will bring harmony to the home.

Sage. Sage is the most talked about cleansing herb, and with good reason. Unfortunately, a lot of the sage bundles you can buy at metaphysical stores are made with white sage (Salvia apiana), which is sacred to Native American peoples and is endangered due to overharvesting. Instead of buying those, why not grow your own garden sage (Salvia officinalis), which has a lot of the same magical properties? Growing sage in your home will purify the space and protect those who live there. Sage also has an association with wisdom and mental prowess.

Hoya. Hoya is a common houseplant that you’ve probably seen even if you don’t know it by name. It has a distinctive appearance with waxy, dark green leaves and clusters of white, star-shaped flowers. Hoya aligns and balances the energy centers within your body, as well as in the surrounding space. It’s associated both with grounding and with spiritual openness, so it can be great for balancing the two.

Peppermint. Peppermint has a variety of magical uses, but my favorite way to use it is for gently opening up blockages and getting things moving. It’s great for cleansing, but is more gentle than rosemary or sage. Place it in any room where you tend to do a lot of healing work, or where you could use some peace and love. Peppermint is also used in dream magic, so growing it in the bedroom may bring on vivid or lucid dreams.

Orchid. Orchids are used in magic for love and lust. Historically, orchid has been used in folk medicine to promote male virility and “Jezebel root,” used in American folk magic to attract wealthy male lovers, is a type of orchid root. If you live with a significant other, try growing an orchid in the bedroom to promote passion in your sex life. Otherwise, grow orchids in your home to promote love or to attract romance.

Catnip. If you have cats, they’ll love this one. Catnip is actually a type of mint, and has strong lunar associations. It’s said to make one more charming and attractive, and is especially useful for attracting women. At the same time, catnip promotes courage and fierceness. It is also, of course, associated with cats and feline deities, so this is definitely a plant you’ll want to keep around if the cat is one of your animal guides.

If you have a yard space that you can turn into an outdoor garden, your magical plant options are limited only by your local ecosystem. Some outdoor plants that have magical uses include roses, sunflowers, rue, lemon balm, and strawberries.

Creating an Altar

Altars are focal points of magical and spiritual energy. Many people, both witches and non-witches, find that having a designated space for their spiritual practice creates a deeper sense of sacredness and purpose.

An altar can serve lots of different purposes. Many witches use their altar as a magical work space to prepare spells, meditate, and do divination. You may choose to dedicate your altar to a deity, your ancestors, or some other spirit(s) you work with. You can also build altars for specific intentions, such as a money altar or a love altar — performing rituals at this altar everyday is a powerful method for manifestation. You altar may be some or all of these things, or it may just be a place to sit and connect with the spiritual.

You can set up an altar on any flat surface, like a shelf or table, or inside a container like a jewelry box. Your setup can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. An altar can be huge and complex, with statues and candles and flowers, or it can be as simple as a tealight and an incense burner. It’s all about what appeals to you.

Resources:

New World Witchery pocast, “Episode 143 — The Magical Home”

Southern Cunning: Folkloric Witchcraft in the American South by Aaron Oberon

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham

“Candle colors and their meanings” by Michelle Gruben on the Grove and Grotto blog

Green Witchcraft by Paige Vanderbeck

A Green Witch’s Cupboard by Deborah J. Martin

“The Magic of Orchids in Wiccan Love Spells & Rituals” on the Art of the Root blog

#baby witch bootcamp #baby witch #cottage witch #hearth witch #kitchen witch #green witch #witch #witchcraft #witchblr #witchy #magic #folk magic #wicca #wiccan #pagan #paganism #pagan witch #wiccan witch #christian witch #magick #garden witch #witch garden #cottagecore #traditional witchcraft #long post #my writing #mine

[soundwavefucker69]

It’s actually really painful to have your teeth whitened. It hurts a lot, and they look like chalk until they heal. Sometimes, whitening doesn’t even lift all of the stains, and fake enamel has to be put over teeth, and it doesn’t always match.

My two front teeth are a different color from the rest of them. My family never really had soda in the house as a kid. My mother used to leave out mint tea, which she’d steep in the sun, lightly sweetened, served chilled. It was my favorite drink. She’d leave it on the back patio, and I have never been able to make that same tea or recreate the taste of my childhood. We had a next door neighbor at that house who had wild mint growing in her garden she let us harvest, because she viewed it as a weed, but we sure loved that mint tea. She had a miniature pony, I think his name was Philip, that ran around in the backyard, and I loved that horse. He was so unique as opposed to the big dogs and little chihuahuas all over our town. Another neighbor down the way, Miss Rosie, that lived in a house hidden from the road just after the asphalt turned to dirt, let me and my brother and our foreign exchange sister, Fah, pick pomegranates from her overgrown tree.

Miss Rosie died of cancer just a little after we moved out of that house.

Nowadays, my dad tells my younger siblings to stop leaving water bottles half finished all over the house, and threatens them with teeth like mine if they keep wasting water, because he’ll stop buying water bottles if they won’t use them.

Of course, the memory of thousand dollar dental bills right before senior pictures stays his hand, and he’ll never get rid of the water bottles.

I grew up in a small Arizona town called Globe. It’s a few miles away from the San Carlos Apache Reservation, and if I bring up my fucked up teeth to anyone from town, they’ll laugh and say one of two things.

“That’s mining water for ya.”

“Man, that Agent Orange knows how to stick around.”

In 1969, the US Forest Service sprayed multiple Arizona families with Silvex, also known as Agent Orange, on repeated occasions, as part of a test of the new chemical agent. Civilians were specifically targeted by the toxic fumes. Within days, they started experiencing symptoms. Loss of mobility, up to 36 seizures a day, lifelong problems that soon developed into cancer. They sued, and settled out of court for an undisclosed sum. It was only years later that stories started surfacing again of Hodgkin’s Disease and cancer, with reports detailing in the hundreds.

About a decade before, a less harsh concoction similar to that same chemical was sprayed over San Carlos Reservation, one of the poorest Native American reservations in the country, in an effort to wipe out the vegetation along the Gila River to provide more water to the Phoenix metropolitan area. Effects did not start within days, as was the case when it was sprayed on the residents of Globe, Arizona and bombed the water for years to come. For over a decade, the area along Gila River was doused in this herbicide, killing the ecosystem and poisoning the residents of the reservation in an effort to sustain the growth of the Phoenix metropolitan area. In 1969, once again, following the disaster of the bombing of Globe, the flights came to an end.

Growing up in Globe in the late 90′s and early 2000′s was strange. I knew about the Agent Orange. We joked about, laughed about, even as our elders continued to die from cancer, and the reservation struggled under a destroyed ecological system and the resulting food system. My fucked up teeth were commonly blamed on the mining and the Agent Orange in equal measure, because we didn’t truly know how long it could possibly be until the water was safe, but you couldn’t tell a kid in the early 2000′s to not drink from the hose.

The US government did not discontinue the use of Agent Orange until the late 70′s, and it was only decided to discontinue the use after birth defects continued to emerge in lab animals.

I need to stress this.

Animals.

A decade after they had melted real human being’s hair off.

It’s still not fully known why the tribal government agreed to the use of herbicides on the soil, and I still have not found evidence of them uncovering what was in the chemical concoction that was sprayed, and only a small fraction of the residents of Globe have received reparations. The San Carlos residents have received none.

I used to get called a conspiracy theorist for bringing this up. People didn’t believe this happened. The US government engaging chemical warfare on its own citizens, not for civil disobedience, or unionizing, or telling corporations no, but just because we were poor, and we were there, and they could, is not something people want to address. But it happened, and you should know about it.

#cw racism #cw genocide #cw chemical poisoning #cw us government #doing us government things #shrooms is talking #climate activism #environmental activism #activism #cw murder #long post

[plantbruno]

I would pay you to write a fic from Abbacchio's point of view where he has to be like =_= Bruno's still hot as a tree

(ao3)

It was, Abbacchio thought with no small amount of despair, exceedingly inconvenient that Bruno’s backyard had become his safe place.

When Bruno had been a corpse, Abbacchio had often retreated to the overgrown, almost unsightly garden in the back. In the first few weeks of settling into the house, he’d kick at rose bushes and savagely shy away from weeds, but as time crawled on and Bruno stayed frozen in Giorno Giovanna’s basement, Abbacchio lost his edge.

Unlike some assholes, he was aware that this change could not entirely be contained to his behavior in the yard. He’d taken hits for Giorno entirely divorced from duty, eclipsed by a growing and terrifying drive to protect the kid. He’d made meals for Narancia and Trish that he knew they loved even if he fucking hated lasagna half the time. He’d learned how to sign.

Abbacchio stood rigidly in the backyard, rooted to the spot as he watched Bruno in his new body, unearthly head tilted up to the sunlight.

Uncanny, he thought dumbly, belatedly, mournfully. He clenched and unclenched his fists, knowing that he was staring like an idiot, cataloguing all the inhuman ways that Bruno carried himself, some characteristics like his preternatural stillness due to his time as a corpse, others due to the… fucking plants.

He must have shifted enough that Bruno had been able to identify his shadow because he tilted his head towards Abbacchio and said, “What?”

Frozen, Abbacchio stared blankly at a spot of fungi on what had once been Bruno’s shoulder. Giorno had referred to Bruno’s new body as an ecosystem, and it was more apparent now than ever as the disparate parts of him swayed against the gentle tug of the breeze. There were flowers on his shoulders, bending lazily against the direction of the wind, but that spot of fungi was too sturdy, too rooted to waver.

Uncanny, he thought, and that was all.

Abbacchio turned around and went back inside. Whatever. He’d find a new place to sulk.

 ***

Mista and Abbacchio were cramped into the tiniest crawl space Abbacchio had ever seen in his life, and he was starting to get irritated.

The stake-out wasn’t going well, and the close quarters were sweaty and gross. Abbacchio had never been a claustrophobic person, but when Mista wiggled a little bit to free his arm, Abbacchio felt like snapping.

“Let’s play eye-spy,” Mista said.

“No.”

Mista elbowed him, hard, and Abbacchio had no way of knowing whether or not it was intentional. “What are you staring at?” he complained.

With a jolt, Abbacchio realized that he’d been cataloguing the elegant way that lavender flowers were shifting with the breeze. His eyes traced the way that they’d grown through the cracked sidewalk, and he flushed, casting a glare to the side so that he wouldn’t keep looking, but his gaze caught a patch of mushrooms huddled close to the crawl space.

Mista had wriggled closer to try and follow his gaze, and he blinked at him in confusion as Abbacchio banged his forehead against the closest available surface.

“You like the flowers, bud?” Mista asked tentatively, bafflement beginning to tangle with a faux-sweet, alarming sort of suspicion.

“No.”

Mista shifted to better look at Abbacchio. “Thinking about Bucciarati, bud?”

“No.”

“Oh my god.”

“I said no.”

“Dude—”

Abbacchio didn’t fucking care how important this mission was. He scrambled to shove himself outside, and he tried to turn his sprawling tumble into a roll with minimal success. He stood, trying to preserve his dignity, and scowled at Mista. He held up a finger. “Number fucking one—”

Number One materialized, looking at Abbacchio with huge eyes, and Abbacchio tried to ignore it. Bad choice of words.

“—I was bored and zoning out. Secondly, Bruno doesn’t have a fucking monopoly on flora.”

“Flora,” Mista echoed with a terrifying cocktail of delight and horror.

Abbacchio gritted his teeth. “Listen—”

“I’m all ears, bro.”

Abbacchio shut his mouth with a click. “This mission is over. I’ll get Moody Blues to figure this shit out tomorrow. We’re leaving.”

“Like,” Mista was saying as he stumbled to his feet from the crawl space, “I knew nothing could stop you from still being into Bruno—”

“Mista.”

“—but I didn’t expect this level of enthusiasm.”

“This is out of line and unprofessional.”

“You want to fuck a flower, dude!”

“I do not.”

“Trees doin’ it for you now? Am I going to catch you staring longingly after trees?”

Abbacchio said, “This conversation is over,” in his cruelest voice, a voice that somehow still did not hold a candle to Bruno’s baseline, and Mista had the nerve to laugh.

***

“How was your day?” Bruno murmured listlessly from his place at the kitchen table, hands offered.

Abbacchio took Bruno’s hands and abruptly went still, cataloguing the roughness of the bark. It was a mesmerizing, gnarled shape, contorted to imitate his bone structure, and Abbacchio could see dots of flower buds starting to peek through his knuckles, along his palm and wrists. A thorned, leafy vine snaked down his arm like tefillin, and through there was nothing religious about the act of creation that had made Bruno anew, Abbacchio couldn’t help the reflexive, stupid association, preying on imagery and the way that Abbacchio’s devotion and revolution had twisted together all around the shape of what made Bruno Bruno.

“…Leone?”

Abbacchio jerked to attention, biting his tongue hard as he signed a perfunctory version of his day’s events, and it was so fucking stupid. Bruno held himself like a dead thing, like an utterly and inescapably inhuman thing, and the flowers and fungus along his shoulders were vibrant and lovely and—

This sucked. Bruno was still devastatingly hot as a fucking plant monster or whatever.

I’m going to bed, he signed, and Bruno tracked the movement of his silhouette as he left without shifting expression or demeanor. It was the one constant that Abbacchio had reliably been able to track through all of Bruno’s states. This coldness.

He collapsed face-first into the mattress and let out a shrill groan of despair.

#ohofd #abbacchio: sorry for being a planty.. #mista pointing his gun: some crimes can never be forgiven

[asgardian--angels]

4 Ways to Connect with Nature During COVID-19

Hi everyone! As someone who studies pollinators and conservation biology, I have found the last few weeks difficult, because I struggle when I cannot be outside in nature most of the time. Connecting with nature is known to be beneficial for our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health, and never has that been more important than right now. I thought I would compile a few of my favorite ideas that I can offer about ways you can still connect with nature while social distancing, or even if you cannot leave your home at all. Know that these are obviously not all the ways you can experience nature - just the ones I’m familiar and knowledgeable about. Most of my resources apply to the eastern United States, but these things are applicable worldwide. If you ever have questions, just message me!

1. Go Birdwatching! 

Whether you’re a pro already or someone who’s never even attempted to tell the difference between the ‘chip’ and the ‘cheep’ coming from your bushes, birdwatching is a fun hobby that can be done anytime, anywhere, by anyone. While human activities may have slowed or stopped around us, the natural world is always moving and changing. Birds are one of the easiest animals to observe and learn, and their boundless zeal for life can renew our hope and lift our spirits. Whether you live in the country or the city, there are more kinds of birds than you think to be found right outside your door. The springtime is an especially good time to see birds, because they are migrating to their breeding grounds, bringing a whole assortment of colorful and sometimes unusual species close to your home. 

It doesn’t take much to start birdwatching. Most of us have an old pair of binoculars up in the attic somewhere, and plenty decent pairs for beginners are available for under $30 online (I just bought my mother a pair of Bushnells for $15 that had very good reviews). There are countless resources online to find an overview or quick guide to birds in your area. If you live in the United States, the best all-around every-need bird resource is Cornell’s AllAboutBirds and eBird websites. Together these two resources cover almost every bird species in the entire world - let me briefly go through each individually. 

AllAboutBirds is a guide to every North American bird, with stunning photos, ecology, and identification help. But more than that, from here you can lose yourself in dozens of offshoots of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology - from their several live feeder and nest cams, to their hundreds of articles and interactive bird biology resources. One I recommend for those who want to do some basic yard-watching is the site for Project Feederwatch. This has ample information to get you started in recognizing the (North American) birds around your home. Here’s even a free download of common feeder birds! You should also check out Celebrate Urban Birds, which has ID help for city birds in the US, Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Panama! 

eBird is a global citizen science site where millions of birdwatchers from Nepal to New Mexico share their sightings to build the largest database of bird knowledge on the planet! I cannot begin to cover everything you can do and learn on this website. You can scope out new places to visit with their ‘Explore Hotspots’ tool, or see where any species on earth has been seen by other people. It will keep your statistics if you enter your sightings, making a convenient way to keep track of all the birds you see! They have a helpful article here about how to start birding near your home.

Birdwatching is an activity that you can put in as much or as little time as you want into it. You will always be rewarded with getting a new perspective on the world around you, discovering neighbors you never knew you had! It can be a refreshing escape from a human-centric world, and maybe spark a curiosity you weren’t expecting! Birds are a bundle of personality, and you will find yourself falling in love with them before you know it. Consider keeping a “life list,” or entering your sightings into eBird to advance bird conservation. Birdwatching can be solitary or you can go with others. When this is all over, maybe you’ll have the chance to meet up with local birders and make new friends! There are birding clubs EVERYWHERE.

2. Plant a pollinator or wildlife garden!

As spring approaches, now is the perfect time to start planning a garden. This is a great way to be outside often but not have any risk of contact with others. Maybe you’ve never gardened before, or maybe you have one but would like to replace some of those exotic flowers with beneficial native ones. No matter your living situation or location, there’s always something you can do to make your little patch of earth a better place for all living things.

Our world is dependent on plants, which make the sun’s light available to other creatures. They interact with the most ecologically important animals on earth - insects. Insects are food for almost all songbirds, as well as the majority of all terrestrial animals in one way or another. “Traditional” gardens try to deter insects with pesticides and non-native plants that insects cannot eat. But we should try to encourage insects, because they pass a plant’s energy up the food chain, as well as pollinate flowers, keep “pests” in check (if you like growing vegetables), and are critical decomposers. The biggest thing you can do to help the local ecosystem is ditch the hydrangeas and hostas, and especially some of that turfgrass. Insects will almost exclusively only eat native plants, and being the most biodiverse animals on the planet, there’s an insect for every plant out there! It’s been shown that yards with few native plants support low levels of insect abundance and diversity, and that means fewer birds and fewer everything else too. Plus, insects are AWESOME in their own right, and once you encourage them, you will discover some incredible, colorful, brilliant species right in your own yard! 

Native gardens are easier than you think. In fact, they’re way easier than what most of us are doing now - by definition, they’re plants that want to grow here! They require less maintenance, no mowing, and no pesticides. They may not be readily available at Home Depot or Wal-mart, but they are easy to find once you locate resources from your region. There are online nurseries to buy seeds or root stock from, like Prairie Moon in the eastern US. Many regions have resources that compile lists of local nurseries and hold native plant sales. To benefit insects and wildlife, figure out what the general conditions of your yard are - soil type, moisture, climate zone - and then choose some plants that will grow there. For pollinators, you should find out what the recommended flowers are for your area - universities and cooperative extensions often produce this kind of information (example here for the northeast), as well as the Xerces Society. This kind of info is becoming much more common in the last few years, due to the popularity of pollinator gardens! Try to plant a few things that bloom in each season, so bees will have food year-round! Native grasses will support the caterpillars of many butterflies and moths too. Pollinator gardens easily overlap with wildlife gardens, which seek to support other animals too, particularly birds. Choose plants that have flowers that turn into seeds or fruit eaten by birds (native dogwoods are one of my favorites!). Plant flowers, shrubs, and trees if you can fit it - this gives insects and birds all sorts of choices for food, and places to hide or nest. Your local Audubon can provide a ton of information about bird-friendly gardening and the best plants.

Another easy way to benefit animals is to be the ‘lazy gardener,’ whether you actually have a garden or not. This means simple steps like, don’t rake your leaf litter, leave logs and rocks, and make a slash pile when you cut branches or trim bushes. This creates habitat for everything from bees to salamanders! 

Don’t have a lot of space? Try an herb garden, or patio garden. Small herb or vegetable gardens will be loved by pollinators even if the plants are not all native, and they will allow you to grow some foods you can harvest, reducing your dependence on the grocery store. Native flowers can be grown in pots as well - goldfinches, for example, will land on any coneflowers you plant, and eat the seeds right in front of you! And if you have no land at all, you can still help out by putting up a bee hotel, and sharing your knowledge with others.

3. The power of the written word - READ!

Can’t go outside? Live in the most inner of inner cities? Feel like you don’t know enough to get out there and identify what you see or know what it means? Books are a naturalist’s best friend. Now is a perfect time to dive into the wealth of literature about the natural world, from stories to field guides. I am always gung-ho to recommend books for a budding naturalist, or anyone who wants to learn more about a new topic! 

Were you intrigued by the things I talked about above - native plants, insects, birds, and the relationship between all of them? I highly recommend Bringing Nature Home by Doug Tallamy. It is the bible of native gardening, in my opinion. It’s an incredible and humbling book explaining in detail and with beautiful photos why we need native plants, just how important insects are, and what we can and should be doing to help. 

Want to learn about pollinators and plan your garden? There’s lots of books for that, and they’re so well made that both beginners and experts can use them. Try any of these:

The Bees In Your Backyard - Olivia Messenger Carril and Joseph Wilson

Pollinators of Native Plants (OR its companion book ‘Bees: An Identification and Native Plant Forage Guide’) - Heather Holm

Buzz: The Nature and Necessity of Bees - Thor Hanson (a narrative, not a field guide, excellent read)

Books about birds? Heck, I mean there’s hundreds of those. It’s a popular genre. I don’t have any on hand but if you want to know more about gardening for birds, check out Planting Native to Attract Birds to Your Yard by Sharen Sorenson. To learn birds, I recommend a Peterson or Kaufman field guide. 

Looking for books on nature in general? Not field guides, but non-fiction narratives? There are some absolutely stellar writers in our age that regularly move me to tears with their descriptions and connections to the natural world. My top author pick is Bernd Heinrich, an ornithologist and naturalist who has written over a dozen books on a variety of topics. I particularly recommend Summer World (and its companion Winter World), One Wild Bird At A Time, The Homing Instinct, and Life Everlasting: The Animal Way of Death. But they’re all really really good. There are SO MANY books of folks writing about their experiences with nature, from scientists in the jungles of Borneo to the average Joe exploring the concrete jungle. I have a small collection at home, but in my current locale, I can recommend The Secret Life of Bats by Merlin Tuttle, or Unseen City by Nathaniel Johnson. But there are, really, hundreds. All will change the way you view the world around you. You cannot read enough. 

Want to learn more about how important nature is to human beings? The biophilia hypothesis that states that we as a species need nature for our very souls, our physical development, our mental wellbeing? Please read Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. It’s humbling, enlightening, and sobering. 

4. Citizen Science, Volunteering, and everything else!

You may feel alone right now, but know that everywhere, there are millions of people waiting to share their love of the natural world with you. Anyone who has a second to spare and the interest to look out your window should consider becoming a part of a citizen science project. These sorts of projects vary widely in their commitment time and energy, but most are solitary activities that you have complete control over. Some are more organized than others - many just ask you to report a sighting of a certain kind of organism, and others have a data sheet and timetable to follow. All contribute valuable information to conservation, making you a part of something bigger even when you cannot leave your yard. They also give you the opportunity to learn a new skill - like photography, or data collection - and help you notice aspects of the natural world you may have never given a second thought about before. A lot of them are a community that you can interact with online. Below are just a few of the MANY MANY citizen science projects out there. Again, this is US biased, but it is easy enough to find ones in your own country or those that are international.

eBird - I mentioned this before, but eBird is quite likely the biggest citizen science project in the entire world. There are a googleplex of ways to interact with others, learn more about the birds in your area or anywhere else in the world, find out who local birders are, and keep track of your own sightings. The data you submit has been used in countless peer-reviewed scientific papers and has a direct, significant impact on bird conservation worldwide.

iNaturalist - a worldwide platform for sharing sightings of any species, anywhere. A great community of naturalists, amateurs, and experts, here to help you identify your creature and explore what others find.

Project Feederwatch, The Great Backyard Bird Count, Christmas Bird Counts, Global Big Day, etc - offshoots of eBird and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. These are specific events that ask backyard birders to keep track of what birds they see for a couple of weeks. This helps track migration patterns and population declines!

BugGuide - similar to iNaturalist, but for insects only and in North America only. I’ve been on this site for 12 years now, I’m a diehard! Experts will help you ID insects, and your data becomes part of a huge database to help scientists learn more about our native insects. Requires photos - a good chance to start two hobbies at once!

Bumble Bee Watch - submit photos of any bumblebee you find in North America. Bumblebees are declining and scientists need regular people to help track populations of these pollinators. 

Guys, there’s so many more. A few more quickies: iMapInvasives (for spotting invasive species), National Phenology Network (for tracking when things change - when flowers bloom, when animals nest, great if you see the same things reliably every day!), The Great Sunflower Project (plant a sunflower, monitor what bees visit it), Zooniverse (a compilation of different digital projects that need eyes and ears to help sort through data - like trail cam photos for instance! You’d be helping real researchers, often grad students at universities, but sometimes big ticket names too!). 

These are large-scale projects. But there are always smaller, local community projects that need your help. Become more aware of what’s coming up, even for after this pandemic when you can get outside and volunteer at something like a BioBlitz, a cleanup, or a tree planting. You would not believe how many volunteers we always need to make conservation possible. People like you are the backbone of what we do. Check your local and regional Audubon, your universities, your cooperative extension. They have resources, things that can give you information you need or ways to afford things you want to do. I’m sure there’s plenty I’ve forgotten to mention, since I don’t have all my things with me here. But never feel isolated. The natural world is always around you, and you are never alone! Every creature big and small is a lifetime of stories to tell. Pick one and get going!

#nature #covid19 #covid-19 #covid19 resources #birdwatching #citizen science #insects #mine #guys if you could do me a solid and reblog this it took me like... uhhhh 3 hours to write #i just want to help some people and so if this could get more than like 20 notes i'd appreciate it #other naturalists please feel free to add more to this #i know i didnt cover amphibian crossings

[onisionisacanceronthisearth]

We are only a few days until October 31st!

For those of you who don't remember, October 31st is the deadline for when the Jackson's have to have completed their work on fixing their backyard complete with pictures as well as a written letter detailing the condition of the plants. Here's a list of what they need to have done:

Planted red osier stakes in the buffer zone (these were purchased already when this plan was written and I don't think Greg was stupid enough to not plant them so I'll just assume he did when he bought them)

50 native shrubs that contain no less than three seperate species. Receipts of the purchase of these plants is required. I'm assuming this is to be certain he bought the proper plants and from a legitimate business

Photographic evidence of these plants planted within the buffer area sent off with a short letter detailing the growth status of these plants. I hope to god Greg writes the letter himself instead of hiring a professional to do so. I'd love to see the "published writer" fail to describe shrubbery

Put up three large signs indicating the boundaries of the buffer area. This is my personal favourite, they're forcing Greg to include ugly "keep out" signs for himself in his own backyard. They're also requiring him to have the posts installed deep enough into the ground so that they cannot be pulled up by hand so he cannot just simply pull them out when he wants

A wooden fence around the boundaries of the buffer with permission to build a gate where there is a natural footpath in order to access the water and the new plants. Photographic proof is required for the fence as well

Hired a professional so he knows exactly where the boundaries are so he can work on them (the end of the post includes an estimate of the boundaries)

On top of all this there are a few extra conditions Greg must follow:

Don't ruin the buffer area anymore (duh). This includes using any form of vehicle in the area

Greg must clear out all the shit he dumped in the area because the storing or stockpiling of anything in the buffer is not allowed and neither is any inorganic trash

He is not permitted to have used any fertilizer or pesticides in the buffer area, even to try and help his new plant grow

If he's going to remove any of the officially listed weeds while working on the buffer he is required to actually follow the law this time

He has to leave the fallen trees and branches as they are in order to provide structure and nutrients to the new plants as well as provide to any animals in the ecosystem

As sad as it is for the general ecosystem, I'd be very surprised if Greg will be on time for all of these requirements but who knows, maybe he'll pull through. Or maybe he's going to start owing the government even more money quite soon...

#onision #the swamp chronicles

[heatherwitch]

Green witchery: The basics

Being a green witch basically means you want to incorporate plants and nature into your craft! Other names include: nature witch, plant witch, garden witch, forest witch, etc.! I’ll talk about some of the basics being a green witch could entail, but this certainly isn’t an all-encompassing list!

On gardens and growing plants:

Whether you have a flourishing garden filled with everything one could possibly think of, a little windowsill herb garden with the bare essentials or one potted succulent; there’s no denying the joy that comes from helping green things grow!

A container around 2-3 feet deep and filled with soil is perfect for growing potatoes! Plop ‘em in, water them occasionally and harvest in the fall.

Plant things for the butterflies and bees!

Sage, rosemary, basil, mint, thyme, oregano and cilantro are all helpful herbs that you might consider planting.

Daffodils, marigolds, roses, sunflowers and primroses are my favorite witchy flowers.

Eggshells and banana peels are your friends.

These food plants can easily be regrown.

#garden witch / #garden magic / #garden tips

On bringing the green in (houseplants):

Let’s be real, not of all of us have access to areas for planting gardens, or infinite space for indoor plants! It can make being a green witch a bit tricky. 

Spider plants, lucky bamboo, air plants, aloe vera (succulents) and cacti are all pretty easy houseplants.

Terrariums are adorable and you can make them into mini gardens!

Grow one plant for each area of your life (happiness, mental health, etc) [source]

You can get bulbs for grow lights that fit into normal lamps, just be sure to put the plants directly under it!

Watering plants with rainwater will make them happy!

#houseplant magic / #houseplant tips

On incorporating nature:

Find a place outside you can safely visit. Try to spend at least five or more minutes a day sitting and watching. Quiet your mind and just be. (This could be your front porch or backyard, it doesn’t have to be in the forest)

Wander on some nature trails. Visit the local body of water. Walk outside.

Start taking pictures of beautiful wild places, or wildlife.

Learn about what birds and animals live in your area, and perhaps what their tracks look like.

Climb a tree, go swimming in wild waters, take your shoes off and feel the ground beneath your feet, remove invasive plants and plant native ones, pay attention to weather patterns, collect rainwater, etc.

#nature witch / #nature magic / #connecting to nature

On wild plants:

Get some basic plant field guides. I really like Audubon and Peterson, along with Botany in a Day. 

There are also plant apps and websites. 

Learn what plants have poisonous look-alikes and how to tell the difference.

Get a calendar. Go out at least once a week and document what stages the different plants are in. For example: March 4th. Oso berry leaves almost open. Nettles small but fully established. Bitter cherry has unopened flower buds. Salmonberry leaves almost open. Also worth adding where (elevation/location) which is SUPER helpful for harvesting reference later.

Pick a plant a week and research/journal it. Points include: What it looks like, what look-alikes there are, ecosystem + elevation it grows in, medicinal uses, edible uses, magical uses, etc.

Harvest plants and use them for medicine and food after safely doing research*.

#plant magic / #plant witch / #wild plants

Helpful links:

Green witch tips

Garden witch guide

Plant witchcraft: A beginner’s guide to growing

Tip: When your plant is dying

Keeping plants alive when you leave for a trip

Researching herb safety

Anatomy of plants

USDA plants database (external site)

Wildflower identification tool (external site)

Collection of helpful plant websites (external site)

Butterfly plants list (external site)

Bee friendly plants (external site)

Crystals and houseplants

Garden blessing

Plant growth spell

Spell to heal a wilting plant

Desert plant correspondences

Dealing with plant spirits

How to communicate with plant spirits

Bedridden witch: Nature edition

#green witch #nature witch #baby witch #witchery 101 #beginner witch #witchcraft #masterpost