Beginners: Planting Pretty (Loud) Flowers on Herbology

Nathan Xavier

September 05, 2018 11:39 AM

Beginners: Planting Pretty (Loud) Flowers by Nathan Xavier

Nathan welcomed the beginners into Greenhouse One just inside the door. Autumn had fallen and it was now more comfortable inside the greenhouse than outside, which was a welcome change after some of the Arizona heat in September that even the Irish weather charms hadn’t entirely managed to mitigate. It was cool now, though, and raining. As the incoming students were all first and second year, he included a drying charm with each greeting he offered and then handed back their graded test on mandrakes.

Once everyone arrived and took a seat at one of the two long tables running down the center of the greenhouse, he took his customary lecture position between the two tables so he could be easily heard by everyone without using an amplification charm. With the rain pounding on the roof of the greenhouse, though, he did need to raise his voice a bit more than he usually did.

“Hello everyone, I hope you had a chance to look over your exam.” The latest arrivals probably hadn’t gotten to do much more than check their grade, but everyone else could have read his comments while they waited for class to begin. “Overall, I thought you did well, but if anyone has any questions about mandrakes or your grade, please come see me during office hours tomorrow or after class today.” He had thirty minutes between the end of the beginner lesson and the start of the intermediate class, so that should be plenty of time to field questions.

“Today we’re going to start our next unit looking at some magical flowers. We’ll be starting with honking daffodils. As you can guess from the name, these flowers are much louder than their muggle varieties. They otherwise look and grow very much the same, so wizards often plant the two varieties of them together to reduce the amount of noise they make while still having a large number of blooms.

“In front of each of you is a pair of flowerbed tins. Today, you’ll be filling them both with soil and planting a variety of seeds and bulbs. You’ll be able to recognize a honking daffodil bulb by the squeak it makes when you squeeze it. This sheet,” he waved his wand and pages with colorful pictures on them distributed themselves to each student, “has a list of the flowers we will be covering this unit, along with pictures of what their seeds look like and what their blooms look like. You may arrange your flower bed however you like, but you should draw a map of what seeds you place where so you can track how each species grows over the next few weeks. When you are done planting, we will put the tin marked ‘Sun’ in direct sunlight and the one marked ‘Shade’ on a lower shelf and we will also be able to see which species prefer which kind of lighting condition. Also, please remember to put your names on your tins!”

He then pointed out where the large bags of dirt were, and where the extra trowels and gloves were if they needed to borrow either of those. “Go ahead and do that, then we’ll talk more about the daffodils in the second half of the class period.”

OOC: By now, your characters are about halfway through October, so they know Herbology tends to begin with something practical - planting, pruning, examining, etc - which is done individually but you are allowed and even encouraged to chat and consult with your neighbors as you work. The class then concludes with a lecture in the second half, so this is a pretty typical lesson for everyone. Tag me if your character needs help, but otherwise have fun chatting and planting. Feel free to make up your own magical sounding flower names listed on the handout. As always, follow site rules and points are earned based on relevance, realism, quality, and quantity.

Subthreads:

Did someone put banana peels on these bags? by Evelyn Stones, Pecari

1 Nathan Xavier Beginners: Planting Pretty (Loud) Flowers 28 Nathan Xavier 1 5

Evelyn Stones, Pecari

September 05, 2018 2:48 PM

Did someone put banana peels on these bags? by Evelyn Stones, Pecari

Evelyn loved herbology and was halfway convinced that Professor Xavier was the best professor ever. This was in part because he was the only professor she really liked that taught a subject she didn't hate, which arguably meant that Professor Xavier and Professor Taransay were about tied, but that wasn't important. Today's lesson was particularly in favor of Professor Xavier's status as favorite because it made Evelyn think of her mom.

Her mom loved flowers, although she probably wouldn't appreciate the gift of flowers that made so much noise, and Evelyn liked to think of how much fun it would be to do this work with her mother. She wasn't entirely sure her mother would be able to hear the flowers, but that was not important to her. Since everything that was going on with her father had made Evelyn's mood even greyer than their magical Irish sky, she was grasping at reasons to think of home in any sort of positive way.

Evelyn took a moment to tie her hair into its customary bun, preferring not to get it caught in the dirt she'd be working with. Her yellow lipstick matched the daffodils she'd seen before and she was excited, hoping it was a good omen that her flower boxes would bloom well.

Figuring that the best place to start would be with the bags of dirt Professor Xavier had pointed out, Evelyn made her way over and grabbed onto one bag as best she could. Pulling hard to hoist the dirt into her arms, she was surprised to find that the bag was wet and her hands slipped off as if she'd not been holding on at all. She was even more surprised to hear a grunt as her elbow collided with something hard and squishy behind her.

"I'm so sorry!" Evelyn said as she turned around to see who she'd elbowed. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I slipped!"

22 Evelyn Stones, Pecari Did someone put banana peels on these bags? 1422 Evelyn Stones, Pecari 0 5

Julius Astley, Crotalus

September 16, 2018 3:14 PM

Gloves might be handy. by Julius Astley, Crotalus

Julius neither liked nor disliked Herbology. Granted, he didn't particularly enjoy getting dirty but he had a fair knowledge of plants thanks to his extensive research and also as a result of his mother, who controlled with a firm hand which plants got planted where in the gardens of the Astley manor. It was also useful to learn about the different plants as many of them could be used in potions which was a subject that was important to Julius.

He scanned the list of plants that he'd been given, searching for the ones that he thought would be most useful to him, assuming that they would be able to keep their plants when they were fully grown. He was going to include the daffodils in his tin though only to fulfil the lesson briefing. As well as those, he also chose Asphodel which could then become powdered Asphodel used in the Wiggenweld potion and also Dittany, which had many healing uses. Finally, he picked Moly which, when eaten, could counteract enchantments.

Satisfied with his decisions, he pulled his own pair of dragon hide gardening gloves from his bag - his mother had been insistant that he had his own pair - and went in search of the thing he'd need first - soil.

Just as he approached to where the bags were kept, he received a sharp elbow to his stomach and he grunted, stumbling back slightly. The impact hadn't been particularly painful but it had taken him by surprise and he rubbed at the spot. He was just about to bark some annoyed comment at the person when he realised, from the white hair and the green eyes and the shockingly garish yellow lipstick that it had been none other than Evelyn Stones.

The sharp reply that he'd been about to unleash died in his mouth. He hadn't really spoken to her since they'd made their rice krispie treats in potions but she had declared him a friend and he was still unsure what to make of that whole situation. If she was still sticking by that, then she was his only friend. This thought didn't hugely bother him but he couldn't help but think of his youngest sister, Aelia, who had been so concerned about him making friends that he perhaps thought he should at least try and be friends with Evelyn, if only so he could reassure his sister that he was indeed making friends when he returned home for Christmas.

"It's okay," he said gruffly, moving around her to reach for a bag of soil. He gave a sideways glance to her now wet hands. "You might want to get a pair of gloves."

20 Julius Astley, Crotalus Gloves might be handy. 1425 Julius Astley, Crotalus 0 5

Evelyn Stones, Pecari

September 16, 2018 4:01 PM

Get it? Gloves? Handy? Hehehe by Evelyn Stones, Pecari

Evelyn blushed and frowned. She wasn't sure what she thought of Julius' response to being elbowed in the stomach. Was he gruff because it hurt a lot and he was trying to act like it didn't? Was he actually just irritated with her for being clumsy? They had all their classes together so it wasn't like they hadn't seen each other for a while, but they rarely spoke and she didn't know how to read him just yet.

"I really am sorry," she said again. "I'll get some gloves."

She retrieved a pair from the gloves the professor had offered and then made her way back to the bags of soil where she picked one up and went after Julius. He seemed unused to physical labor but also not opposed to it. Trying to catch Ness' eye in a desperate 'what do I do?' expression and missing, Evelyn took a breath and approached him directly.

"Are you alright? I hit you pretty hard...." She realized he was already well ahead of herself on the task at hand and blushed again, more irritated. "I haven't even picked my flowers yet...Should I leave you alone?"

She wouldn't have called it a test, but his answer mattered to her and she didn't want to admit it. Why didn't he want to be friends?

22 Evelyn Stones, Pecari Get it? Gloves? Handy? Hehehe 1422 Evelyn Stones, Pecari 0 5

Julius Astley, Crotalus

September 16, 2018 4:28 PM

You're quite good at making jokes. by Julius Astley, Crotalus

Julius had already started to shovel soil into his flowerbed, deciding to preapre that first before going to retrieve his bulbs. Once that was done, he would then decide where which one was to be planted and sketch it out. He hardly noticed Evelyn's apology, more concerned with the task at hand. He also didn't know how to behave around her. If she had been somone like Katya, the answer would've been simple - shoot out some sharp, annoyed comment and then simply walk away, very much like he'd done at orientation to the irritating girl. Trouble was, he couldn't make up his mind as to whether he actually liked Evelyn. On the one hand, she was far too cheerful and garish, her lipstick colours blinding and her costume jewellery gaudy. Yet, she appeared to be rather educated and had an intelligent mind which was refreshing. She could hold a conversation and Julius found himself wanting to discuss various topics with her that he couldn't with anyone else.

When she disappeared to do as he suggested and retrieve some gloves, he thought that might be the end of their interaction for the day which stirred up feelings of relief that he wouldn't have to think about such an oddity anymore and yet, there was also a feeling of disappointment. At what, he wasn't quite sure and he was uncertain as to whether he wanted to find out.

However, she returned and appeared to be embarrassed. He was surprised that she was asking if he was alright. He frowned slightly. Inquiring as to whether he was okay would, he supposed, be a friendly thing to do and she had said more than once that they were friends and that she wanted to be friends. He wasn't sure as to why. Nobody else seemed to share the same sentiment.

Why was this whole thing so confusing?

"I'm fine," he told her, turning back to his work, thinking that that might be the end of the conversation when he heard her comment that she was behind and then ask if she should leave him alone.

He stilled.

Nobody had ever asked him that before. He'd either walked off and away from them, irritated or they'd left him. Nobody had ever asked him what he actually wanted. He found himself unsure of the answer. If he said yes, that came with the very likely possibility that there would be no chance of friendship whatsoever. If he said no, was he accepting her friendship and whatever the heck came with that?

Julius had no idea what friendship brought with it. He wasn't even sure if he even knew how to be friends with someboyd. Not that he'd ever admit that. To admit that you didn't have any friends felt embarrassing and Julius felt like he'd embarrassed himself enough over not knowing what rice krispie treats were and rambling about the meaning of life for one year.

In the end, he didn't answer her question. At least, not with words. He took off his gloves and moved closer to her and her work station, picking up her sheet of paper that was identical to his own, with all the flowers and their pictures on them.

"I started with picking my flowers before moving to the practical part. It depends on what you want to produce, I suppose. I'm assuming we get to keep what grows so I've personally gone for plants that are useful in potions: Asphodel, Dittany and Moly." He set her piece of paper down and looked at her, realising that he'd actually moved quite close to her. He took a step back before she accused him of overstepping the mark. In the back his head, though he'd never admit it if you asked, a very small voice declared that yes, he did want to be friends with Evelyn Stones. He just didn't know how to voice that and instead opted for helping her. A blush started to colour his cheeks and he looked pointedly away, suddenly taking a very big interest in the soil he put into his flowerbed. "We can... work together, if you like."

20 Julius Astley, Crotalus You're quite good at making jokes. 1425 Julius Astley, Crotalus 0 5

Evelyn Stones

September 16, 2018 4:41 PM

Bake at 365 for 1 hour and they come out soft in the middle! by Evelyn Stones

Evelyn did not expect Julius to be so close, nor to try to help her. She was quite sure she had not asked for help, nor did she need it. She did not particularly even want it. Then he looked up at her and blushed before looking away again. He offered to work together and a slow smile grew on Evelyn's face as understanding dawned on her.

For a moment, her attention seemed to expand. There were several students wandering about. There was Ness and Malikhi. There was sunlight beating in on them. There was Professor Xavier. There was this strange boy with dark hair and dark eyes, utterly unsure of himself despite everything else. It was almost funny to her that she was the more confident of them when she had so many reasons not to be and Julius seemed to have everything. Almost, but not quite. She knew all too well about the challenges of a domineering father and if Julius' life looked perfect, that said little of what it really was like.

"Sure," Evelyn said, not putting too much feeling into the word. In truth, she wasn't sure what she was feeling. It was a bit like discovering a new type of mushroom growing on a tree you were familiar with and it was exciting and beautiful and maybe a little dangerous, but also a bit sad because then you couldn't climb that part of the tree. Sort of bittersweet.

"You like Potions a lot," she said, remembering and acknowledging his statement as she began choosing her own flowers. She examined the list and settled on the ones that would be the most colorful and the brightest when they were fully bloomed, careful to include a fair few aromatic ones as well.

She planned to follow Julius' lead in starting her box first and preparing the soil before getting her bulbs and seeds, but realized she'd need to put more soil on top of them so she might as well start there.

"I'm going to get mine now," she said plainly. She wanted it to be an invitation and stayed in place for a moment, allowing him time to process. She also didn't want it to be an explicit one; if Julius wanted to be her friend, he'd have to get on with it.

22 Evelyn Stones Bake at 365 for 1 hour and they come out soft in the middle! 1422 Evelyn Stones 0 5

Julius Astley, Crotalus

September 16, 2018 5:23 PM

You confuse me. by Julius Astley, Crotalus

Julius' cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red when the response he received from Evelyn was just a simple 'sure' that sounded noncommital and unfeeling, like she didn't really care. Had he misread the situation? Maybe she didn't really want to be friends with him after all and she'd only been asking to be polite and he'd given the wrong answer. He kept his eyes fixed on his tin and slipped his gloves back on, deciding that it was better to carry on doing something rather than just standing around doing nothing.

Then, she made a comment about potions, as if she was trying to start a conversation. The tones of awkwardness didn't seem to be making that easy and he was terribly confused. She didn't seem to be bothered that they were working together but she seemed to be attempting to make conversation. Was there something he was missing? "Potions are very useful and they're logical, methodical. I think they can be far more lethal than a simple hex and are an incredible form of magic. You can do the most horrific things or create the most beautiful and that's what I'd like to do."

It was true. He wanted to experiment with potions, wanting to perfect ones that already existed and perhaps create new ones that could do incredible things. That's if his father would allow him to do so instead of forcing him into the government and politics.

When she announced that she was going to get her seeds and bulbs now, he didn't know if she was just telling him so that he knew or whether there was some kind of unspoken invitation lying there. He frowned slightly, the confusion evident on his face and he nodded, setting down his trowel. "I'll... come with you?"

He hadn't meant for it to come out like a question but it had done and he wanted to smack himself. Why was he so incompetent? Deciding the best thing to do was just go and get the seeds, he walked in that direction. He just hoped that, eventually, he'd be able to work this whole situation out.

20 Julius Astley, Crotalus You confuse me. 1425 Julius Astley, Crotalus 0 5

Evelyn Stones

September 21, 2018 3:59 PM

You're not the only one. by Evelyn Stones

Evelyn didn't want to say how much she appreciated Julius' love of potions. She agreed wholeheartedly that they were logical and methodical, not least of all because other forms of magic seemed so completely abstract for her still. She doubted she could ever perform a 'simple hex,' let alone a lethal one. But potions she could do. She still remembered that she'd had to ask Julius to light the fire under their cauldron when they worked together in Potions though, and didn't want to draw attention to her incompetence. Instead, she just smiled and nodded.

When he asked-- sort of asked-- whether he should come with her, she grinned. Putting a hand on his shoulder and pulling a serious expression, her smile only barely hidden and certainly betraying the joke, she nodded.

"I think that sounds great," she said. Dropping the serious face, and her hand, she smiled more sincerely. "Really, though, I'd like that."

Evelyn led the way to the seeds and bulbs, the list of flowers for her planter clutched in one hand. She plopped onto her knees and began sorting through them. Herbology was up there with Potions for her, and she enjoyed identifying each of the plants as she picked them out and added them to a growing pile in her arms.

"How did you decide how you wanted them to go in your boxes?" she asked as she worked, looking up at Julius momentarily before returning to her task. "I sort of want them to be pretty. I thought I might color-coordinate them so there's a gradient or something," she said.

22 Evelyn Stones You're not the only one. 1422 Evelyn Stones 0 5

Julius Astley, Crotalus

September 21, 2018 4:25 PM

I feel like I'm the only one who doesn't understand. by Julius Astley, Crotalus

Julius had inhaled sharply when Evelyn placed her hand on his shoulder. Apart from his family, nobody really touched him apart from if they bumped into him in the hallways or if he shook hands with someone. Only his sisters and his mother hugged him or messed with his hair or touched his face. Evelyn hadn't done any of those things but her hand was on his shoulder and it was making his brain short-circuit. It felt kind of nice that it was there but he also felt rather relieved when she removed it. At least he could forget about it all for a while and analyse it all later when he wasn't anywhere near Evelyn and her shoulder-putting hands. Was it something that she'd do now, given that she seemed to think they were friends?

He nodded stiffly and followed her, starting to feel a bit foolish and silly. Why was he freaking out about Evelyn wanting to be his friend and Evelyn putting her hand on his shoulder and Evelyn... Evelyn... Evelyn...

He grumbled under his breath, annoyed with himself. He was in the middle of Herbology and he should be focusing on the task at hand which was picking out the seeds he needed for his planter boxes. This wasn't him. He was focused and logical and sensible. If Evelyn wanted to be his friend, fine. If she didn't, that was also fine. Did it really impact his life?

Well, that really was a question that needed answering.

He suddenly realised that Evelyn was asking him a question and he looked up from not really examining the packets of seeds to look at her. "Oh, alphabetically." Then, he nodded, understanding her reasoning for her arrangement. "That would be good for aesthetic purposes. Alphabetical is just practical."

Now, this line of conversation was good. It had questions and answers that were logical and simple. He hoped that she carried it on in this fashion.

20 Julius Astley, Crotalus I feel like I'm the only one who doesn't understand. 1425 Julius Astley, Crotalus 0 5

Evelyn Stones

September 26, 2018 12:44 AM

No, just the only one who doesn't like not understanding. by Evelyn Stones

Evelyn was surprised to find a certain level of gruffness appear in Julius' voice again. He didn't seem irritated exactly and she didn't think he was annoyed to be working with her, but she wasn't sure what else to identify that tone as. Perhaps he was just awkward? That seemed too easy a conclusion, despite the wealth of evidence in favor of it. His eyes didn't seem awkward though. He had a strong, intentional gaze, and his eyes were guarded with the politeness that always marked his bearing.

"Have you ever climbed a tree before?" she blurted. It seemed unlikely and the thought of showing this strange, vaguely awkward, posh boy finally getting his hands dirty intrigued her. She registered a flicker of humor that she was now even thinking with words like 'posh' and decided that if Malikhi's funny British words rubbed off on her, then she'd be all the quirkier for it.

Evelyn's eyes watched him for just a moment longer before lightly dropping back to her task. Sorting bulbs and seeds by how they felt would've been impossible even without the gloves on and she'd prefer not to have a mess of a planter by the end of this conversation.

22 Evelyn Stones No, just the only one who doesn't like not understanding. 1422 Evelyn Stones 0 5