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 Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 7:59 pm
The Hill The Hill is the steepest ground in the arboretum. Home to many upland species of hardwood, a great variety of plants can be found here. There are creeks and gulleys running through the woods to empty into the river below, so watch your step. The ground is fairly open throughout most of the Hill because of the age of the forest. However, in treefall gaps where sunlight can reach the ground, a thick tangle of new growth can be found. Topsoil washes away quickly from these slopes, so well-rooted trees must hold tight to whatever soil they can. The arboretum trail runs through the Hill in several places; it's best to stay on it if you don't know where you're going! Who may post:Any parent with a plant anchored in the Hill Staff members People invited by someone listed above
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Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 11:43 am
Songjewel led the new adoptive parents along the trail through the Hill along the backside of the Arboretum. They went around curves and crossed wooden beams that held back the dirt of the trail from washing away.
Finally, Song spotted some blue flagging tape on a branch on the left side of the trail.
"Aha! There's our first one. This way," she beckoned, waving her hand over to the marked tree. She pushed through the few branches blocking the way and the clumped snaggles of brush and vine. A little ways off the path there was a small gap in the canopy, just big enough to let a few spots of light hit the floor.
There, in one of the patches of light, was a lone poison ivy plant with a flag stuck into the dirt beside it.
"Lily, this is your plant. I'd like you to take a moment to get acquainted with it." Songjewel beamed at the girl.
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Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2005 7:10 pm
Lily walked over and bent down next to the tiny flag. She looked over the small plant fingering the leaves softly. "It seems really healthy." Lily turned to looked at Song over her shoulder, but meet a small, redheaded girl. "Ehh?!?"
"Hello. I'm Toxicodendron radicans." She smiled but screamed abit when Lily fell backward on to her rump in shock. Toxic grabbed on to a bit of Lily's hair to keep from falling off her shoulder. "Watch it! It high up here!" She complained as Lily took her off of her shoulder.
"Wha-what are you?!" Lily asked then listening to Toxic's explaination that she is part of the plant. "So... Wait... I'm taking care of you?!" The choppy haired sprite nodded happily. "This is not what I expected...."
"Is that bad?... Oh! And you can call me Toxic. That's what most do."
"No that's not bad."
(Sorry... My computer crashed a couple of days ago.)
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Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2005 8:13 pm
Saniiro looked closely at Lily, and realised that a small being with red hair was there as well. Is that the young 'child' they were suposed to take cake of? He frowned slightly and mumbled something to himself about having more males in the family.
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Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2005 8:34 pm
Song was beside herself with laughter as Lily met her plant's sprite and promptly fell over. She had known they might react this way when they first learned of the sprites.
"Oh yes, there's something you should all know about your plants. Part of the reason we've started this program and questioned you so carefully is that each of your plants has a very special personality. In fact, each one has a little sprite associated with it. So you'll be able to ttell what your plant needs by asking them."
She twirled a lock of her violet hair around her finger, anxiously awaiting their responses. What they did now would determine the future of their adopted plants.
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Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2005 9:18 pm
Saniiro looked from the plant sprite to Songjewel, and promptly closed his journal. He walked forward and nodded, "I have no objections or comments. It only makes looking after them much more challenging and exciting to me."
As he spoke, he slipped the journal into his bag once more and straightened out the creases on his shirt.
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 4:51 am
"I guess that's good. Well Toxic, I guess you're part of the family then. I still think this is a bit... odd, though. " Lily laughed also and watched as Toxic climbed up her arm and sat on her head.
"Can I sit up here?" Toxic asked in a high pitch voice. Lily had to remind remind herself not to shake her head in response. "Sure." This was still pretty different.
"Yay!" Standing up carefully, Lily turned to Song with a queastioning look. "If she's a sprite of the plant, how far can she go from it?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 8:41 am
"Well, we'll have to see. So far, I think they can go anywhere inside the Arboretum. I haven't tried taking Phili...that's the nickname for my little Philodendron...outside the fence yet, so I don't know."
It seemed like they weere all okay with the idea of a walking, talking sprite, even it was only a few inches tall. That was a good sign. Song smiled to herself.
"Lily, do you think you can remember this spot? It's flagged from the trail, I don't know if you saw that when we came in. Toxic can come with us if you'd like, but it's time to move on to the next plant."
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 7:22 pm
"Ah, well I guess we'll find out eventually." Lily said walking away from the plant carefully. "Yeah, I think I can. It shouldn't be too hard... Toxic, would you like to come with?"
The young girl bounced up and stumbled slightly. Regaining her balance and grabbing on to a bit of hair she laughed. "Yeah!"
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Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 2:57 am
Saniiro turned towards Songjewel and asked, "Excuse me, Miss, but which plant are we going to next?" He made a mental note on remembering the path here, and also about not taking his sprite too far where his, or her, plant is.
Giving up on trying to remember the details, he took out his journal and scribbled some notes in it.
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Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 7:41 am
"Actually, we're headed to see Fire Cherry. It likes upper slopes. So you'll get to see your plant next!" Song smiled at Saniiro. He seemed rather anxious to meet his plant, and she was more than happy to oblige.
Back on the trail, Song looked each way, her hair bobbing after her, and then decided on a right. They continued down the trail a little ways until a red piece of flagging tied to a tree to the right of the trail came into view.
"Oho, there he is!" Song pointed, not to the tree with the flag, but a small seedling about 3 feet away. The spot was partially shaded, but still recieved enough sun from the trail to have sun most of the day.
"Here we are Saniiro, your very own Fire Cherry."
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 11:55 pm
Pfht, she did it again. Krys lagged immensely from the group. Her short legs just were not working the best today. The scenery didn't help the best.
Looking up at the sky, Krys almost walked bodily into Saniiro but she heard Songjewel talk about the sprites. Looking back to her own level, Krys dug her heals in when she was face to face with the taller man's mid-back. Silently, she took a step back, as if she had really stopped there instead of almost into him.
The woman peered around the obstacle in the way to get a view of "Toxic", listening to everyone talk. Her eyes were wide with shock. Slowly, her expression was replaced by one of delight as a side of her mouth curled up in a smirk. She hadn't been able to read too much into the Black Walnut file, but she did hear how the tree would poison and kill any plant are it. Krys had to meet the sprite that went with it.
They moved on, and Krys continued to follow. She still hadn't said a word, and wasn't about to yet. She didn't want to ruin the moment Saniiro would have with... Fire Cherry, was it?
Maybe now would be a good time to mention she had no idea how they got there? Nah, she'd deal with that one later...
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 2:22 am
Saniiro approached the plant slowly, and looked at it for a moment. It was then that a little face popped out from underneath a leaf of the plant. The face was one of shock before turning into one of annoyance, "Hey! What're you staring at? Never seen a plant sprite before?"
Saniiro almost laughed as he turned to Songjewel, "He's perfect."
The sprite climbed onto the top of his plant, which wasn't very tall at all, and shouted, "Who, me? Of cause I'm perfect! Now, are you the one who's going to take care..." Before he could finish, Saniiro had already nodded, guessing his question.
"So, am I supposed to call you father?"
"That won't be nessesary, although you may do so if you wish." Saniiro answered as he placed him on his palm, "Can I call you Fiery... Maybe Cherry sounds better." At that comment, Fire Cherry yelled from Saniiro's palm, "Fiery! Do not ever call me Cherry!"
"Perfect." Saniiro nodded and he placed him into a pocket in his sling bag. "Let's go for a walk with the rest."
Firey said nothing at first, but 'humphed' and looked on as Saniiro returned to the group.
"That's fine with me."
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 5:29 am
Toxic giggled at the new sprite, looking down at him from Lily head. "He's amusing." She stated and began to climb down on to Lily's shoulder.
"Well now..." Lily said, watching the new plant and his 'parent' meet. Toxic clung to Lily's shirt as made her way to a pocket on it. Safely inside, she popped her head out and looked around again. "It looks weird from here...."
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 6:44 am
Song tried har to contain her laughter, and almost succeeded. Her grin split her face so widely that she thought her cheeks might be permanently stretched.
"I'm glad you're...er...getting along, Saniiro. And Ch...Fiery, remember that Saniiro is new to the arboretum. Heehee." A chuckle escaped as Song checked her mental list. "Alright, you've already met Toxic and Fiery...I supose it's time to go see Black Walnut. He's toward the bottom of the Hill, but that's okay since we have to go to South Bottom for our last one anyhow."
She led the way further down the path, keeping an eye out for another flag.
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