iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Pinch, punch it’s the first day of spooky month! 🥳🎃🖤 so here’s some dark but lovely plants to welcome in October 🌱

The silver and black foliage of a Heuchera

The black and purple foliage of a Heuchera

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Inspired by the Latin word for “star” due to its shape Asters were revered as a sacred flower (possibly created by the goddess Astraea) by Greeks and Romans who decorated shrines with Aster wreaths. It’s also called the Michaelmas Daisy because it flowers around Sept 29th #FolkloreThursday

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Disappointing to see obvious racism/dog whistling in the Lord of the Rings fandom during #HobbitDay week/anniversary celebrations. If you dislike choices made by ROP and claim their cast is wrong compared to “proper” hobbits (because of lore accuracy you don’t understand) you’re not welcome here! 👍

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Some garden witchy jobs for the equinox here have been planting out some new reduced ferns and cleaning my old cauldrons (I have pots in them) #equinox 🌱

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

Happy #HobbitDay everyone! Hope you’ve had a lovely first day of autumn as well #booksky #autumnequinox

A small figurine of Frodo Baggins the hobbit from Tolkien’s books in front of different copies of Lord of the Rings

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

My “black” fuchsia is back for a second year and it seems to be thriving! 🎉 this is the darkest variety I can find with the centre of the flowers being very close to the petunia in colour which I think makes a great combo 👍🖤 #GardensHour 🌱

The combination of a fuchsia flower with pink petals and a black centre and a black velvet petunia

The combination of a fuchsia flower with pink petals and a black centre and a black velvet petunia flower

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Tolkien Society @tolkiensociety.org · 21/09/2026

On 21 September 1937: J.R.R. #Tolkien's The Hobbit was published. The book tells of a hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, and his journey with thirteen dwarves to recover their treasure from a dragon, Smaug. It's sold over 100 million copies and is one of the best-selling books of all time.

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Just a reminder that I write somewhat regularly about the pagan past of Lancashire for this wonderful magazine and we have a new issue out right now so please consider checking it out if that sounds like your jam www.pagansofthenorth.co.uk/magazine #booksky #writing

A screenshot of the Pagans of the North website

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FolkloreThursday @folklorethursday.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Join us on 24th September for our autumn and fall-themed #FolkloreThursday! Our hosts will share posts made to the hashtag at the following times BST: 9am-2pm 3.30pm-4.30pm 6pm-7pm 🍂🍎🎃 (🎨John William Godward, Autumn.)

A woman in a flowing red dress with a green sash reaches for grapes hanging from a vine, with a bowl of grapes at her feet. John William Godward, Autumn.

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

The joys of an unexpected rain storm and sheltering in a charity shop! I randomly came across this for just £1 so had to get it for my Tolkien collection. The illustrations are just stunning 😍 #booksky #tolkien

Pages from A-Z of Tolkien by David Day. An illustration of a pipe weed plant

Pages from A-Z of Tolkien by David Day. An illustration of Smaug the dragon

Pages from A-Z of Tolkien by David Day. An illustration of Morgoth

The cover of A Guiode to Tolkien (an A-Z) by David Day

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Does anyone have tips for growing castor oil plants? Always been a fan of their foliage (and dangerous nature 😂). Saw these ones down the road from me in a gorgeous In Bloom display but I tried them once and nothing germinated and I’d love to have a go again 😭💔 #GardensHour 🌱

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Not really #FlowersOnFriday but every year I get so excited by the hips of my Burnet or Scots rose that I have to post them! They’re just so cool 😍 🌱

A black rose held between two fingers against green foliage

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Not really #FlowersOnFriday but every year I get so excited by the hips of my Burnet or Scots rose that I have to post them! They’re just so cool 😍 🌱

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Caught a lovely group of butterflies in the garden yesterday! As you can see I also grow nettles so they’ve got somewhere to lay their eggs and not just a place to feed 🥰🐛 🌱 #GardensHour

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

There is a cute little slice of Efteling history at the museum in Den Bosch as well! A model of the magical whale from the wonderful Symbolica (still one of the best dark rides out there) and a tiny little replica of the car from the ride 😍

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

After a month on the road in the caravan we are finishing our trip at the magical Efteling, as always. And as usual I am spotting cute gothic garden decor ideas too 😂😍

The tall thatched roof structure at the entrance to the Efteling theme park

A tomb stone shaped plant label that says watch out deadly

A tomb stone shaped plant label that says viola cornuta

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

And here’s a round up of this years veggies! At Europa Park they always grow vegetables and herbs in some of their planters it’s really fun 🤩 🌱

A huge tomatoe olant full of green unripe tomatoes

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

As always it’s been a wonderful week of theme parking 🥰

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

A fitting way to say goodbye to this rattly but beloved coaster and its iconic soundtrack. As always can’t wait to see what’s next at Europa Park. Merch secured! 🥰🎢

The graphic of a t shirt showing the Euro Mir rollercoaster

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

A little follow up post about our gold medal winning Gardeners’ World garden. We have relocated and rebuilt it at Heaton Park in Manchester so it can be used as a pollinator pit stop and educational space for the bee keeping association there 🥰🐝 🌱

A large painted bee statue at the bee keeping association

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Can’t believe we’ve got Serkis claiming in 2026 that it’s fine (not harmful) to say Tolkien’s Norse “influences” were not diverse so the source material isn’t/fictional places aren’t either?! When we have plenty of evidence to disprove that view. Like coins found here in Lancashire! Just stop! ✋😩

Coins from the Middle East displayed in the Cuerdale hoard

More coins found in Viking age hoards in Lancashire

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Tim Bolton 🐿 | 🏹 Ranatuor of Meriadoc 💍 (He/Him) @timbolton.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

It appears Andy Serkis is becoming more and more problematic for the Tolkien community. Comments made about Hunt for Gollum seem to reflect White Supremacist talking points. I need some time to digest what he is saying so I will post more in the future. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Andy Serkis: Animal Farm star defends lack of diversity in Lord of the Rings cast

Kate Winslet, Jamie Dornan and Anya Taylor-Joy are among the stars who have been cast so far.

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Some delightful dark foliage dahlia varieties I’ve spotted recently! #FlowersOnFriday #bloomscrolling 🌱

A dahlia with dark foliage that is almost black and a large pink and black flower

A dahlia with dark foliage that it almost black and an open pink and yellow flower

A dahlia with dark foliage that is almost black with a large red flower

A dahlia with dark foliage that is almost black with an open orange and red flower

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Some delightful dark foliage dahlia varieties I’ve spotted recently! #FlowersOnFriday #bloomscrolling 🌱

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

My “Black Ship” Lilies are back! #FlowersOnFriday #bloomscrolling 🌱 🥰🖤

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Indie Book Spotlight @bookspotlight.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

‘I asked ChatGPT’ Well, I asked Gandalf and he told me you should be silent keep your forked tongue behind your teeth because he did not pass through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm.

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Where have I been? Well for about 2 weeks I was in Birmingham at Gardeners’ World Live building a folklore and mythology centric showcase garden! From fairy wells and rowan trees to fern flowers and Rosalia. And since Tuesday I’ve been settling back in at home with my family #FolkloreSunday 🌱

Peter Beales Chavey Chase rose on a willow arch

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

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Alicia Stella @alicia.social · 09/06/2026

🎉WE'RE HALFWAY THERE! Thank you to everyone who has donated or purchased art so far as we're now a little over halfway to our goal for 2026! We need your help to reach the finish line so please consider donating, or quote share the fundraiser post below to your followers!

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Alicia Stella @alicia.social · 01/06/2026

STOP HATE FUNDRAISER 2026 ☂️ Benefiting The Trevor Project ‣ Donate Now: give.thetrevorproject.org/ParkStop ‣ Art Prints: parkstop.myshopify.com/collections/... ‣ Auctions: www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_... ‣ Stickers: parkstop.myshopify.com/collections/... Free Giveaway Prizes Every Weekend!

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Putting my tin foil theme park enthusiast and huge Zelda nerd hat back on to say I think we could get news on that Epic Universe expansion plot once this and the movie are both out? Maybe? 🤔 anyway what a huge announcement! 🎉

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Finally some good news! 😭👏

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Nintendo of America [Twitter/X Mirror] @nintendoamericax.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will be reborn on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026. #NintendoDirect

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

This June I am looking forward to my first black iris blooming! Literally got back off holiday about an hour ago and assumed I would have missed it but I’ve got lucky! 🎉 🌱 #GardensHour

A collection of pictures of the bud of a black coloured iris flower

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

For World Goth Day I thought I’d share these I spotted at the garden centre. That I thought had a bit of a horror look to them! 🩸🧛🏻‍♂️🪓 🌱

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Sharing some of my “gnomes” in honour of the gnome ban being lifted at #RHSChelsea 😂👍 🌱 (personally I love a weird little guy)

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Came across these snapdragons by my local shop and would love to know what variety they are! If anyone has an idea please let me know 🙏 🌱 #FlowersOnFriday #bloomscrolling

A snapdragon with a pink flower and dark foliage

A snapdragon with pink flowers and dark foliage

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

May the 4th be with you Star Wars fans! Feeling a bit like I need a Niamos crash out Mon Mothma style this week honestly but never mind, these things pass 😂👍

A collection of images of a beach and a blue badge that describes how the area was used to film Andor

A collection of images from Galaxy’s Edge in Florida including Gonk droids and stormtroopers

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Blossom and bluebells for Beltane! Wishing everyone a magical May Day. Hoping that my Hawthorn coming into flower today means I’ll definitely have good fortune for the year ahead 😂👍 #FlowersOnFriday #MayDay 🌱

An English bluebell flower growing in the lawn

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

It’s a nightmare in my garden, not on Elm Street. The “Nightmare” tulips are finally here! And they are gorgeous 😍 🌱 #bloomscrolling #FlowersOnFriday

Three almost black Nightmare tulip flowers

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Black tulips are a challenge! I’ve lost my Van Goghs this year to bad fire (thankfully they were potted) and in the past I’ve lost Black Hero and Queen of the Night to fire or just doing nothing in year 2. But Continental and Paul Scherer are pretty reliable and fire resistant so far #GardensHour

A dark burgundy continental tulip flower

An almost black Paul Scherer tulip flower

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

Currently in Spain and spotted these gorgeous aeoniums! Doubtful I could grow them in my garden up North but if you’ve managed to do it in the UK (without a greenhouse) please let me know (April means thinking about new plants? 😂) 🌱 #GardensHour

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National Trust @nationaltrust.org.uk · 28/03/2026

Each spring, blossom makes our local neighbourhoods that little bit brighter and remind us that sunnier days are on the horizon. As #BlossomWatch gets underway, save our bingo board and see how many varieties you spot. 🌸

A bingo card showing nine images of blossom. Title in pink letters at the top reads 'Let's play blossom bingo! Spot the blossom and tick it off'. Illustrations for leaves, blossom flowers, a bee and ladybird surround. The blossom images are in square boxes with identifications under. We see cherry, apple, hawthorn, blackthorn, pear, goat willow, damson, plum and bird cherry.

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

What’s blooming this week? Still the hellebores mostly and my “Harvington Black” is back again 🥰🖤 🌱 #GardensHour

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Shakespeare used the phrase “the primrose path of dalliance” in Hamlet to describe taking the flowery road of pleasure and indulgence, or the easy route in life. They tend to represent eternal love, childhood or the very dramatic “I cannot live without you” #FolkloreSunday #ShakespeareSunday 🌱

A pair of black and yellow primrose flowers from the variety “primula gold lace”

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

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Mel 🍂🍄 @thequietplace.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

You can find an article by me in the new, gorgoeus issue of Pagans of the North and if you’re a history and mythology fan you might enjoy it 👍🖤 www.pagansofthenorth.co.uk?fbclid=IwdGR...

pagansofthenorth.co.uk

Pagans Of The North | network for pagans

Network for Pagans, Witches, Heathens and others on a similar path in the North Of England. Free magazine, online blog, courses and other resources. Free advertising for businesses. Pagan Magazine, W...

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