It was no mere coincidence that this month's theme was chosen to be Herbology. As you may recall I was wallowing in self-pity as I wandered the Forb... forest last month. I was lamenting my pitiful party-throwing skills and aimlessly walking down this path and that path and another path until I got tired and sat down. I felt hopeless so I simply sat and closed my eyes to breathe. I can't quite explain it, but anytime I feel my mind beginning to race what I am certain will be a marathon, the only thing that appears to help me is to sit and be quiet. To sit and breathe, releasing the tension.
The gentle breezes began to get a bit colder as they picked up some speed. There was a chill in the air, so I figured it was time to skedaddle. I started the long, slow trek back towards Hogwarts, not in any real rush thanks to a Warming Charm. I steadily kept an eye on everything around me, marveling at the beauty of it all. A rather peculiar bright light was shining on a patch of something just beyond the trees at one point. Now, I know. Most of you would most likely leave it alone and hightail it away from there, but I was in a rather curious mood post-meltdown, you see? Keeping my trusty dogwood wand in my hand I made my way over towards the light. Imagine my surprise to find the most GORGEOUS flowering plant I'd ever seen... about ten feet beyond the light in a very shady spot.
I am not entirely sure what they are, but I took a few gentle tugs to grab a few specimens by the roots. Carefully wrapping them up in some canvas I had in my bag, I charmed it to be slightly damp, in case it needed more water and gently held it in my arms as I got back up to continue my return to the SOUP Offices. I dictated a quick message using my Patronus and sent it off to Lugh and Tabitha, begging them to use Herbology as our theme for this month.
It was dark and damp when I finally got back to my office -everyone else was long gone. Pulling out the plethora of books on plants left lying around the offices, both Muggle and magical, I began to research. No. That one's too pink. And that one is way to large. It could be that... no. As magical as the forest is here I don't think something native only to South America would be found here. As the towering pile next to me grew taller and taller, I began to lose hope. Until I stumbled on a Muggle book about rare species found in the UK. Smiling to myself and crying out in excitement, I jotted down the pertinent information on a loose parchment on my desk.
There's a good chance that I'd stumbled upon Ghost orchids. Scientific name, Epigogium aphyllum. They don't require light to live, but rather fungi. This explains why they were in the shadows and not the patch of light. I am not certain if I am correct, but I do know the perfect person to gift my specimens to: Neville Longbottom. So, I am off to pen an owl and plan a meeting with the wizard in question. I'll see all of you next month!
-Kalina