Spring beauty miner bee, Andrena erigenia, Andrenidae

Spring beauty miner bees are a solitary, ground-nesting species that relies on spring beauty flowers (Claytonia virginica) to obtain nectar for themselves and both nectar and pollen for their larvae. The hairs on the female bee’s legs collect the striking pink pollen to bring back to her larvae. Found in the eastern United States and up into Canada.

Photo 1 by rileywalsh, 2 by chelsealynne, 3 by mmccarthy98, 4-5 by judygva, 6 by kristym, 7 by davidenrique, and 8 (don’t worry, she’s alive) by allenbryan

Here, have shit-tonnes of incorrect quotes + Green Cousins content:

Morro, negotiating with the Ninja: We have Lloyd. Give us ten thousand dollars and he will be returned to you unharmed.

Lloyd: Whoa, whoa, wait, you think I’m only worth ten thousand dollars?

Morro:

Lloyd: MAKE IT ONE MILLION–

Morro: LLOYD STOP.

ʚ❐✰❐✰❐✰❐✰❐ɞ

Morro: I really like this whole ‘good guy, bad guy’ thing you guys have going on.

Harumi: It’s not an act, it’s just that I’m mean and Lloyd isn’t.

ʚ❐✰❐✰❐✰❐✰❐ɞ

Lloyd: You have to apologize to Harumi.

Morro: Fine.

Morro: 'Unfuck you' or whatever.

ʚ❐✰❐✰❐✰❐✰❐ɞ

Morro: If Harumi and I were drowning, who would you save?

Lloyd: You two can’t swim?

Harumi: It’s a hypothetical question, Lloyd! who would you save?

Lloyd: my time and effort.

ʚ❐✰❐✰❐✰❐✰❐ɞ

Morro: Are you the big spoon or the little spoon?

Harumi: I'm a knife.

Lloyd, from across the room: She's the little spoon.

ʚ❐✰❐✰❐✰❐✰❐ɞ

Morro: If I die, my funeral is going to be the biggest party ever and you’re all invited.

Harumi: If?

Lloyd: Great, the only party I’ve ever been invited to and he might not even die.

ʚ❐✰❐✰❐✰❐✰❐ɞ

Morro: Please bring home PURIFIED water with NO minerals added for taste.

Harumi: We got spring water.

Morro: NO.

Lloyd: with EXTRA minerals.

Harumi: it's like licking a stalagmite.

Morro: DON'T COME HOME.

Lloyd: Mmmmm cave water.

ʚ❐✰❐✰❐✰❐✰❐ɞ

*Morro and Lloyd getting into trouble*

Morro: In my defense, I was left unsupervised.

Harumi: Wasn't Lloyd with you?

Lloyd: In my defense, I was also left unsupervised.

ʚ❐✰❐✰❐✰❐✰❐ɞ

Harumi: Dandelions symbolize everything I want to be in life.

Morro: Fluffy and dead with a gust of wind?

Harumi: Unapologetic. Hard to kill. Feral, filled with sunlight, bright, beautiful in a way that the conventional and controlling hate but cannot ever fully destroy. Stubborn. Happy. Bastardous. Friends with bees. Highly disapproving of lawns. Full of wishes that will be carried far after I die.

Lloyd: Edible.

ʚ❐✰❐✰❐✰❐✰❐ɞ

Morro: Hey Harumi,

Harumi: Yes?

Morro: Can a person breathe inside a washing machine while it’s on?

Harumi:

Harumi: Where’s Lloyd?

ʚ❐✰❐✰❐✰❐✰❐ɞ

Morro: We need a distraction.

Harumi: Is anyone here good at jumping up and down and making weird noises?

Lloyd, whispering: My time has come.

ʚ❐✰❐✰❐✰❐✰❐ɞ

Morro: Who thinks I can fit 15 marshmallows in my mouth?

Harumi: You’re a hazard to society.

Lloyd: And a coward. DO TWENTY.

ʚ❐✰❐✰❐✰❐✰❐ɞ

Morro: Harumi, keep an eye on Lloyd today. He’s going to say something to the wrong person and get punched.

Harumi: Sure, I’d love to see Lloyd get punched.

Morro: Try again.

Harumi, sighing: I will stop Lloyd from getting punched.

ʚ❐✰❐✰❐✰❐✰❐ɞ

Wu: While I’m gone, Jay, you’re in charge.

Jay: Yes!!!

Wu, whispering: Lloyd, you’re secretly in charge.

Lloyd: Obviously.

ʚ❐✰❐✰❐✰❐✰❐ɞ

Nya: What do you think Lloyd and Kai will do for a distraction?

Cole: They’ll probably, like, make a noise or throw a rock. That’s what I would do.

*Building explodes and several car alarms go off*

Cole: ... or they could do that.

ʚ❐✰❐✰❐✰❐✰❐ɞ

Jay: Why are you on the floor?

Lloyd: I'm depressed.

Lloyd: Also I was stabbed, can you get Kai, please.

ʚ❐✰❐✰❐✰❐✰❐ɞ

Lloyd: Are you sure this is the right direction?

Jay: Certainly, I'm as sure as I am honest!

Kai: In that case, we're definitely lost.

ʚ❐✰❐✰❐✰❐✰❐ɞ

Show host *setting an example for kids on how to treat their mothers*: If you had to choose between your mother and all the money I have in my wallet, which would you choose?

Lloyd: That depends, how much money are we taking about?

Show host: 63 cents.

Lloyd: I'll take the money.

Misako: LLOYD!!!

ʚ❐✰❐✰❐✰❐✰❐ɞ

Lloyd: WHY. why did you give Morro a KNIFE?!

Harumi: I’m sorry. He said he felt unsafe.

Lloyd: Now I feel unsafe!

Harumi: I’m sorry.

Harumi: ... would you like a knife?

Follow Up To Nargothrond World Building

Part one

Bioluminescence headcanons

World Building Masterlist

Please feel free to ask more!! General posts are hard because I didn’t have specific categories to cover so feel free to send categories! You can also see my world building prompt list for inspiration I always take requests

Nargothrond hosts a guild of talented smiths and metalworkers. Many are Noldor but a few are Sindar. Weapons are most commonly forged but a variety of useful implements and tools as well as occasionally more creative and artistic projects. The forges are located near the main entrance and have high windows to allow for natural light. Part of the forges are underground but much of the structure and ceilings are above ground.

Like in Menengroth, delicate sculptures of trees with beautifully engraved leaves and flowers decorate many of the larger halls and wind around supportive structures in corridors and entrances. A wider variety of bright colors are used in Nargothrond however (in Menengroth a wide variety of subtle and earthy colors are used with small pockets of spring green and other flora inspired colors). Likewise in Nargothrond, tiny glass beads are utilized to add to the sculptures.

The architectural style is modeled after both Noldorin and Sindar as well as Telerin styles. The greatest influences are of course Menengroth but also the homes built into the sea cliffs around Alqualondë and some of the architecture at the mountain bases in Tirion.

Trade continues well into the First Age with the dwarves of the Ered Luin. Physical and mineral resources are exchanged as well as knowledge and aid with specific projects. It’s common for a small group of Nargothrond’s scouts to accompany traders and visitors back East at least part of the journey to offer both companionship and added protection. The same is offered when traders or visitors travel to the Ered Luin.

Trade routes towards the Havens of the Falas are also maintained for a period and the friendship between the two realms is strong. I think the Arafinwëans greatly missed the ocean and this connection was important to them. It was common for Finrod to wear little gifts given to him from the Falathrim like bits of coral, driftwood or sea glass.

River glass is sometimes made intentionally by submerging drawn bags of glass piece in shallow, quick moving parts of the river sometimes for years at a time. This is a similar practice to Telerin glass workers. This glass is used mostly in jewelry and ornamental pieces like wind chimes.

Rock and turtle doves are used to deliver messages at short distance, usually within the realm of Nargothrond or its closest allies (closest by physical proximity). For longer distances or messages of more sensitive information, elven messengers are used by horse or by the waters. Outside of the fortress of Nargothrond itself, many scouts and residents also use raptors for hunting and various tasks.

Most residents are multilingual. Court is held in Sindarin though private discussions among the Arafinwëans sometimes use Quenya or Telerin. A number of creole dialects develop in Nargothrond. Many Sindar residents show interest in the Telerin language which is actually closer to Noldorin Quenya than to the Sindarin dialects of Beleriand.

As a mark of respect to Ulmo, hunting and fishing in the Nan Tathren is forbidden and residents go there rarely. Even without this ban, many eerie stories originate there and the elves tend to avoid it, despite its great beauty. Finrod does occasionally travel back towards the twilight meres however.

Orchards dot the hills on the outskirts of the Talath Dirnen. These are maintained mainly by those who live outside the fortress itself. It relies greatly on pollinating creatures including bees, butterflies and bats all of which are particularly revered by the Northern Sindar,

As always please feel free to ask more!

Would You Like A Knife? (Quotes)

Scarlet: Alia isn’t answering their phone Michael: I’ll call Scarlet: Ellie and I have both tried six times each, what makes you thi- Alia: Hello?

Michael: *Gently taps table* Alia: *Taps back* Scarlet: What are they doing? Ellie: Morse code. Michael: *Aggressively taps table* Alia: *Slams hands down* YOU TAKE THAT BACK-

The squad is trying to con some random guy Alia: Um, Michael, why are you pretending I'm this guy's family? Michael: We need money! Alia: You're scamming him? Michael: I was thinking more like flat-out stealing from him? Alia: What?! No way! Michael: Why not? We already stole Scarlet! Scarlet: Hey guys Alia: No, we didn't. Scarlet can think and talk for themself, they can do whatever they want! Scarlet: I wanna steal

*The squad is having dinner together* Alia: Michael, can you pass the salt? Michael: *Throws Scarlet across the table*

Alia: We need a distraction. Michael: Is anyone here good at jumping up and down and making weird noises? Scarlet, whispering: My time has come

Alia, trying to ask Michael out: Would you like to stay for dinner? Scarlet: WOULD YOU LIKE TO STAY FOREVER?

Alia: Dandelions symbolize everything I want to be in life Michael: Fluffy and dead with a gust of wind? Alia: Unapologetic. Hard to kill. Feral, filled with sunlight, bright, beautiful in a way that the conventional and controlling hate but cannot ever fully destroy. Stubborn. Happy. Bastardous. Friends with bees. Highly disapproving of lawns. Full of wishes that will be carried far after I die. Scarlet: edible

Alia: I love you guys, you're the best thing that's happened to me. Michael: We're the best thing that's ever happened to you? Alia: Yes! Scarlet: I'm starting to feel a little sorry for you.

Alia: WHY. why did you give Scarlet a KNIFE?! Michael: I’m sorry. They said they felt unsafe. Alia: Now I feel unsafe! Michael: I’m sorry. Michael: ... would you like a knife?

Alia: HELP! I TOLD SCARLET I’D COOK DINNER TONIGHT BUT I CAN’T COOK! Michael, pouring milk directly into the cereal bag: And you thought I could help?

Alia: Do you ever want to talk about your emotions, Michael? Michael: … No. Scarlet: I do! Alia: I know, Scarlet. Scarlet: I’m sad! Alia: I know, Scarlet.

Alia: I trust Michael. Scarlet: You think they know what they're doing? Alia: I wouldn't go that far.

Alia: Please bring home PURIFIED water with NO minerals added for taste Michael: We got spring water Alia: NO. Scarlet: with EXTRA minerals Michael: it's like licking a stalagmite Alia: DON'T COME HOME. Scarlet: Mmmmm cave water

Alia: Three words. Say them and I'm yours. Michael: Three words. Alia:

Wildmender Gameplay

#wildmender #craftinggame #survivalgame #exploringgames #adventuregame A desert gardening survival game. Start from a tiny spring and cultivate a blooming garden. Explore a vast world amid the sands and uncover its mysteries. Can you defend against the relentless forces of nature and mysterious wraith corruption, to bring life to a dying world? Wildmender is a game about bringing a deserted world back to life. Explore the vast desert, alone or with friends. Collect plants and bring them back to your garden to thrive. Craft new tools and use them to shape the earth, and channel water to your plants. Delve into the mysteries of a fallen civilization and discover their magic. Befriend animals, spirits, and seek out the gods to help you defend the land from the vicious wraiths who seek to corrupt it. It’s up to you to save the world, one seed at a time. Turn the Desert Green With the tools you crafted, set out to grow the little oasis in the middle of a vast desert into your own thriving garden. Plant seeds, dig canals, nurture your plants, craft useful and beautiful structures, harness magical essence, protect against the forces of nature, and more! You’ll have plenty of space and choices to create the garden of your imagination. Acre by acre, you will reclaim the desert and reforest the world. Explore, Forage, and Survive Explore the desert around you. It is not as barren as you think! Forage for seeds and resources. Store them for a longer journey or bring them back to your garden, the choice is yours. Manage your food and water carefully as your journey through the dunes, the drained and salted sea, the poisoned canyons, and the cold and distant mountains. The farther you adventure, the greater the peril and rewards. Rare minerals, exotic plants, adorable creatures, and ancient spirits await your discovery. Uncover the Mystery What happened to this world? How did everything go wrong? How did the life-draining wraiths corrupt the land? Journey to the temples of the gods, learn their stories, rediscover arcane magic, unlock powerful weapons, tools, and abilities to help you defeat the wraiths, free the gods, and breathe new life to the world. 4-Player Co-op Gardening Invite up to 3 of your friends to your garden online! Work together to tend your flourishing garden. Share resources and survive together. Adventure with friends through the lonely desert. Fight together against dangerous wraiths. But don’t forget, with more hands to garden you’ll have more mouths to feed! Customize your Garden and Looks Just let nature take its course or style the garden to your liking. Craft structures and tools to decorate and shape the terrain. Build bridges over canals, a footpath dotted with lanterns, stucco walls with a gate, magical sigils that return bees to your garden, a streaming waterfall with a pool below, and more. Craft a loom and weave a wide variety of outfits to travel the desert in style. Features: -Dozens of plant species to cultivate and grow, each with a variety of cultivars to be discovered -50+ craftable structures and tools to build and manage your perfect garden -75+ unlockable perks and ability upgrades -1-4 player online Co-op multiplayer -Procedurally generated world for a unique challenge every replay -Day-night cycle: plants thrive and grow in the sun, while ghosts roam the cool nights -Variety of outfits for your character -Difficulty settings and game modes that can be adjusted on the fly

SCP 4166: Are you sure this is the right direction? SCP 1879: Certainly, I'm as sure as I am honest! SCP 049-j: In that case, we're definitely lost.

SCP 4166: I’m kind of crushing on someone, but I’m worried about telling you who it is, because you’re not going to like it SCP 1879: Just rip the bandage off. SCP 4166: It’s SCP 1471. SCP 1879: Put the bandage back on.

SCP 4166: What time is it?  SCP 1879: I don’t know; pass me that saxophone and we’ll find out  SCP 1879: *Plays sax loudly and extremely out of tune*  SCP 1471: WHO THE FUCK IS PLAYING THE SAXOPHONE AT TWO IN THE MORNING  SCP 1879: It’s 2 am

SCP 4166: Please bring home PURIFIED water with NO minerals added for taste SCP 1879: We got spring water SCP 4166: NO. SCP 1471: with EXTRA minerals SCP 1879: it's like licking a stalagmite SCP 4166: DON'T COME HOME. SCP 1471: Mmmmm cave water

SCP 4166: Do you ever want to talk about your emotions, SCP 1879?  SCP 1879: … No.  SCP 1471: I do!  SCP 4166: I know, SCP 1471.  SCP 1471: I’m sad!  SCP 4166: I know, SCP 1471.

SCP 4166: In your opinion, what’s the height of stupidity? SCP 1879: *turning to SCP 1471* How tall are you?

SCP 4166: Dandelions symbolize everything I want to be in life  SCP 1879: Fluffy and dead with a gust of wind?  SCP 4166: Unapologetic. Hard to kill. Feral, filled with sunlight, bright, beautiful in a way that the conventional and controlling hate but cannot ever fully destroy. Stubborn. Happy. Bastardous. Friends with bees. Highly disapproving of lawns. Full of wishes that will be carried far after I die.  SCP 1471: edible

*SCP 4166 and SCP 1879 sitting in jail together* SCP 1879: So who should we call? SCP 4166: I’d call SCP 1471, but I feel safer in jail

Glass Steppes

Corobel uses Shape Land and Shape Climate, -5.

The Sky loves reflective things, and so he loves Erland's great lake; but water and glass alone cannot give tribute to his glory, cannot turn their faces toward the sun, cannot strain to reach the unreachable. Just beneath the surface, there lies a land of vast skies.

He pours radiance into the water, and one third effervesces into rainbow-threaded mist; and he moves mountains, and another third drains toward the southern sea in a great river. Life blooms with uncanny and unnatural speed in the unveiled lands as the charism of light suffuses the mineral bounty of the molten deeps.

Hence, the Glass Steppes of Incarien. Here, plains of grass and flowers mingle with fields upon fields of black glass, vitrified forests, many-hued geothermal pools, crystal kopjes, quills of cthonic metal, and soaring basalt colonnades. The land is broken by some very deep lake-systems and many shallow ones, as well as wetlands and forested valleys throughout, taiga in the north, redwoods along the northwest coast, deserts of fluting wind-carved rock in the southwest, and a great river draining southward.

Things you may find in the Glass Steppes:

Vast herds of elk and buffalo, meerkat-mounds, moss, fields of lupine, columbine, poppy, thick with bees; beaver-dammed lakes, wild proto-horses, forested river-valleys; herds of mammoths, ground-sloths, and terror-birds.

Grass: Mirror-grass, feeding on its own reflection in the obsidian plains. Grass that lacerates legs and drinks blood. Grass that feeds on sound, swallowing thunderclaps, craning itself towards movement. Grass taller than men. Mossfields reaching chest-high beneath lichen-encrusted mountains. Grey ash-grass whose seeds are wind-blown sparks, burning what they encounter into more ash-grass.

Vitrified forests.

The Gardens of the Sky: Fields of flowers (not quite sunflowers, nor daisies, nor clovers) whose too-vivid color reflects the sky, and retains a shadow of its power. The various appearances of the Sky-Flowers, and their supernatural effects, will be described forthwith.

Geothermal pools, hot springs, geysers; sulfurous and many-colored, each a world unto itself, strange sui generis biospheres. And the macaques.

Plains dotted with crystals, high as redwoods, which grew in the Old Lake under the influence of starlight. When one breaks, the sound is unbearably--sometimes lethally--beautiful. Some have a structure so perfect that the starlight remains within, imprisoned or enraptured. They leak a gentle glow with a half-life of millennia. (Spirits of the other tribes of light may suffer (do they suffer?) the same fate.)

Pumice-stones of such immaculate purity that they maintain a neutral buoyancy in air.

Iron-jawed, fire-bellied, metal-eating termites in towering castles of regurgitated iron.

Groves of water-lilies, too stubborn or too perfect to subside and die when the waters rushed out. Lilypads block the sun.

Geodes, once large enough to swallow ships, now broken open and half buried, form glades and hollows of amethyst and chalcedony.

Coral-like reefs of predatory, many-colored, hard-shelled colonial flowers; some examples feed on the lesser sprites of fire. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds dart in and out like clownfish. The honey is divine, but the bees are dangerous.

Eusocial colonial hummingbirds; their honey grants understanding of the avian Ur-Song.

Stripped skeletons animated by overmighty plants, flowers blooming from empty eyes.

Pillars of black basalt; home, in future ages, to anchorites, now perches for birds of prey large enough to carry off stags.

Good, black earth, unnaturally fecund; plant a finger, and a man may grow. Do not spill blood here. Don't even think about it.

Fields of fallen stars. They carry with them some of the weightlessness of the outer voids.

Former islands; hill-ranges, flower-drenched, refugia from the two floods, each with a proud and defensive genius loci.

Bogs of preternatural preservative power; hunger, anger, fear, and joy, orphaned from bodies, perdure here, and take on new forms under the animating influence of starlight.

Great crows with hidden nests of gold and gems, feeding on beauty itself. They seek the starkest, bleakest places, to maximize the gradient down which beauty flows.

Redwood forests, each tree binding a spirit of sublime antiquity like pearls around sand. When the World came and Nothing burned, they crawled here to die like beached whales, and found a kind of immortality.

Taiga; dense and intractable, creaking like voices in the wind; the wood burns hotter and more tenaciously than any other earthly substance, even underwater.

Great lakes, perhaps bottomless; there is always a glimmering in the depths, a beckoning of buried light. And the voices, of course, but that goes without saying. The storms are too terrible for words.

Great lakes, shallow, mirror-flat, glass-bottomed, where mirages and fire-spirits dance as they did when the lake was new. Every lake in the Glass Steppes is, in a mysterious sort of way, connected to every other one, for the subterranean unity of Erland cannot be so easily broken, and mirrors have a tendency to be doors.

Spines, coils, and mushroom-plates of freestanding native metal; occasional pulses of light move across the surface, and they creak and sing in the sun.

Vivid canyons, colored strata stacked like bolts of cloth.

Rare Wild Organic Chinese Black Goji Berries Lycium (Black Wolfberry) Seeds Organic Superfood Fruit Non-Gmo B10 Count: 10 Black goji berry is a magical biological resource that is rich in nutrition ingredients and medicine care active ingredients. According to the research report and the usage in folk, the black goji berry contains plenty of protein, vitamins, minerals, trace elements, and other many kinds of nutrients. it can play a good role in anti-aging and beauty skincare. It can also be good food for cooking with some other things such as meat and fish and even drink for days. Goji Berry (Lycium ruthenicum) Wolf-berry is a spectacular plant, a super-food native throughout Central Asia. The black goji is known to be more healthful and potent than the more widely known red goji, and we find the flavor sweeter. The tasty, inky-black berries are exceptionally high in antioxidants and are said to boost the immune system and improve circulation. Thanks to their ability to fight free radicals, they have been hailed as food to promote healthy, graceful aging. It grows as a shrub reaching 35"-59" (90cm-1.5m) in height and the plants are self-fertile. (Black Wolfberry) This spectacular superfood is native throughout Central Asia. The black goji berry is very rarely found in Western cuisine but has long been celebrated in the Himalayan region as a powerful medicinal and healthy food. A native of Central Asia, the southern part of Russia, Northwest China, and Pakistan. In India, it grows in Kashmir, where native people use it to cure blindness in camels. It grows to 6 feet tall and can run out to 15 feet wide if left alone. The leaves turn a bronze color in the colder months. The bees, butterflies, and birds will visit from late Spring to mid-summer while in bloom. It grows in dry soils and is a drought-tolerant shrub. Black goji berries (Lycium Ruthenicum Murrray, Russian box thorn)are an incredibly rare and exotic fruit grown widely in the extreme and harsh environments of Central Asia. The sheer remoteness of the plant, and local reliance on it has meant it is relatively unknown outside its natural range. Black Goji grows as a shrub and reaches a height of about 9 feet with thorny branches dripping with clusters of plump, juicy, pearl-sized, sweet black fruits. Black goji berries are unique among fruits because they contain all essential amino acids, goji berries also have the highest concentration of protein of any fruit. This amazing little super fruit also contains natural anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal compounds. The fruit ripens from summer through early Fall. PLANT INFORMATION: Plant Name: Goji Berry Taxonomy: Lycium ruthenicum Life Cycle: Perennial USDA Zones: 3-10 - Goji dislikes extreme cold or heat Germination Temperature: 20-25°C (68-77F) Ideal Temperature: 70-85 F Plant Height: 90cm-1.5m / 35"-59" Germination Days: 10-40 days (depends on temperature) Light Preferences: 6-12 hrs of Full sun Sprouts in 14-21 Days Seed Depth: 1/4" Plant Spacing: 36" Frost Hardy: Yes Growing Tips: Soak seeds in warm (70-85 F) water for 24 hours before planting. Add sand to the potting mix. Goji prefers alkaline soil and prefers to stay fairly dry, but tolerates most soils. HOW TO GROW GOJI BERRY FROM SEEDS Goji berry plants can be grown from seed, but plants will begin fruiting two years after seeding. Germination Sow seeds 1/4" deep and lightly cover with a medium. Keep moist in a bright spot. Do not cover with plastic but maintain a temperature around 65-75F. Goji berry perennial germination takes around 7-14 days at 20-25 degrees C / 65-75F. However, it can be much slower - up to several weeks at lower temperatures. ✅ Sow indoors about 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost in your area. ✅ Sow 2 to 3 seeds in each pot, about 5mm (¼”) deep. ✅ Use a sterilized seed starting mix, and do not add fertilizer. ✅ Keep soil moist until seeds germinate, and then put it under bright lights. ✅ Optional you can use a grow dome or grow light ✅ After the third true leaf emerges, transplant each seedling onto its own individual pot. ✅ Goji berry grows well in slightly alkaline soil with a pH range of 6.8 to 8.1. ✅ If you’re growing Goji in a large container, use simple topsoil with some perlite mixed in for drainage. Avoid peat-based soils. ✅ Keep your goji berry plant indoors for at least one year, before planting outdoors. Planting outdoors is best done when the goji berry plant is at least one foot in height. Germination Instruction Soak the seeds in water that is from 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit for one to two days. This will increase their rate of germination. Combine sand with commercial potting mix or garden soil until it is very fine. The ideal soil pH should be between 7 and 8, although gogi plants will grow in soil with a pH lower than that. Plant the seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep indoors in pots if you live in a colder area. Move the pots outside when the weather begins to warm. If you live in a warmer area, plant them outdoors in partial sun after the danger of frost has passed. Spray water on the soil. The temperature should be from 64 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray the seedlings with a mist sprayer until two leaves appear. Irrigate them with a sprinkler after that if your seedlings are outside. Do not allow the soil to become soggy. Snip off the main stem just above third leaf when it appears. This will cause the plant to grow laterally as a bush rather than vertically as a tree. A bushy form will yield more berries than a taller plant. Transfer seedlings planted in containers to direct sunlight and water regularly. As the richest known plant source of OPC(Oligomeric Proanthocyanidin) it has magnificent antioxidant capabilities. OPC is one of the most effective water-soluble free-radical scavengers. It is 20 times more powerful than Vitamin C and 50 times more powerful than Vitamin E.As a result, black goji berries may have the ability to slow down the aging process, lower cholesterol, and to prevent and slow the growth of cancer. Goji berry plants establish fast, but they don’t fruit fast when starting from seed. The roots establish enough within a few months of germination to be transplanted in pots. Plant Goji berry outdoors at least 2 feet apart - it can be trained like a grapevine on a trellis or left as a shrub. The tasty, inky black berries are exceptionally high in antioxidants and are said to boost the immune system and improve circulation. Thanks to their ability to fight free radicals, they have been hailed as food to promote healthy, graceful aging. The potent berries create an outstanding blue color when steeped or added to foods. These tasty berries are quickly becoming a popular superfruit added to smoothies and brewed into tea. The dried berries are great in granola and muffins or snacked on alone; you can also eat the berries fresh off the plant. Steep the berries into a beautiful blue tea; adding a few drops of lemon will turn the tea a lovely purple/pink color. The benefits of drinking black Goji tea: it is helpful for kidney and sex it has the function of keeping the liver, improving eyesight, resisting fatigue, beauty and resisting tumor,s etc. can cure heart disease, cardiopyretic disease, abnormal menstruation, menopause and etc. its prospects are very bright whether as the common green and health care food or medicine. How to use black Goji berry? Take about Black goji 3~5g, and pour 50~70 degrees hot water about 300ml (10 fl. oz), keep for 5 minutes. It can be brawn about 4 times till the water is clear, and the brawn black goji is edible. Because Black goji is rich in natural anthocyanin, if use neutral water to brew it, the water will be purple, if use alkaline water is brewed, the water will be blue. It is highly recommended to use this black goji berry with soup. it can be delicious and good for your sex and kidney if you have it for a certain period. Gardeners will be pleased to know this exciting berry is highly prolific and easy to grow! Plants thrive in zones 5-10. It grows as a shrub reaching 4-6 feet in height, and the plants are self-fertile. The fruit ripens from summer through early fall. http://springsofeden.myshopify.com/products/rare-wild-organic-chinese-black-goji-berries-lycium-black-wolfberry-seeds-organic-superfood-fruit-non-gmo-b10

Unlock the Secret to Cultivating Resilient Kiwi Plants in Your Garden

Growing hardy kiwi is an exciting venture for any home gardener looking to enjoy a delicious and unique fruit. Not only are they full of essential vitamins and minerals, kiwis are also attractive, self-pollinating plants that require minimal space or effort to maintain. While growing hardy kiwi may seem like an intimidating task for someone with no gardening experience, this blog post will outline the essential steps and techniques to ensure your kiwi vines bear sweet and healthy fruits in no time!

How To Grow Hardy Kiwi In Your Garden

So, you want to join the club of kiwi enthusiasts and grow your own hardy kiwi in your garden? Well, strap on your gardening gloves and let's dive into this juicy adventure!

1. Choose the Perfect Spot

When selecting a spot for your hardy kiwi, think like a kiwi. They love basking in the sunlight, but appreciate a little afternoon shade to cool off. Make sure the soil is well-draining, slightly acidic, and packed with organic matter.

2. Planting Time is Key

Timing is everything when it comes to planting hardy kiwi. Aim for early spring when the ground is no longer frozen, and the threat of frost has passed. Patience is a virtue, my friend.

3. Get in the Weeding Spirit

As much as we'd love a weed-free world, it's not going to magically happen. Before planting your kiwi, clear the area of any pesky weeds that might compete for nutrients and overshadow your precious vines. Remember, weeds are the frenemies of gardening.

4. Give Them Some Support

Hardy kiwi vines are like the divas of the garden—they need something to lean on. Install a sturdy trellis or arbor for your vines to climb on and show off their leafy green glory. Plus, it adds a touch of romance to your garden.

5. Water, Water, Water!

Remember to keep your hardy kiwi well-hydrated, especially during dry spells. These little green balls of delight appreciate a good soaking, but don't drown them. Too much water can lead to root rot, and nobody wants that on their gardening resume.

Pro tip: Mulch is your garden's best friend. Spread some mulch around your kiwi plants to help retain moisture and keep those pesky weeds at bay.

6. Pruning with Purpose

Say hello to your new green buddies by giving them a little trim. Pruning your hardy kiwi is essential to maintain their vigor and shape. Remove any dead or diseased wood, and thin out crowded areas to encourage air circulation. They'll thank you with a bountiful harvest.

7. Embrace the Pollinators

Be the ultimate matchmaker by attracting pollinators to your garden. Planting flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and other buzzing beauties will ensure successful pollination, leading to plump, succulent kiwis. It's a buzzing party you don't want to miss.

8. Harvest Time Fun

The moment you've been waiting for has arrived—the kiwi harvest. These little fruits don't ripen all at once, so be prepared to practice the art of patience. Gently twist the kiwi off the vine when it reaches its desired firmness, and indulge in the sweet rewards of your hard work.

Now that you're armed with these kiwi growing tips, go forth and conquer the world of hardy kiwi gardening. May your harvest be bountiful, your vines be vibrant, and your taste buds be tantalized. Happy gardening!

If you're hungry for more kiwi knowledge, check out this insightful article on unleashing the full potential of your hardy kiwi plants.

Learn more about gardening with Taim.io!

Skincare Concerns: Battling Windburn

Backstory: So I'm a dumbass and got windburn again. It's the first major snowstorm of the season and I'm out there furiously shoveling this horrid, wet, heavy snow--seriously, it's like straight up slush falling from the sky--while the wind is whipping my hood off. Suffice it to say, same as last winter, I've gotten windburned again.

What Is Windburn: According to Healthline, windburn is when your skin is exposed to harsh wind, temperatures, and possibly sunlight, causing it to lose moisture and become red and enflamed; you may feel a burning sensation. Another way to think of it is that the wind literally gives your skin friction burns.

Prevention:

Protect your skin with a layer of Vaseline or Aquaphor before going out

Makeup can help too; anything that puts an extra layer between your bare skin and the wind

Cover as much skin as possible; use a scarf or mask to protect your face

Treatment:

Wash your face with lukewarm water

Avoid gel cleansers and scrubs; use cream cleanser instead

Avoid harsh skincare products, e.g. astringents, toners, exfoliants, etc.

Moisturize frequently

Use cold compresses to ease the 'burn'

You can also use OTC pain/inflammation relievers

Summary: Stay away from harsh ingredients like exfoliants, strong acids, toners, astringents, etc. If you have windburn, you want to put moisture back in your skin, not be pulling it out. I also recommend avoiding brightening agents because your skin will already be red and agitated from the windburn. You don't want to make it worse.

Use products heavy in lipids (oils), ceramides, NMF, and other barrier-strengthening ingredients, and hyaluronic acid. Beta glucan is another good active to look for. Use SPF if you're going to be outside because oils can increase risk of sunburn.

Read on for a more detailed explanation.

GOOD PRODUCTS TO USE WHEN WINDBURNED

Cleansers

Cream Cleansers

Cream cleansers are typically gentler than most other cleansers. They tend to have more lipids in them, which is a fancy way of saying fats and oils, and fewer ingredients that will strip your skin.

Try: Mad Hippie Cream Cleanser, Aveeno Calm + Restore Nourishing Oat Cleanser, Byoma Creamy Jelly Cleanser, Cerave Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser, Cocokind Oil-to-Milk Cleanser, Honest Beauty Calm On Foaming Cream Cleanser, The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Facial Cleanser

2. Cleansing Balms & Oils

Here I am, back on my soapbox. Cleansing balms, AKA cold creams, are great for windburn. They're highly emollient and put stuff back into your skin rather than taking it out. Cleansing oils are good too. You will have a residue. Just let your skin absorb it. Do not double cleanse.

Try: Bliss Mighty Biome Pre/Post Biotics Cleansing Balm, Burt's Bees Facial Cleansing Oil, Byoma Melting Cleansing Balm, Cerave Makeup Remover Cleansing Balm, Good Molecules Instant Cleansing Balm, Mad Hippie Cleansing Oil

Essences

Avoid toners and astringents. Essences are okay.

What's the difference? Essences, as in K-beauty, add moisture to the skin. Toners pull out dirt and oils. You don't want that if you're dealing with windburn.

I'd avoid anything that says it will brighten, tone, or make your skin glow. If you've got windburn, your skin is pretty red, and you don't want to use any actives like Vitamin C that will make that worse.

Try: Fresh Rose Instant Hydration Mist, Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Essence, Heritage Store Rosewater Refreshing Facial Mist (not Rosewater Toner) or Rosewater & Glycerin Hydrating Facial Mist, La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water for Sensitive Skin Spray, Neogen Real Heartleaf Soothing Essence, Vichy Eau Thermale Mineralisante (Mineralizing Thermal Water) Spray

Serums

Stay with known hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, NMF, ceramides, etc. Focus on restoring skin barrier health.

Avoid brightening ingredients like Vitamin C, as these can cause increased redness and photosensitivity. Stay away from strong acids like AHAs and BHAs.

Try: Honest Beauty Stay Hydrated Hyaluronic Acid + NMF Serum, Byoma Hydrating Serum, Cocokind Ceramide Barrier Serum, Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum, The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid + B5 Serum

Moisturizers

As above, focus on products with ingredients known for capturing moisture and improving the skin barrier. These include things like hyaluronic acid, lipids (oils), NMF, ceramides, beta glucan, and Vitamin E. Probiotics might also help.

Avoid skin brighteners like Vitamin C, strong acids (AHAs & BHAs), etc.

Try: Bliss Mighty Biome Ultra-Concentrated Pre/Post Biotics Moisturizer, Honest Beauty Hydrogel Cream, The Ordinary NMF + HA Moisturizer, buttah. Oil Free Hyaluronic Gel Cream, CosRX Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Cream, Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream, Good Light Order of the Eclipse Hyaluronic Cream, Kopari Moisture Whipped Ceramide Cream, Pacifica Vegan Ceramide Barrier Face Cream and/or Lotion, The Ordinary NMF + PhytoCeramides Moisturizer, Sacheu We Occlusive Intense Overnight Moisturizer

Oils

Pretty much any oils you want to try on your skin will help. Oils are an important part of your skin routine, whether you're getting them from a cleanser or a cream, or adding them directly to your skin. I like to apply my cream moisturizer, then add a few drops of oil on top in the winter. It helps lock in moisture and creates another thin layer between your skin and the great outdoors.

The cool thing about oils is that you don't have to spend a lot of money on them if you don't want to. You can just go to your kitchen cabinet and see what's there.

From a previous post:

There are more common oils like coconut, olive, avocado, grapeseed, sunflower seed, sesame seed, and almond oils that you can literally buy at the grocery store. I did some research and chemically there’s no difference between what’s sold in a big bottle at the grocery store and what’s sold in tiny, more expensive bottles by wellness brands. You just want to make sure that whatever you’re purchasing is organic and does not have additives.  The oils that are a little less common, which you probably won’t be able to find in the grocery aisles, include: apricot, marula, rosehip, argan, chia seed, pumpkin seed, carrot seed, shea oil/butter, castor, evening primrose, squalane, jojoba, and acai. Pricing on these can be all over the place. Some are more common than others these days, like argan, rosehip, marula, etc. Others are going to be harder to find or just cost more to make, like evening primrose, chia seed, etc.  You should look up oils to use for your skin type, but here are a few articles to get you started. Everything You Need To Know About Face Oils | 8 Best Natural Oils for Healthy Skin

You can even use vegetable shortening in a pinch, which typically has a soybean oil base. Lots of soy used in skincare, although if you've read my other posts, I'm pretty iffy on soybean oil these days. I'm currently using a mix of equal parts olive, avocado, and carrot seed oils.

If you'd prefer to purchase a special blend from a skincare company, that's totally valid too.

Try: Good Molecules Ultra-Hydrating Facial Oil, Byoma Hydrating Recovery Oil, Cocokind Chia Omega-3 Facial Oil, Honest Beauty Organic Beauty Facial Oil, Indeed Labs Squalane Facial Oil, The Ordinary "B" Oil, Well People Plant Elixir Replenishing Botanical Facial Oil

The Dandelion

I’m obsessed with dandelions.  And I can’t wrap my head around why everyone else isn’t.

Every spring, summer, even fall, and even winter, the grass is full of bold yellow wildflowers.  They scatter the yard in my favorite color, they’re a staple in the bees’ diet, they’re historically littered through fascinating medical uses, and they’re just adorable.

I’m aware that some part of my love for the flower is rooted in my semi self-righteous desire to love the un-loveable, but dandelions are so worthy of praise and appreciation that the general public’s hatred of them actually makes me angry.  People can actually look out on their yard, see little yellow wildflowers blooming for from no effort of their own, and think Ug.  Weeds.

I’d like to borrow your attention in this space.  I invite you, my captive audience, intangible enough so as to not tell me to stop talking, to sit with me, and I will convince you that dandelions are a gift to all of us, and do not deserve their ungrateful reputation.

Alongisde dandelions, I am obsessed with bees.  Primarily honey bees as they co star in my dreams of homesteading, but pollinators in general hold a very special place in my heart, even the scary ones like yellow jackets.  And these fantastic, hard working women need, as all living things do, to eat.  And if they don’t eat, then we don’t eat.  It’s a longer conversation that I’m sure most of you are already familiar with, but bees are critical, and so are their food sources.  Dandelions are a primary food source for bees, especially in the early spring when the ladies are emerging from their quiet, sleepy winter.  They need a pollen feast, and the steadfast, abundant dandelions is here to provide.

Secondly, every part of the dandelion is edible.  All of it, from root to petal, this plant can be consumed in tasty and useful ways.  That’s actually really rare for plants.  You can usually use some aspect of a plant, while other sections are toxic.  Even potatoes, wonderful staple of my kitchen that they are, have leaves and garlands that would make you incredibly sick if consumed.  The Dandelion would never.  Every part of the plant is safely edible.  Full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and while, as is the case with most homeopathy, other claims of its medicinal powers are disputable, it has an interesting place in historical herbal medicines.  It’s tea also tastes better than Chamomile.

And thirdly, what I struggle most to understand is other’s struggle to understand the beauty of the dandelion.  Its beautiful.  A bee’s golden dusted pillow, a tiny sun sprouted in your grass, a little, yellow wildflower that has so much to offer your neighborhood’s ecosystem.  It’s such a thing of fairytale and folk lore, a blossom of sunlight here to feed and heal, and then molting into its own ghost, white and floating on the wind to land somewhere else and grow their own family.  It’s magic growing here in our own dirt, and I’m in love with it.  They’ve become analogous with wishes and dreams, and are collectively seen as just weeds?  I don’t get it.  A weed isn’t even a real thing.  Like, it’s not a true classification of plant.  It’s entirely subjective, only referring to a plant in a place where you don’t want it.   A rosebush can be a weed if it crops up and throws off the color palette of your hydrangeas.  Yet people treat dandelions like that’s all they ever could be, the dirty, inferior, subtype of plant here to ruin the carefully curated boredom of your ecologically useless monocultured lawn.  Plain green lawns are a relic of a people keeping up with the Joneses and its time to let them die.  Why—and I cannot stress the why enough—did golf courses become more preferable over wild, colorful, nurturing yards, full of bugs and flowers and vegetable gardens?  Is it just desire for an iron grip on the world, bending even nature to your will until everything feels tamed and manmade?  Or just the effect of growing up in a culture that praises that kind of maintenance and aesthetic, so that your front yard can be considered the first room of your clean, beige house?  Either way, it’s terrible.  Monoculture serves no one.

And despite it all, Dandelions thrive.  It doesn’t matter what’s done to their land, and it doesn’t even seem to matter where.  This is the core of why I love the Dandelion.  They thrive anywhere they are.  Our earlier referenced weed, the rosebush, is one of the most complicated and needy plants to be found in a garden.  Very specific requirements for sun, water, ph balance in the soil, and ready to throw themselves down like a crying Disney princess as soon as any one of these things isn’t right a goldilocks-just-right.  Dandelions find any patch of soil, weedkiller be damned, and decide to make their home there.  If there is even a sliver of dirt and sun, any crack in the sidewalk is enough of a space for the Dandelion to live.

I want to be the dandelion.

I want to thrive, no matter where I am.  To be sure enough of myself, strong enough as I am, to grow through concrete and live yellow.  To come back again and again, no matter how many times I am poisoned or cut down, because I have as much right to live joyfully as anyone.  Sometimes the wildflower isn’t just décor, delicate and decapitated as your centerpiece, sometimes she is exhausted, spitting the blood from her teeth and pushing to her feet again because to grow is the only thing she knows.  There are things about me that feel so strongly, and protest so loudly that things must be a certain way, and I can feel so starved when they are not, so misplaced and small.  I want to be be the dandelion.  Defiant, nurturing, indiscriminate, resilient, beautiful, helpful, unkillable, present, thriving.

I love dandelions, and I hope this helped you see them like I do.  Let the dandelions grow, learn how to make a cottage core tea, and allow them to disrupt useless monocultured grass lawns and feed the bees.  It would be very Punk of you.

Sweet The Sting : Nettles Plant Profile

Alexis J. Cunningfolk

Often when I think of Nettles I am drawn back to a beautiful memory from my time living in Maine.

I was visiting Avena Botanicals when the herbalist and owner Deb Soule stepped out from the garden with a jar full of fresh Nettle tea. Deb glows with an inner radiance and she smiled commenting on how much she enjoyed her Nettles in the morning. We all agreed that Nettles was an abundant medicine that more folks would benefit from using. And then we went back to washing roots and enjoying the warmth of the growing morning light with the scent of Nettle tea in the air.

Now, I didn't grow up with Nettles in my backyard and didn't have to worry about falling into its sting when out on walks as a kid. When I think of Nettles I find myself drawn into feelings of gentleness. And while the sting of Nettles has left many wary of the plant, the affect of Nettles as an internal remedy is so nourishing that the simple act of drinking fresh Nettle tea can be a clear invocation of gentleness. Combine it with other herbs like Milky Oat (Avena sativa) and you're brewing up a hug in a mug (recipe below). 

I explore both the sting and sweetness of Nettles in my plant profile. What are your favorite ways to use Nettles? Let me know in the comments below. If you're looking for all my plant profiles click here and you can learn how to connect with any plant with the Plant Ally Project. Enjoy!

Common + Folk Names : Stinging nettle, wild spinach, bee sting nettle, devil’s leaf, hidgy-pidgy, hoky-poky

Planet : Mars

Element : Fire

Signs : Aries (Guardian), Scorpio (Guardian + Remedy), Capricorn (Remedy), Pisces (Remedy)

Moon Phase : Waxing Quarter Moon

Parts used : Leaves, seeds, roots, and young tops

Habitat : Just about everywhere.

Growing conditions : Grow in wet, rich soil – think compost heaps and old manure.

Collection : Cut three to four inches off the early spring plants. Seeds can be collected in the early fall when plants are brown. 

Flavor : Salty, slightly bitter

Temperature : Cool

Moisture : Dry

Tissue State : Cold/Depression, Damp/Stagnation

Constituents : Amines (acetylcholine, histamine, serotonin), ascorbic acid, flavonoids, minerals such as iron, potassium, calcium, silica, vitamin B, C, E, K, silicon, manganese, zinc, magnesium, chromium, protein, tannins. 

Actions : Alterative, antihaemorrhagic, antiallergenic, anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, blood tonic, circulation stimulant, decongestant, diuretic, expectorant, haemostatic, hypoglycemic, hypotensive, immune-stimulant, nutritive, vasodilator, thyroid tonic, antiseptic

Main Uses : Herbalist David Hoffman has a wonderful quote about Nettles that I heartily agree with: “When in doubt, Nettles.” A wonderfully nutritive herb, Nettles has a nourishing effect on the entire body with a broad range of uses. 

Nettles has an affinity for the blood. It moves stagnant blood, improves circulation, and is a rich source of iron. The herb is also useful in reducing blood sugar levels and balancing blood pressure. Use in cases of anemia and general weakness and debility. The herb helps alleviate heavy and prolonged periods, nosebleeds, and to stops excess bleeding both internally and externally. Nettle also has a strong relationship with the kidneys, stimulating sluggish kidneys, moving stagnant water, and generally cleansing the fluids of the body.

During pregnancy, Nettles, in combination with other herbs such as Raspberry Leaf (Rubus idaeus), is a wonderful daily multivitamin for parent and growing fetus. Use in postpartum, too, especially if there has been blood loss. Nettles has an amphoteric affect on the milk supply meaning that it increases milk if there is too little or reduces it if there is too much. 

For reproductive systems in general, Nettle root has been used to treat prostatitis, vaginitis, and vaginal discharges. If infertility is an issue, Nettles is almost always useful for nourishing and revitalizing the body attempting to conceive. If low libido, erectile dysfunction or general sexual anxiety is present, Nettles helps to resettle and center the nervous system (combine with Avena sativa for an especially nourishing brew). Use during menopause for nightsweats - take as a tea before bed combined with Sage (Salvia officinalis). The root reduces prostate enlargement.

Nettles are a strengthening herb to use when a person’s constituent is weak or weakened – when anemia is present or with a weak digestive system and especially during convalescence. Helps increase energy and overcome fatigue. Restores a worn-down emotional system. Nettles strengthens the kidneys and adrenal glands, activates the metabolism, nourishes the liver and blood, and improves elasticity of veins. The diuretic and anti-inflammatory actions of Nettles are useful in treating rheumatism and gout. The herb enlivens the immune system and has been used traditionally in the treatment of cancer. Overall, Nettles are great spring medicine - they help to brush off the heaviness of winter and enrich our bodies with an injection of Vitamin C amongst other nutrients. Include the tea in your morning routine and cook the young greens like spinach for your spring green meals. 

As an anti-allergen, Nettles strengthens the outer membranes of cells which makes them less vulnerable to inflammation and allergic reactions. Nettles are used to treat eczema, hayfever, asthma, acne, and food allergies. Warm Nettle tea helps the body to release excess mucus from the lungs and colon and stops the cycle of mucous membrane hyperactivity.

Use externally as an oil or wash for bedsores, diaper rash, burns and wounds, brittle nails, and to treat the sting of Nettles itself. Traditional use includes hitting arthritic joints with fresh Nettles to alleviate pain and stiffness. Matthew Wood uses Nettles topically for muscle weakness of the inner thighs (especially for the middle-aged and older) to great success. I have found Nettles to be good (both internally and externally) for growing pains of all sorts, emotional and physical.

"No plant is more useful in domestic medicine." - Hilda Leyel -

Magickal Uses : Protective powers employed to reverse curses and return negative energy to the sender. Use as a protective powder around the boundaries of the house and to keep away ghosts. Tossed into a fire it averts danger and combined with Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) it turns away fear. As a “carnivorous” plant it is used in purification baths to eat harmful energies. Used in wash to consecrate athames.  Lucky for fishing. Silver Ravenwolf suggests an association with the Greek Goddess Hekate and the Egyptian Scorpion Goddess Selkhet.

The Nettles Personality : The Nettles personality struggles to live in the moment. They are often dazed, brain-fogged, and worn down. Many are simply going through the motions of their day, the little pleasant details of life are simply a blur, and pass by unappreciated. There can be a lingering feeling of sadness, wariness, and uncertainty. The blur and sameness of it all can make a Nettles person feel like they are boundary-less but not in an expansive and blissful sort of way. They can get walked all over by others and begin to feel resentful for not being appreciated. Fortunately, Nettles helps to bring us rapidly back to the moment (think about how their sting does just that when you accidentally stumble upon them). For the muddled and unmoored a healthy re-centering can go a long way in helping them to feel better. In addition to re-centering, Nettles also helps us to set boundaries with our selves which, in turn, allows us to set healthy boundaries with others. With the heat and stimulation of Nettles, the fog can lift and the excitement of life come rushing back in.

Contraindications : Do not take root during pregnancy. Nettle Seed can be too stimulating for some. Avoid overstraining the kidneys by using Nettles for 3 weeks on and 1 week off. 

Drug interactions : Use with caution with blood thinners.

Dosage : Leaf: 1 teaspoon per of 1 cup of water. 3 -  40 drops (1:5, 60% alcohol extract).

Remedies + Charms

A General Sense of Wellbeing Tea | Alexis J. Cunningfolk

Combine equal parts of the following:

Oats (Avena sativa)

Nettles (Urtica dioica)

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

Let steep for 20 minutes and then add in a generous amount of your milk of choice for a nourishing and relaxing brew.

Menopause Nightsweats Tea | Deb Soule from The Roots of Healing

Combine equal parts of :

Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Nettles (Urtica dioica)

Prepare as standard infusion and enjoy 1 hour before bed.

Electuary of Nettles | Elisabeth Brooke from An Astrological Herbal for Women

Beat some dried nettle leaves into a fine powder and pass through a hair sieve to remove any large particles. To 25 g (1 oz) of powder, add 75 g (3 oz) clarified honey and mix well in a mortar. Store in an earthenware pot.

Dose: 15 g to 25 g (1/2 to 1 oz) to purge the body of phlegm.

Sign in An earlier version of this story incorrectly implied that home gardeners can purchase seeds for genetically modified organism (GMO) vegetable varieties. The story has been updated. Is your garden planning limited to browsing the seed packets on the rotating display by the checkout at the hardware store? Or simply flipping through a few big-box gardening catalogues to order whatever looks good for your growing zone? If that’s the case, you’re probably purchasing mostly hybrid varieties. It might be worth rethinking your approach to your plot and planting heirloom fruits and vegetables instead. Usually at least 50 years old, these long-loved varieties offer multiple benefits, and they don’t require special equipment or growing conditions to flourish. “Mainstream varieties are bred for durability, long shelf life or appearance,” says Mike Bollinger, executive director of the Seed Savers Exchange, a nonprofit organization based in Decorah, Iowa, that collects, catalogues and distributes heirloom seeds. “On the other hand, a lot of heirloom varieties were bred with canning, fresh eating and flavor in mind.” In other words: They can taste better. Another advantage to heirloom seeds is they are open-pollinated (naturally pollinated by the wind, bees, birds or other animals), meaning they grow “true to type” year after year. So, unlike with some hybrid varieties, if you harvest seeds from heirloom produce, you can grow the same crop in future seasons. Yes, that’s right: seasons, plural. Yes, it's January. But if you want a robust spring garden, start your seed-shopping now. “Seed-catalogue villains have convinced us that we have to buy seeds every year,” says Ellen Ecker Ogden, kitchen garden designer and author of “The New Heirloom Garden: Designs, Recipes, and Heirloom Plants for Cooks Who Love to Garden.” “But if you store them properly, they keep for years.” To properly preserve seeds, Ogden places each variety in a separate Mason jar with a desiccant pack to eradicate moisture. She stores them in a cool, dry place that doesn’t receive any sun. (A closet, a kitchen cupboard away from the stove or a basement with low humidity are all great options.) A seed’s lifespan depends on the variety, but some can survive five years or longer if properly stockpiled. Perhaps an even deeper value to heirloom varieties is their genetic diversity. “These are unusual times in terms of climate and rainfall,” says Ira Wallace, a worker/owner of the cooperatively managed Southern Exposure Seed Exchange in Mineral, Va., which distributes heirloom and organic seeds. “The genomes of heirloom varieties are more elastic, since they haven’t been bred so finely. So, when a new challenge comes along, there might be a resistance to it in an heirloom variety.” On top of all that, heirlooms can be eye-catching head-turners, defying expectations when it comes to coloration and hue. Tomatoes don’t need to be red, carrots aren’t always orange, and cucumbers can be more than basic green. Your spring planting schedule Here are 10 heirloom varieties that will transform your garden beds — and meals — into deliciously gorgeous riots of color. “They have always been fascinating,” Ogden says, “because they don’t look like tomatoes.” When ripe, the sweet yet tangy medium-size fruit (perfect for BLTs) takes on a chartreuse tone with streaks of light lime, mossy green and yolky orange running down the sides. With beautiful purple veins running through their fan-like leaves, these collards make an impression. Wallace also appreciates their compact build, making them well-suited to raised beds, and that the leaves cook quickly compared with other hearty greens. Although these regal-looking root vegetables have a reddish-purple exterior, their insides are classic orange. “They’re very sweet but almost spicy, too,” Bollinger says, making them great for snacking, steaming and roasting. Popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the spherical, sunny-hued cuke is enjoying a resurgence in popularity.

“It’s a fun one, because kids love them,” says Ogden, who notes that they don’t taste like lemon but that they have a boldly sweet flavor that works well in salads and pickled preparations. Streaked with vibrant purple, these smaller teardrop-shaped eggplants with thin skin can be slipped into ratatouille, lasagna or moussaka. “They’re compact plants, so they do well in tighter spaces and in pots,” Bollinger says. “And they produce heavily, so you don’t need a lot of them.” Growing to more than three feet tall, this ornamental brassica features a tuft of purple leaves at the center with a ring of green ones on the outside. A favorite of Bollinger’s, it can be prepared similarly to kale or collards. The golden-orange chiles are not for the faint of heart, packing as much punch as habaneros. That makes them great for hot sauces. “Once you get past the heat, there’s a nice citrusy flavor underneath,” Bollinger says. “It looks like a hot pepper, but don’t worry: It’s actually sweet,” Ogden says. The Christmas-red curly Italian chiles are perfect for frying or for adding nice notes to a mild salsa. Pear-shaped with a blazing-orange skin, this winter squash shines in curries and soups. Bollinger appreciates its diminutive size, because it can be grown in smaller gardens. Ogden loves these Northern Italian beans with attractive red-brown mottling, nicknamed the “shrimp bean” thanks to their shape. Simply sauté them in olive oil with thinly sliced garlic to savor their fresh flavor. Nevin Martell is a writer based in Silver Spring, Md. His website is nevinmartell.com. Find him on Instagram: @nevinmartell. source

Dandelion Flower? Dandelions Flower? **2023**

Dandelion flower, also known as Taraxacum, Dandelion flower, is a well-known herbaceous plant species belonging to the family Asteraceae. Dandelion flower, With its bright yellow petals and fluffy white seeds, the dandelion is a recognizable and beloved symbol of spring and summer, appearing in gardens, fields, and parks all over the world. However, beyond its beauty, the dandelion flower is also a plant with a long and rich history, with a wide range of uses and benefits that extend far beyond its mere ornamental value. Botanical Description of the Dandelion Flower The dandelion flower is a hardy, herbaceous plant that can grow to be anywhere from 4-12 inches tall. It has a deep taproot that can reach a length of up to 10 inches, making it a resilient and persistent weed in many regions. The leaves of the dandelion are long and lance-shaped, with saw-toothed edges and a distinctive, slightly bitter taste. Is A Dandelion A Flower Dandelion flower head is a classic example of a composite flower, with many small, yellow, tubular florets arranged in a tight, circular cluster. As the flower matures, the petals turn downward and the center of the flower head becomes filled with numerous, white, parachute-like seeds. Each of these seeds is attached to a long, slender stalk that is easily dispersed by the wind. Distribution and Habitat of the Dandelion Flower The dandelion is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, but it has been widely introduced and naturalized in other parts of the world, including North America and Australia. Today, the dandelion can be found growing in a wide range of habitats, from urban lawns and parks to meadows, fields, and waste areas. Is Dandelion A Flower Uses and Benefits of the Dandelion Flower Throughout history, the dandelion has been valued for its many uses and benefits, both medicinal and culinary. Here are just a few examples: - Medicinal Uses: The dandelion has long been used for medicinal purposes, particularly for its ability to stimulate the liver and promote digestion. The root, leaves, and flowers of the dandelion are all used in traditional medicine and are believed to have a number of therapeutic effects, including the treatment of digestive problems, liver and kidney disorders, skin problems, and even depression. - Culinary Uses: The leaves and flowers of the dandelion can be used in a variety of culinary dishes, from salads and soups to teas and wine. The leaves are high in vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, and K, as well as calcium, iron, and potassium. Flowers, on the other hand, can be used to make a delicious and nutritious tea or to add flavor and color to baked goods, such as bread and muffins. - Ecological Importance: The dandelion is also an important plant in many ecosystems, providing food and habitat for a wide range of insects, including bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The seeds of the dandelion are also a valuable source of food for birds, particularly in the spring when other food sources are scarce. Conclusion The dandelion flower is a beautiful and versatile plant with a rich history and a wide range of uses and benefits. Whether you admire it for its bright yellow flowers, appreciate its medicinal properties, or enjoy its many culinary uses, the dandelion is a plant that truly deserves our respect and appreciation. So next time you come across this lovely flower, take a moment to stop and appreciate its many wonders. Read the full article

@princessofmuses​:

📰 (Gimme our throuple of Nyx, Aranea and Luna)

---

Incorrect Quote Prompts [accepting]

Luna: Let me show you a picture from last night that really upset me Nyx: Okay, but in my defense, Aranea bet me 50 cents I couldn’t drink all that shampoo. Luna: That’s not what I wanted to- you drank SHAMPOO?!

❝I sincerely hope you are joking.❞ Although, knowing Nyx’s stubbornness and Aranea’s penchant for exploiting it, anything is possible. ❝...Please tell me you, at least, did not drink the conditioner, too.❞

Below the cut: more of Luna being perpetually stressed out because I couldn’t stop scrolling they’re too good:

Luna: Please bring home PURIFIED water with NO minerals added for taste Nyx: We got spring water Luna: NO. Aranea: with EXTRA minerals Nyx: it's like licking a stalagmite Luna: DON'T COME HOME. Aranea: Mmmmm cave water

Luna: Dandelions symbolize everything I want to be in life Nyx: Fluffy and dead with a gust of wind? Luna: Unapologetic. Hard to kill. Feral, filled with sunlight, bright, beautiful in a way that the conventional and controlling hate but cannot ever fully destroy. Stubborn. Happy. Bastardous. Friends with bees. Highly disapproving of lawns. Full of wishes that will be carried far after I die. Aranea: edible

Luna, driving Nyx and Aranea: So how was your day? Nyx: We almost got surprise adopted! Luna: What? Aranea: We almost got kidnapped. Luna: Oh, okay. Luna: *slams on the breaks* WAIT WHAT?!

point, rose, round, handmade, spruce, wildlife, cancer, saturn, taurus, planets, crowd, chintz, tulip, modern, dalmatian, 420, twig, lilac, shape, boo, mexican, ashberry, gold, striped, spider, black and white, magic, vintage, cone, dotted, scorpio, clothes, avocado, symbol, jar, cannabidiol, pipe, socks, mosaic, mandala, ice cream, black cat, light, zodiac sign, bead, geometrical, stitches, merry, corgi, kaleidoscope, psychedelic, stripe, element, glow, shiny, aries, toxic, dot, agaric, horse, intricate, military, pepper, bedding, vegetarian, strawberry, golden, limited color palette, crystals, chalk, square, organic, beige, watercolor, fitness, small, jungle, delicate, medical, meadow, bullfinch, hawaii, tit, mug, children, australia, zodiac signs, addiction, lizard, pills, beautiful, retro, reptile, magic seeds, smile, roosteryfqteatowel, champignon, paper cut, desert, folk, graphic, hygge, girl, reptilia, woman, shiitake, lotus, corn, vote, trick or treat, diet, eucalyptus, husky, foliage, cupcake, diy, nutcracker, laboratory, indica, snail, feminine, letter, stone, throw pillow, ghost, bakery, ballerina, lemon, gem, botanicals, hash, magical, balloon, recipe, breed, mail, butterfly, valentines, monkey, painted, geology, adopt, fir, cosmic, roller skating, feather, roller rink, rally, pine, illegal, wrapping, maryjane, text, hemp oil, cubic, banner, wool, red cat, elections, books, cannabidioil, envelope, easter, eyes, luminous, ginger cat, hat, lettering, marijhuana leaves, reading, pysanky, citrus, tableware, palm, stroke, small scale, tulips, spoon, carrot, workout, election, aromatherapy, clouds, malachite, microscope, health, gym, pigeon, lime, zoo, fit, chamomile, minerals, grapefruit, fern, natural, healthy, morning, stamp, blooming, mystical, coronavirus, french bulldog, acorn, activity, birds, rock, fruits, virus, toy terrier, hippie, toys, ballet, covid, stains, breakfast, portrait, banksia, toucan, mistic, slogan, maximalist, scull, valentines day, candle, smoking area, dog shelter, brown, pineapple, cubes,

wallpaper

kids

vintage

garden

birds

colourful

home decor

modern,

flowers

chinoiserie

floral

magical

nature

mid century modern

retro

#geo#

fantasy

rainbow

fruit

geometric

watercolour

babies

handpainted

#abstract

underwater

plants

mid century

flying birds

traditional

#ocean

cute

mermaid

decorative

victorian

antique

leaves

1950s

gold

clouds

sea

animals

1960s

stars

playful

nursery

mermaids

mod

tea towel

chinese

christmas

kitchen

children

blue

sky

sprigs

william morris

botanical,

#birds in flight

japanese

sfteatowel

forest

fairytale

branches

magic

romantic

spring

quilting, girls

mythical

novelty

bird

lace

baby

love

bees

sfaut15

multicolour

water