After browsing/scouring through that inaturalist app I discovered that in fact, there are sightings/documentations of several plant species for my locality (just not groundnut vine of course) on the app. What’s interesting is the fact most of the species are ones I would not the least bit expect to exist anywhere in my county, said surprising species include;

Lindera benzoin (Northern Spicebush)
Ptelea trifoliata (Common Hoptree)
Drosera intermedia (Spoonleaf Sundew)
Cyperipedium parviflorum (Yellow Lady’s Slipper Orchid)
Triadenum fraseri (Bog St. John’s Wort)
Gentiana linearis (Narrowleaf Gentain)
Phytolaccca americana (Pokeweed)
Carya ovata (Shagbark Hickory)
Geum triflorum (Prairie Smoke)
Clematis virginiana (Virgin’s Bower)
Melampyrum lineare (Narrowleaf Cow wheat)
Mimulus ringens (Allengeny Monkeyflower)
Goodyera pubescens (Downy Rattlesnake Plantain orchid)
Arisaema dracontium (Green Dragon)
Claytonia virginica (Virginia Spring Beauty)
Andromeda polifolia (Bog Rosemary)
Euonymus obovatus (Running Strawberrybush)
Penstemon hirsutus (Hairy Beardtongue)

Checking the map, it appears that some are not only in this county, but are not far from some of the closestby towns, PLUS potentially Ellice Swamp (you can’t map marker THAT close to Gadshill with wetland species and NOT be referring to Ellice Swamp). It is also interesting to note that some species were NOT on the county’s map sightings (Christmas Fern and Canadian Hemlock being the big two, almost concerning me just a bit).

Most of these species I’ve listed I’d only be able to find in spring or summer, not to mention most of them are absolutely-do-not-collect/touch plants whether due to sensitivity/rarity and/or just because they are on biologically protected land (The sundew and the orchids I can say that with an absolute certainty; do not even touch, even seedpods are off limits).

That being said though, seeing some of these species listed for this county gives me some hope that I may one day find them in some local woodlots (Claytonia and Green Dragon being the ones I’m holding the most hope for; their habitat preferences tend to overlap Trillium and Jack in the Pulpit territories in most ecological data). The do-not-touch species tbh I would just enjoy to just see with my own eyes and I’d be satisfied. Guess we’ll see in the future won’t we?

I still remember back in the days of College where I’d be (not exaggerating) scarfing down containers upon containers of oatmeal cookies as I’d be studying or working on assignments late into the night. Weird shit yo.

Also today in particular due to MHW I was thinking more about Kayla’s “coming of age hunt going wrong” canon arc more; Perhaps the beast she fights decides to leave, so then Kayla has to struggle to find a way to get it down, and in essence learns of another ability she has- which also leads to her body just going “this is too much good’day ma’m,” and crashing from strain.

I like how I should be thinking about writing solutions when it comes to worldbuilding but instead I’ve been quietly thinking about Terra, a decent lot

For one her personality. Thanks to the MHW AU version of her (+ discussions with a friend when it comes to Terra/Kayla’s story arcs) I’ve thought more about Terra in actual canon-

I still believe she should have the air of a coolheaded lonewolf, but I do think that even if subtle that she should show much more emotions. When more intense emotions emerge they just BOOM out and she has to take her emotions by the reigns and regain composure, such as rambly excitement about weapons/magic where her face/voice hold a almost childlike glee, or maybe loud Aghast at something Riivar said or something. In more subtle cases being flustered/blushing for Kayla in certain moments (probably then looking away and ruffling her own hair or some other stim), actually showing disappointment and maybe irritation for when something she’s looking forward to isn’t there. The biggest challenge as both writer and artist will be more negative subtle emotions expressed, by that I’m thinking The Gravestone Scene (no details here cause SPOILERS NOT LEAKING); I imagine a slurry of emotions showing in her eyes and expression as she somehow calmly circles around it

(brain imagines something similar to her “default resting bitch face”, which is where the challenge lies; visually differentiating them), then seeing her trying to contain so much of those strong emotions as they try to leak out only for them for her to perhaps fall on her knees in distress.

I also want her to show SOME form of emotions/nature towards old friends/family- she can hold some of her composure but you see some of it relax before those she’s familiar with; a teasing/haughty child towards Riivar, a more worried/vulnerable self toward her sister Abbey, etc.. Maybe even have her quietly cling to them in crowded/uncomfortable settings. Basically make her more human.

But lastly is a bigger thought for a change for Terra; a little bit of her plot/story/background (if spoilers somehow show I am sorry but it’s a key chunk of her arc to think about). A lot of her story/arc is about opening up more, and also coming to terms of her heritage; despite her hatred for her Biological Family (and by extension the heritage she knew till now), she comes to learn more, and reclaim part of her heritage/culture which she can be actually proud of, embrace and love (that does not mean coming to love her Bio. family, that’s different). Originally some of her own changes in her body would make it that she has to face and try to learn about about her

heritage

which at this point she still hates, and then learn in her own way how to control it despite its dangerous nature, but at this point I’m not sure that really balances well? Basically I feel that “what runs in her veins will kill her and who she loves” needs to be nerfed out, and instead make it that she just avoids her latent powers due to just the hate she developed through her bio. family. This may mean the amount of power/influence in her finale may drop tremendously but at the same time it may make it better (perhaps making what she does to turn the tables in the final battle have more meaning too? “the hungry fire consumes the venom” so, maybe).

Writing this down this probably is a wall of text that is senseless to others but I wanted to put down digitally anyways as I continue to mill about Terra.

The latest Voltron season was fucking wild but awesome. And the release of that 58 minutes of Asagao to Kase-san was so indescribably pure my soul is wasted from how good it was. Need to nibble on some strawberries now.

Despite the fact that I failed at the opportunity of mermay I at least got lucky on developing some more thoughts/ideas on Hoepian Mermaids….

kihaku-gato:

~~icr have I ever done a ramble post about OCs in swimsuits that suit their styles or what???~~

Fuck it if I’m stuck indoors from the ungodly heat I mind as well. HERE WE GO SWIMSUIT OC THOUGHTS UNDER THE CUT (cause I know ya’ll ain’t here for a powerpoint on fictional characters choosing their preferred swimwear. Hence, under the cut).

Also footnote from future Gato- GODDAMNIT I SHOULD’VE CONSIDERED OLD/EDWARDIAN-ESQUE SWIMSUITS for more variety but too freaking late let’s go

IF OCs WERE TO CHOOSE SWIMSUITS

Terra and Abbey-

I shockingly couldn’t find a universal term for a swimsuit that has maximum coverage (Diver’s swimsuit and Muslim swimsuit were as close as it got). Abbey sunburns super easily and Terra hates most skin exposure in general, so both would be very similar in swimsuit type (Terra’s could potentially have bare arms but that’s up for debate) even if the colouring/patterning would be different. Terra’s would be minimalistic not unlike the example above, with one singular dark colour with a bold colour (or bold stripes) for the sleeves/leggings, maybe a black/maroon base with lighter red/black patterns. Abbey’s would be patterned in such a way as to mimic the straps of fancier/skimpier swimsuits, with fairly bold colours (Hoepian Abbey is limited by her pastel base colours, however AU Abbeys would probably seek black/white/red gothic colour schemes). Abbey’s potentially would have neck/head coverage akin to Muslim swimsuits (cause yet again, Abbey sunburns easily, she can use all the coverage she can get). Terra would probably still wear a jacket over her swimsuit or something.

Harriet

I have thought/rambled about Harriet’s swimsuit of choice before, and since then the options/thoughts of what she’d choose has diversified since

(while I’ve chosen the three above, I could just as easily picture Harriet going for girlier/dress-like swimsuits if the mood were to strike her). Out of my OCs she’s the one I could see having a diverse choice. Casual bikini with shorts on a super casual day, a Diver’s swimsuit when doing salvage/adventures in deeper waters, or a racing swimsuit for competitive water-terrained duels. Patterns/colours in these examples aren’t too far off from what Harriet would choose. Pinks/reds/white/blacks/blues are all par for the course for her. While not perhaps my best work I have tried drawing Harriet in canonical swimwear before.

Kayla

Kayla’s for me was a bit more of a struggle to find examples for, weirdly enough, as I can imagine what she’d wear but finding a visual example is another challenge entirely. Hers would probably be a combination of these three. Floral print would be Kayla’s thing.

One time I drew Kayla in a bikini but A- that was before Kayla’s vast body redesign and B- we don’t talk about that drawing.

Anne

???? Maybe? I haven’t had as much time to think about Anne in anything beyond her default gear so it never crossed my mind that much.

Demauria

Demauria’s rivals Kayla’s swimsuit for difficulty of finding “the one” swimsuit and instead liking the characteristics of several different ones. (you know how many skimpy af swimsuits I had to through for Goth/Punk swimsuits? it’s madness). While many of us (@shiroi-ttebayo and Kayla in particular) would probably wish for Demauria to be in something hella frilly/cute, Dema would probably beg to differ lol. Skeleton/skull print, maybe longsleeved and/or with a skirt. One piece regardless. Like Kayla I’ve drawn Demauria in a swimsuit before but yet again we don’t talk about that drawing!!!

Oh and small note since it didn’t cross my mind till now; Dema would also probably have one of those swimsuits that has folds/frills jutting out of the chest area. Maybe.

Riivar

……………….. actually my brain has fried in this point so tbh idfk lol. Something stylish, expensive, with straps, maybe a skirt.

One plus with irrigating plants from well water with no fertilizer/pesticide additions; can soak that sweet sweet ice-cold water onto your arms/face on a hellishly hot day to gain limited heat immunity while working.

Tbh the ultimate tragedy about me probably selling the alpine strawberry plants this June 2nd is that I never even got to taste what they tasted like. I hear they taste unique from their non-alpine brethren but I’ll never get to see how true that is. Like, I COULD keep two plants just to see for myself but…. I need that plant-growing real estate yo.

4 Spring flowering tree gijinka design concepts/ideas

Cause art is frustrating and CAUSE WORDS WILL DO

Magnolia– largest/tallest/oldest of the four. Good charmer with birds (especially berry-eating birds). Leather/thick fabric petal dress. Very kind Oujo-sama/royal kind of air, despite this occasionally you’ll get these hints of a wild (almost witch-like) side, like she’s seen/been before the time of her christening as a royal. She knows a far more ancient time.

Cercis (aka. Redbed)- Heart-motif dainty tomboy (odd combo I know). Speedy/sporty despite the misfortune of injuring herself a lot due to said speed. Bees REALLY like her, no I don’t just mean honeybees, BEES REALLY LIKE HER, she would probably love leafcutter bees. I imagine she’d wear suspenders.

Malus (aka. Apple)- Country hick. Phyiscally stouter/rounder than the other 3. Wild curly hair that gets so annoyingly tangled when it gets long that she has to cut it a lot. Pink/red/white Plaid, probably a dress or apron. Motherlyish. Probably thinks you should eat more. She finds bees cute and spiders chill but she is terrified of caterpillars. Oriole birds like her.

Asimina (aka. Pawpaw)- tall but not as tall/built as Magnolia, is probably quite lanky. Green with hints of maroon-red clothes that are quite simple/practical and also full of pockets. Shy/aloof compared to the other 3. Probably lives in a woodland cottage. Despite her dark skin she burns from the sun easily. She doesn’t insist/advertise on people eating her baking as Malus does, but her baking has a taste that Malus sometimes gets jealous of and wonders why tf Asmina doesn’t show off her food more.