Erasmus March 2021 Monthly Prompt
Vayrons Included
Spring cleaning. The idea got Erasmus positively excited. Not so much for the normal cleaning, but for the funner tasks that came with spring. While Roenden was normally known for its mountains and snow covered lands, it also made spring particularly enjoyable. The melanistic vayron was more than anxious as he watched for the first signs of spring.
It was those who were good with weather that told him it was time, and he busted off into the shed without a second thought, gathering garden tools as the threat of severe frost had passed. It was time to make the lawn beautiful.
He rushed to is, raking leaves out of flowerbeds where they had protected the perennial’s roots. He allowed himself one jump into the precious leaf pile, scattering the brown foliage before he gathered them up for the compost bin. Weeds quickly followed, although that job was a little bit harder for him, as he gently used his claws to dig them up root and all, without harming the plants he wanted to keep.
He had to run into town when he realized the mulch supply was getting low. That wouldn’t do. Plus fresh mulch always made the flower beds look clean and fresh. He wasn’t a puller, but he could manage a small cart full of wood chips back to the house. Making the beds look good as new was something he enjoyed, as flowers were a large part of his romantic personality.
Gardening was one of the few things he could keep his attention on, although he would be lying if he ever said that he wasn’t distracted during his work. There were so many cool things to look at in the market, shiny baubles and exotic things from other places. And the act of gardening itself would deter him, as he dug up some bugs or a squirrel would run past. His gaze would turn and watch the outdoor critters, and he had to force himself back onto the task at paw.
Mulch wasn’t the only job he had to do though to make them look spiffy, he had to clean the stones that made up the edging border of the beds, removing the buildup of dirt and debris, along with trimming the grass in front of it so that the edging stood out. All this wasn’t a task done in a day, as he lined his entire house with beds, so making them look nice was a job spread out over the week, with some distractions of course.
Then there was core for the plants he wanted to keep. The ones that came up year after year would get cleaned up, removing their dead fall foliage now that new growth was coming on. Springe bushes were trimmed nicely to keep their shape, and fertilizer was applied to keep them happy. Many plants he enjoyed did not do well through Roenden’s harsher winters, so he started many of them from seed, or by young plants he purchased while they were only a few inches tall. Those at least, would give him color all season long, even if the perennials only bloomed at specific times of year.
He also kept a garden for vegetables and herbs. While he personally didn’t benefit from it, he tended it to give to those in need. There were plenty of humanoids that appreciated his figurative green paws, and he used that as a way to both help others, and to gain a little bit of krones to cover his own expenses. The garden for those had to be carefully tilled, and he often employed the help of a neighbor who was a little beefier than him to pull the plow. Large rocks removed, weeds pulled, and rows set up had a nice little plot for growing an assortment of produce. He left the rows wide enough between where seeds would go so that even a larger vayron would get through, as many often helped him with the garden in return for some of the produce.
Fencing was already established around the perimeter of the plot of land, nearly an acre in size, to help deter animals who might feast on the harvest. He carefully checked for any damage or weakness, repairing what was needed, and made sure his irrigation trenches were clear of debris that would stop his crops from getting the precious liquid they needed to grow. Some of the plants were started now, such as potatoes, melons and onions, while quicker growing ones would wait a few weeks, like beans and tomatoes.
Erasmus had been doing his gardens for years, and the local reoseans and humanoids alike often enjoyed watching it come together, helping where they could. He detected the scent of a few helpers here and there, patching holes or weeding when he had retired for the night, and it always made him smile. Yes, spring was something he always looked forward to, and if he got really ambitious and not too distracted, he might even find himself helping out those in town with their beds as well!
-End-
WC 850 +8
Personal +1
Monthly Prompt +1
Corresponding Land +1
Total = 11 CP
March 2021 Monthly Prompt Rewards
2x empty vials
2x rabbit pelts
1000 Krones