A few of the native species in our backyard, and the stream bank I'm fighting knotweed, buckthorn, and honeysuckle on. Everything is a lil fuzzy because it's cottonwood season. Spent maybe four hours out there today pulling buckthorn and digging up multiflora rose roots! Exhausting work, but it's worth it to make room for these, very motivational to simply think "well I have to protect the irises."

Pictured in order: blue flag iris; the streambank planted with already-occurring black elderberry, more blue flag iris, marsh marigold, sweetgrass, bullrush, fireweed, and Culver's root; cranesbill geranium; sensitive fern

Things planted today:

Tamarack (American larch, Larix larcina)

Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea)

Shrubby St. John's Wort (Hypericum prolificum)

native blue flag iris

It doesn’t have to be the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don’t try to make them elaborate, this isn’t a contest but the doorway

into thanks, and a silence in which another voice may speak.

Ψ Quebec Qualities ↝

pt; Quebec Qualities

Bobcat - when one's masculinity is tied to being from Quebec. Blue Flag Iris - when one's femininity is tied to being from Quebec. Yellow Birch - when one's neutrality is tied to being from Quebec.

First three stripes come from the mammal/flower/tree themselves. Blue, yellow, green, and white are commonly found on a province/territory's flag or coat of arms. Bobcat [link], iris [link], birch [link].

Tagging @radiomogai @io-archival @obscurian @rabidfreak @goregender

Name: Karen Minazuki/Cure Aqua

Series: Yes Precure 5 + Go Go

Gender: Female

Status: Alive

Family: The Minazuki Family

Flower Motif: Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor)

Flower Meaning: Wisdom

Weapon of Choice: Aqua Ribbon + Ocean Fleuret

Associated With: Interdimensional Hero Club (Ally)

Stationed At Which Cafe: Portland, OG, USA

Hero Form Appearance: It’s literally her Precure outfit… but with iris patterns on the blue parts. No need for any changes!

Full Bloom Gauge Location: None, due to being a Precure

Guardian: Coco, Nuts, and Syrup (Yes Precure 5’s Fairies)

Favorite Food: Nagashi Somen

Parallel To: None

Some native Illinois animals and plants that I drew for a work event earlier this month! Uncolored versions of these were printed out as a coloring activity for kids (and fun-loving adults :3). It was a really fun time! I think the butterfly was the most popular choice to color in.

Animals clockwise from upper right: Monarch Butterfly, Plains Garter Snake, Boreal Chorus Frog, White-Tailed Deer, Red-Tailed Hawk