forestiera

environmental monitoring and rehabilitation | 25 | photographer

[forestieranger]

Acanthus mollis L. (Acanthaceae)

Etymology: from the Greek ἄκανϑος (ακή: point, needle; ἄνϑος: flower), referring to the small thorny leaves around the flowers. Mollis is from Latin, meaning soft or flexible — a reference to the plant’s soft, non-spiny leaves, unlike those of other species.

Origin: It is impossible to determine where the plant is actually wild, as it has been cultivated for ornamental purposes since ancient times. In fact, it’s commonly found throughout Rome’s villas and parks.

Myth related to the plant: In Greek mythology, Acantha was a nymph loved by Apollo. When she didn’t return his feelings and scratched his face, the god transformed her into the acanthus plant.

I took these pictures today at Villa Borghese.

Sources:

https://www.actaplantarum.org/flora/flora_info.php?id=12172

https://dryades.units.it/torlonia/index.php?procedure=taxon_page&id=5070&num=5059

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Friday 16 May 2025

The clump-forming perennial Ranunculus aconitifolius 'Flore Pleno' (white bachelor's buttons, double fair maids of France, aconite-leaved buttercup) is a much loved plant of an Orkney cottage garden. This cultivar carries bouquets of small, perfectly formed double-white buttercups, with green centres on widely branched stems. It thrives in humus-rich, fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade.

Jill Raggett

[forestieranger]

19/11

This week has been very tiring, both mentally and physically.

So, I tried to take advantage of the weekend to be a little bit more present, study and paint. I noticed that it was really hard for me to stay away from the phone, I need to do something about that. I want to replace it with a habit like reading or meditating. Even though I'm not fully satisfied with how much I studied, I finished reviewing everything and I understood most of it, so I still consider it a good result.

Painting was the best part of the day, I really need to keep doing that.

[perfectfeelings]

“If you can’t do anything about it then let it go. Don’t be a prisoner to things you can’t change.”

— Tony Baskin

[thoughtkick]

“Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.”

— Soren Kierkegaard

[thoughtkick]

“Our anxiety does not come from thinking about the future, but from wanting to control it.”

— Khalil Gibran

[forestieranger]

07.01.2022

Survived the first week of January.

It's been hard not to feel overwhelmed this week, but every year it's like this, nothing changed compared to a few days ago but at the same time it is refreshing to think of a new year.

Finally, on my blog I have included all the desktop wallpapers for January, as you can see in the picture. Go check them out!!

I wanted to follow through all my resolutions these days, but of course I ended up following very few of them... BUT IT'S FINE. I did what I felt to do this week:

1- create a Twitter account with my pictures

2- study more than the last week of December

3- journal (I didn't do it every day, but it benefits me a lot, so I really should continue)

P.s. Unfortunately, I still need to update the mobile version of my blog, so if you want to download my wallpapers for now you have to do it from pc... <3

[depressionisalyingbastard]

I’m not going to lie, when I first realised just how much of my thought process is comprised of these kinds of thoughts, I started panicking. I was labelling myself (as ‘pathetic’/‘stupid’/‘bloody miserable’); overgeneralising (‘ohmygod this is my entire internal monologue summarised in ten boxes’) and generally all-or-nothing-ing/mind-reading/catastrophising (‘I’ll never be happy, everyone will hate me for being so negative and I’ll die sad and alone without even a cat for company’).

The thing is, experiencing negative or unhelpful thoughts at least some of the time is unfortunately pretty much part of being human. Our brains have evolved to be highly conscious of threats (real or perceived) and, as highly social primates, we sometimes can’t help but try and predict what others are thinking about us. But although we don’t like to admit it, these automatic thoughts are often either completely wrong or highly exaggerated. And yet, even if deep down we realise this, they can still send us into a state of stress if we don’t consciously try to counterbalance them. 

The trick is to start noticing when your brain is throwing this stuff at you, try to consciously acknowledge it and begin to challenge the thoughts. Do not judge yourself for them - no one actively chooses to think this way, it just happens. We can however try to focus on countering these automatic assumptions with more positive/rational thoughts:

How can I know what someone else is thinking about me? However much I would like to be able to, I can’t.

I’m not ‘weak’/'pathetic’/'useless’ - I’m only human and sometimes I need to cry/sleep/rely on others’ help. 

Am I really 'a totally idiotic moron’ or did I just make a mistake? Are the consequences of this really as bad as I feel they are?

Would I verbally abuse someone else the way I attack myself in my head? Almost certainly not.

Actively arguing against these unhelpful thoughts takes a fair bit of practice, but it absolutely can be done and it gets easier each time. Just take a deep breath, be rational and above all be kind with yourself. You can do it.

[forestieranger]

30.12.2021

Finished editing January wallpapers to post on my blog.

Today I didn’t study at all..., but at least I spent the day focusing on a thing that I've wanted to do for a very long time: JANUARY WALLPAPERS!

I am very excited because I would like to be consistent in adding to my blog monthly wallpapers, and since I am a photography enthusiast, the photos I will use will only be taken by me!

The HD version will be released on my BLOG the 1st of January, so if you want to save them subscribe, and you will receive a notification!

Also, I have a little surprise for the lovers of organization...

[weedplantar]

pro tip, if you’re ever feeling overwhelmed or upset for no reason, check the holy trifecta

have i eaten?

have i had water?

have i showered?

these questions will literally change your LIFE. if you’re feeling icky for no reason, there’s a 90% chance it’s one of these.

[forestieranger]

27.12.2021

I slept with the blinds open and finally woke up early.

Just because blinded by the light (now I understand The Weeknd), I couldn’t  stay in bed. Also, my dog sent me to f*ck off. But I woke up, that’s the important part. 

“ I said, ooh, I'm blinded by the lights No, I can't sleep etc...” - Blinded Lights, The Weeknd.

[izukuwus]

Still reeling from the realization that bullet journaling was essentially created to be a disability aid and got legit fuckin gentrified

[izukuwus]

Like I'm at work and don't have the time to properly organize my thoughts atm but like.

-bullet journalling was invented by a man with a learning disability (99% sure it was ADHD but his website now just says learning disability so I can't be 100%) as a system for organizing his life/way to work WITH his learning disability

-the general concept is bullet point the important things you need to do and use a simple system of symbols to mark whether it's done, rescheduled, cancelled, etc. with very little fanfare, keeping it all in one notebook so you know where to easily find the information at a glance

-people pick it up and it starts getting popular

-bullet journaling becomes an aesthetic movement largely populated by white neurotypicals

-bullet journaling has turned into creating an extremely pretty notebook that has some function, but largely depends on complicated decoration and aesthetic function that takes more time to set up than is tenable for the people it was created for

-new entries to bullet journaling feel pressure to shop at particular stores, use particular brands, purchase lots of stationery purely for its aesthetic value, and prioritize the artistry of the pages rather than the information being stored on them

-people who would massively benefit from the original system can only really find information on it from members of the aesthetic movement. There is now a barrier to entry for ppl with ADHD and other similar conditions, as bullet journaling now requires a focus and motivation to start that these same people often lack or struggle to maintain consistently

-bullet journaling is no longer a disability aid and has become an aesthetic movement largely for middle class white neurotypicals, pushing out the people who the system was created for to begin with

[bibookmerm]

This is the original guide from the person who made bullet journalling. Super simple. Not at all high maintenance.

It was eye-opening to rewatch this after getting used to bullet journal meaning "work of highly decorative art you might journal in if it doesn't detract from the decoration" everywhere online.

[forestieranger]

Hello, I've only just found you blog so I have missed a lot, but I was wondering if you could tell me more about your degree?

Hello,

My degree is basically half biology and half geology.

If you have more questions we can talk in the chat.

[depressedserafeena]

[forestieranger]

26.12.2021

End of the Christmas dopamine.

Last night I realized that my dopamine was gradually decreasing, I slept a lot these last few days and I hated it, I hate waking up late but at the same time I go to sleep too late to be productive in the day. Sleep is a necessity. But I need to give my circadian cycle a freaking reset. I want to smash something, but this is just my pre-period. 

[bleekay]

its so shiddy when u have to convince yourself to do your hobbies. like, its fun, you like it, why cant you just do it. do it. do it. but what if.... mindless media consumption instead....

[bleekay]

im so sorry to the seven thousand of you so far who relate

[g1sunstreaker]

upset at the accuracy of these tags

[forestieranger]

22.12.2021

Today I had fun drawing my notes.

These last few days it has been difficult to focus, I have often woken up late, I ate too much chocolate and overused social media.

That’s why for me, today was a victory to have studied 2 h and 30. In the morning I did some chemistry exercises and in the afternoon I almost finished the chapter about sedimentary rocks, the best part was drawing the formation of an atoll and the different sedimentation in the reefs.

One method I would also like to use to review is to use my other blog @personalforestiera to explain things that I like about what I study, maybe some random topic and if you are more interested I could dig deeper about it.