#Early Blue Cohosh

[wildflowers-of-southern-ontario]

Early Blue Cohosh Caulophyllum giganteum Berberidaceae

Photographs taken on April 15, 2023, at Starkey Hill, Ontario, Canada.

#wildflowers of southern ontario #blue #purple #Early Blue Cohosh #cohosh #Caulophyllum giganteum #Caulophyllum #Berberidaceae #Starkey Hill #Ontario #Canada #wildflowers #wildflower #flora

[fishdetective]

the earliest of early blue cohosh

#evan essence #wildflowers

[copiousloverofcopia]

Hey there ghesties!!!

Here is a new fic written for my ghestie @sistersaccharine featuring her OC and Copia at their wedding!!!!

Thank you so much for letting me write this for you sister! Hope you all enjoy!

Commissions are OPEN, please see pinned post for Carrd info!

Stay With Me...Forever

The day has finally come for Sister Saccharine to marry Copia. Won't you be our ghuest at the wedding?

Also available HERE on AO3!

Definitely NSFW below the cut!

It was early morning, the dew still heavy on the grass and the sounds of birds chirping filled Saccharine’s ears. She was still in her night robes, tucked away on the sacred olive tree, hidden deep within the Abbey’s Forest. She sat perched on a large, crooked root that rose up from the ground, like the finger of a corpse–contorted and old. Surrounded by the forest which was brimming with life all around her. Sunlight pouring in from the spaces between the trees and the warm breeze blowing gently through her hair.

Saccharine closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, exhaling into a smile as felt soft tufts of fur nudging her cheek. A small fawn, pressing his muzzle against her as she carefully brought her hands to the top of his head. Her animal friends had begun to gather in this secret place. One she kept just for herself.  

“Hello little one. My, how you've grown since the beginning of Spring.” Saccharine smiled as she gently patted the fawn’s head. His mother, not too far behind him in the woods. The sweet sister fiddled with the hem of her nightgown. Her whole body, feeling like it may burst into a million tiny pieces. The excitement brewing inside her was overwhelming, but she had never been happier. 

It was obvious Lucifer had blessed them with a beautiful day. The late summer heat—only a mere suggestion. The welcomed pleasant breeze, keeping it at bay. The sun too was shining brightly in the sky—it was perfect. Oh, so perfect. 

“I have been waiting for today my whole life.” she whispered, speaking her story to the trees and the animals that surrounded her. “I grew up feeling the longing in my heart for true love. Searching for that one person who made my heart sing.” She continued, watching the small family of rabbits huddle together beneath her in the shade of the root.  “Someone to grow old with…”

Suddenly Saccharine hopped up off the root. Careful not to disturb the blue cohosh that was covering the ground. The layers of her robes, flowy gently as she began to twirl around. Her dance, a tribute to the massive tree who had always been her shelter. A dear confidant she could always confide in. All the flora and fauna of the forest, envious of her happiness. 

She dropped to her knees a moment, whispering her salutations to the rabbits and giving the mischievous dormouse a pat. When she got herself back up on her feet, she let out the most content of sighs. Brushing the bit of dirt from her robes and turning to the deer once more, continuing on with her story. Ever so eager to share her joy with her friends. 

“...and you know what little one—I’ve found them. Today…well today is the day I marry him. My sweet Papa.” She smiled, now catching the attention of the birds. One landed upon her, allowing itself to be gently brushed with the pad of her finger. He was a small sparrow that bore a heart-shaped marking in the feathers of his chest. One Saccharine had known since he was a fledgling, barely two flaps of his wings from the nest.  

All the animals were like family. It was because of that she had to invite them. Devastated when Sister Imperator told her that they would not be allowed to “run amuck” within the Abbey. Only for Copia to devise a plan for them both to be wed in the woods. Surrounded by all those she loved and those who loved her back. 

It truly was a dream come true, and now it was only hours away, already planned down to the smallest detail. From the beautiful fabrics of crimson and onyx that hung from the trees to her beautiful gown. Breathtaking with its billowing fabric, black as the night, and laced with corset at her waist. The sleeves like the petals of flowers–sleek and flowy. 

The ceremony grounds were covered in what felt like an endless array of flowers. Though they were far from where she stood now, she swore she could smell their scent. Soft and lovely as it was carried on the breeze. The hint of the black baccara roses with small accents of white and black calla lilies that were freshly picked from Primo’s garden. Painting lush images of them in her mind. 

It would have been a surprise had she not snuck out with some of her best sisters for a late-night ritual of their own, hoping to bless the next day's ceremonies. Coming upon the grounds by accident, Saccharine's eyes filled with delight as she saw them. Primo’s magic, keeping everything thriving and ready for until after they were wed. Everything was waiting for her–all that was left was the hair, though she knew not what to do with it. 

She tried pulling her hair back and away from her face. Wondering if she should wear it up or down. Copia loved it in all its forms, but Saccharine knew that down was his favorite. He told her down was the best at framing her delicate features. 

The birds took note. Hopping around the big tree as they sang to one another. Speaking in chirps and tweets that only they could understand. “What are you doing, silly birds?” Saccharine laughed as they returned to her. Each of them, flowing over her head. Bestowing her with a small sprig of thorns, from a nearby bush, tucking them neatly into her hair. Eventually their efforts had formed a crown. 

“It's perfect.” she told them, hoping that by some miracle it would last until the evening. Then it hit her, she had completely forgotten the time. “Oh my! I am running behind! I will see you all tonight ok!” she shouted back into the trees as she bounded from her sanctuary and back to the Abbey. There were people waiting for her there—after all today was her day. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Back at the Abbey there was a boom of activity. Saccharine felt a bit overwhelmed as she made her way through the countless siblings and ghouls. All of them focused on their assigned tasks—delighted to do their part to prepare for the big night. As she made her way to her room, Saccharine almost took out both a brother and a pair of sisters that were heading to the Great Hall with boxes of champagne glasses. Then only moments later, she bumped into a group of ghouls, their claws filled with clusters of folding chairs, on the way to the ceremony site. By the time Saccharine reached the stairs to the siblings' quarters, she was relieved. Dabbing a bit of sweat from her brow before making her way upstairs to her friends, whom she knew would be waiting anxiously for her arrival.  

When she arrived in the siblings’ wing, Saccharine could see Sister Ariadne was waiting just outside the doors. Tapping her toe and clearly over having to wrangle around the ghouls all morning. “Where have you been? Everyone is waiting for you so we can start.” she teased, ushering Saccharine beyond the doors and towards her room. She had been rushed off so fast that when Ariadne stopped just short of the door, Saccharine thought something might be wrong. Before she could say anything, Ariadne slipped off the mother of pearl ring from her hand. Taking Saccharine’s right hand and placing it on her finger. 

“What is this for?” Saccharine asked. Ariadne smiled and squeezed tight to her sister’s hands. Ariadne’s heart, so full of happiness for the dear couple. 

“This is your something borrowed, I’ll need it back after.” she winked as she opened the door of the room. The two of them, heading inside to find it completely buzzing with energy. Prime Mover Ren and Nova, chasing after one of Ren and Secondo’s littles ones, while Sister Belladonna and Rosemary were fussing about with the dress. It looked more magical than Saccharine remembered, hanging from on the dress form. She could hardly believe something so beautiful could exist. 

“Saccharine! You’re here!” Nova shouted gleefully as she ran straight towards her, nearly taking out Gnocchi under her feet. The little ratto, managing to squeak its way past Ariadne and Saccharine into the room. 

“Oh! You darn rat!” Nova yelped, annoyed at almost tripping. Her arms held wide open as they found their way around Saccharine. Nova, embracing her tightly. Tail wagging with contentment as the ghoulette spoke again, “Now the real fun begins.” 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

At the same time, though much more than a few steps away from the siblings' wing, Copia was pacing the floor of his Papal suite. Fiddling anxiously with the buttons on his jacket. His eyes, unable to stop staring at the Monstrance clock on the mantle. Counting down the moments until he’d be with her once again. Praying to Lucifer that he’d be spared from sweating through his suit.

“You’re going to drive us crazy fratello, would you just sit down?” Terzo barked, bouncing his leg on the floor and running his hands through his hair. The third Emeritus brother slumped into the chair like a bored teenager.  

“I know…I know…” Copia began, forcing himself to sit down beside Secondo. Secondo, groaning as he swirled the ice in his scotch glass and scooted forward to the edge of the sofa. 

“Leave the man alone Terzo, this is a big day for him.” he chided. Nodding his head to Copia and raising his glass to him. “Not much longer now.” he said before taking a sip from his glass. 

“I am just a bit nervous is all. Was it like this for you...when you married Ren?” Copia asked.  

“Si, though I managed to not wear a hole in my rug.” Secondo laughed.

"Just the hair from your head." Terzo jabbed. Secondo rolling his eyes at him.

“...there is nothing to worry about.” Secondo assured him. 

“You are right.” Copia agreed, taking in a deep breath, feeling like he might finally be able to relax. He exhaled, allowing his weight to sink down against the back of the sofa. Graciously accepting the offering of a swig of Secondo’s scotch. 

“Always is…smug bastard.” Terzo teased, when suddenly the sounds of scratching came from the front of the room. Copia pulled himself back up and made his way to the door, opening it to reveal little Rigatoni standing there. His little head perked up and his whiskers twitched to the gentle pats of his Papa’s hand. 

“Ah topolino, I have been waiting for you.” Copia said, pulling from his jacket a small piece of parchment and tying it around the rat’s neck. “You take this to her now, si?” The tiny squeaks assuring Copia that he understood his task. 

“You're sending the rat off with a little love note. Turning the vermin into carrier pigeons now, eh?” Terzo teased as he sent Copia a wink. 

“Something like that.” Copia smiled back. Carefully lowering Rigatoni onto the floor so that he might be on his way. 

“We should head down, I’m sure that Ren is more than ready for me to relieve her of the children…they must be driving her crazy by now.” Secondo cringed, setting down his glass and tapping Terzo’s shoulder to get him up too. “You’ll find out one day soon.” Secondo teased, watching Copia’s face tint to red. His freckles, lighting up like Christmas lights upon his cheeks.   

“Let’s do this.” Terzo stretched, raising up out of the chair. Secondo turned once more to face Copia before the three of them headed out. 

“Ready to become a husband fratello?” he asked him, Secondo surprising him with a short embrace. Copia felt the tears beginning to well in his eyes. Trying to shake them off quickly before they’d disturb his well-placed Papal paints. 

“More than anything.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Hold still, I don't want to poke you in the eye now.” Ren chuckled as she began to line the upper lashes of Saccharine’s eyes. The rich black liner accenting her already gorgeous, doe-like eyes.  

“Sorry.” Saccharine replied, letting Gnocchi down on the vanity. The rat scurrying over the top before bumping into the container of translucent powder. The poor little thing, sneezing as the powder cascaded in the air. 

“Oh.” Ren laughed as Saccharine hurried to help dust off Gnocchi. Setting her back down on the ground between them. 

“What are we going to do with you?” she smiled as she watched the little rat take off. Ren worked quickly to finish up Saccharine’s look. Though she hardly needed the adornment. Saccharine could hear that Rosemary was approaching from behind her. The sweet mysterious sister, pulling from her habit an old copper flask. 

“I was told by Ren you would need something old and well…” she explained, handing over the flask, its age betrayed by the patina. “...this is thought to have the blood of the old one inside it.” Rosemary smiled, “...can’t get much older than that. Here you should carry it with you.”

“Thank you.” Saccharine beamed, sniffling back her tears of gratitude as Nova too came towards her. The sparkle in her eyes, telling Saccharine that she too was excited to give her something. “Do you have something too Nova?”

“I do!” Nova exclaimed as she spun Saccharine around in her chair. Both of them reflected in the glass of the mirror. "Listen girl, the birds are great and everything, but we should spruce you up just a bit. Then you can have this" the ghoulette smiled, pulling out the most beautiful and sparkling obsidian comb, ".…a gift from Terzo and I. We picked it out just for you. It can be your ‘something new’.” she explained.  

Saccharine was overwhelmed with gratitude. Her friends were literally the best anyone could have hoped for. Always there to support her, nourishing her happiness as she always did for them. All of them, more like family than anything she’d ever had before. 

She hugged Nova tight, allowing her ghoulette friend to help even out the lay of her hair. Polishing it up far better than the birds could have done. Saccharine, feeling more than blessed that she had the kind of friends that had wanted to make this day special for her. Her thoughts, remaining in that place of contentment and joy as they dressed her.

Helping lace her up and button everything in place. Saccharine’s breath, stolen from as she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Ren, quickly grabbing a tissue to help keep the bride-to-be from running her makeup. Drying her eyes as Saccharine took it all in. 

This was the woman who would become Copia’s wife. Papa Emeritus the Fourth’s lover for all eternity. Hearts bound forever by fate. Sanctified under the eyes of Lucifer, once she walked down the aisle. It seemed like a dream. One she never hoped to wake from. Marveling at herself in the full-length mirror while the other’s made sure she was all good to go. 

“Oh, and one more thing!” Sister Belladonna yelled, running to grab something from the other room. Returning after only a moment, quickly wrapping a grucifix rosary around Saccharine’s neck. The blue sapphire stones and onyx, perfect shades to compliment her Papa’s vestments. “I made this for you. It’s in Papa’s colors and after all…a bride needs something blue.” She smiled. 

“Oh my. I absolutely love it.” Saccharine beamed, her hands coming up to touch it. Feeling its weight against her collar, “It's perfect.”

“It is.” Ren smiled, “...and I have something for you too. Saccharine instinctively held out her hand convinced she knew what was coming. She had been given her something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue—all that was left was the sixpence for her shoe.

“My sixpence I assume.” Saccharine asked her. Ren took hold of her hands, giving them a gentle squeeze before she continued. 

“Not exactly.” she winked, reaching in her pocket and pulling from it a small totem made from rose quartz. A symbol of fertility and happiness.

“Oh it’s…” Saccharine began.

“May you be fruitful and multiply.” Ren winked, Saccharine’s face blushing at her words. A tiny nose that resembled her own and a pair of mismatched eyes surely belonged to Copia. Perfectly upon a small little face, flashing in her mind. Her heart began to flutter when her attention was drawn to a noise coming from the floor. 

“Eek...eek…” Rigatoni called, standing at her feet. Saccharine noticed that he had come with something small tied onto him. She bent down to pick him up, pulling the little rolled up parchment from his neck. 

“And what do you have little one? She asked. The group of sisters, gathering round to see what the mysterious note would contain. 

“What is it?” Nova asked, as the others all waited patiently. She unraveled it, starting down at the words carefully written across it.  The smile, spreading her face told them all they needed to know.

“It’s a note from Copia.” she explained, her heartbeat quickening in her chest. Cheeks aching with the intensity of the pull of her smile. 

“Go on, read it, read it!” Sister Ariadne begged her. 

“Saccharine, la mia bellissima futura sposa. The hours we have spent apart have only made me more sure of us. Sure, that my life means little without you by my side. I want nothing more than to see you from the moment I wake, until I close my eyes at night. Your smiling face, my constant companion. Tonight, I prove to everyone the love that gives meaning to the beat of my heart. Binding us forever in the eyes of Lucifer. Until we wed my love—C” Saccharine read, desperately trying to hold it together. Her Papa’s words were everything she needed to hear and more. A profession of love that made Saccharine’s heart sing. 

“You’re a lucky girl, that's for sure.” Sister Rosemary commented. 

“Yes…yes I am.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The hours had passed and the time she had been waiting for had finally come. Saccharine and the rest of the sisters were ready to leave, when there was a knock at her door. It was Papa Primo dressed in his best vestments and a sweet smile on his face. His heart, full at the sight of Saccharine in her wedding dress. An image of grace and dark beauty—one he would never forget. 

“Sisters…if it’s alright with you all, I will take it from here.” Primo assured them. Handheld out for Saccharine to take it as he led her out the door. She was comforted by Primo, who had become somewhat of a father to her. She steadied herself, drawing in a deep breath and closing her eyes to help ground herself. Her hand held tightly to Primo’s. Tears balancing along her lash line before she quickly wiped them away. 

While she had never been happier, the day was bittersweet for Saccharine. It wasn’t that long ago that she imagined this moment—though much different than it was now. Engaged to her once beloved Jasper, and content to live out her days in the small town she was born in. Days spent dreaming of things that enchanted her—books and fairytales of worlds that she longed to explore, convinced that they might only ever be fiction.

Now the world had all been opened up to her. Promises of the universe, all found in the Dark One’s name. Guided into the warmth and thrilling embrace of the darkness by her sweet Papa. Their love, sanctified not only until death, but beyond eternity—until the end of time itself. 

Though she didn’t miss Jasper, she did miss her mother and father. An aching, nagging pain had been rooted in her chest from the day she turned away from them. Following her heart, choosing to leave them behind. Primo could sense it. Knowing what held her thoughts and her heart. The eldest Emeritus son, pulling her close and placing a small kiss upon her forehead.

“I know you miss them piccola. They would be so proud of you.”

“I know.” she sighed. 

“I know I am not your father… but would you do me the honor of allowing me to walk you down the aisle?” Primo asked her, the tears hitting her once more. 

“Oh yes please.” Saccharine cried, hugging Primo so tight he couldn't breathe, his words and warmth–healing the wounds she carried inside her heart. Knowing that Primo would always be there for her even when her parents could not. 

Primo dismissed the sisters so that he might spend a moment alone with Saccharine before the ceremony. The lot of them giggling and waving as they spilled into the hall. Primo placed his hand on Saccharine's, as they sat in silence. A welcome moment of calm amidst the chaos of the day. Primo feeling the trembling of her hand.

"You alright piccola?" He asked her. 

"I'm just a bit nervous." She admitted, smiling as Primo began chuckling to himself. 

"Completely normal, I suspect." Primo smiled, "I know my fratellino will make you very happy…and you him. There is nothing to worry about, I promise."

"You always know just what to say to make me feel better Papa." She smiled up at him just before Primo pulled her in close for a hug. After a tight squeeze, he released her. Brushing himself off and helping Saccharine straighten out her dress.

"Now, do you have everything you need?"

"I think so…" she told him, a pensive look on her face as she brought her hand to her chin.

"Ah, well I know one thing you're still missing."

"Oh?" Saccharine asked as Primo reached into his vest. Pulling from it a silver coin and placing it in her hands. "What is it?"

"This, mio piccola, is an obol. It's an old coin, meant to assure safe passage across the river Styx…today it shall make do as your sixpence. For good luck." Primo winked. Saccharine was overcome with emotion, practically pouncing Primo with a hug.

"Oh, thank you Papa! I love it!" She cried, carefully wiping the tears from her eyes. 

"Alright let's not mess you up before the ceremony or the Prime Mover will never let me hear the end of it." Primo smiled, rolling his eyes. "Ready?"

"Ready."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Primo and Saccharine down the main stairs. Each step, bringing her closer to eternity with Copia. The empty halls of the Abbey, surreal as they walked through it. Saccharine’s heart beating faster and faster. Soaring as the sound of music grew closer. 

A symphony composed just for her. Each and every note written by Papa himself. She tried to focus on her breathing as they reached the edge of the woods. Saccharine, closing her eyes and allowing Primo’s hand to guide her the rest of the way. 

The Processional had begun. All of the guests in their seats, turning to watch as Secondo and Ren’s little ones, the flower girl and ring bearer, came bounding down the aisle. Followed closely by their parents and dressed in the most adorable little vestments and taffeta dress, handsewn just for the occasion. Then came Nova and Terzo, both of them starry-eyed at one another as they walked. Making no secret that one day Saccharine and Copia would be back to celebrate vows between them.   

“We’re up.” Primo whispered. Saccharine opened her eyes and tried to take it all in. It was truly magical. The clearing in the woods, filled with siblings and ghouls. Everyone dressed to the nines and ready to celebrate as their Papa took his bride. The trees, adorned in splays of fabric and lights. The lush floral arrangements, Primo and the ghoulettes had created, breathtaking to behold. Their sweet scent, filling the space—soft and perfect. And the warm humming of the guests, a gentle background noise as the song changed to announce her arrival. 

Despite all the beauty that surrounded her, the only thing she could see was Copia. Her sweet Papa, standing at the end of the aisle. Smiling ear to ear as he watched her approaching him. It felt like both forever and yet only a blink, before Primo relinquished her hand to Copia. The two of them now standing before Mr. Saltarian, ready to begin the officiation of their ceremony, while everyone took their seats behind them. 

While they both knew they were supposed to look at Saltarian, Saccharine and Copia couldn’t help but steal glances at one another. Barely staving off tears of joy from their eyes. Drowning out all the world around them until Saltarian snapped them back to attention. Clearing his throat to alert them before speaking to the crowd.

“While we might have been made in God’s image…it is only through Satan's grace that are we given dominion over the earth and its creatures. Given truth and power over ourselves. Made free to commit sin. It is through our lust and love we shall fill the earth and subdue it. That through our unions we shall honor him—the Morningstar. Today siblings, ghouls, and Clergy—we have gathered for the most unholiness of ceremonies. The union of Papa Emeritus the Fourth, and our good sister Saccharine.” Saltarian smiled, his words filled with hope and love.

“Nema!” called out the guests. Both Copia and Saccharine, smiling at one another as things continued on. Mr. Saltarian spoke in length about love and commitment. How it was the duty of a Papa to shepherd his flock—and that his wife would help with his guidance. Giving him the strength and inspiration for the task. All things, though meaningful and well intentioned, the couple could only vaguely remember. Both too engrossed in one another’s eyes to care.

Copia was stunned in her presence. Saccharine was always beautiful but seeing her there before him now was like nothing he had never known before. A beauty that surpassed the visions of hell itself. Saccharine was overcome too, wondering to herself if Copia had ever looked this incredibly handsome before. His suit, even more impressive than anything he’d ever worn on stage. 

When it came time for their vows, both of them struggled. Choking back tears and trying desperately to convey what no number of words ever could. Copia went first, his palms a bit sweaty as he tried to hold Saccharine’s hand. Nervous that he would fumble his words. 

“Saccharine. Ever since the day in the garden, I have been bewitched by you. Enchanted by your gentle kindness, and compassion for all who surround you—even the scruffiest of rats,” Copia chuckled, the notes of tears heavy in his voice,” Your beauty—undeniable. When you held my hand the first time. Helping this old man rise from the dirt, covered in petals and brush. My heart was forever captivated. Only growing more in love as I listened to the gentle sound of your voice, my still new sorella. Allowing me to help guide you into your siblinghood and all the while stealing my heart. There will never be a day I don’t worship you. A day that I don't praise Lucifer for bringing you into my life. And I will spend the rest of eternity showing you just how much I love you. For whatever may come for us in this life, let it be known that since that day—my life has become yours.”

Saccharine sniffled back. Unable to help the tears from pouring out. Silently running over her cheeks as she squeezed Copia’s hands. Wanting to kiss him so badly, though it was not yet time. She began her vows. Her voice, shaky, but certain. “Copia, my dear sweet Papa. I had to leave so much behind me. Shaken to my core as I began life anew here at the Abbey. Still lost in my own fears and doubts. While I may have helped you in the garden that day, it was you who became my savior. Having only known me a moment, you lent me your whole heart. The best of intentions and a smile on your face. You guided me to the meaning of this life and into a happiness I might have never known. I fell fast and hard, only growing to love you more as we traveled this path together. I want nothing more than to spend my life with you. This one and the next. Declaring my love for you before any god that might hear it—I am yours now and for always.” she cried.    

Not a dry eye in the house as they say. The words shared between them, piercing the hearts of their guests. There was never any doubt that they belonged together, meant for each other as if their love had been ordained from the beginning. When the cosmos formed, and the stars burst into life. 

Saltarian bent down to help Ren and Secondo remove the rings, from the small black satin pillow in little Christian’s hands. Untying them carefully and handing one of the small golden bands to Copia. “Now repeat after me and place the ring on Saccharine’s finger. I, Papa Emeritus the Fourth.”

“I, Papa Emeritus the Fourth.”

“Do take this sister of sin, Saccharine, as my unholy wedded wife.”

“Do take this sister of sin, Saccharine, as my unholy wedded wife.” Copia repeated, his voice trembling. Saccharine too, finding it hard not to embrace him. Wanting to hold on to him for dear life. 

“To love and worship, in all ways. Until the stars burn from the sky.” Saltarian continued. Everyone, watching as Copia slipped the ring onto Saccharine’s hand. A gentle wind blowing past them. Saccharine, working to push back a wayward stand from her face. Copia was never more in love. 

“To love and worship, in all ways. Until the stars burn from the sky.” he finished. Saccharine, repeating the same rites as he. Their faces, hurting from the intensity of their smiles. Powerful emotions aching in their chest.   

“It is now, in the eyes of Lucifer, the father, the Antichrist and son, and the unholy spirit…I pronounce that you are husband and wife…” Saltarian declared, but before he could get the rest out, Copia dipped Saccharine back. Passionately taking her lips onto his. A roar of applause, erupting from the guests. Cheering loud and jumping for joy as the confetti, made from rose petals, went flying all round in the air.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The evening had only just begun. The newlyweds, celebrating along with the Abbey with an incredible reception. The ghouls had managed to throw together a makeshift dance floor and helped to DJ some music for everyone to dance to. The evening, spent with delicious food, wine, good conversation, and well wishes from all who stopped at the head table.

Copia and Saccharine had already been on the dance floor for several songs. Copia, twirling her around and showing her off like the prideful husband that he was. Ever grateful and yet still surprised that he had found a love such as this. Saccharine too in awe of them, occasionally wondering if she might wake from it all—finding it had only been a dream.

As they made their way back to the table, Marianna and Christian came barreling down through the crowd. Knocking into Saccharine as Copia quickly grabbed her before she fell. Saccharine shrugged it off, bending down to meet with the children face to face. Prime Mover Ren, running closely behind them. 

“Are you both alright?” Saccharine asked them, pulling the children close and giving them each a hug.

“Sorry Auntie Saccharine, we’re ok.” said Marianna. Ren, taking hold of both her children's hands.

“I’m so glad. You two be careful now.” Saccharine told them, smiling up at Ren who was mouthing a 'thank you' to her for being kind to them. Copia was immediately taken back. Mesmerized by watching her with them. The thoughts of one day Saccharine tending to their own children, tugging at his heart strings.  

“You are very good with them, si?” Copia said, both him and Saccharine blushing red. An unspoken thing said between them. Though neither would admit it just yet. 

“They’re just darling.” she replied as Secondo arrived to help Ren with their brood.

“Well, I don't know about that.” he snickered, Ren, quickly giving him a jab at his side. Both Copia and Saccharine, amused at the situation. A drop of lovely, in an already overflowing glass of happiness. Another slow song on the queue as the night continued on. The whole of the Abbey dancing the night away.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It was a couple hours later when Copia brought his mouth to Saccharine’s ear. Whispering softly and sending a rush of tingling through her as the breath escaped his lips. “Think they will miss us Amore?” he asked her.

“Oh…ah…I’m not sure.” Saccharine told him. The thrilling heat hitting her full force. Her heart beginning to pound harder inside her chest.

“I think they’ll manage, follow me–” Copia assured as he pulled her through the crowd. Rushing her outside the large doors of the Great Hall and into the small opening of the woods. The well-worn spot, filling with the small orbs of red light as they approached.

“Oh my.” she smiled as the bats fluttered above her head. The rats, pouring forth from the bushes and a small horde of spiders, trickling over the limbs of the trees to greet them. The beautiful creatures of the night, too light-shy to have visited in the day, now happily came to see the newlyweds as they fled deeper into the forest.

When Copia was satisfied with the spot, he took Saccharine back into his arms. Dancing with her under the moonlight. Spinning and twirling together in the cool night air. Relishing that it was just the two of them together. 

Saccharine laid her head on Copia's shoulders as they swayed. Copia humming to the songs they could just barely make out being played. Both of them, thinking that they could spend forever dancing in each other's arms. After a short time alone, Copia stopped. Taking Saccharine's hand and giving it a peck before speaking. 

“Mia principessa, let me show you something…” and before she knew it, Saccharine was being rushed back out of the woods and into the nearest part of Primo’s garden. The string lights, guiding them into an opening. In the middle sat a small canopy, made from bundles of black and red fabrics, and the suggestion of light coming from inside.

“What's all this?” she asked him, as Copia pulled back on it to help her inside. As Saccharine stepped in, she was delighted to find that in the middle was a mountain of pillows and blankets. Plush and plentiful. Surrounding a pair of juice boxes and some candles in the center. 

“I had the ghouls set this up for us, but it was my idea.” Copia beamed, proud of himself for conjuring the idea.

“I’ll have to thank them.” Saccharine smiled, planting a small kiss to Copia’s cheek. Copia, quickly picking up one of the juice boxes and handing it to her. 

“Heh…I know you’re not a big wine drinker.” he smiled, helping to open the straw. It was so sweet of him. He really had thought of everything. Even the view of Primo’s garden from the canopy was beautiful. The vivid colors from the flowers surrounding them, visible from every angle. Saccharine was honestly shocked any blooms remained after all that had been used in their ceremony. 

It was perfect. Everything was absolutely perfect. While it had all been so wonderful, the day had also been overwhelming. The celebrations and the ceremony were everything she could have wanted and more. She was grateful now for it to be just the two of them to be together. Alone in this small space, surrounded by the flowers.

Saccharine let out a sigh, relaxing into the pillows and slipping the shoes off her aching feet. Copia quickly took her foot in his hand and massaged it. Doing everything he could to help her get comfortable in their temporary abode. Both of them, smiling as the stress of the day began to melt away. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“That's good.” she hummed just as he picked up her other foot.

“Feeling better?” he asked.

“Yes, thank you. Heels are great to look at—not so great to spend the day in.” Saccharine laughed, Copia soon joined her as he removed his jacket and slipped out of his own shoes. Settling down on the as he settled on the best of pillows beside her. 

“Feeling good enough to sin…Mrs. Emeritus?” Copia growled as he ran the back of his palm along the swell of Saccharine’s bosom. Bringing with him a tingling up her spine and a breath, took up sharply in her chest. The familiar ache, beginning to grow between her legs. 

“Copia!” she squeaked before becoming lost in his kiss, so soft and passionate. His hands, traveling gently beneath the fall of her dress. Fingers tracing the inside of her thigh. A journey they had well-traveled before, and meeting with her heated core. Teasing her folds through the fabric of her panties.  

“Si, la mia bellissima moglie. Won’t you allow me to show you how much I love you?” he asked, his voice begging and thick as honey. His eyes, falling over her. Etching her in his memory for the times when they would have to part. His lust and love for her, growing stronger inside as Copia watched the grucifix rosary rise and fall. Heavy on her chest.

“Sempre, mio ​​bellissimo marito.” she replied, slowly undoing the buttons that lined his shirt. Fingers carefully working through them and teasing the skin beneath.

“You’ve been practicing.” Copia hummed, his lips returning to hers. When she was finished, Saccharine pushed the shirt off from his shoulders. Running her fingers through the nest of hair that covered his chest. His eyes staring directly into hers, as he left out a breathy moan.

“I want you Copia. I need to feel you inside me. Make me yours.” Saccharine whispered, brushing her lips against his ear and sending a throb straight to his sex. Copia’s eyes widening as she ran her hand down his belly and over the growing bulge in his pants. Stroking him through the fabric. 

“I need you sweetheart…so much.” Copia whimpered, hungry for the feel of her against him. Saccharine turned around, pulling her hair off to the side, and allowing him full view of her back. Copia, kissing marks of black paint along her shoulders and her neck. Nimbly working his fingers to pull through the ties of her corset. Loosening them up enough so that he might remove her dress. 

“Kiss me.” Saccharine commanded as she turned back around to face him. Copia, pulling her to a stand, helping her to step out from her dress. His lips, never leaving hers. He caressed her face in his hands before allowing them to fall over her supple breasts. Kneading them in his hands as his tongue slid into her mouth. 

Saccharine worked to unzip his pants, both of them moaning and groaning. Their lungs, in need of air, though neither wanted to stop. She took hold of his sex and stroked him gently. Copia moaning at her touch. Aching to be inside her, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to last long. 

He lifted Saccharine up in his arms. His bride, following his lead as she wrapped her legs around him. The two of them, giggling and kissing as Copia carried her over to the best spot in the canopy. Setting her down gently on her back as he relished her naked body before him. The lights from the fireflies, beginning to dance in the air. 

“I would unmake and remake the world for you, if you’d only ask…mia dea oscura.” Copia growled, kissing down her neck and over her breasts. Taking his time to worship her before drawing a nipple into his mouth. Sucking gently as his fingers made their way to the precipice of her thighs.

“Oh Copia.” she moaned, unable to control the lift of her hips, moving to meet with his hand. Closing her eyes as her husband gently slipped his fingers past her folds. Pressing tight against the spot ribbed flesh deep inside her. A spot only he would ever know. Copia, quickly having her cumming against his hand, having learned exactly how to touch her. 

She shook and cried out. Fingers, digging half-moons into Copia's shoulders as she fell from the height of her orgasm. Her husband, looking sexier with his smug and satisfied grin. Engrossed in how glorious it was to see her like this.

Open and blossoming for him. Her body, belonging to him—and his to her. He moved above her, gently nudging his erection against her folds. Using the fruits of his efforts to aid his glide. Pushing himself in slowly until he was fully seated inside.

"Oh sweetheart, you feel so good." Copia groaned, his face flush and his mouth hung open. Saccharine looked deep in his eyes, her body already beginning to pulse once again with his movements.

"Oh Copia…You do too." She moaned. Saccharine, no longer the shy virgin he deflowered but his lover, his partner—his wife. Unafraid to show him just how good it felt to have him inside her. Her body tugging tightly against him with each thrust of his hips. 

"Ah!" Copia growled as her body squeezed around him. His movements, more intentioned and his stride picking up in pace. He wanted nothing more than to make her cum again. Ready to catch her on the way down when she fell from the heights of their passion. His mouth, returning to her breast.

Within moments, Saccharine's second orgasm quickly crashed over her. Copia, pulling her up onto his lap as he continued thrusting inside. Her hand, flying up and over her mouth as she came—hard and fast. Praying to Lucifer that she'd been able to contain the sound before alerting a whole pack of ghouls. 

She was putty in his hands. Copia, having to help hold her upright as he kept moving. Both of them, completely covered in sweat and the remnants of his paints. Her arms wrapped around him, while tears poured down her cheeks. Overwhelmed by the sheer ecstasy of their lovemaking and the emotions swirling through her.

"Copia! Ah! Cum with me!" She cried out, staring deep into his eyes. Copia could see the beauty of all the world wrapped up in them. Watching her in rapturous bliss, the likes of which only he could bring her. Her thighs, tightening up around him as his shaft began swelling inside to fill her. Both of them trembling together, held in each other’s arms.

"That's my girl, my beautiful wife…make me cum" He whined, completely losing control of his rhythm and allowing himself to let go fully as he came inside her—just as she came for him. 

"Oh. Sweet. Lucifer." Saccharine said, breathy and exhausted, before falling limp into Copia's arms. Both of them panting against each other. Their first time as husband and wife, proving to be one to remember. Neither of them, able to speak. Still too deep in the haze of pleasure.

Copia moved them both. Cradling Saccharine in his arms as he laid down beside her. Her head, resting on his chest and the scent of his cologne filling her nose. Then from the sea of heavy breathing and shared heartbeats, came Copia's voice. The sound, sweeter than ever before to her ears. 

"I love you." He smiled before kissing her forehead.

"I love you too Copia…promise me something ok?" She asked, scared that this happiness might someday end.

"Anything amore."

"Promise me that you stay with me…forever." Saccharine cried. Copia held her closer, feeling the warm tears falling in his chest.

"Forever."

Notes:

(Mio) piccola- (my) little one

mia principessa- my princess

la mia bellissima moglie- my beautiful wife

Sempre, mio ​​bellissimo marito- Always, my handsome husband

mia dea oscura- dark goddess

#Ghestie fic #Copia x Sister Saccharine #Copia and Saccharine Wedding #Copia Wedding #Ghost wedding #Copia x sister of sin oc #copia x sister of sin #copia #papa iv #papa emeritus iv #ren writes #ghost #the band ghost #ghost fic #ghost fanfic #ghost fanfics #ghost fanfiction #the band ghost fic #the band ghost fanfic #the band ghost fanfiction

[phae-undergrove]

Herbs to avoid for a viable pregnancy.

PLEASE DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND SPEAK TO YOUR OWN CONSULTANT BEFORE CONSUMPTION USE THIS INFO ONLY AS AN ABSOLUTE LAST RESORT.

With everything going on in the US right now I wanted to offer some resources that may help people in need of them, so, let's talk,

penny royal tea will destroy your liver, don't drink it. it's also important to know that a strongly infused oil should NOT be rubbed on the pelvic area as it may, with repeated use, cause loss of pregnancy

Cotton root bark this one should never be drunk as a tea, it has a long history of being problematic during early pregnancy. It also has a capacity to thin blood so women who accidentally ingest this will need to counter this with something like shepherds purse, please do you OWN research before consuming.

Black cohosh, blue cohosh, & angelic root should absolutely NEVER be taken during pregnancy especially alongside one another. These three have the capacity to disrupt hormone development & will typically cause bleeding to begin in just a handful of days in very early pregnancy

Queen Anne's lace should be avoided by anyone who's trying to conceive, it has a tendency to make the uterine wall slippery & prevents the precious egg from implanting. It's important to know that during pregnancy if the egg can't implant the pregnancy won't continue

Mugwort should be avoided as small amounts consumed in early stage pregnancy may cause uterine contractions, it's also worth noting that infused body oils may have the same effect but be a bit safer for the liver

Rue, while not often a commonly used herb, it shows up more in tea blends. This one can also be really problematic during pregnancy so much so that women for thousands of years have known to avoid it during pregnancy

Parsley, while safe in food level amounts, should be avoided in large quantities such as broths as it may cause spontaneous loss of pregnancy. Especially if the person happens to be taking larger doses of vitamin C which can also endanger an early pregnancy

Tansy, It's a fairly toxic plant containing the chemical thujone which causes uterine contractions but is also a brain stimulant. Whilst this herb must be used with caution, it is safe as long as doses are not exceeded.. It is possible (although unconfirmed) that tansy and vitamin C cancel each other out, so they shouldn't be used together. The amount of thujone present in tansy is highly variable and some plants can contain no traces of it while others produce oil up to 95% thujone. So each batch must be started at a low dose

These are just a handful of herbs that may disrupt hormones, cause uterine contractions, & that should be avoided by anyone wanting to keep a pregnancy viable

Keep learning and researching about these & the other herbs you may have access to and in your area that cause these effects. Of course please do your own research before consumption!

I mean how else would we avoid accidental miscarriages?😉💛

If you’d like to read about some more herbs and their dosages+ saftey please check out this pdf! It’s got an amazing array of info on this subject.

I’ve also included a link for a clinic locater should anyone need it! 💖

We’re in this together.

LOVE AND LIGHT B-PHAE

https://we.riseup.net/assets/231618/herbalabortion.pdf

#herbs #abortion #do your own research #witch #grimoire ideas #digital grimoire #witchy #witchy herbs #herb info #natural abortion

[freshwater-stream]

Early blue cohosh leaves

Bloodroot rhizome

Bloodroot stem

Bloodroot petal

Interestingly, the blue cohosh, formerly a black-indigo colour, became green when placed in ethanol.

All of these are toxic, and you can run the extracts out on a silica (diatomaceous earth) plate to separate the different toxins.

The glowing orange spot is bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) extract under an ultraviolet torch. If the separation worked, we'd be able to see multiple spots for each toxin in the extract. But it didn't, so we can't.

The main toxin here is probably sanguinarine anyway. It's red under visible light, and presumably it's orange under ultraviolet. It's an alkaloid like morphine and codeine, which makes sense given that bloodroot is in the poppy family (Papaveraceae).

Most alkaloids glow. Quinine (e.g. tonic water) is a sort of sky blue.

#bloodroot #phytochemistry #botany #nature #witchy

[iksuda]

Let's discuss herbs that must be avoided during pregnancy. Let this serve as a warning!

• Penny royal tea is not as toxic as people may think. Like a lot of things (alcohol, acetaminophen) it can be hard on the liver with long periods of constant use. But a pregnant person should be aware that it can cause spontaneous abortion and, therefore, it should be completely avoided during pregnancy. It's also important to know that a strongly infused oil should not be rubbed on the pelvic area as it may, with repeated use, cause loss of pregnancy

• Cotton root bark should never be drunk as a tea, it has a long history of being problematic during early pregnancy. It also has a capacity to thin blood so people who accidentally ingest this plant will need to counter these effects with something like shepherd’s purse or vitamin K.

• Black cohosh, blue cohosh, & angelica root should absolutely never be taken during pregnancy especially alongside one another. These three have the capacity to disrupt hormone development & will typically cause bleeding to begin in just a handful of days in pregnancy.

• Queen Anne's lace should be avoided by anyone who's attempting to conceive as she has a tendency to make the uterine wall slippery & prevents the precious egg from implanting. During pregnancy, if the egg can't implant, the pregnancy won't continue. Queen Anne’s Lace, also known as wild carrot, is very safe. As long as you are not trying to get pregnant or maintain a pregnancy in the early stages. Because it will prevent pregnancy.

• Mugwort should be avoided as small amounts consumed in pregnant women may cause uterine contractions. It's also worth noting that infused body oils made from this herb may have a similar effect when rubbed on the pelvic area.

• Rue, while not a commonly used herb, is showing up more in tea blends. This herb can be really problematic during pregnancy. So much so that women have avoided it during pregnancy for thousands of years. It can cause miscarriage. It should not be used for long periods of time or in large amounts to avoid potential adverse effects on the liver. Again, alcohol or acetiminophen can also damage the liver.

• Parsley, while safe in normal food level amounts, should be avoided in large quantities or in concentrated broths as it may cause spontaneous loss of pregnancy. Especially if the pregnant person happens to be taking larger doses of vitamin C, which can also endanger an early pregnancy

• Celery oil and celery seeds are likely unsafe when taken by mouth during pregnancy in large amounts. Consuming high amounts of celery might make the uterus contract and cause a miscarriage.

These are just a handful of the many herbs that may disrupt hormones or cause uterine contractions. These common plants that are easy to find should be avoided by anyone wanting to keep a pregnancy viable. Especially do not combine these herbs if you are pregnant, because you will have a miscarriage.

Keep learning about these & other herbs that may cause spontaneous abortion. Here are a few more; tansy, thuja, safflower, scotch broom, wormwood and yarrow.

I mean, how else will we avoid accidental miscarriages?

#Pregnancy #Miscarriage #Abortion #Reproductive Rights #Roe v. Wade #Herbalism #Disclaimer: this is definitely for precaution purposes and nothing else

[vandaliatraveler]

Elizabeth’s Woods, part of the Toms Run Preserve system, is located just a few minutes from where I work: a convenient little Eden on whose gentle, winding trails I frequently relieve my accumulated angst and stress. In early spring, especially in the late afternoon, the old woods take on a soft, burnished glow that penetrates every leaf and flower, exposing nature’s finest filigree - veins, venules, stigmas, anthers and more - in intricate detail.

From top: a rocky alcove overrun by giant blue cohosh (Caulophyllum giganteum); a purple variation of dwarf larkspur (Delphinium tricorne), a toxic little beauty whose flowers remind me of parachuting wizards; an even lovelier lavender and white variation of the same plant; a tall and stately Jack-in-the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum); a smooth blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium), equally beautiful in spring and fall, when its foliage turns reddish-purple; bigfruit hawthorn (Crataegus macrosperma) with new spring blossoms; woodland stonecrop (Sedum ternatum), whose massed white flowers look like clumps of snow in the leaf litter; and an unfurling Virginia grape fern (Botrypus virginianus), also known as rattlesnake fern due to its tendency to grow in the same habitats in which rattlesnakes occur.

#appalachia #vandalia #west virginia #spring #flora #wildflowers #caulophyllum giganteum #giant blue cohosh #delphinium tricorne #dwarf larkspur #arisaema triphyllum #jack-in-the-pulpit #viburnum prunifolium #blackhaw viburnum #smooth blackhaw viburnum #crataegus macrosperma #bigfruit hawthorn #sedum ternatum #woodland stonecrop #botrypus virginianus #virginia grape fern #rattlesnake fern #elizabeth's woods #toms run preserve #west virginia land trust

[scriptflorist]

Hey! I love your blog so much, and I'm so happy that I found it (it's helped a lot)! I was wondering if you could do a list of flowers that mean (or fall into the category of/are similar to): Obsession, Obsessive love, 'til death do us part, I want your attention, I belong to you, you belong to me, etc., etc. Along with this, I'd also like to know what flowers are native to New Jersey (And also which ones bloom in the fall, if any?) Thank you, and have a lovely day!

That should be possible with some creativity given that obsession and bonding don’t exist as meanings themselves, but it leans well enough into the Victorian flower language to get something out of it still. Hope there’s something in here that works for your story.

arbor vitae – live for me, unchanging friendship

baby’s breath – everlasting love, innocence, pure of heart

bay leaf – I change but in death/dying

broom-rape – union

carnation (pink) – I will/I’ll never forget you, women’s love

cedar leaf – I live for thee

clover (white) – think of me

columbine – I cannot give thee up, folly, desertion

columbine (purple) – resolved to win

cowslip (american) – divine beauty, you are my angel, you are my divinity

currant – thy frown will kill me, thankfulness

daisy (double) – affection, I reciprocate your affection

daphane (rose) – I desire to please

eschscholzia – do not refuse me

euphorbia – persistence

fleur-de-lis – I burn, flame

foxglove – I am not ambitious for myself but for you, a wish, stateliness, occupation, insincerity, youth

furze – love for all seasons/occasions

gladiolus – you pierce my heart, generosity, I’m sincere, flower of the gladiators

heart’s ease – you occupy my thoughts, forget me not, think of me, thoughts

heart’s ease (purple) – you occupy my thoughts

hemlock – you will be my death

honeysuckle – generous and devoted affection, bonds of love, the bond of love, devotion, I would not answer hastily, fidelity

honeysuckle (coral) – the colour of my fate

honeysuckle (wild) – generous and devoted love

japonica – sincerity, symbol of love

jasmine (indian) – I attach myself to you, attachment, separation

laurestine – a token, I die if neglected, delicate attention

mallow (syrian) – consumed by love, persuasion

rose (carolina) – love is dangerous

shepherd’s purse – I offer you my all

spindle tree – your charms are engraven on my heart

tulip – (a) declaration of love, perfect lover, fame, beautiful eyes

tulip (red) – declaration of love

virginia creeper – I cling to you both in sunshine and in shade

Plants native to New Jersey that bloom in fall/autumn:

allegheny monkey flower

american angelica

american arrowhead

american blue vervain

american lotus

american water-willow

ashy sunflower

bigleaf aster

black-eyed susan

bluebell

blue bead lily

blue cohosh

blue mistflower

blue star

blue wood aster

bottle gentian

bowman’s root

brown-eyed susan

bunchberry

bushy aster

canada goldenrod

canada wild ginger

canadian violet

cardinal flower

carolina geranium

caroline redroot

closed bottle gentian

coastal plain joe-pye weed

common boneset

common evening primrose

cow parsnip

crooked aster

cutleaf coneflower

cup plant

downy skullcap

early goldenrod

false aster

false sunflower

field thistle

flat-topped white aster

foam flower

fringed bleeding heart

fringed loosestrife

gayfeather

golden crownbeard

grass-leaved goldenrod

grassy arrowhead

gray goldenrod

great blue lobelia

hairy aster

hardy hibiscus

heath aster

hoary vervain

horizontal calico aster

jerusalem artichoke

joe-pye weed

late boneset

marsh betony

maryland golden aster

maximilian sunflower

meadow phlox

narrowleaf mountain mint

new england aster

new york aster

new york ironweed

nodding lady’s tresses

orange fringed orchid

orange jewelweed

patridge pea

pearly everlasting

pink tickseed

prairie sagebush

purple-head sneezeweed

purple mountain saxifrage

red baneberry

rock harlequin

rough goldenrod

salt heliotrope

sawtooth sunflower

scarlet bee balm

seashore mallow

seaside goldenrod

selfheal

showy black-eyed susan

showy goldeneye

showy goldenrod

showy tick trefoil

slender buch clover

slender dayflower

smooth beggartick

smooth blue aster

sneezeweed

spotted joe-pye weed

stiff goldenrod

stiff sunflower

swamp sunflower

swamp thistle

sweet goldenrod

sweetscent

sweet-scented joe-pye weed

tall boneset

tall cinquefoil

tall goldenrod

ten-petaled sunflower

threadleaf coreopsis

tickseed

virginia meadow beauty

water arum

western sunflower

wild bergamot

wild cucumber

wild potato vine

wild senna

wingstem

white baneberry

white goldenrod

white panicle aster

white snakeroot

white turtlehead

white wood aster

whorled milkweed

woodland sunflower

wreath goldenrod

yellow jewelweed

yellow pond lily

This website gives a breakdown by county in form of excel lists, albeit it doesn’t say whether the plants bloom in fall or not.

https://npsnj.org/native-plants/where-to-buy-natives/plant-lists/

– Mod Jana

Disclaimer

This blog is intended as writing advice only. This blog and its mods are not responsible for accidents, injuries or other consequences of using this advice for real world situations or in any way that said advice was not intended.

https://www.gardenia.net/native-plants/new-jersey

#flower language #gardening #writing advice #victorian flower language #obession #obessive love #feelings of love #attention #you belong to me #I belong to you #mod jana #ask answered

[starthesenpai]

As a writer, I think it is very important to share herbal knowledge when it comes to authenticity for any fictional world. Here are a few herbs that will cause a miscarriage if anyone is writing a book or story set in the 1950s or later when a woman needed to use herbs for an early term abortion. I found this on a Facebook post on a pregnancy thread.

Help all of your fellow writers by posting this. Everyone should know the old knowledge of herbs. 😀

❤️ Senpai Star

•

Good ol penny royal tea will destroy your liver, please don't drink it. However it's also important to know that a strongly infused oil should not be rubbed on the pelvic area as it may, with repeated use, cause loss of pregnancy

•

Cotton root bark, this one should never be drunk as a tea, it has a long history of being problematic during early pregnancy. It also has a capacity to thin blood so women who accidentally ingest this will need to counter this with something like shepherds purse or vit K

•

Black cohosh, blue cohosh, & angelic root should absolutely never be taken during pregnancy especially alongside one another. These three have the capacity to disrupt hormone development & will typically cause bleeding to begin in just a handful of days in very early pregnancy

•

Queen Anne's lace should be avoided by anyone who's attempting to conceive, she has a tendency to make the uterine wall slippery & prevents the precious egg from implanting. It's also important to know that during pregnancy if the egg can't implant the pregnancy won't continue

•

Mugwort should also be avoided as small amounts consumed in early stage pregnancy may cause uterine contractions, it's also worth noting that infused body oils may have the same effect albeit a bit safer for the liver

•

Rue, while not a commonly used herb, is showing up more in tea blends. This one can also be really problematic during pregnancy so much so that women for thousands of years have known to avoid it during pregnancy

•

Parsley, while safe in food level amounts, should be avoided in large quantities such as broths as it may cause spontaneous loss of pregnancy. Especially if the person happens to be taking larger doses of vitamin C which can also endanger an early pregnancy

•

These are just a handful of herbs that may disrupt hormones, cause uterine contractions, & that should be avoided by anyone wanting to keep a pregnancy viable

•

Keep learning about these & other herbs you may have access to that cause these situations

•

I mean how else will we avoid accidental miscarriages?

•

You're smart enough to do this too😉

[fullmetal-optimists]

Early spring finds! Photo 1 is Sanguinaria canadensis aka Bloodroot, photo 2 is Tussilago farfara aka coltsfoot, photo 3 is a mystery lichen, photo 4 is Asarum canadense aka Canada ginger, photo 5 is Hepatica sp., photo 6 is scarlet elf cup fungus, and photo 7 is Caulophyllum thalictroides aka blue cohosh!

#mine #nature #plants #botany #plant science #flowers #plant #native plants #native wildflowers #bloodroot #fungus #fungi #mushrooms #lichen #lichens #moss #medicinal plants

[bocceclub]

NE woodlands spring ephemeral roundup from my hike over the weekend. nothing flowering yet, but these are all species that are easy to ID even before blooming. from top left clockwise: cutleaf toothwort, blue cohosh, trout lily/dogtooth violet, wild leeks (already off the shits)

I also saw some trillium sprouting but it was too early to tell if it was T. grandiflorum (great white trillium) or T. erectum (red trillium - yeah yeah the scientific name har har). Usually you can tell even before the plant flowers, red trillium is much smaller and squatter. the patch I spotted it in has hosted a mixed species colony in previous years so it could be either. (disclaimer: there are a lot of trillium species, these two are just the most likely contenders in this area)

#disappointed i didn't see any bloodroot #i think it's a little early for them in this zone #wildflowers #ecology #native plants

[kihaku-gato]

The garden's Early Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum giganteum) is popping purple~

#my post #my gardens #my plants #plantblr #gardeners on tumblr #gardeners of tumblr #flowers #spring #blue cohosh #Caulophyllum giganteum #woodland garden

[heirloomseedsolutions]

Buy Vegetable Seeds @ heirloomseedsolutions.com

All Sweet Watermelon : All Sweet Watermelon - Stands in the field for an extended period without over ripening. Elongated, striped fruits, 25-30 pounds each.

 american spinach seeds : Spinach America Seeds Is A long standing bloomsdale type spinach, fine quality, heavy yields. All American Selections winner in 1952.

 anaheim chili pepper : Anaheim Chili Peppers are very popular in Mexican dishes of all types, especially chile rellenos. - 6" long - for grinding into powder

 arnica herb : Arnica Herb - When brewed as a tea, this amazing herb has been used for stress, sleeping problems, and emotional trauma. - (Arnica montana

 Baby Roma : Baby Roma Tomatoes are Great for garden snacking, salads and growing for market. Incredibly heavy sets of grape-type tomato fruits.

 besweet soybean : Besweet Soybean is an Upright, 2' tall plant that bears an early crop of bright green beans for edamame, fresh shelling, or drying.

 herb black cohosh : Herb Black Cohosh - A traditional Native American discovery from the root of the cohosh plant known for relieving menstrual cramps

 Blacktail Mountain Watermelon : Blacktail Mountain Watermelon is a consistent high quality producer of dark green fruits with sweet, candy red flesh.

 black valentine beans : Black Valentine Bean - Straight slender dark-green, nearly round pods, stringless at all stages. Strong vigor. 60-70 days.

 bloomsdale long standing spinach seeds: Bloomsdale long standing spinach seeds - one of the first crops to be sown in spring. This quick-growing variety is a heavy yielder.

 boneset herb : Boneset herb is a great remedy for treating the symptoms of influenza, and helpful for treating aches and pains and fever.

 heirloom boston pickling cucumber : Heirloom Boston Pickling Cucumber is a Reliable old variety that was first listed as early as 1880 by D. M. Ferry and Company.

 Brandywine Tomato : Brandywine tomato found its way into the seed savers exchange in collection in 1982 founded by Ben Quisenberry - The Heirloom tomato standard

 bronze beauty lettuce : Bronze Beauty Lettuce Is Hailed as the finest, most colorful and most delicious leaf lettuce for the home garden. - [Bronze Arrowhead]

 bull's blood beets : Bull’s Blood Beets is the darkest leaved strain of beet available to gardeners and very popular for adding to cutting green mixtures.

 buttercrunch lettuce seeds : Buttercrunch lettuce Seeds - All American Selections winner from 1966, bred by Dr. Raleigh at Cornell. Well known with growers and consumers.

 Calendula : Calendula is one of the most widely used herbs for relieving an upset stomach, ulcers, menstrual cramps and is known for having anti..

 california giant zinnia : California Giant Zinnia - A garden classic. Every garden should have a long row for endless colorful bouquets. Extensive color range.

 california wonder pepper : California Wonder Pepper is one of the best for the home gardener, long known as a great canning and freezing variety.

 Calypso Beans:  Calypso Beans was hailed by many as the all-time greatest bean for baking - productive 15” plants grow well in almost any climate.

 Catnip Herb : Catnip herb has a long history of being used as a digestive aid. It’s a natural sedative that helps to ease digestion, colic and diarrhea.

 Cherokee Purple Tomato Seeds : Cherokee Purple tomato seeds produce plants with large crops of 12 oz. fruits that rival Brandywine tomatoes for flavor.

 chicory seed for sale: Chicory Seeds For Sale - Traditionally used as an additive to coffee, or as a substitute for coffee. Helps with wound healing

 christmas lima beans : The Christmas Lima Bean is a Large quarter dollar-sized flat beans can be used either as a green shelled bean or a dry bean.

 Cilantro Seeds : Cilantro is one of the most widely used culinary herbs in the whole world. The fresh greens are called Cilantro and the dried seeds are...

Copenhagen cabbage seeds : Copenhagen Cabbage Seeds Are Popular for home gardens and also for shipping, will also store well. Plants Tend To Mature At The Same Time.

cylindra beets : Cylindra Beet Is an Uniquely shaped beet that resembles a carrot and produces uniform round slices for eating and processing. 6-8 inches

detroit dark red beets : Detroit Dark Red: the standard for beets, originally developed in 1892 from Early Blood Turnip Beet. - Heirloom Seed Solutions

double yield cucumber : Double Yield Cucumber was Introduced by the Joseph Harris Seed Company in Coldwater, New York in 1924. Ideal for pickling and fresh eating.

dragon tongue bush bean : Dragons Tongue Bush Bean - he primary use of this bean is for snap beans when the pods are young and covered with thin purple stripes.

Dwarf Blue Curled Kale : Dwarf Blue Curled Kale is a hardy biennial and a real show stopper as an ornamental, but its also extremely delicious and high in vitamin A.

early jalapeno pepper seeds : Early Jalapeno Pepper Seeds - does well even in cool areas. Sturdy 24 plants are loaded with 3 fruits that ripen from green to red.

early scarlet globe radish : Early Scarlet Globe Radish is a well known home and market variety. Globe shaped, bright scarlet color, excellent for bunching.

early summer crookneck squash : Early Summer Crookneck Squash - Ships Well. Delicious Flavor And Fine Texture. Best Eaten When 4-6s Long, Before They Turn Bumpy.

Evening Primrose Seeds : Evening Primrose Seeds are one of the few herbs that can help with nerve problems. Great for eczema, dermatitis and skin allergies.

fennel herb : Fennel herb - Used by the Chinese for centuries to treat hernia, indigestion and abdominal pain. can prevent the digestive upset.

feverfew herb : Feverfew Herb - Native to southeastern Europe, feverfew is now widespread throughout Europe, North America, and Australia.

German butterball potato : German Butterball Potato is an excellent all-purpose variety, good for roasting, frying and especially for mashed potatoes.

german extra hardy garlic : German Extra Hardy Garlic AKA German White. Our best performing garlic for northern gardeners. 4 – 6 large cloves.

german pink tomato : German Pink Tomato - One of the original two Bavarian varieties that started The Seed Savers Exchange. full sweet flavor and tender skin.

giant musselburgh leek : giant musselburg leek - This Scottish heirloom leek was introduced near Edinburgh in the 1830's. Highly adaptable.

golden zucchini : Golden Zucchini - Originally introduced by W. Atlee Burpee from material they received from Dr. Shifress of Rutgers University.

gourmet slicing tomatoes : Gourmet Slicing Tomatoes - are a fabulous, rainbow mix of slicing tomatoes. An easy way to try them all. - 12,000 seeds per ounce.

green arrow peas : Green Arrow Pea has set the standard for home and market production. Great for canning, freezing, and for dehydrating. reliable production.

hale's best 45 melon : Hale`s Best Melon - A reliable early melon with heavy netting and firm salmon colored flesh. Good, old-fashioned melon flavor and drought tolerant.

heirloom lettuce mix : The Heirloom Lettuce Mix is a must for every garden and an easy way to try all of the lettuces that we offer in our catalog.

hungarian heart tomato : Hungarian Heart Tomatos Are Large reddish-pink oxheart-type fruits are meaty and juicy. Very few seeds and almost no cracking.

ice queen lettuce : Ice Queen Lettuce Is A Wonderful crisp and sweet leaves, top of the class for iceberg-types. Can be used as a leaf lettuce.

Jacobs cattle beans :

lacinato kale : Lacinato Kale is a rather primitive open kale with 3" wide strapped leaves that are 10 inches long on 2-3 inches tall plants. (aka Dinosaur)

late flat dutch cabbage : Late Flat Dutch Cabbage Is The best choice for a slow growing, late season cabbage. - Brought to America by German immigrants in the 1840’s

lavender plant : Lavender Plant - Popular in soaps, shampoos and fragrances, but is also a natural remedy for insomnia, anxiety, depression.

Lemon Balm Herb : Lemon Balm Herb (Melissa officinalis) is a member of the mint family which is used to help treat sleep disorders when brewed as a tea.

Lemon Cucumber : Lemon cucumber - A real treat, they are much easier to digest than normal cucumbers. - First listed in America by Samuel Wilson

lemon drop pepper : Lemon Drop Pepper - Robust plants are about 2' tall and covered with 2 inches long fruits that ripen to bright yellow - 100 days from transplant

Little Marvel Peas : Little Marvel Peas are a dependable variety introduced in 1908, known for fine quality and excellent yields. Can be sown in spring or fall.

Long Island Improved Brussels Sprouts : Long Island Improved Brussels Sprouts are a strain of brussels sprouts that predates modern hybrid varieties. A light frost or two will...

cayenne long slim pepper : Cayenne Long Slim Peppers are a powerful pain reliever when applied topically, and is used to treat osteoarthritis. - (Capscium annuum)

red of florence onion seeds : red of florence onion seeds - Excellent mild flavor, for fresh eating or short term storage. fresh eating variety from the Mediterranean.

Marketmore Cucumber : Marketmore Cucumber Dr. Henry Munger from Cornell University originally bred and it found its way to U.S. gardeners in 1976.

marshmallow seeds : Marshmallow Seeds - The root of this plant traditionally used to treat asthma, bronchitis, sore throat, cough and even the common cold.

mexican midget tomato : Mexican Midget Tomato - No hybrid comes close to this variety for huge tomato flavor in small package. ½ dark red fruits.

Minnesota Midget Melon : The Minnesota Midget Melon produces round, 4-5" fruits that have thick, sugary, golden-flesh which is edible right down to the rind.

muncher cucumbers : Muncher Cucumber - Very tender variety that is excellent for fresh eating right out of the garden. pick when the fruits are 4-6 inches long.

Orange Bell Pepper : The Orange Bell Pepper is a real beauty that's excellent for fresh eating, canning or freezing. It also has a great sweet flavor.

Oregano Herb seed : Oregano Herb Seed is An essential Italian herb for any garden. Great for tomato sauces. Flavor is best if picked prior to flowering.

oregon sugar pod peas : Oregon Sugar Pod Peas should be harvested before the seeds form for best flavor. Good disease resistance - can be enjoyed raw

parsley herb : Parsley Herb is a Large bushy plant that provides a constant supply of fresh parsley. Prized by Italian chefs. Excess can be dried or frozen.

Triple Curled Parsley : Triple Curled Parley has highly frilled and curled leaves will hold in the garden at a usable state for months. - (Petroselinum crispum)

peppermint herb : Peppermint Herb - Classic culinary herb, strongly aromatic. Great for cooking, drying, drinks, salads, teas, baking or in potpourri.

pink lady slipper radish : Pink Lady Slipper Radish - One of the mildest radishes. Light pink, oblong shaped roots, mild white flesh. 4 weeks after harvesting

Pride Of Wisconsin : When you think of the big melons with great taste, Pride Of Wisconsin is the standard that all others should be judged by.

provider bush beans : Provider Bush Beans - Introduced in 1965 in South Carolina by horticulturist, Dr. Hoffman. 48-55 days - High Germination Heirloom Seeds

Prudens Purple Tomato : Prudens Purple Tomato produces plants loaded with 10-16 ounce, dark pink fruits. It's a real contender for the best beefsteak heirloom.

purple coneflower seeds : Purple Coneflower Seeds - One of the most popular herbal medicines today. It has been used for more than 400 years to treat infections.

purple top white globe turnip : Purple Top White Globe Turnip was first noted in the 1800’s and still the most widely used variety for home and market.

red acre cabbage : Red Acre Cabbage is One Of The most reliable red variety, resists splitting, nice uniform color and a good keeper. 3-4 pounds.

Red Russian Kale : Red Russian Kale is a beautiful Siberian Kale that came to Canada in the 1800’s by way of Russian traders. It has dark blue-green leaves...

Romanesco Broccoli : First recorded in Italy in the 16th century, Romanesco Broccoli is sometimes referred to as Broccoflower, Roman Cauliflower or Coral...

rosemary seeds : Rosemary Seeds are used for indigestion, to treat muscle pain and arthritis, and to improve circulation. - Rosmarinus officinalis

Round Zucchini : This is a top quality open-pollinated strain of round zucchini. Its compact plants produce an endless stream of baseball sized...

ruby king pepper : Ruby King Pepper - Super sturdy 24" plants are uniform and support heavy crops of 4 lobed peppers that ripen from green to red..

sage herb seeds : Sage Herb Seeds Are Widely used for flavoring meat, cheese and bean dishes. Plants can grow 18-24 inches and are very attractive

Scarlet Nantes carrot seeds : Scarlet Nantes carrot seeds are widely adapted and good for storage, freezing and for juice. They are also extremely high in antioxidants.

slobolt lettuce : Slobolt Lettuce Has A Nice pleasant flavor, never bitter. A great cut and come again variety. - A great cut and come again variety.

cauliflower snowball seeds : Cauliflower Snowball Seeds - Reliable sure-heading strain. Large, solid, snowy white 6-7 inches diameter heads, well protected by the outer wrapper leaves.

stowell's evergreen sweet corn : Stowell's Evergreen Sweet Corn - First introduced to the seed trade in 1856 from a cross made by Nathaniel Newman Stowell in New Jersey

Straight Eight Cucumber : Straight Eight Cucumber was an All American Selections winner in 1935. A real superstar, most likely the most recognized cucumber variety...

strawberry watermelon seeds : Strawberry Watermelon Seeds Are Well-known old heirloom. Dark green with lighter green stripes. Long green fruits average 20 pounds

sweet genovese basil : Sweet Genovese Basil is the classic Italian sweet basil, prized for its large leaves, wonderful aroma and spicy flavor...

sugar snap peas : Sugar Snap Pea is an all American Selections winner in 1979. Vigorous 48-72, vines need support, but yield huge amounts of snap peas.

thyme herb plant : Thyme Herb Plant - Extremely versatile culinary herb used extensively for seasoning meats and vegetables. - (Thymus vulgaris)

Tiger Eye Beans : Tiger Eye beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are some of the most beautiful of all the dry beans, originally from either Chile or Argentina.

titan sunflower : One of the tallest, largest seeded and largest headed varieties. Sure to be a hit with children, great for roasting, expect heavy yields.

tommy toe tomato : Tommy Toe Tomato - This humble cherry tomato, Tommy Toe, has won many blue ribbons and taste tests around the world.

valerian seeds : Valerian seeds have been used as far back as the 2nd century A.D. to treat insomnia, anxiety, nervousness, seizures and epilepsy.

spaghetti squash vegetable : Spaghetti Squash Vegetable - Fruits range in color from ivory to yellow to orange. - (Cucurbita pepo) - (aka Noodle Squash)

waltham butternut squash : Waltham Butternut Squash - Developed and introduced by Bob Young of Waltham, Massachusetts. Most popular variety of butternut

yellow indian woman beans : Yellow Indian Woman Beans - Originally brought to Montana by European immigrants, a rare heirloom that is now found in Native America.

#All Sweet Watermelon spinach american seeds anaheim chili pepper arnica herb Baby Roma besweet soybean herb black cohosh Blacktail Mountain

[phroyd]

Seriously important health information for women in states which restrict abortion, but who need one. -  Phroyd

Women are working outside the law and the medical establishment to meet the demand for safe, cheap terminations

Lizzie Presser for the California Sunday magazine

On a winter morning, Anna* walked the aisles of an herbal medicine store, picked up a bottle each of blue cohosh and black cohosh, along with a plastic bag of pennyroyal tea, and drove to the topless bar on the edge of town where she worked. There, she met Jules, another dancer. They performed on a small stage with crystal curtains, the green light of an ATM flashing on their left, until 9pm. The women, both in their 20s, then drove to the Motel 6 where Jules lived and entered her dim room on the second floor, which smelled of grape cigars. Anna pulled out the tinctures and tea and explained the plan. She was going to help Jules try to have an abortion.

Anna had found the herbal recipe online. She’d read other tips as well: frequent hot baths, vigorous exercise, lots of gin. Women have relied on herbal abortion for thousands of years, and though specific regimens were hard to come by, anecdotal accounts littered the internet. Anna didn’t know how long it would take, so she moved in with Jules at the motel, dancing at the club each night. She set an alarm every four hours, keeping Jules to a schedule of 20 tincture droplets under the tongue and a cup of brewed tea. She drew baths for Jules, listened as she ran the stairs, and watched as she gulped Tanqueray. Anna kept taking her temperature and handing her glasses of water, too.

Nine days in, Anna was lying across from the tiny TV when Jules screamed from the tub. She ran into the bathroom, where drying lingerie hung from the rods, and saw a pinkish swirl marbling the bath­water. Jules stepped out of the tub, and a gush of blood fell on to the floor. Holy shit, Anna thought to herself. This works.

Anna, who was a young mom, was often doling out health advice to other girls at the club, trying to get them to eat better or use natural cures when they didn’t have money for anti­biotics – garlic for yeast infections, cranberry juice, not cocktail, for urinary tract infections. She had grown interested in health work after she’d become pregnant. Doctors had drug tested her repeatedly even though she told them she was sober. They insisted on induced labor. For delivery, they gave her an episiotomy, which resulted in a fourth-degree tear from her vaginal opening to her anal sphincter.

The experience left her angry, and it got her thinking about birth and how to do it better. Within a few months, she’d enrolled in a midwifery school and trained as a doula, a support person and patient advocate during pregnancy. When she wasn’t dancing at the strip club or taking classes, she attended births in homes and hospitals. She gravitated to clients like herself, often low-income women in tougher circumstances, who didn’t seem to get the same treatment in hospitals as wealthy women. In homes, Anna found the care could be slower and gentler, the patients more in control.

About four years after her child was born, Anna became pregnant again, and she couldn’t afford another kid. She’d quit college and midwifery school because of the cost, and she was supporting her unemployed boyfriend along with her preschooler. She’d read that vitamin C could bring on a miscarriage, but after she took 10,000mg, she started vomiting and ran a fever. Anna didn’t know what else to do, so she took herself to a clinic, where she paid in cash. The doctor entered the room in acid-washed jeans, performed the procedure in 30 minutes, and left, hardly saying a word. She was ushered into a dark observational area, where women sat in a circle of pleather lounge chairs, some crying, others staring blankly as they came to from the sedation. Anna felt conflicted. It was clear she’d needed to do this, but she also asked herself why it was she could carry one baby to term but not another. And then came the guilt that she’d decided so easily to end the pregnancy.

Natalie told Anna about a side of her life she hadn’t shared: helping with a workshop on how to provide home abortions

In the dressing room above the stage at work, where the girls sat on benches, ironed their hair and smoked between sets, Anna started speaking about her abortion. It wasn’t that she regretted it; she just wanted to talk about it, and she was sick of everyone else’s silence. She’d been raised by a mom who’d told her not to discuss politics, religion or money, and she enjoyed breaking all three rules at once. Soon enough, other dancers began sharing their stories, and many complained about clinics – the cost, the lectures on birth control, a dread that someone might recognize them, a vague sense of reproach. When Jules found out she was pregnant, it seemed natural that she came to Anna. She didn’t have much money, and she wanted to keep the whole thing private.

After Jules bled at the Motel 6, Anna wanted to know more about abortion. She asked midwives she’d worked with for guidance on holistic care, and one suggested the herbalist Susun Weed’s website. The design looked straight out of the 1960s – a silver-haired woman wearing a bandanna beamed in front of a waterfall – but Anna read the site top to bottom, noting different plants that women used, some of which have been shown to block progesterone or cause contractions. She felt she would never speak the language of feminist activists or academics, but she tore through books, from Margaret Nofziger’s A Cooperative Method of Natural Birth Control to Dr Christiane Northrup’s Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom. She read about clinical abortion, too, and fantasized about learning the necessary skills in medical school, which she knew would be too expensive. That year, three more friends asked for her help when they got pregnant. She tried herbs with all of them, modifying the regimens, but it worked only once.

Anna started posting on Facebook about abortion, looking for direction. Eventually, a friend reached out to her, offering to introduce her to a woman named Natalie. The two talked on the phone. Anna admired how Natalie spoke with such authority and openness. Natalie liked how casually smart Anna was, how she connected reproductive healthcare to social justice. After several calls, Natalie told Anna about a side of her life she hadn’t yet shared: she was helping with a workshop on how to provide home abortions. Anna was welcome to attend. She just had to keep it a secret.

In March 2015, Anna drove to a suburban, brown-shingled home with a small garden. When she walked inside, she hit her head on a chain hanging from the ceiling. Where the fuck are we? she thought as she looked around. The home belonged to a set designer, and the roughly 20 students practiced in themed rooms, giving one another vaginal exams and checking blood pressure. Partway through the workshop, a pregnant woman arrived who had agreed to let them witness her abortion by a Del-Em, a homemade suction device invented by female activists in 1971, when abortion was still outlawed. It was built from a Mason jar, a one-way valve, and two lines of plastic tubing – one that leads to a cannula, a medical straw that removes fluids, and another that leads to a syringe without a needle, which can be pumped to create suction. A student threw a floral blanket on the leather bed, and Anna hid the masks that lined the room. The woman entered and lay on her back before a midwife, who set a speculum around her cervix, peered inside her vagina with a headlamp, and inserted the cannula into the uterus. The students watched as the client pumped the syringe, blood slugging down the see-through tube.

In that three-day training, Anna learned about different categories of herbs and how to combine them. The Del-Em, which had seemed too complicated when she read about it online, now wasn’t quite as intimidating, and she was willing to try it. It was the conversation on misoprostol, though, a pill for medical abortion, that most excited her. Anna was surprised to hear that a licensed practitioner would covertly mail them to her. The World Health Organization laid out dosages with clear instructions and recommended midwives, even those with just a few months of training, to perform first-trimester medical abortions. Instead of two weeks with herbs, which were hardly reliable, the abortion would take just 24 hours, with an 80 to 85% success rate and few risks.

Through the workshop, Anna was joining a loose underground network of 45 women who had learned how to provide home abortions. It has since grown to around 200 women across the United States. (At last count, the number of licensed abortion facilities was 1,671.) Because the network is decentralized, there’s no complete record of how many pregnancies they’ve ended. According to interviews with providers in the network, the conservative estimate is more than 2,000 in the past three years. Some of the women have studied as midwives or doulas or nurses. Others are mothers and activists and herbalists who had needed an abortion, or whose friends had, and they decided to learn how to provide it. Like Anna, most are low-income women who have felt frustrated by their experiences. Clients seek them out because they can’t afford an abortion by a physician, or they want privacy, or they prefer home remedies to conventional medicine, or they want attentive care, or a clinic’s just too far away.

The providers are building on a history of female home practitioners in the United States that existed until the early 20th century. They are also part of a global trend to expand access to abortion by training midwives and community health workers. Across the United States, though, the work is restricted by dozens of laws. These women and their clients risk imprisonment and fines if caught. Since 2000, at least 15 women have been arrested or criminally investigated for ending their own pregnancies and six people for aiding someone who did. Home providers face opposition from regulators and lawmakers and anti-choice groups, but they also have not found much support from the major pro-choice groups, which have fought for decades to protect clinical abortion. With few political allies, these providers have been doing this work quietly and on their own.

By the end of the training, everything clicked for Anna. She didn’t have to search blindly for the answers any more. Now, she could get the materials she needed and had a mentor who was on call to field questions when they came up. For the first time, Anna didn’t feel so alone. “Other people out there were interested in this,” she says. “It wasn’t just me being some weird freak.”

Continue Reading for More Essential Information about Safe Abortions by Midwives ... 

Phroyd

#abortion #us news #health #women

[vandaliatraveler]

Giant blue cohosh (Caulophyllum giganteum) arguably makes the most dramatically-balletic entrance of all of Appalachia’s spring-blooming perennials. The plant’s delicate maroon shoots emerge en masse from the drab leaf litter in early April and soon produce the most extraordinary, parasol-like flowers, each with six enlarged sepals, six smaller petals, and six large, yellow stamens surrounding a bulbous pistil. The flowers are later replaced by clusters of smoky blue berries. As this shade-loving member of the barberry (Berberidaceae) family matures, its stems and foliage turn to a soft, reflective shade of green and take on a shrubby appearance. The plant’s thrice-compound, three-lobed leaves are reminiscent of those of meadow rue but the two plants are not closely related. Giant blue cohosh, also known as early blue cohosh, blooms earlier than the more familiar blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides), which has yellow-green flowers. Photos above were taken at Coopers Rock State Forest and Elizabeth’s Woods at Toms Run Preserve.

#appalachia #vandalia #west virginia #spring #flora #perennial #wildflowers #caulophyllum #blue cohosh #giant blue cohosh #early blue cohosh #coopers rock state forest #toms run preserve #elizabeth's woods

[edlehming]

"Early Cohosh Blossoms"

“Early Cohosh Blossoms”

“The urgency to reproduce is everywhere. Early plants forgo their leaves so they can be the first to be pollinated, flowering at all costs.” – Ed Lehming I have noticed this over the past many years and it dawned on me out of the blue. Every form of life, no matter how miniscule, is driven by the need to reproduce. There are so many spring flowers that do this. The first to bloom in my area is…

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#Blue Cohosh #pollination #reproduction #spring