#yellow-fringed orchid

[carolinaquatic]

Platanthera ciliaris. Fringed

#orchid #fringed #yellow

[vandaliatraveler]

Hazy mid-summer day on the Sods, Part 1.

Photos are from the South Prong Trail, heading towards Roaring Plains. The pine barrens death camas (Stenanthium leimanthoides) growing in the bogs and seeps of the Plains is simply stunning this year. Such a toxic little beauty - death incarnate. Also, the mountain angelica (Angelica triquinata) is getting ready to bloom - I think of this tall, Appalachian endemic as the mid to late summer counterpart of cow parsnip. And how about that fabulous orange-fringed orchid (Platanthera ciliaris), which is just now reaching peak bloom in our high-elevation mountain bogs? The showy perennial is more commonly referred to as yellow-fringed orchid, but I have no clue why; every plant I've found in this neck of the woods has a hue similar to a Sunkist navel orange.

#appalachia #vandalia #west virginia #wildflowers #flora #summer #monongahela national forest #allegheny mountains #roaring plains #dolly sods #amphibian #northern green frog #pine barrens death camas #small green wood orchid #club-spur orchid #small cranberry #round-leaved sundew #roundleaf sundew #dewdrop #false violet #mountain angelica #filmy angelica #orange-fringed orchid #yellow-fringed orchid #bog goldenrod

[key2world]

Last Twilight Meta: P'Mhok and P'Rung

so fair disclaimer ahead: this could be an actual rational analysis of the show or just pure brainrot.

But I have to tell this to somebody otherwise I will... implode. As someone who's seen P'Jimmy in Bad Buddy, who's speed run through Vice Versa and who's now obsessed with Last Twilight, I am amazed by his ability to embody his characters. He has these little quirks for each of them; like the way they stand or even hold themselves. P'Mhok is obviously the most rough, careless one- really the absolute opposite of Puen- and it's seen in the way he's always reclining against props in the back of... a lot of scenes. But there's this fragility from his fear being lonely because of his past and that translates into the emptiness of his eyes, the immediate drawing away from spaces he thinks he's unwanted in, the constant seeking for approval.

When he first talks about P'Rung's death, he sort of just gazes into the distance, like he's seeing the memory of her play out in front of him. Another detail is the blue in this sequence- a vase of blue orchids that we glimpse everytime the camera pans to Day. It seems to say that P'Rung's memory is almost with them but P'Mhok is yet to fully acknowledge it. So it hovers in the spaces of their conversation.

It happens again during the DisasterousTM birthday. Obvioulsy, P'Mhok is dealing with the heartbreak of his (apparently) unrequited crush. But there's also this point where he sort of just looks up, heavenward- as if he wishes P'Rung were looking back down at him. Behind him, there are fairylights of yellow and blue which I take to stand for Day and P'Rung respectively, and it really introduces another level of pain to this moment because it means that he feels completely abandoned. It's not just romantic love that he yearns for; it's a desperation for any kind of love.

The latest instance is the most positive one I think. P'Mhok and Day stand outside on the porch together and he's drawn into thinking of his sister. But the most poignant thing is, now he's in blue; he let's himself feel her warmth, her lingering presence and indulges in another carefully kept memory by sharing it with Day. The blue that reminds him and us so much of her has shifted from the fringes of the scene to surround him, right there in the centre.

with that, I will go lie down and have many Feelings for a while. Thank you for coming to my ted talk. *cue Jazz Hands and dimming stage lights*

#last twilight #last twilight the series #last twilight meta #mhokday #jimmysea #to: P'Aof and Doc Jimbo and Narak P'Sea #thank you for your career choices

[tyrantisterror]

what do you like about vampires that appeals to you?

Man, it's hard to articulate my answer to this. There's just so much to like!

Vampires have this quintessential Gothic Horror spookiness to them - all those motifs of decay and things that were lost or forgotten rising from the grave to remind us of their terrible presence, lingering well past the point where they should have left. Their almost the personification of that genre in my mind, really - sentimental and melodramatic, tragic and camp and terrifying and alluring.

They're creatures who straddle two different worlds and belong to neither - between life and death, human and maneater, person and monster. They have to pretend to be what they once were to continue their current and often miserable existence as something quite different.

I like them best when their nature as shapeshifters is highlighted - Stoker went off when he gave them, like, fifty fucking different forms. Particles dancing in moonlight, creeping green fog, bats, wolves, swarms of rats, all excellent, allowing vampires to be truly versatile threats despite their many weaknesses, and playing with the idea of them as ambush predators. Always hiding behind a new mask, waiting for you to get close so they can strike.

They have the guile to look human until they're ready to sink their teeth into you, and that's terrifying.

But there's also a pathos inherent to them, a tragedy. Whether they know it or not, vampires are, for all their power, pathetic. They can never be what they once were, their humanity stolen from them. Many of them are reduced to acting as parasites, hiding on the fringes as they struggle to maintain their existence in a world that (often rightly) hates them for it. Many are cursed with the memory of what it was to be human, which makes the inescapable nature of their current cursed half-life all the more tragic.

And all of that is really juicy from a writing/drawing perspective... but, more importantly given the discussion that prompted this ask, it's really fucking hot.

They're basically orchid mantises, after all - predators in an alluring shape by design, meant to lure you close so they can fucking get you. Vampires have been sexualized so heavily in fiction in part because that works with their monster concept - they are predators who wear human faces to catch their prey (which is probably why they're so often put up against their sibling monster archetype, werewolves, who are their opposite - predators that strip themselves of human skin to hunt), so it only makes sense for that face to be hot. And there's something enticing about being lured into something pleasingly dangerous - erotically life-threatening.

I mean, so long as it stays strictly fantasy, of course. Which, vampires being not real, it kind of has to.

It also helps that a lot of vampires - not all or even most, but a lot - seem to have so much fucking fun being vampires. I think the appeal of rooting for monster characters lies in feeling monstrous yourself, and in that case there is something so appealing about the vampire's transgressive existence - that yes, they are predators of humans and enemies of the species they once belonged to, but that's a problem for the normies, not the vampire.

They're lonely and wicked and tragic and maniacal, and they want to hold you down firmly but perhaps a bit gently as they tenderly move your head to one side and lean in for a deadly kiss that is almost always portrayed as more sexual than painful despite its lethal consequences... like, it's perilous, yes, but it's romantically perilous, right? Especially since they often seem very keen to let you join them, to share eternal cursed life as part of their deadly embrace... it's a dark, fucked up sort of fantasy, but it's one that can seem really appealing if you have the right things wrong with you.

Also, fangs, goth wardrobe, red or yellow eyes with slit nocturnal pupils, nosferatu claws... like I'm not going to justify it those things are just hot to me.

[somediyprojects]

Paper Icelandic Poppies

Project by Kate Alarcón:

There’s a particular kind of lady-slipper orchid that I have made and remade and adjusted and readjusted.  I’ve probably made a hundred little green orchid slipper prototypes, and each try is more frustrating than the last. At this point, I suspect that the minute I finally do figure out this orchid, I’ll make it and then crumple it up, just to vent my irritation.

The Icelandic poppy is another flower that I feel like I’ve never completely nailed down. I’ve been tinkering with this version for over a year now. But unlike the lady-slipper, just about every attempt at this poppy has been really fun. I think it’s because poppies — with their wrinkled petals and hairy, spindly, crooked stems — are gloriously awkward. My practice poppies could carry off every little eccentricity I inflicted on them with rumpled panache.

I hope you’ll make your own awkwardly glorious bouquet of poppies and stick them in a vase and fuss with them as they tilt their blooms at weird angles, and lean all over the place, being disagreeable. And just when you’re about to throw up your hands, you’ll step back and realize that it’s all come together. You’ll want to make more.

The crinkle technique I describe below is adapted from Livia Cetti’s gorgeous and essential book, The Exquisite Book of Paper Flowers.

Special thanks to the phenomenally talented Lynn Dolan (@lmdolan75 on Instagram) for her generous advice on this project! —Kate

Photography by Kate Alarcón

Supplies

-18 gauge cloth-covered floral wire -8mm wooden beads -white cosmetic wedge sponges for applying glue -sharp scissors –poppy templates

Crepe paper

This is what I used, but definitely feel free to mix it up and substitute.

From Castle in the Air:

-“Pale Yellow Green” heavy crepe for the frill at the top of the seed pod -“Lemon” heavy crepe for the stamen filaments -“Sunflower” fine crepe for the anthers at the end of the stamens -Fine crepe in “Red,” “Persian Pink,” “Pale Pink,” “Pink,” “Sunflower,” and “Vanilla” for the petals

From Paper Mart:

-“Moss Green” heavy crepe to cover the pod and wrap the stem, from Paper Mart

Optional:

Design Master Color Tool Spray in “Holiday Red,” “Perfect Pink,” “Coral,” “Orange,” and “Yellow”

PanPastel in “Permanent Red Tint 340.8,” “Permanent Red 340.5,” “Orange 280.5,” and “Hansa Yellow 220.5”

A note about grain:

The grain of the crepe paper runs parallel to the roll or fold.  You will almost always cut petals with the grain, placing the template so that the tiny wrinkles in the paper run up and down the template, not across. Each template includes an arrow to show the direction the grain should run.

Constructing the seed pod at the center of the flower:

The first step is to create the little frill at the top of the seedpod. Use template A to cut a frill piece from the pale green heavy crepe. Stretch the wider end of the piece all the way out, flattening all the little crinkles in the upper half inch of the frill piece.

Twist the frill piece, beginning about ½” below the top edge. The part of the frill that you stretched will form a little funnel. As I twist, I like to place my fingertip inside this funnel so that it stays open.

If this feels cumbersome, it’s fine to just twist and then use one end of your floral wire to reopen the funnel.

Insert the twisted bottom part of the frill piece into your wooden bead.

Dip the tip of your wire in the glue and scrape off any extra so that you have a thin coat that isn’t dripping all over the place. Insert this wire tip into the bottom of the bead, next to the bottom of the fringe that you’ve just inserted.

You don’t need to push this all the way up into the bead.  You’re mostly just trying to anchor the wire tip inside the bead. You’ll secure it in the next step.

Use template B to cut a rectangle from the medium green heavy crepe. Snip a very short fringe across the top of this rectangle (it’s fine to freehand this, but you can also use the lines drawn across the top of template B).

Use your sponge to swipe a thin layer of glue over this piece. Lay your bead on top of the rectangle, so that the top edge is slightly higher than the top of the bead.  Stretch the rectangle around the bead and press either side together.

Trim the excess rectangle.

Use your fingers to press the fringes of the green crepe down onto the top of the bead. Scrunch the green paper beneath the bead around the wire.

This will secure the pod to the wire.

For the stamens:

Use template C to cut a rectangle from the pale yellow, heavy crepe. Stretch this rectangle all the way out.  It should now be the same width as template D, but if it’s wider, trim any excess. The dotted line across template D shows how deep you should cut the fringe. (You’ll be cutting from the top). You can trace this line with a pencil or just fold along it and let the crease mark where your fringe should stop.

Without stressing out about it, cut the fringe as finely as you can.

Using the diagonal line on template D as a guide, cut away some of the excess paper beneath your fringe.  This will create less of a bump where you’ve applied your stamens, and also smooth the transition from stem to blossom.

Use your wedge sponge to apply glue to the area beneath the dotted line. Place your bead on this fringe piece, so that the bottom of the bead sits just above the dotted line. Roll the fringe around the bead loosely.

Don’t worry about what’s happening below the bead; just focus on making sure that the fringe at the top is even all the way around.

Scrunch the bottom of the fringe around the wire all the way up to the base of the pod.

Gently pinch the filaments between your thumb and forefinger and bend them away from the center, all the way around, creating a tidy ring of stamens.

Now you’ve got your stamen filaments ready to go!

Cut a 3”x 9” rectangle from the orange fine crepe (the short sides will run parallel to the grain.) Fold it in half vertically and in half vertically again.

Cut a fine fringe through all these layers, turn it 90 degrees, and cut across your fringe to create a fine “confetti.” Gently sweep this confetti into a little pile.

Squirt some glue onto a paper plate or disposable dish, and dip the ends of the yellow fringe into the glue.

To keep my seedpod frill clear of the glue, I prefer to hold the stem at a 45 degree angle and dip one section of the fringe at a time, slowly twirling it to glue all the way around.

Dip your fringe into the pile of confetti.  Now your filaments have anthers!

Adding color:

You can apply color before or after you cut your petals.

If I’m using the Color Tool spray, I prefer to color sheets of paper ahead of time. Though the odor fades after a couple of days, this stuff smells really intensely like bug spray when you first apply it, so I strongly recommend doing this outside, preferably with a mask on.

Shake the can well, and spray on a light coat.  If you’d like more intense color, let the first coat dry a little bit and then spray on another light coat.  I like to spray rows of color across the grain of my paper, spacing them a little bit farther apart than my petal height.

If I’m using PanPastels, I usually cut and then color my petals. Use your cosmetic sponge to swipe the pastel onto the petal, swiping with the grain of the paper.

I especially like to apply it so that the color is more intense toward the petal edges, fading toward the bottom, though you could also reverse that.

Clockwise from top: 1. “Vanilla” crepe with “Holiday Red” spray, 2. “Red” crepe with “Orange” PanPastel, 3. “Sunflower” crepe with “Holiday Red” spray, 4. “Vanilla” crepe with “Orange” spray, 5. “Light Pink” crepe with “Yellow” spray, 6. “Vanilla” fine crepe with “Perfect Pink” spray, 7. “Persian Pink” crepe with “Coral” spray, and “Persian Pink” crepe with “Holiday Red” spray.

For the petals:

Each poppy will have six petals: two from template E, two from template F, and two from template G.  Templates E through F are actually half a petal, so you’ll need to fold your fine crepe parallel to the grain and place the dotted line along the fold.

Lay the petal on a smooth surface.  Place your fingertips about an inch in from the edge of the petal closest to you. Place your thumbs right on the edge, behind your fingers. Use your thumbs to drag or inch the paper toward your fingers. When your thumbs and fingers touch, leave your thumb where it is, lift your fingertips and set them down about an inch forward. Repeat until you’ve gathered the whole petal into pleats.

Pick up your gathered petal and pinch up and down it to set the pleats.

Holding the pleats in place, twist the petal as though you were gently wringing water out of a rag. You’ll twist them pretty firmly, but I find it works better to use a lot of little twisting motions than to try to do everything all in one big twist. Untwist and gently spread the petal, taking care not to smooth the tiny pleats and wrinkles very much.

You can curl your petal at this point or after you glue your pleats.

Curling the petals is a lot like curling ribbon for giftwrap: you can scrape the petal with the blade of your scissors, a skewer, or just your fingers, moving from the base of the petal to the upper edge as you scrape.

Spread the bottom half inch of the template most of the way out and use your sponge to dab glue all the way across the bottom of the petal.

Pinch the bottom edge to gather it back up. Let the glue dry for a few minutes.

Snip off the excess bulk at the bottom of the petal.

Attaching the petals:

You’ll apply the petals in pairs. Start with the template E’s, and place them on opposite sides of the pod.  Apply a little bit of glue to the base of the petal and press it right up under the bead.

The second set of petals, the F’s, come next. Working clockwise, place each F beside each E, so that each F overlaps each E by about 30 percent.

Finally, apply each template G petal beside your template F petals, again overlapping by about 30 percent.

Finishing your flower:

Cut a few ¼” x 8” strips across the grain of the medium green heavy crepe. Dab glue on the first two or three inches of the strip and tightly wrap the section of the stem just beneath the flower to secure the petals and hide the petal bottoms. Apply a small amount of glue to one side of the stem wire. (I usually glue four or five inches of the stem at a time so I don’t get as much glue on my hands.)

Hold the strip at a 45-degree angle to the stem and gently stretch the strip as you twirl the stem, spinning the strip all the way to the bottom. If your strip breaks or runs out, just begin with a new strip right above the place on the stem where your previous strip ended.

Once the glue is dry, take some time to straighten your stamens and arrange your petals. You might want to curl some a little bit more, or gently tug a petal’s edge to straighten out crumpled pleats, or press some of the petals down where the petal meets the center to separate the layers.

Sources for supplies:

Michaels: 18 gauge floral wire, Design Master spray, wooden beads, glue

Castle in the Air: Crepe paper, glue, wire

Paper Mart: Crepe paper

Blick: PanPastels

#diy #crafts #paper #x

[youtastedlove]

Yellow fringed orchid

#Wildflower

[kp777]

By Kenny Stancil

Common Dreams

May 5, 2023

"There's now no question that neonicotinoids play an outsized role in our heartbreaking extinction crisis," said one advocate. The EPA must "ban these pesticides so future generations don't live in a world without bees and butterflies and the plants that depend on them."

A newly published assessment from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency warns that three of the most commonly used neonicotinoid insecticides threaten the continued existence of more than 200 endangered plant and animal species.

"The EPA's analysis shows we've got a five-alarm fire on our hands, and there's now no question that neonicotinoids play an outsized role in our heartbreaking extinction crisis," Lori Ann Burd, environmental health director at the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), said Friday in a statement.

"The EPA has to use the authority it has to take fast action to ban these pesticides," said Burd, "so future generations don't live in a world without bees and butterflies and the plants that depend on them."

The agency's new analysis found that clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam likely jeopardize the continued existence of 166, 199, and 204 plants and animals protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), respectively. This includes 25 distinct insects, more than 160 plants reliant on insect pollination, and dozens of fish, birds, and invertebrates.

"The Biden administration will have the stain of extinction on its hands if it doesn't muster the courage to stand up to Big Ag and ban these chemicals."

Species being put at risk of extinction include the whooping crane, Indiana bat, Plymouth redbelly turtle, yellow larkspur, Attwater's greater prairie-chicken, rusty patched bumblebee, Karner blue butterfly, American burying beetle, Western prairie fringed orchid, vernal pool fairy shrimp, and the spring pygmy sunfish.

"The EPA confirmed what we have been warning about for years—these neonicotinoid insecticides pose an existential threat to many endangered species and seriously undermine biodiversity," Sylvia Wu, senior attorney at the Center for Food Safety (CFS), said in a statement. "Unfortunately, this dire news is what we have told EPA all along. EPA should be ashamed that it still has yet to ban these life-threatening pesticides."

The EPA is well aware of the risks associated with the three neonicotinoids in question. One year ago, the agency released biological evaluations showing that the vast majority of endangered species are likely harmed by clothianidin (1,225 species, or 67% of the ESA list), imidacloprid (1,445, 79%), and thiamethoxam (1,396, 77%). Its new analysis focuses on which imperiled species and critical habitats are likely to be driven extinct by the trio of insecticides.

As CBD pointed out: "For decades the EPA has refused to comply with its Endangered Species Act obligations to assess pesticides' harms to protected species. The agency was finally forced to do the biological evaluations by legal agreements with the Center for Food Safety and the Natural Resources Defense Council. After losing many lawsuits on this matter, the EPA has committed to work toward complying with the act."

"Given the Fish and Wildlife Service's refusal to lift a finger to protect endangered species from pesticides, we commend the EPA for completing this analysis and revealing the disturbing reality of the massive threat these pesticides pose," said Burd. "The Biden administration will have the stain of extinction on its hands if it doesn't muster the courage to stand up to Big Ag and ban these chemicals."

CFS science director Bill Freese said that "while we welcome EPA's overdue action on this issue, we are closely examining the agency's analysis to determine whether still more species are jeopardized by these incredibly potent and ubiquitous insecticides."

As CFS explained:

Chemically similar to nicotine, neonicotinoids kill insects by disrupting their nervous systems. Just billionths of a gram can kill or impair honeybees. Introduced in the 1990s, neonicotinoids have rapidly become the most widely used insecticides in the world. Neonics can be sprayed or applied to soil, but by far the biggest use is application to seeds. The neonic seed coating is absorbed by the growing seedling and makes the entire plant toxic. CFS has a separate case challenging EPA's regulation of these seed coatings. Bees and other pollinators are harmed by exposure to neonic-contaminated nectar and pollen, with studies demonstrating disruptions in flight ability, impaired growth and reproduction as well as weakened immunity. Neonic-contaminated seed dust generated during planting operations causes huge bee kills, while pollinators also die from direct exposure to spray. Neonics are also persistent (break down slowly), and run off into waterways, threatening aquatic organisms. EPA has determined that neonics likely harm all 38 threatened and endangered amphibian species in the U.S., among hundreds of other organisms. Birds are also at risk, and can die from eating just one to several treated seeds.

Neonicotinoids have long been prohibited in the European Union, but as recently as a few months ago, a loophole enabled governments to grant emergency derogations temporarily permitting the use of seeds coated with these and other banned insecticides. In January, the E.U.'s highest court closed the loophole for neonicotinoid-treated seeds—a decision the post-Brexit United Kingdom refused to emulate.

In the U.S., neonicotinoids continue to be used on hundreds of millions of acres of agricultural land, contributing to an estimated 89% decline in the American bumblebee population over the past 20 years.

According to Freese, "EPA has thus far given a free pass to neonicotinoids coated on corn and other crop seeds—which represent by far their largest use—that make seedlings toxic to pollinators and other beneficial insects."

"Our expert wildlife agencies—the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service—have the final say on this matter," Freese added, "and may well find that neonicotinoids put even more species at risk of extinction."

A 2019 scientific review of the catastrophic global decline of insects made clear that a "serious reduction in pesticide usage" is essential to prevent the extinction of up to 41% of the world's insects in the coming decades.

#neonicotinoid insecticide #clothianidin #imidacloprid #thiamethoxam #endangered species #environmental protection agency #endangered species act #environment

[dansnaturepictures]

17/06/2022-Lakeside and home: Bee orchids, butterflies, Great Crested Grebes and more

Just one target of something I wanted to see before the week was out at Lakeside remained as I set off for Lakeside at lunch time on a scorching and sunny day, a bee orchid. A flower I was just starting to wonder if I’d see this year I had seen them by this point the last couple of years with the spots I’d seen them at Lakeside then not having one so far this year. But that all changed early on today on my perimeter walk around Lakeside as I checked an area in the eastern meadows when I was elated to spot a bee orchid. I then spent a gleeful few minutes of sheer fixation as I looked at and drunk in this flamboyant flower, the third of my favourites I’m happy to have now seen all three this year. The bee orchids give me such a buzz and I have a relationship like no other with them for flowers. This was the moment I’d been waiting for, I did it just before the week ended and I’m so happy I saw it. It was so mindful and peaceful to just watch these flowers as well as taking pictures with my macro lens in these hot and sunny conditions. It was extraordinary to be so zoomed in to this and tuned into it, I had seen the first plant had two flowers on but then I noticed there was a second plant. Then a third, and I saw as many as six individual plants all with flowers out to varying degrees it was like the more I looked the more I noticed. It was so wonderful to witness them, and this area of Lakeside that I saw bee orchid after the initial one along the northern path proved the spot for me to see them first this year and I could not be prouder of my local country park that they’re here and I feel so lucky to see them. I took the fourth picture in this photoset of one. 

Its been an amazing couple of weeks for me ticking off insects for my year lists and seeing flowers for the first time this year at Lakeside, its been so good to see the list of things I felt I could see right now trickle down one by one. And with many of them bee orchid included I’ve been out there and thought of the species or sort of imagined seeing it then I saw it straight away after. Which feels like something so special and it can perhaps be explained by with this being my third year of Lakeside lunch time walks during working from home, albeit less frequent now with two days working in the office too but these now usually involve a shortcut through Lakeside on my commute in these months when the ground is drier that said, I am used to the area so much and what’s going to be there and where it might be. It feels so good. 

Other flowers I loved seeing on my walk were more stunning pyramidal and spotted orchids the former I got the fifth picture in this photoset of, my first ragwort out at Lakeside this year, lovely yellow St. John’s-wort, bird’s-foot trefoil there was so much of this today and agrimony, thistle as pink/purple and yellow were flower colour themes of my day, meadow crane’s-bill and oxeye daisy including together in the meadow by the woods I took a photo of them both together as is becoming a tradition for this time of year for me, more white clover and broad-leaved clover still going well, a nice set of flowers at the flower bed on the green out the front with red and orange poppies looking nice again with cornflower like the pink one in the second picture in this photoset which stands out from afar, and self-heal now about there and on the fringes which was great there’s so many wonderful flowers here, scarlet pimpernel in the front garden, hedge woundwort, dog roses like the one in the third picture I took today in this photoset, bird vetch, carrot, hogweed and a stitchwort type flower. 

It was sensational walk of butterflies with six species seen, rustic Ringlets dancing through the air, Small Skippers spinning through the air, marvelous Marbled Whites and Meadow Browns such a symbol of summer for me, Speckled Woods well again this year and a colourful Common Blue. Some of the most butterfly species I’d seen in one day at Lakeside this year so fittingly for a day like this. I also saw a lovely little moth possibly a Light Brown Apple moth and a Blue-tailed Damselfly on the walk, and I also got the interesting sight of a Swollen-thighed beetle on the dog rose in the third picture but without the thick thighs that give it its name which is interesting I think I saw this once before. 

It was a good birdwatching walk too with a great view of a Green Woodpecker in the eastern meadows dashing into trees possibly the young one I heard in a tree on Monday as I have heard that fledged and I got probably my closest views since they’ve been out on the lakes of the Great Crested Grebe chicks with the parents. Some stunning views, there are only three now, it was great to see them having grown and interacting well on the lake. Such precious moments with them to end the week. I took the seventh picture in this photoset of them and eighth of a Mallard I had an intimate moment with having an intimate moment with a Moorhen too by this same lake Concorde lake. I also enjoyed seeing Swallow and Swift well on this hot day again.

It was so nice to be out for a walk on this hot and sunny day, seeing blue lakes and bright green leaves on trees sparkling in the sunlight, and admiring rich green and very long grass as well as all the trees I enjoyed taking in these sights today with photos I took across the day conveying the heat I feel. I took the sixth and ninth pictures in this photoset of views here today. 

It was a good day for wildlife and photos at home with the buddleia, roses out the back and front, steeplebush out again looking great in the sun adding to today’s pink theme and other flowers looking lovely. I took the first picture in this photoset of roses out the back with yellow flowers looking nice in the back garden too and tenth and final picture in this photoset of buddleia out the back with one bush in flower and the other not so a nice contrast. It was great to see Goldfinches, House Sparrows and Starling from home today with Collared Doves seen well too and Woodpigeons especially in the bright light of the lowering sun tonight. A jumping spider made a great sight in my room today too nice to see after hearing about them on BBC Springwatch. I hope you all have a nice weekend. 

Wildlife Sightings Summary: Two of my favourite birds the Green Woodpecker and Great Crested Grebe, one of my favourite butterflies the Marbled White, Moorhen, Mallard, Herring Gulls seen well I heard gulls well today too making great wailing noises evocative of the coast, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Jackdaw well from home too, Starling, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Swift, Swallow, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Small Skipper, Speckled Wood, Common Blue butterfly, Common Blue damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, jumping spider and moth.

#photography #birds #birdwatching #butterfly #butterflies #flower #flowers #bee orchid #swift #swallow #photos #happy #sunny #hot #green #blue #lakes #lakeside country park #hampshire #england #uk #world #earth #small skipper #jumping spider #st. john's-wort #ragwort #great crested grebe #green woodpecker #damselfly

[towntrendy-eng]

Dark Gothic Goddess. VERSACE. Ready To Wear Spring 2023

In the middle of the catwalk, behind glass, dozens of black candles were burning, when Donatella Versace set her Gothic collection for Spring 2023. The first four styles that create the introduction to the show have already demonstrated it: tight black dresses with bold cutouts complemented by high platforms with straps. And then another ten black outfits, including a leather biker jacket with fringes paired with a mini and fitted corset paired with pants. The next sets introduce colors - fuchsia and purple: here is a flowing fuchsia jersey dress versus a translucent purple dress combined with satin flared bells.

Then on the catwalk there were party dresses: strapless with fringes on the hips or tight-fitting ones with a hood. The leather bodysuit is laser cut and decorated with thousands of small metal studs. Patterns include tropical flowers, zebra stripes and repeating brand logos. They appeared on soft, slip-on petticoat dresses set with cargo pants. We also have several pairs of jeans in the collection. At the end of the show, black was once again on the catwalk.

The collection was complemented by petticoats, garters and lace veils in pink, purple and yellow, referring to pop culture from the 80s. Donatella Versace presented another such reference to the finale - Paris Hilton walked down the catwalk in a pink brocade dress and veil.

According to Donatella Versace, in the spring of 2023 ... a gothic goddess will reign. Black, purple and notes of fuchsia are the colors that run through the entire collection, creating both glamorous and sharp and subversive styles. Single cuts give character to dresses and tops, and a series of precise cuts co-create graphic details of patterns. Tough leather turns into fringes on motorcycle jackets, leather pants and skirts. Blazers are worn over cascading chiffon dresses and skirts with macrame curls, creating contrasts between structured and flowing forms.

Shapely, silhouette-highlighting dresses are finished in shiny metallic jersey. The fur-like coats and miniskirts are made of cut chiffon and upcycled lace. Metal studs cover the leather pants and jackets and pierce the delicate lace in a contrasting game. The prints shimmer with a gloomy glow in the colors of dark orchids and tropical pink. The print with the logo "Versace on Repeat" and the floral and zebra patterns harmonize with each other as well as with lace, fil coupé, inlays and metal studs.

Bags from the La Medusa line, including La Medusa Repeat, refer to the collection with spikes, leather fringes and mirror finishes. The Greca Goddess bag has been refreshed with shiny green and purple colors.

Photo Versace

#Youtube

[fatkidtradingcards]

🌸Djilba🌸 (first spring), Whadjuk + Yued country . . . IDs: 1. a field of pink everlastings/paper daisies amongst a wee log 2. a single blood orchid (Caladenia sp.) 3. a cluster of many blood orchids 4. a rabbit orchid (Leptoceras menziesii) 5. four chubby yellow cowslip orchids (Caladenia flava) 6. three small white flowers (Stylidium ?junceum) 7. purple fringe lilies on a little green vine (Thysanotus sp.) 8. four bright blue flowers in a row (Leschenaultia biloba) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci9132BPuB2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[vandaliatraveler]

The red spruce forest straddling the spine of Spruce Mountain is truly an island in the sky - a bit of boreal forest stranded by the northward retreat of the glaciers during the last ice age. Red spruce forests once cloaked vast expanses of the higher elevations of the Central Appalachians but were largely logged out of existence by the early 20th Century. Today, the remnant forests are slowly making a comeback, although they will never be restored to their full historic range. We are fortunate to have them at all. A stroll through one of these high elevation forests is a surreal experience and reveals a surprising diversity of plants and animals, many uniquely adapted to live in the cool, acidic environment.

From top: Spring-fruiting Entoloma mushrooms, most likely Entoloma vernum,  saprophytes that decompose organic matter for food; minniebush (Rhododendron pilosum), a blueberry-like shrub of the Central Appalachians that’s genetically closer to a rhododendron; black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa), a small, suckering shrub with blackish-purple berries and crimson-red leaves in the fall; yellow clintonia (Clintonia borealis), or bluebead lily, whose iridescent blue berries have the sheen of fine porcelain; pink lady’s slipper orchid (Cypripedium acaule), which clumps gregariously in the heath thickets on top of the mountain; the drop-dead gorgeous fringed polygala (Polygala paucifolia), also known as gaywings and flowering wintergreen, which for all the world looks like a dainty orchid but is actually a milkwort (Polygalaceae); and that lovely dwarf  dogwood, bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), a perennial groundcover more at home in Maine and Nova Scotia than West Virginia.

#appalachia #vandalia #west virginia #spruce knob #spruce mountain #allegheny mountains #monongahela national forest #picea rubens #red spruce #fungi #mushrooms #entoloma vernum #rhododendron pilosum #minniebush #aronia melanocarpa #black chokeberry #clintonia borealis #yellow clintonia #bluebead lily #cypripedium acaule #pink lady's slipper #polygala paucifolia #fringed polygala #gaywings #flowering wintergreen #cornus canadensis #bunchberry #flora #wildflowers #spring

[basket-of-loquats]

~rainbow bangtan~

[Image ID: The first image is a digital drawing of the seven members of BTS. Each member can be seen from roughly the waist up and poses in front of pastel rectangle background, each color matching their hair respective hair colors.

The first is Yoongi. His hair is dyed mint green and styled somewhat messily. He wears a white shirt with the Rolling Stones symbol on it under an unzipped black leather jacket decorated with multicolored pins. He wears two small silver necklaces, one with a small round black ornament. He wears a small black hoop earring in each ear. He is facing the viewer and glancing down and to the right. Text in the upper left hand corner of his rectangle reads “Mint + Yoongi”.

The second is Taehyung. His hair is dyed bright blue and is somewhat curly. On top of his head is a flower crown with clusters of miniature pink roses and various greenery. He wears a simple white shirt and a white button down overtop with the top buttons undone. His left hand is raised next to his face and slightly covering it. He is using the sign language for “I love you”. He wears several small cord bracelets of various colors. He faces the viewer but looks down  and to the left slightly with a smile. Text in the upper left hand corner of his rectangle reads “Ocean + Taehyung”.

The third is Seokjin. His hair is dyed purple and is styled neatly off his face. He wears a loose white button down shirt with a small purple BTS symbol on the chest. The first button is undone. He is smiling lightly and facing the viewer as he looks slightly to the right. Text in the upper left hand corner of his rectangle reads “Violet + Seokjin”.

The fourth is Namjoon. His hair is dyed light purple and and slightly grown out. He wears a black shirt and black pants. Overtop he wears a gray-brown trenchcoat decorated with simple criss-crossing beige lines and golden-brown trim. It has three black buttons, all of which are undone. He wears a silver necklace with a small pendant and simple silver hoop earrings.He is grinning broadly and he holds his arms in the shape of a heart above his head. His text is obscured by his pose, but would read “Orchid + Namjoon” if shown clearer.

The fifth is Jimin. His hair is dyed pink. His body is turned in profile with his right arm held loosely in front of him, and Jimin’s face is turned towards the viewer. He smirks ever so slightly. He wears a white shirt and a black leather jacket with silver and purple sequins on the back. The jacket is shrugged off his shoulders but stays on his arms. He wears a silver earring, necklace, and bracelet. Text in the upper left hand corner of his rectangle reads “Bubblegum + Jimin”.

The sixth is Jungkook. His hair is dyed a pinkish-red and styled asymmetrically. He faces the viewer and poses with his left hand in front of his chest showing a peace sign. He winks while glancing to the right, smiling. He wears his outfit from the IDOL music video, a white shirt under a yellow patterned suit jacket. He wears silver hoops in each ear. Text in the upper left hand corner of his rectangle reads “Cherry + Jungkook”.

The seventh is Hoseok.  His hair is dyed orange and the fringe falls across his forehead. He faces the viewer with his left hand held next to his face showing a peace sign. His right hand is in his jacket pocket. He grins widely, looking to the right slightly. He wears a black shirt, pants, and belt. On top he was a wine red jacket with a golden peacock designed on the right side.Text in the upper left hand corner of his rectangle reads “Sunset + Hoseok”.

The following images are closeups of each individual member. End ID.]

#bts #bangtan boys #namjoon #jin #yoongi #hoseok #jimin #taehyung #jungkook #guys #this one fucking killed me so you better not let it flop #also im so happy with it #please validate me or else i will cry #that is a threat #anyways #kim namjoon #kim seokjin #min yoongi #jung hoseok #park jimin #kim taehyung #jeon jungkook #rm #rm bts #seokjin #suga #hobi #jhope #v #v bts

[heaveninawildflower]

Botanical ilustrations by Mary Vaux Walcott

1) Cream Violet (Viola striata) 1918

2) Trillium erectum (1938)

3) Butterfly Violet (Viola papilionacea) 1923

4) Yellow Fringe Orchid (Habenaria ciliaris) 1926

5) American Wisteria (Kraunhia frutescens)  1925

6) Perennial Phlox (Phlox paniculata) 1934

7) Water Lilies (Castalia odorata) 1879

8) Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) 1920′s

Watercolour on paper.

Images and text information courtesy Smithsonian American Art Museum.

#botany #botanical illustration #botanical art #plants #flowers

[youtastedlove]

i really really want to dig up that wildflower i saw on the side of the road yesterday, the yellow fringed orchid, like there was a small patch of them so taking one wont hurt right?? but at the same time i think ive read somewhere that the success of transplanting wildflowers in your yard is small :/ so i need to do more research, or if anything research about getting some of its seeds, but then im afraid that someone will mow over them by the time they produce seeds!!!

[pangur-and-grim]

one of the enamel pins that went live yesterday was a “Breed Your Own Orchid”, and I thought it could probably use....... some explanation?

below is a breakdown of the genomes pictured, using the gene logic of Normal Orchid Game, to help you guess what the enamel pin “offspring” will look like:

ApAp / ApAp = the base shape, Phal. Aphrodite. because each parent is homozygous for that allele (ApAp x ApAp), their offspring can’t be any other shape.

HfHf / HcHc = the marking types, Harlequin Fringe and Harlequin Clown. Hc is dominant over Hf, so even though the offspring will be heterozygous (HfHc) they will all appear to be Harlequin Clown.

YW / YW = the base colours, Yellow and White. this gene is codominant - if a plant is Homozygous Yellow (YY) or Homozygous White (WW), it’ll appear yellow or white. if the plant is Heterozygous Yellow/White (Yw), it will appear cream. because both parents are Heterozygous, their offspring could be cream, yellow, or white in base colour.

RBk / PBk = the marking colours, Red, Pink and Black. Red and Pink are dominant, so even though both parents are Heterozygous for Black, it is not expressed. however, if an offspring gets one Bk from each parents, it will have visible black markings.

so from the above information, we can determine: 

all offspring will be Phal. Aphrodite shape

all offspring will have visible Harlequin Clown markings, but carry a hidden gene for Harlequin Fringe

the offspring will have yellow, white or cream base colours

the offspring will have red, pink or black marking colours

my manufacturer allows me to vary the colour schemes in a single batch, so it truly will be random which of the offspring you get (to mimic the random surprise of breeding orchids in the game!) 

I hope it’s as fun for y’all as it was for me to put together. here’s the link if you want to participate!

#Normal Orchid Game

[honeysuckle-mc]

Outfit 1

The challenge of this outfit was to use lace thigh-highs without creating an overly-sultry look. My favorite item here are the red leather heels, which really make the outfit with their glossiness and vibrant color. Their red is echoed in the sunglasses and handbag. The look corduroy blazer lends a dignified modesty to the look. The yellow top gives it a mod touch, and the blue of her necklace ads a cool note to the otherwise entirely warm toned outfit.

From top down: Vinyl Round Star Sunglasses, Millionaire Mansion Sunflower Turtleneck Top, Epiphany Eye Necklace BP, Bonjour Bizou Corduroy Blazer, Bonjour Bizou Houndstooth Skirt, Velvet Orchid Archived Reds Puzzle Bag, Callie’s Pop Up Shop Lace Thigh High Tights, Rio Archived Patent Red Mules.

Outfit 2

I styled this outfit around a very distincvtive black denim and plaid skirt.

I was a bit dissapointed that the studded belt on the skirt didn’t show more, but the fringed vest continued the Western theme the best out of all the alternative layers I looked at. The high white leather boots add glamor that’s echoed in the jewelry, but the star glasses bring whimsy. The outfit is completed with a bonnet with an oversized under-chin bow that feels like a risque choice, but it adds freshness that diverts it from falling into the typical “glammed country” look.

From top down: MS.TG Bonnet Hat, Spectacular! Star Glasses, The Jetset Gold Chain Necklace, Callie’s Pop Up Shop Klingon Vest, Velvet Orchid KISS T-Shirt Black, Fallen Angel Checked Denim Skirt, Epiphany Leather Arm Braclet Black BP, The Jetset High White Leather Boots

Outfit 3

This outfit was inspired lightly by the 1930s and 40s period murder mystery shows I have been watching lately. The earrings, neck scarf, and belt have a warm vintage feeling that is balanced out by the chunky geometric neutrals of her shoes, skirt, and bag. I loved the circular bag, and it is complemented by the orb earrings that actually have a scarab beetle at the top.

From top down:  Epiphany Bug Gold Earrings BP, Pearls Yellow Scarf, Royalty V Checked Top, Trails Dancing Queen Leather Belt, Limited Adiciton Gray Skirt Man, Epiphany Richie Bracelet, Bonjour Bizou Archived Moss Green Chloe Inspired Bag, Vinyl White Socks, Bonjour Bizou Laced Up Heels

#stardoll #fashion #stardoll lookbook #not mc #my post