Tag: Nature

Series – The Flowerman – Issue 005

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Series

Issue 004

“Tula! Thank goodness. Give me a hand,” Triff said.

Rows of water tanks filled the hydroponics lab. A system of heated pipes fed warm water and nutrients from above, misting a veritable jungle of plants.

Crest loosened his collar, trying to acclimate to the sudden shift from the cold sterile hallway to the humid laboratory. Triff hurried toward a shallow tank, unwrapping the creature. An arm fell limply from the folds of the lab coat. Something dropped from its hand and skittered across the floor.

“I hope it isn’t too late…” Triff said. She gently placed the flower in the water, propping it up against a thick pad of water hyacinth.

Tula examined the giant flower.

“Incredible! He is by far the largest example of Passiflora Incarnata I’ve ever seen!”

“He?”

“It has stamen only,” Tula said, pointing to the flower. “The root structure is unlike anything… wah?!”

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Photo Prompt – The Nature of Writing #6

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Hello Readers, Writers, Teachers, and Children! I often take inspiration from nature when I’m writing, and I love to photograph flowers, trees, insects, and anything else that will be still long enough. So, I’ve decided to combine the two with The Nature of Writing photo prompt.

I know praying mantises can’t hurt you, but I always get the feeling that these things can and will murder me if I’m not careful. This one was big enough to.

Take this photo for inspiration and run with it! Whatever you happen to discover, leave it or link it in the comments below. And remember to stop and smell the garlic blossoms!

Series – The Flowerman – Issue 004

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Series

Issue 003

Triff and Crest slipped through a side door and hurried toward the Botanicals Wing. Triff was careful not to look directly at the surveillance cameras, catching them in her peripheral vision. Crest grabbed the back of her elbow and slowed her pace.

Hydroponics was two doors down on the left. Triff had a beehive in her stomach. It was quite illegal to bring unauthorized specimens into the facility. She struggled not to leap the remaining distance. A door swung open and shut. She stopped abruptly almost dropping her cargo.

An aging man in a white lab coat stood in the hallway staring down at a clipboard. Triff looked at him, then looked at the sign above the door across from him.

Hydroponics

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Crest urged her forward. She shuffled toward the door and turned when the scientist looked up over thick glasses and whistled.

“Now that’s really somethin’!” he said. “Where’d you get it?”

“Well… er…” Triff stammered.

“We grew it,” Crest stepped in. “New growth serum we’ve been developing. Initial results are,” he gestured to the flower, “promising!”

“I’ll say! Keep up the good work!” the scientist said, returning to his business.

Triff and Crest fell into the hydroponics lab, slamming the door behind them. Triff took a deep breath and sighed, slumping against the door. She was beginning to relax when a voice startled her.

“Oh, hi Triff! Whatcha got there?”

Issue 005

Photo Prompt – The Nature of Writing #4

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Hello Readers, Writers, Teachers, and Children! I often take inspiration from nature when I’m writing, and I love to photograph flowers, trees, insects, and anything else that will be still long enough. So, I’ve decided to combine the two with The Nature of Writing photo prompt.

I spent three nights trying to photograph this caterpillar. He disappeared every morning and reappeared each night on whichever leaf he was eating the night before. I don’t know what species he belongs to, but he’s got a wild fashion sense. Fake black antenna (or eyestalks?), fluffy tail, and a row of white poof balls.

Fancy

I finally got this picture by laying on my back on the stairs and aiming a headlamp at the adjacent leaves while trying to get the zoom just right. It was worth it.

Take this photo for inspiration and run with it! Whatever you happen to discover, leave it or link it in the comments below. And remember to stop and smell the garlic blossoms!

Series – The Flowerman – Issue 003

Series

Issue 002

Two deep green eyes blinked slowly beneath the canopy of petals. They were glazed and tired. The three root tips that made up its fingers scratched at the ground and pointed toward the reflection pool.

Triff stared into the creature’s eyes.

“It needs water,” Triff said.

“How do you know?” Crest asked.

The Flowerman blinked and flexed its fingers.

“It’s telling us,” Triff said. Crest stared at her for a moment, conflicted.

“Okay… do you think it’s safe to touch him?”

Triff considered the danger for a moment, then dismissed it.

“I don’t know, but we can’t let it die. This discovery is too important.” She took off her lab coat and laid it over the creature, lifting it up without touching it. “We have to get it to Hydroponics. This water is filthy.” She sneered at the reflection pool. “And Crest… Let’s not tell anyone about this just yet.”

Crest sighed, then nodded.

“Okay, but first…” Crest wrapped the lab coat loosely around the creature until only its bloom was showing. “If anyone asks, we’ll say we’re working on a new growth serum..”

Triff nodded.

“Let’s hurry.”

Issue 004

Poem – Confessions of an Avid Author (or Artist) #5

I used to have

A pet

Rhinoceros Beetle.

His name was

Rocksteady.

He really liked

To burrow into

Peaches

Or roll them around.

He was really

Strong.

Once,

I caught him doing

Push-ups

With his climbing

Log.

The good thing about

Beetles

is, they don’t really

Die.

They just become

Display Pieces.

I think

It’s what he

Would have

Wanted.

Poem – A Dung Beetle: Disgusting Beauty

An Emerald set in

Shimmering Gold and

Burnished Copper.

A priceless jewel

Made for rolling

Dung into a hole.

I guess if you’re going to do it,

You might as well do it in style.

Photo Prompt – The Nature of Writing #2

Hello Readers, Writers, Teachers, and Children! I often take inspiration from nature when I’m writing, and I love to photograph flowers, trees, insects, and anything else that will be still long enough. So, I’ve decided to combine the two with The Nature of Writing photo prompt.

The funny thing about wasp-type insects is that they don’t really pay attention to you if you aren’t close to their nest. So, I’m always able to get these great close-ups!

Take this photo for inspiration and run with it! Whatever you happen to discover, leave it or link it in the comments below. And remember to stop and smell the garlic blossoms!

Series – The Exo-Explorers – Issue 001

Series

“Sweet stratigraphy!” Reginole Tokage exclaimed.

The two-foot-tall dinosaur-like creature studied the screen of a small device in his right hand as he waved it back and forth over the ground. Dark shapes panned across the screen accompanied by a multitude of readouts. Physical dimensions, material compositions, computations, and simulations poured into Reginole’s photographic memory. He didn’t need a memory bank. He was a memory bank.

Reginole stood still and waited for the device to finish compiling the data. It dinged loudly as if to say “popcorn’s ready”. He spoke out loud as he tapped in commands.

“Area: 4,000 square meters… 50 meters by 80 meters… depth: 20 meters. Add some stairs…”

Reginole reached into one of his many vest pockets, retrieved a small metallic cube and tossed it on the ground. His long whip of a tail stood out stiffly behind him as he scurried away across the sunbaked earth.

After reaching a safe distance, the lizard punched in a few final commands and tapped the side of his goggles. The round, hyper crystal lenses zoomed in on the cube.

“Execute!” Reginole shouted, stuffing the device into a vest pocket.

Issue 002

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