#knotweed family

[soilthesimpletruth]

One of the bitters in our summer salads is sorrel. It’s a calm member of the Knotweed family and shares lots of love with my favorite summertime cover crop buckwheat. It’s also the cousin to rhubarb.

The photo shows how I was transplanting sorrel yesterday.

#sorrel #knotweed family #atlanta urban ag #food systems #food access #herbs #compost #transplanting #food sovereignty #soil food web #healthy soil #drought tolerant #food culture #simple food small farmz air bnb #maurice small

[falseandrealultravival]

Today's Haiku with Picture141

prosperous

Polygonum

with buds

繁茂する

ツルドクダミに

ツボミかな

Herb. The roots are used as medicine. A plant of the knotweed family. Reynoutria multiflora. 何首烏 (Kashiu). When heated and made into medicine, it is said to be effective for liver and kidney diseases.

(2022.09.25)

#Polygonum #bud #herb #knotweed family #Reynoutria multiflora #何首烏 #liver #kidney #haiku

[musingmelsuinesmelancholy]

Some things I’ve been thinking about. At times being an American trad witch is incredibly frustrating and at others it’s absolutely exhilarating, rewarding. Reconnecting with my ancestral ( primarily french and scottish ) lore, magical practices, witchcraft etc has and will continue to inform my practice but I’ll never be a “french” witch. I’ll never be a “scottish” witch. I can find a lone hawthorn or a sacred tree guarding a hidden spring to tie the cloutie to, I can divine via a snail’s mucus trail, Fly to the Sabbath to meet The Abbess, heed the Dame Blanches, pluck the golden bloom with songs to St Columba, safeguard me and mine via silver, spring water and juniper. Yet there’s many things I’ll never know or be able to do. Whether that’s because these things are so tied to the land or a specific place, language barriers, ( working to overcome this one ) or due to the ( well warranted) gate keeping of lore and practices.

This used to be a source of great confusion for me. I think because I was afraid( due to my previous new age fuckwittery ) to experiment, do anything other than what I understood as “traditional”. My understanding being too rigid at the time; the pendulum swung from one end of the spectrum to the other. This delayed my progress and “froze” me. I was left wondering what an “American” trad craft would look like; most our books do come from a European POV. Learning of our own magical traditions as well as those of my Canadian family ( still working on that one haha ) helped. Reading Robin Kimmere helped. Reading Schulke, him being an American and writing on American plants, helped too. I’ve come to know Sugar Maple and Plantain as powerful spirits. Both teaching important lessons on how to rectify my ancestors mistakes, to foster relations with the First Peoples and how to incorporate the magic of this land into my craft. Rather than being frustrated by my being American I see it as a challenge now. I get to explore spirits, plants, places, animals, spiritual/physical ecologies ( is even really a difference between these?) completely unknown to my ancestors. I get to reconcile the old and the new. To learn from Spirit Direct. Tradition isn’t the worship of ashes, it’s the preservation of Fire. New wood must be added to keep The Fire burning. The Devil of this land certainly is a spirit of the unknown.

I am the land, the land is me.

I don’t own it, to it I owe all.

To it my body will return, the tithe paid.

I’m not rolling hills of heather, white chalk cliffs, the monk’s island nor the azure coast. The memories of these places echo distantly in my blood, sung alive by my ancestors shades. Part of me they’ll always be; yet it’s not who I am. Not what I am.

I’m craggy shores, dull-jade waves bearing down upon the tired rocks. I am musky pine forests veiled in mist. Sun-venerating oaks hugging the shoreline. Bleeding alders in damp ground swelling. Proud maples sustaining generation upon generation with their boiled blood. Death-grey clay, exposed by running spring.

I am the kudzu, the itching moth, the knotweed, the Norway maple, the ivy wrecking havoc upon the land. My surname and light skin proof of a genocide ongoing. I am my ancestors sins; the specter of the Old Growth forests, their grief hanging over the land like a fog. Every interaction with The Land tinged with sadness, loss.

I am my maternal side’s copper curls. Melusine’s pride. Ave Landry! Ave Gauthier! Forebears mine.

I am my paternal side’s grief. The end result of decades of cultural warfare. The Jesuits stole our name….my hair will not be cut.

Never will I libate these glacier carved valleys with booze.

I am the plantain, learning a kinder way. The sumac reclaiming the orchard.

My Februarys, my Marches aren’t snow drops and daffodils peaking through the frozen ground. They’re steely skies and walls of sleet. Bloodroot heralds winters wane; not Brigid’s flower.

My June isn’t fields of poppies, it’s seas of crimson staghorn blooms skyward reaching.

My augusts aren’t golden shafts of wheat, swaying in summer’s last breaths; they’re explosions of neon-violet and honey-yellow. Corn ripening on the vine, supporting the climbing bean. The cicadas song reverberating.

Old Michaelmas marks harvest’s end, October potatoes long buried in soils darkness finally exhumed. The Devil his Rosy Briar to ascend and plunge.

With Novembers first snows the Dead come in.

I’ll never process around a standing stone nor know what it is to live and eat off the land my dead lay in. Finally, I’m learning to be at peace with this. To love and know the land I live on. I’ll always be a stranger here, a guest. I hope to be a good one.

#folk magic #tradcraft #traditional witchcraft #witch #folklore #magic #magick #traditional craft #witchcraft #occult #animism #animist #animistic #animists #witches #indigenous #reparations #Michaelmas #native plants #invasive plants #ancesters #ancestry #ancestral veneration #American witch #American witchcraft #Daniel schulke #traditional American witchcraft #American traditional witchcraft #Corrine Boyer #poetry

[larz-barz]

I have an mha oc:3

Amaya Kazumi

The catnip hero, Bonsai

Quirk(s):

Neko: Can do anything a cat can do plus she can turn into a cat, only downside is frequent sleepiness and frequent hunger

Plant manipulation: self explanatory, basically can control any surrounding plants if she can touch them (she specializes in vines) downside is when overused she’ll start getting small cuts on her arms and/or legs

Personality:

Sleepy due to her quirk

She’s protective of her friends

She’s very calm and collected

Tries to avoid conflict as much as possible

Confident

Calm under pressure

Favorite hero(s):

Kamui woods

Crimson riot

Knotweed (Amaya’s brother, Teru)

Bakusquad or Dekusquad?

Bakusquad

Favorite people:

Kansatoki Hikari ( @theyslaydemons’s oc)

Yume Hoshino ( @unofficialmuilover’s oc)

Yuki(hara) Fujiko ( @cloudymistedskies’s oc)

Pixychu Midoriya ( @tokito-dulya20’s oc)

Sumi Hikau ( @muichinno’s oc)

Mina Ashido

Eijiro Kirishima

Denki Kaminari

Famale bestie:

Mina Ashido

Male bestie:

Denki Kaminari

Teru Kazumi (big brother, 20)

Hiro Kazumi (little brother, 12)

Family

Mom- Ami Kazumi

Dad- Hirohi Kazumi

Big brother- Teru Kazumi

Little brother- Hiro Kazumi

Thoughts on the rest of the Bakusquad:

Bakugo: “He has a unique way of showing it, but he cares.”

Kirishima: “He’s really sweet..” *blushes*

Mina: “Throws the best parties imaginable!”

Kaminari: “He’s awesome, I wish people wouldn’t make fun of him so much. He can’t help it that he short circuits so much.”

Hanta Sero: “Spider man.”

Sumi Hikau: “Judy Hopps.”

The Bakusquad’s thoughts on her:

Bakugo: “She spends a lot of time training, come to think of it I don’t think I’ve ever seen her eat. That makes no sense cause I’ve heard her say that frequent hunger is a side effect of her neko quirk.” *worried Baku noises* (i’m not good at aggressive characters, i’m sry:( this bakugo will still be aggressive but he’ll be like, nicer for lack of a better word)

Kirishima: *blushes* “She’s so cute! I love her cat ears and her tail! They’re so soft!”

Mina: “She’s very pretty, very fun to have at parties too!”

Kaminari: “She always defends me when people make fun of me for short circuiting. I hope she starts taking better care of herself cause I literally never see her eat.”

Sumi: “I love her ears!”

What Amaya is like in school:

She’s very studious and hard working

She spends a lot of time training, often overworking herself

She does eat, just not around people very often which has resulted in even Bakugo worrying about her health

She occasionally falls asleep in class but is excused for it since it’s a side effect of her quirk

Fun facts about Amaya

She’s Japanese American, her mom is American and her dad is Japanese.

Despite her slight laziness, she’s always had good grades in school.

Bakugo’s nickname for her is catnip (that’s how she came up with being the catnip hero).

Her hero name is Bonsai cause of the plant aspect of her quirk.

Oki doki this is all I can think of, if you have questions feel free to ask them! (she doesn’t have a backstory yet, i’m thinking about not fully traumatizing an oc for once lol)

pls check the tags to see the kirishima x amaya ship name choices i have come up with

#amaya kazumi #mha oc #new oc #hehe #oc info #oc information #hehee #kirishima x oc #kirimaya #or would it be kiriamaya #idk #y’all choose

[broomsticks]

posted a two-part pride rec list over at dreamwidth (follow the links for full reccer’s notes). various queer themes including identity exploration, coming out, and related social/societal issues. there’s light to heavy angst in most of these, but all have a happy/hopeful ending. 🌈

Modern Muggle AUs

Time and Love by justtoarguewithyou // Hermione/Oliver // 6.8k, G. College/University AU, Self-Discovery, Getting Together

Love & Blowjobs & Other Sacred Things by BrujaBanter // Wolfstar & Jily // 77k, E. Preacher Remus, Priest Sirius, Former LDS/Mormon James, Hijabi Lily, Explicit Sexual Content, Priest Kink, Catholicism Is Inherently Kinky Fight Me

Discards by @picascribit // Wolfstar & Jily // 76k, M. Librarian AU, Trans Sirius Black, Latino!Remus, Japanese-American!Sirius, Black!James, Jewish!Lily, Homelessness, HIV/AIDS, Drug Use, Sex Work

Dragons Don't Know Paradise by @teacup-tai // Drarry & Wolfstar // 51k, E. Falling In Love, they meet online, Wolfstar raising Harry, HIV+ Remus, Angst and Hurt/Comfort.

Have Time To Grow by Queer_and_trashy // Wolfstar // 31k, E. Professor Remus, Poet Sirius, Trans Sirius, Dom Remus/Sub Sirius, deeply deeply queer, because fuck jkr

Midday Train to London by xinasvoice // Wolfstar, Prongsfoot, Jily // 24k, E. Muggle AU, introduction to the BDSM/kink community, introduction to polyamory

Magical Queerness

Play Me Like A Love Song by @writcraft // Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank/Minerva McGonagall // 68k, E. Queer Awakening, Stone Butch, Coming Out, Families of Choice, Drag King, Self-Discovery

Rosmerta's Special Brew by @lumosatnight // Rosmerta/Andromeda // 6k, T. Queer Themes, Queer Characters (so many), 5+1 Things, Coming Out, Fluff

burning brightly by malapropism // Rolfluna // 15k, NR. Parent-Child Relationship, Family Dynamics, Character Study, Aromantic Luna Lovegood

Knotweed by @turanga4 // Poppy/Pomona // 2.3k, T. Canon compliant, missing moment, older lesbians, past relationship

Dating the System Isn't Very Punk Rock by flibbertygigget // Kingsley/Snape // 7k, M. post-DH canon divergence, Community Organizing, Anarchism, Punk, Transfem Snape, Genderfluid Kingsley

Smoke and Mirrors by RuinsPlume // Remadora, endgame Tonks/Ginny // 38k, E. Butch Tonks, nonbinary Tonks, bisexual Remus, polyamory negotiations, Remadora raising Teddy, queer het

The Bent by @ebparentheses // Wolfstar & F/F Jily // 40k, E. No-Voldemort canon divergence, Friends to Lovers, Queer History, Queer Art, obscenity laws, queer solidarity

The Mirror Lied by tryslora // F/F Draco/Hermione // 1.8k, M. Post-Hogwarts, EWE, Transfem Draco Malfoy, Gender Exploration

#my fic recs #hp fics #happy pride #wolfstar #jily #drarry #dramione #remadora #hp femslash #hp rare pairs

[onenicebugperday]

@shanzhuyuu submitted: Hi! These are some bugs I found while travelling across [removed] (please remove the location). I have a lot more, but these are the ones I haven't seen before, so I need help with ID-ing them. There are a lot, so you don't have to be precise with all of them if you don't wanna, just Genus is fine

The guy below lookes like a Chafer, but it was a lot smaller, maybe a different type? (Two different bugs, but I'm pretty sure they are the same species)

Very long slugs as a bonus! (😳😳)

Probably some of them the best I can do is an order or family, not genus. Often I need clearer/closer/better lit photos to see enough details to ID specifically.

But in order from the top:

Some kind of hemipteran, probably a plant bug in Miridae

Broad-nosed weevil in Entiminae

Knotweed leaf beetle

Male non-biting midge in Chironomidae

Some kind of wood wasp, probably an alder wood wasp

Mayfly

Scarab beetle, too vaguely brown to ID

And another scarab, but it doesn't look like the same species to me

2 very long leopard slugs playing tag!

#animals #insects #bugs #submission #long post #true bugs #mirid bug #mirid plant bug #beetle #weevil #broad nosed weevil #leaf beetle #knotweed leaf beetle #non biting midge #midge #diptera #wood wasp #alder wood wasp #mayfly #scarab beetle #slug #leopard slug

[ashesandhackles]

@hprecfest Day 9 - rare pair

1. Flying Lessons by phantomato

Andromeda Tonks/Rolanda Hooch

First person point of view. Love me some older women finding love again, and what I really, really enjoyed is Andromeda's feelings about her body - as a woman who has internalised some things growing up in a family that valorised respectable pureblood marriages - settling to a healthier place within the fic.

Summary:

Andromeda takes Teddy to flying lessons so Harry doesn’t get that, too.

2. Till We Have Faces by TeddieJean

Andromeda Tonks/ Rodolphus Lestrange

A very, very layered Andromeda, with her love for Tonks, Ted sitting at the edge of her compartmentalisation and her love for Bella, along fatalism stay as centerpiece for this narrative.

Summary:

When everything comes to a head, sometimes it's hard to tell what's inconsequential. Otherwise known as the implausible yet oddly intriguing Andromeda/Rodolphus story that I don't understand the conception of.

3. End of the Road by StarlingFlight

Godric Gryffindor/ Salazar Slytherin

Starling's writing is rich with details, and you can feel the texture of each scene: the angst, the political tensions and of course, the desire.

Summary:

The beginning of a new year at Hogwarts brings tensions between its founders to boiling point.

4. Lucretia in Paris by @artemisia-black

Lucretia Black/OFC

We all deserve a sensual smut that luxuriates in each moment.

Summary:

At 20 years old, Lucretia Black is sent to Paris to learn etiquette and instead she learns about pleasure.

4. Knotweed by @turanga4

Poppy Pomphrey/ Pomona Sprout

Quiet, restrained, tender! There is a steady heart beating through the fic, even in the aftermath of war that hopes for the future.

Summary:

A romance and a reckoning, in the last year of the War.

#andromeda black #andromeda tonks #rolanda hooch #rodolphus lestrange #godric gryffindor #salazar slytherin #lucretia black #poppy pomphrey #pomona sprout #hprecfest #fic recs #hp fic recs

[0l0x]

Just planted two types of sunchokes in the sunflower bed as a seasonal screening plant. One of them is the stampede variety which is supposed to reach 12' tall, and I have no idea what the other one is but the tubers are smooth and better for eating.

I will either thank or kick myself in a year or two, because once these are planted somewhere they are impossible to get rid of.

Regular mowing is apparently the only way to keep these things from spreading out of control, and I mow around this bed weekly so spreading shouldn't be a problem. It just means I can never plant anything else there in the future...it's a permanent sunchoke patch now. I figure the sunchokes and the knotweed can duke it out with eachother because they're equally aggressive lol.

The good news is, they are a native edible plant, they look beautiful, they're compatible with sunflowers because they're technically part of the sunflower family, and bees love them.

The goal:

6/10/2023

#renovation

[moths-wc-aus]

Prefix Meanings - K

Kelp - “A large brown seaweed that typically has a long, tough stalk with a broad frond divided into strips.” A large cat; A brown cat; A dark-furred cat

Kestrel - “A small orange and grey falcon.” A tortoiseshell; A tortie tabby; A small cat; A grey and ginger cat; A grey cat; An orange cat; A strong cat; An observant cat; Good eyesight; A skilled hunter

Kindle - “To light or set on fire.” A small cat; A brown cat; A red cat; An orange cat; A yellow cat; A black cat; A dark-furred cat; A smart cat

Kink - “A sharp twist or curve.” A cat with tangled fur

Kite - “A long-winged bird of prey which typically has a forked tail and frequently soars on updrafts of air.” A brown cat; A white cat; A grey cat; A tabby; A swift cat; A sharp-minded cat; An observant cat; An intelligent cat

Knotweed - “A plant of the dock family that typically has sheaths where the leaves join the stems.” A hardy cat; A resilient cat; A strong cat; A stubborn cat

Koi - “A common carp of a large ornamental variety.” A ginger and white cat; A white and black cat; An orange cat; A skilled swimmer

#name meanings #warriors #warrior cats #warriors prefixes

[dsharma-world]

Buckwheat benefits: 5 healthy tips of Kuttu Ka Atta

Buckwheat healthy benefits

Buckwheat flour, also known as kuttu ka atta in India, has a long cultural history of being connected to a variety of celebrations, including Shivratri, Navaratri, and Janmashtami.  A flowering plant in the knotweed family Polygonaceae known as buckwheat or common buckwheat is grown for its grain-like seeds and for use as a cover crop. Many additional species, including the domesticated food…

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#Lifestyle #antioxidants #blood sugar #food #food articles #gluten free #Health #heart health #source of fibre

[nyamadermont]

Crushed Hopes (Angstpril 2022, Day 29)

Rohan woke up before dawn. Today would be his first time in the Family Bending Tournament. He reached under his bed to take out his clothes so he could get dressed in the bathroom and not wake up Meelo. He wanted to meditate and do his exercises before his favorite person came. He wanted to be ready.

It was still a little dark outside, but that was ok. The island was quiet, and Aunt Yue was watching him. He meditated for a very long time. He counted twenty breaths before he hopped up and ran over to the training pool.

He pulled a water whip three times, and only spilled a little bit of water on himself. He only missed the chair by a little bit.

He ran his hands over the water and pictured the ice block he wanted to make. He waved his hand just like Aunt Kya did, but nothing happened the first seven times. The eighth time, he thought he felt a little something, and he wanted to go find Aunt Kya right now before that little wave melted.

“Rohan? What are you doing out here?”

Rohan jumped. He never could hear his dad coming, and he hated it.

“Nothing.”

His dad squeezed his shoulder. “Ok, it’s time for meditation anyway. Let’s go over to the-”

“I did meditation already. I did that first, like you told me to.” He looked up at his dad, only to see a frown on his face.

“I did! I counted to twenty, just like you said!” He frowned, confused why dad didn’t believe him.

“Rohan, where was the moon when you came outside?”

Rohan pointed, and his dad crouched down and looked along his arm. He hummed. “That was very early, son. You should have been in bed asleep.”

“But I have to practice for the games! I want to be Aunt Lin’s partner so we can beat Meelo!”

His dad made a little laughing noise.

“You know, I remember the first time Aunt Lin and I beat Uncle Bumi and Aunt Kya. We were the best team for a long time.”

“Aunt Lin is the best!”

A picture of his mother came to his mind.

“But Mom is really good, too.”

His dad gave him a kiss on the head. “They are both very good people. And they both love you. Go inside and tell everyone I’m waiting in the pavilion.”

**

Lin chatted with Kya and Bumi as the kids milled around, waiting for Katara to come out with the vase of tokens. The youngsters were lounging. The children were practically buzzing. Tenzin had told them about Rohan being up before the sun to practice, but Lin had the sense that he didn’t tell them the full story.

“Gran-Gran’s here!” Meelo shouted.

Katara walked out with a large black jug. Everyone gathered around, and drew a pai sho tile.

“Ok, everyone, show your tokens. Find your partners.”

Everyone held out their tiles. Lin’s eyes fell on Rohan, who was floating almost as if he was on an air scooter. He looked up at her with a big grin on his face. “I’m going to be on your team, Aunt Lin!”

She smiled, showed him her knotweed tile, and watched him look at his token.

She saw the moment his hopes were crushed.

He threw his token down and ran away from everyone.

Before she knew it, she was chasing after him, calling for him.

He ran up to the house, and jumped into the arms of his very confused mother. Lin slowed down and trotted up to the pair. Rohan was crying loudly. Pema wrinkled her brow and tilted her head to Lin for an adult’s explanation.

“Rohan is upset because I was on a different team.”

Lin reached over to rub Rohan’s back. Her hand brushed Pema’s, and they looked at each other. Lin stiffened slightly and mumbled an apology. She patted Rohan, and turned to go.

She was surprised to feel him twist under her hand and launch himself at her. Pema staggered at the change, grabbing Lin’s elbow to keep from falling over.

Lin wrapped her arms around Rohan to keep him from falling. She looked at Pema to confirm that she was alright, too. She patted Rohan again, and said, “Rohan, you don’t have to spar if you don’t want to. I’m sure Meelo or Ikki would be glad to play on two teams.”

She felt him stiffen. He pushed and wriggled his way out of her arms, running back the way he had come. Something that sounded like “wait for me” came floating back over the breeze.

Pema laughed, and leaned her head against Lin’s shoulder.  “Thank you, Lin. I was afraid I was about to have my hopes for a nap crushed.”

#angstpril2022 #day 29 #crushed hopes #fic #a:tlok #lin beifong #rohan tlok #tenzin #pema (avatar) #i'm gonna make it #one day to go #nyama's short fics

[splendourofrecognition]

I listen to the wind, to the wind of my soul

Yet another song, flitting across my busy mind, without any clear trace as to where it arose from. Well, that's not true actually- it's a very windy day and the wind is currently blowing loudly as I type this, so I've found the link.

I keep thinking "I must keep track of that" or "that observation feels important, I must put it somewhere to reflect on another day." Yet, where to put it, how to track it and when to reflect? It's absurdly confusing and I don't have a systematic way of doing it. Amazing, too, how many moments occur on any given day that feel important. The truth is that I can't possibly track everything I want or mull over something at a later date...so some of this is a discernment predicament. First discern, then decide, THEN keep track/reflect later etc. I think I'm reflecting on this particular point in order to avoid all the others, which are the actual things I need to be reflecting on. Right now.

My NHS job is weighing on my body and soul. It has been, for such a long time. Only as I take small steps to extricate myself am I becoming more aware of the cost of this burden, the way it robs me of my energy, leaving me little left over to show love to myself, my family, my friends- all the things I actually care about. I feel sad and heavy when I reflect on the zero-sum gameness of life; that if your attention is in one place, it is absent in another. How much has already been lost, swept up the torrent of my fears around self-worth and all during the first years of Ruby's life that I (and she) will never be able to return to.

I watched my mom do this and vowed to not do the same. Yet, here I sit. Ravaged by a feeling that I might die soon, both literally and figuratively. It sounds so dramatic, really. But that doesn't shift the truth of it and truth is where I'm trying to make my peace. When I first saw Ros, I knew work (specifically, the NHS job) was a pernicious forcefield pulling me under and likened it to Japanese knotweed; a weed so forceful and rapacious that seeks to find cracks in structural foundations and push its way through. Full of destruction and growth. I knew in that moment, too, that my mom was somehow woven into this weed. During our subsequent sessions, she appeared like an apparition that slowly gained opacity as I ventured back into those painful memories. At one point, going so far as to banish her with the words of Gollum, "Leave now and never come back." What, or who, was I trying to banish? The belief that you must sacrifice all that you love at the altar of "responsibility" (code for patriarchy and capitalism). Uphold the status quo, at all costs, even your own life. Do what others tell you to, even if you don't value their opinion. The measurement of society is real and you will be judged at every move; your worth determined by your ability to uphold your white, middle-class, monotonous life, devoid of creativity, spontaneity and joy.

This has a quality of a self-fulfilling prophecy. By worrying from such a young age that I would become my mom, I thereby put into motion the machinations to do just that. But...why? How did this come to pass, when it was diametrically opposed to what I was seeking in the first place?

And if I'm repeating the cycle, where does that leave Ruby? I'm modelling something to her, just as my mom did to me. The messages are unpredictable and I can only speculate, but what I do know is that she's viewing her mom going to work at a job that genuinely feels as if it is killing her at times and for what? Because she's "supposed to" do it...according to who? It would be all too easy to cite money at this juncture- the undebatable reality that our world requires money, for everything. It also has to be said that I don't have to go to a job that destroys my life force in order to make money and have in fact being going to various other jobs that provide what I need, without killing me in the process. So why have I hung on? Should I just hand in my notice?

[possumandpine]

Jumpseed

Known to many as an annoying weed, the jumpseed is common to most of the Eastern part of the United States. Jumpseed goes by many names, but it is in the knotweed family. It blooms small, white flowers in late summer, and easily propagates itself. Jumpseed is edible, but the young leaves are what should be eaten. Due to the larger leaves becoming fibrous and bitter, the plant can be seen as…

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#flowers #food #garden #garden tour #homesteading #native plants #nature #photography

[molassified-minipak]

6. You Lied To Me

Anaranë would stomp into the courthall were it not for her ‘escorts’. The city guard had assigned her two minders, as though she would break and run! She’s a pillar of Houdham society! The scandal! In any case, her appeal means she’s on her best behaviour.

Two heads of dark hair push through the crowd calling her name. “Anaranë! Nanë!”

“Yamacho! Almando!” Ana gawps. She hadn’t expected to see her twin brothers here. “What-”

Almando sweeps her into a hug - a tame one, they’re still in public and the guards are watching closely. “Sashiburi! It’s been so long! How’d you enjoy country living for a few months?”

“Ugh. Morning glories, is Misthaven a dump. Proper compost heap,” She rolls her eyes and hugs Yamacho too. “I’ll be ecstatic to come back home. Are Tou-san and Kaa-san here?”

“We’re waiting out here for them, havenae seen them yet. They’ll be here,” Yamacho assures her. A bell rings from inside and the guards start nudging Ana along. “Go get ready, Nanë, we’ll be in shortly!”

One of the einher guards seems to find that funny. All three hoblings glare at her.

The hall was daunting the first time Ana was here for her sentencing, and walking in now, it hasn’t gotten any less so. Ceilings as high as any temple’s, long thin leaded glass windows, glossy marble floor, all suited for a wealthy shipping port. Misthaven could never.

Across the corridor, Her Withery Blightedness herself plunks into the prosecutor's bench. Ana scowls at Sculwater. The hag has a few friends with her, members of the Houdham Gardeners’ Association: Mister Falrax, Miz Elulien, and - Miz Thrushwaite, the turnleaf! Ana thought she was on her side! Ana’s own side of the court is much emptier, but not for long. Her family will be here soon.

The President of the Gardeners’ Association comes in and talks to Sculwater. To scold her, probably; all this nonsense must be a terrific drain on the President’s time, especially with the Winner’s Ceremonies to begin this weekend.

The President smiles at Sculwater. Shakes her hand.

Sits behind her.

Ana has a bad feeling.

The magistrate enters. All rise. Ana’s side is still empty. Her lawyer shuffles a few papers and doesn’t look at Ana.

Where are Yamacho and Almando? Tou-san and Kaa-san?

The gavel hits the podium and Ana jumps. “Wait- not everyone’s here yet, cannae we wait just a minute more?” She hisses to the lawyer. They give her a pitying look. She hates it.

The magistrate reads through the case recap. No family.

Sculwater’s scumbag slugsniffer lawyer stands to recount the ‘horrors’ done to his client. Ana scoffs. The magistrate shushes her!

Her own lawyer stands, details the ‘sentence’ Ana had suffered through thus far, and…commends its efficacy? What the foxglove. “What the foxglove, it isnae effective, I want to come home! That skunk-cabbage knotweed fungus is a liar, I’m innocent-!”

“Miss Papaverde!” The magistrate slams his gavel twice. “Order!”

“She deserved it! She’s targeting me, she’s jealous-”

“Miss Papaverde, I’m trying to keep you out of a gaol sentence!” The lawyer hisses.

“And a bang-up job you’re-”

“Order! For contempt of the court, I sentence the defendant-” The President jogs up to whisper to the judge. A small bag exchanges hands. “Hrmph. Out of deference to the defendant’s position in a respected Houdham guild, I sentence the defendant to indefinite banishment, instead of the prison sentence I would assign anyone else,” the magistrate growls.

What. “What.” Something’s ringing, like a wet finger around a wine glass rim.

Ana’s lawyer sighs and puts away their notes.

The President comes over to say something that Ana can’t hear.

The benches behind her remain empty.

Her escorts walk her to the door - they must do, Ana doesn’t remember how else she’d have gotten there. They push her along, eager to… banish her. From her home. Forever. “Wait…” Please…

Someone shoves through, calling her name again.

“Sorry, Nanë, we tried-”

“Where were you.” It’s not a question.

“Nanë, Tou-san and Kaa-san were here, they just-” “You promised.” Don’t cry don’t cry don’t- you’re in public, don’t-

“I know, but our parents insisted, Nanë! It’d reflect poorly on the comp-”

“You lied to me!” Ana screams.

“You blew up a house, Anaranë!” Yamacho yells back. “What were you thinking? Not of us, clearly!”

“I needed you! How dare-”

“No, how dare you!” Now Almando joins in. “You know we’re trying to set up our own business, Nanë. You remember how tough it is to build a client base! You were our inspiration, and now we’ve got your criminal record to turn investors away!”

Don’t cry don’t cry-

“You’ve shamed the Papaverde name.” Yamacho folds his arms. “Tou-san and Kaa-san have rescinded your right to it.”

...What? The ringing is back.

Almando says something else and storms off. Yamacho tries to put a hand on Ana’s shoulder. She dodges it. He walks away too. Don’t cry don’t cry the tears are hot on her skin don’t cry-

The guards bundle her to a carriage that takes her out through the city gates. Behind her, the fireworks start for the Winner’s Ceremony.

#fantasy law #mild fantasy racism #bribery #corruption #disownment #banishment #febuwhump2024 #anaranë #larp #oc #a long one cuz ana never shuts up #even when she should

[chodhound]

Wandering the Wandle - Part 2

Here's me looking at something:

From Beddington we went to the Grove in Carshalton (https://goo.gl/maps/34uxbuULu88kFpNB7) and looked at the ponds there. En route we observed a Lime bike had been thrown into a Lime Green pool which I thought was worth a photo only to be admonished by a local old lady who clearly thought we should be doing something about the aforementioned bike - we pointed out that we weren't the ones who put it there or indeed the council.

Still the ponds are very pretty.

Still the ponds are very pretty.

There was evidence in the park of the mills that made the Wandle famous:

And we saw some nature as well and then we walked along the appropriately named Mill Lane and tried to find the former snuff mill.

From there we looked at the bridge/viaduct of the railway over the Wandle and encountered Wilderness Island(https://goo.gl/maps/YRoMvFNf6jucWktG8) - we had some hijinks pretending to cross the river using a fallen tree in the manner of some brave explorers from something like King Solomon's Mines!

We carried on our adventure up towards Watercress Park (https://goo.gl/maps/u2gWsFxpktiCLCCt7) - where we met a man have a photoshoot on a bridge (his friend was using a long telephoto lens and complicated flash gun setup) - we didn't get a photo just in case they were famous (we didn't recognize them...)

Then up to the corner of Poulter Park (https://goo.gl/maps/u9KuyJo1xvYnNW6t6)

We talked about nature and birds and things and I observed that this would be a great place to spot a kingfisher and then a local fisherwoman appeared out of the reeds to tell us that as well as being an angler she was also a keen bird-spotter and whilst we might see a kingfisher at this spot - it was her opinion that we would have more luck further along the river. She did also mention that the river was unusually high because the local waterworks were releasing water (hopefully treated) into the river. We did notice a certain aroma in the air and commented on it - but she thought this was the smell of tyres (whether it was making or burning it wasn't clear).

We asked if she had had any luck today (which I believe is the correct question to ask fisherfolk) - and she replied with a chubb and two barbells which I thought was rather rude and so we bade her good day and continued on our travels.

Next stop was Watermeads Nature Reserve (https://goo.gl/maps/vDVj8crsfLo1tX3N6) - which was given to the National Trust by one of the National Trust's founders Octavia Hill.

It was rather lovely we saw some Jasmine (shown above) and some Japanese Knotweed (identified with Google Lens but not shown).

This is a rather splendid Plane tree in the Watermeads Nature reserve. The banks were busy with more fishermen.

Here is a rather funky video of a sluice

We crossed the river at Bishopsford Bridge and on the path there was a small family group having an impromptu gathering - the patriarch of the family was as wide as he was tall but they seemed to be having a nice time - two young girls had set up a stall and attempted to sell us some loom bands - two for the price of one, sirs they cried after us - but we had no change with which to batter with.

On towards Ravensbury Park - lots more fishermen here and some ne'er do wells on their bicycles and smoking recreational cigarettes and drinking cheap lager from cans.

We saw another lovely Heron

Then we popped into the Surrey Arms for a swift and revitalizing half of ale (for me) and cider (for Andy) - the bar lady on seeing us gave us a piece of blue kitchen roll to wipe our sweaty brows (because it was a warm day). We sat at the bar with the other regulars and watched Magic FM on the TV (Mmm Bop by Hanson - not the greatest song tbh). Upon starting to walk again we both found that we had started to get a little stiff - I think we where probably about halfway through our walk at this point. My ankle was aching slightly and Andy commented on his back - definitely a gentle comment on our progress on life's path.

Andy here professed his plans to run the London Marathon (if he get it in the ballot) - I think I volunteered to run a half to help him with training if he wanted...

Next stop - Morden Hall Park (https://goo.gl/maps/D682mjtGGm6NKfdQ9)

Suddenly it was busy - loads of kids and families having picnics and enjoying running around in the clear Wandle. It was a warm day - probably around 24C and it had been rather warm all week.

There was a bored looking security guard trying to stop kids from jumping from the bridge into the water.

More Snuff Mills!

More again next time on the thrilling and fast moving action packed instalment of the Wandle Wanderers.

[bypassreality]

I'm going to lose it over my own wedding. Originally, Alex and i were ok to go to the courthouse, sign the papers, aka elope, go to lunch at a nice restaurant with his parents and my mom, and then have a party/event for friends and family about 1 month later, after we went on honeymoon for 2 weeks. I don't want something big in general, and especially something big when the next day at 8am we are flying to Europe. I'm going to be stressed about packing and the cats.

That was not good enough for Alex's mom because they want to be there (at courthouse), other people want to be there, my mom wants to be there. maybe 12 people total. So i was getting suggestions, why don't you have your ceremony at X and have a boxed lunch? Why don't you have your ceremony and a catered lunch at our house? Why don't you do it at X and invite these 50 people I've considered and have a caterer? Why do you want to get married on a Wednesday? Don't you think it's inconvenient for everyone if you get married on a Wednesday? Can't you get married the weekend before? I will call X and ask about rental and catering. I can get X rented for a discount. I can call this photographer i know. I can call this caterer i know. I can call this judge to officiate the ceremony. Do you like X? Do you like this other X? Don't you want All These People there? But you can do whatever you want, we support you, just tell us what you want. It's your wedding, do what you want.

Yes I know it's 4 months away at this point but I'm retreating more into myself about this and I'm stubborn and don't like being told what to do or having decisions made for me.

So today I text his mom and say, I like this place X and here are the reasons why. It's $100, truly beautiful, it's unique, it's an hour away and about 50 steps from the parking lot but your dad and my grandma can do it because it's flat, a big vehicle would be rented to transport everyone, yes I know it's outdoors but if a fun lunch is planned anyway and the weather is going to be bad, can't we just go have lunch? Weather can be known a few days before the event. The officiant was going to have lunch with us anyway. If it's rainy and this place X is not feasible, can't the officiant marry us literally anywhere?

She says, that's nice but why? Why is it outdoors? What about all these people? It's an hour away and outdoors and what if it rains? You're making people drive from out of town on a Wednesday and then drive another hour away for a 15 minute vow exchange? It's in a public spot that you can't reserve what if there are other people at this place? What if it's too hot? Wednesday is an inconvenience. I thought you didn't want to do something big the day before you leave for honeymoon? What about X that I've already mentioned before? What about this other place X? Please reconsider X. It's better for everyone. But it's your wedding, we will do whatever you want.

I quite frankly don't want to be married somewhere with exit signs and fluorescent lights and industrial waste and japanese knotweed and and cars driving by and and an asphalt parking lot and concrete and decorations and trash and flowers from a florist (y'all i am going to cut flowers from my garden the morning of my wedding and that's non negotiable). She has 3 other sons. 1 of whom will probably marry a fancy lady and they will have a big do. She can plan the big do for that. I am not that. All of our families live hours away. That's not my problem. I moved here to get away from my family! I want to bake my own cake or exceptional brownies. I want gravlax and coffee and i want to make scones and serve it with homemade clotted cream and my homemade jam. Or i want to bake bread and make sandwiches for everyone. What the fuck do other people do when their picnic gets rained out? People drive hours to go to an event without a weather contingency. Don't come to my outdoor wedding if you don't like to be outdoors. Idk what to tell you. I know that people want to be present and celebrate. Can't they be present and celebrate in a way that i want because it's my wedding? What if I want Alex to grill cheeseburgers on our wedding day because he makes the best cheeseburgers in the entire world?

It is sinking in that i am going to regret my choice no matter what I choose. I will regret doing a thing at X with 50-75 people because i will be uncomfortable the entire time. I will regret the small family gathering at the garden 5 minutes from my house because it's no better than my own garden. I will regret the hour drive to a beautiful spot in the wilderness for a 15 minute vow exchange because it's not what other people want. I will regret the courthouse with just me and Alex and no one else because it's not what other people want. I am gaslighting myself into thinking that i am being too demanding and that i am actually going to inconvenience everyone in the entire world by having a wedding on a Wednesday at 11am in the wilderness.