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Aldrovanda had something of a green thumb. Van Pelt on the other hand couldn't keep his vines from touching things, he really like to touch anything he could get his tendrils on. After much training and spirit of cooperation, Van Pelt finally conceded to be helpful rather than just distracting. it had not been that Van Pelt had not wanted to be helpful, but rather that he was easily distracted by grabbing things.

Aldrovanda moved through the rows of his newly made garden. There would go the peppermint, there the lavender, there the thyme. Over there he'd grow some cayenne. Not far away was a cache of ginger he'd found that he felt would prove quite useful.

His skills were rather rudimentary skill, and at times he felt foolish. But he wanted to help others, that had to count for something right? Couldn't sheer force of will bring about skill?

He hoped so. Van Pelt made his opinions known with a rude gesture. Filling a water skin, Aldrovanda began the arduous task of watering his plants when he heard the sound of someone approaching.

Aldrovanda looked up and smiled at the unusual looking stallion. "I'm Aldrovanda, a healer in training." Van Pelt made an urgent gesture toward himself, "Oh yes, sorry. This is my companion Van Pelt. We're pleased to meet you. And you're not a bother. Did you need healing?" He asked a little hopeful but also a little warily. He needed to practice, but the last fiasco had kind of taken a bit of his ardor away.

"Oh," Aldrovanda was a little let down that the stallion didn't have a cut or something contagious that he could help out with, but then that's how things go. "Well, I am glad you're well." Van Pelt made an exasperated gesture, kind of irritable that he wasn't being talked about. Aldrovanda promptly ignored him for a few more minutes.

"Well, some of it has been planted but not a lot. Some of the earth is just turned. I've yet to plant the peppermint, thyme, cayenne, and lavendar. But over here,' he pointed. "I've already planted some chamoille, catnip and sage. I was going to try to figure out how to make or acquire and mortar and pestle to crush things in and determine what else would be useful to be planted. I'm just starting out."

He eyed Van Pelt for a moment before speaking, "Well, he's been with me as long as I can remember. He's part experiment, part inherited trait from my father. My mother...well, she's terrified of him. Van Pelt, not my father." he amended.

WC 177

"Thank you," said Aldrovanda beaming at the acknowledgement of his good work." At the next question, Van Pelt gestured wildly. "We are well, thank you. Van Pelt is a little exuberant today." The very next question had him blushing, "Well, you see....they met at night. By the time it was.....light out, well we were already on the way. She's not quite as afraid of them as before, but she's not exactly good friends with our...vine flowers.' Van Pelt made another rude gesture to show his opinion on that matter. "Van Pelt holds a grudge."

Aldrovanda smiled at the unintended (or he thought, unintended) pun. "Well, clearly you've never had a vine flower before. They are remarkable for holding grudges. They also love to hold on to things as you walk if they don't want to go where you're going. Very opinated little things they are." He nudged Aldrovanda affectionately, "But most of the times we do get along, and when we don't I never win so there's not much point in fighting about it." He chuckled a little to himself.

"Are there any herbs you're wanting or would you like to learn about some of these? I could share some of my knowledge," he blushed. "I dont' know much yet, I'm still learning. But well, I know enough to start with."

Aldrovanda smiled back at his companion. "Van Pelt seems to like you, or at least..." At this Van Pelt made some complicated gesture. "At least tolerate you."

Moving to the shade of a large oak, he grabbed up two small bags of seed. "Here's some chamomile and some peppermint I can spare. I don't think I have more at the moment of the others. But when I get more, I can find you and give some to you."

"The peppermint is excellent for nausea and other digestive problems. Topically, it can soothe sore muscles and it can calm you if you are having some anxiety.

Chamomile can be brewed into a tea for stomach issues. It can also be used to help someone you to sleep. It calms and soothes the mind."

Aldrovanda felt pleased that the other stallion was happy with his gift. Not everyone appreciated the value of herbs, but this stallion clearly did. "You're more than welcome. And yes, I'm here often. I mean, can't really carry everything away can I?" He laughed. "I'm here about four days out of seven. The rest are spent gathering or doing other such things as drying herbs, or research. I don't often get any patients. I could really use the practice," he admitted sheepishly.

The last time he'd tried to heal someone, he'd rather made it worse but he was eager to change that and learn from his mistakes. "You should come by again, we can exchange whatever knowledge we gain in the meantime." There was so much to do to make this garden what he wanted in his mind.