Kangaroo Apple

Kangaroo Apple is a shrub botanically called Solanum laciniatum and grows 1.8-3m high. It has tall and dark stems which are distinctive. It has an upright spreading habit. The leaves are long and dark green, with possibility of being deeply lobed or ovate.

The flowers are pale purple to deep violet and its fruit being orange-yellow berries that are poisonous. The berries, which look alike to tomatoes, can however be eaten when ripe but are bitter when raw.

It is a hardy plant tolerating majority of soils and conditions with the exception to salt spray. It is a fast grower that can be expected to live to five or six years at most.

Gods And Goddesses: Izanagi

Izanagi is the very god who created the islands of Japan and much of what’s within with his wife Izanami. The sun goddess Amaterasu was born from a tear of Izanagi’s left eye, while Tsukiyomi the moon god was born from a tear from Izanagi’s right eye. The storm god, Susanoo, was however born from Izanagi’s dripping nose.

When younger sister and wife Izanami died during childbirth, Izanagi went to the underworld known as Yomi to retrieve her. Izanami refused to return.

It was after performing a cleansing rite after returning from the underworld that Amaterasu and Tsukiyomi were born from tears and Susanoo born from the dribbling nose.

Totem: Hare

Hares are fast moving mammals which are typically shy. They are similar to rabbits but have some differences, such as living in nests above ground rather living underground and being about to fend for itself soon after birth.

 The hare teaches of knowing when to move faster in life, or to slow down. Not only is it is moving faster or slower of importance, but so is double checking, just to be certain if all is done and nothing is missed.

 The hare is an animal found active at night, where it is willing to show the world of the night. As the night is mysterious the hare tells of the fine features of being mysterious.

 To be independent and vigilant is needed for the hare, where it’ll teach the importance of the two. The hare will rely on itself for survival, becoming independent. To survive, vigilance is to be on high guard. He hare will teach how to become both.

Snowy Daisy Bush

Snowy Daisy Bush is botanically called Olearia lirata. It is an open shrub with typical growth up to 3m in height and 3m in width. Its leaves are elliptical to ovate and up to 15cm long. Its flowers are white and are rarely blue, growing in summer.

The snowy daisy bush grows in half sun yet has hardiness for the shade. It is tolerant of frost and with ability to grow in most soils. It prefers moist soils yet once established can easier deal with drier soils.

Now April

Various joys come from being curious enough to have a look around. One was which the Melbourne International Flower and Garden show, going in Saturday morning to start looking through the various plants for sale, artistic pieces and seeing what small gardens are being featured. For the last three years I have been going there, and there is of course the free newspaper. Oh the joys of getting a Herald Sun to read and a black bag to carry items.

Saturday proved to be a rather interesting end of March for me. I do personally play video games but typically do not have a reason to actually to blog about it let alone mention anything about it. However, I did go to a particular store during Saturday, EB Games on Swanston Street. I actually went there at the right time as a little event relating to a recently released game, Mario Party 9, occurred. Something I was totally unaware of. The StreetPass feature for my 3DS unsurprisingly got a bit of work during the time spent there. Quite a few interesting people were met, including a member of Nintendo staff, Jamie Wilson, who I must say is a rather charming man.

While March 31st got much of a mention, April’s Fools Day remained rather quiet for my end of the fence, just a relaxing Sunday without worry. Saddening that the quietness was all around, yet it happens.

Gods And Goddesses: Ninigi

Ninigi is the grandson of the sun goddess Amaterasu, being the god of rice and of the imperial family. He is also known as Ninigi-no-Mikoto. He was sent to earth to plant rice and it is said he is also sent to earth to become emperor of Japan. Amaterasu sent Ninigi to pacify Japan, with three items, a sword, mirror and a jewel.

On earth, Ninigi married the daughter of a mountain god who conceived their child on the first of marriage causing suspicions in Ninigi. He built a house for her with no doors, where Ninigi’s wife would give birth in it. If she was unfaithful, the child would die. Over time three sons were born, one of them called Hikohohodemi would further on have a child called Jimmu-Tenno.

Totem: Wasp

Wasps are the insect which stings multiple times and has the yellow and black markings. It can be an insect which gives benefits to its ecosystem, or if introduced to an area it may cause problems. It can, alike to bees, cause reactions in people that they sting.

Organization is a reminder the wasp gives, teaching that order is needed. The wasp sees no use in being disorganized or lack of order. Relatedly, the wasp also teaches to protect order when it is attacked.

Team work is one of things that remain a must as the wasp tells. One can work on their own but team work is a need regardless if it is sooner or later. Sometimes work with others is a first priority, and it is to be learnt.

Productivity in the work place is important, and the wasp agrees on the
importance of productivity. It teaches how to look inwards at how productivity can personally be increased.