YellowBootPigeon

This week I started drawing again. I used to draw as a kid, but I stopped. I tried creating funny versions of GW2 monsters to practice.

Title: The Pungent Jacaranda Bloom

Research Log: #2

Location: Andrean’s Botanical Garden

My name is Emberwind. From time to time, I like writing stories about researching animals, plants, and characters. Today’s log is…..

“Another day in Andrean’s botanical garden. The sun was sharp, and it left a burning feeling on the back of my neck.

But…

Yesterday, we met someone at the tavern. We talked about the research we had done on our Juvenile Jacaranda. After a few good drinks, she asked us to check out her wagon. She was a traveler with a large wagon full of fascinating collectibles: insects, tools, dried plants, seeds, mushrooms, and… a glass jar filled with fresh Jacaranda blooms.

When she opened the lid of the jar, a strong scent filled the room. It was pungent, yet pleasantly sweet. She asked me to take one of the flowers for our research. As I carefully picked one from the jar, she told me that some adventurers grind the dried flower stems and use them in their dishes to give them a hypnotizing aroma.

Today back in Andrean’s botanical garden, we placed the flower on the table and wrote down our observations:

Strong, sweet, and pungent aroma, almost hypnotizing.

Deep purple in color.

The inside was soft and smooth with a glossy sheen, while the outside was rougher.

It has a calyx-like shape: broad at the top, narrowing into a slender neck, before widening again at the base.

Long yellowish stamens with orange cross-shaped anthers.

The base has a thick, hard green section where the flower attaches to the fern-like branches.

As we talked and evening began to fall, we noticed the flower had developed a faint shimmer. It almost looked as though it gave off a soft light.

I wonder what it tastes like…”

My first landscape drawing based on one of my screenshots.

Title: Jacaranda

Research Log: #1

Location: Andrean’s Botanical Garden

My name is Emberwind. From time to time, I like writing stories about researching animals, plants, and characters. Today’s log is…..

“Today I paid another study visit to my good friend Andrean and his juvenile Jacaranda. The plant or rather, sentient plant has a total length of roughly two humans. About two-thirds of this consists of root and trunk structure.

We observed that the trunk is actually a root base, made up of hardened bark and root tissue. It reminds us of the body of a large toad. Along its sides, it appears to have thickened roots that function as arms. Although these are used during attacks, their range of motion seems fairly limited. On each side it has two pairs of woody knobs that resemble eyes. Since these structures are hardened and don’t appear capable of movement, we suspect that a Jacaranda perceives its surroundings through sonic, thermal, or electrosensory means, using these knobs in combination with its root system.

Growing from the trunk is a cluster of branches covered in fern-like leaves. I have been told that, if properly cared for and allowed to mature, a Jacaranda will eventually bloom. At that stage, every fern-like branch becomes completely covered in small purple flowers. This particular specimen is still young, and its branches are little more than fresh shoots.

The roots are especially interesting. The Jacaranda appears to use them to gather airborne ions. By concentrating these ions, it can unleash powerful electrical shockwaves against potential threats. We witnessed this firsthand when the plant attacked a mouse after being startled.

Today the plant seemed to have buried itself underground. According to Andrean, it does this when the air is dry or when it enters a resting state. During this period, it drives its roots deep into the soil to absorb water and recover its energy.

Tomorrow we will continue our research, focusing on photosynthesis and combat behavior….”

Link to my jacaranda bloom story: bloom story