Considering how much of it exists in the world, it’s surprising (or maybe not) that blood banks are perpetually short of their key product. Blood and blood components are needed to help people with various medical conditions (including those with blood cancers), for surgery, and for emergency situations, like during childbirth or after a car accident. When there isn’t enough blood to go around, the consequences are devastating. So today’s post is to ask you to please consider donating blood, if you can– it takes only about 30 minutes. You’ll be rewarded with the warm sense of having done some good in the world (and a treat).
If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
Love Lies Bleeding‘s readers know that main character Mara is both a vampire and a botanist. Trained when she was still human, she continues to study plants and have a garden. This post is fifteenth in a series exploring Mara’s plants. Are you interested in botany, gardening, or plant lore? So are some vampires…
Please note: Medicinal uses are given for informational purposes only. Always consult a medical professional before diagnosing or treating yourself or anyone else.
Caution: All parts (except the flesh of the berries) are poisonous: do not ingest. The berries contain poisonous seeds. Even dead and dried parts of the tree are poisonous. Toxins can also be inhaled or absorbed through the skin: handle carefully. Yew is also toxic to many animals: keep away from pets and livestock. There is no antidote to yew poisoning, although there are drugs that can help in recovery. If you suspect yew poisoning, seek medical attention immediately.
Caution 2: Male trees produce copious pollen that is highly allergenic. Keep windows closed to help prevent allergic reactions, and try to stay away from yew trees in spring. While the pollen also contains toxins, they’re in low enough doses that it won’t poison you (it might be hallucinogenic, though, and standing in the pollen on a hot day can “shift consciousness”).
Botanical Name:Taxus baccata
Common Names: Common yew, English yew, European yew
History: Native to western, central, and southern Europe, and parts of the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, yews have existed since the Triassic period, about 250 million years ago. Despite being toxic, yews are considered sacred in many cultures throughout history, including in Ireland, where it (known as Eó Ruis) is considered one of 5 Sacred Trees. The Norse tree Yggdrasil was likely a yew (early interpretations may have mistakenly identified it as an ash). Because of their blood red sap, some Christians believe the tree is bleeding in sympathy with Jesus. Yew trees are commonly found in churchyards in the UK, although there is no definitive reason why (possibilities range from churches being built near yews to help convert pagans, to the trees being a symbol for death and resurrection, to yews being planted to discourage farmers from letting their livestock graze on church lands). Yews are long lived: The Fortingall Yew in Scotland is believed to be somewhere between 2000 and 9000 years old (ring counts can’t be done with yews due to the way they grow). Because of this, and the tree’s ability to repeatedly regenerate, the yew is also known as the tree of immortality. Because of its toxicity, arrow tips were once coated in yew to make them extra lethal. That same toxicity has been put to good use more recently in chemotherapy drugs.
Victorian Language of Flowers Meaning: Sorrow
Cultivation:
Zones 5 to 7. Perennial. A shade-tolerant evergreen, yew grows in almost any soil as long as it’s not water logged. Make sure to plant it in well draining soil to prevent root rot. It prefers a moderate amount of moisture, but it can tolerate short periods of drought. Although it can grow in shade, growth is healthier when it gets a few hours of sunlight a day. Yew is tolerant of cold, heat, and urban pollution, but keep it sheltered from strong winter winds. Too much rubbing on the bark (such as from children climbing it) can kill it over time. Yew appreciates yearly fertilizing in spring, along with a layer of mulch or compost. Yew is slow growing, taking about 20 years to grow 4.5 m (15 feet) tall. When mature it can reach 20 m (65 feet) tall.
Uses:
Woodworking: Described as one of the hardest softwoods, yew is ideal for a number of projects, from bows to musical instruments to furniture and flooring. It also has interesting and attractive burls. The sawdust is toxic so wear a mask when working with yew wood.
Here’s a short video of a longbow being made from yew:
Ornamental: Yews make good hedges and topiary, and because it is slow growing it doesn’t need frequent trimming (only about once a year).
Bonsai: Yew is a popular choice for bonsai.
Wildlife: Birds including waxwings, thrushes, and finches eat the berries and seeds. The dense foliage provides protection and nesting opportunities for them too. Small mammals, such as squirrels and dormice also eat the berries. The leaves are eaten by the caterpillars of the satin beauty moth.
Mara’s Uses:
In Love Lies Bleeding, when Mara is listing possible plants to experiment with, she mentions that “yew bleeds.” Between its blood-like sap and its association with immortality, yew would be an important potential ingredient in Mara’s herbal blood substitute.
If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
Valentine’s Day may have passed, but it’s never a bad time for showing some love for your fellow humans through a thoughtful act of kindness ♥
Considering how much of it exists in the world, it’s surprising (or maybe not) that blood banks are perpetually short of their key product. Blood and blood components are needed to help people with various medical conditions (including those with blood cancers), for surgery, and for emergency situations, like during childbirth or after a car accident. When there isn’t enough blood to go around, the consequences are devastating. So today’s post is to ask you to please consider donating blood, if you can– it takes only about 30 minutes. You’ll be rewarded with the warm sense of having done some good in the world (and a treat).
True love is a forever thing– especially for vampires. Or it can be, anyway. These TV couples’ stories left us wondering, but I’d like to believe they got their happily ever after. Here are three vampires who were (probably) lucky in love…
Spoilers Ahead
Mick St. John and Beth Turner, Moonlight
Mick and Beth, Moonlight
Mick (vampire) and Beth (human) have a complicated relationship. Beth has a boyfriend and Mick saved Beth’s life as a child and has been keeping tabs on her ever since. It’s a tale as old as time. But as the show goes on, their feelings for each other grow and turn into something else (and just as complicated). There’s a lot of back and forth about whether a vampire-human relationship could even work, and when the series was cancelled it ended ambiguously on a kiss between Mick and Beth. These two have a real connection, even if their fears cloud their feelings at times, so I think they have a solid chance to make it work. The show hinted at the potential for a vampire cure, so Mick could eventually become human. He could also turn Beth. Love finds (fangs?) a way.
Is this love?: 8/10
Jessica and Hoyt, True Blood
Jessica and Hoyt, True Blood
Although it might not seem like it, Jessica (vampire) and Hoyt (human) have a lot in common. Both had traumatic childhoods with domineering, manipulative parents. Both have quieter, somewhat innocent/naive personalities with rebellious sides. Both also have to cope with situations they have no control over, and neither really knows where they fit into the world. When they meet each other, it’s love at first sight. They did try to make it work for a while, but there were too many things working against them, including Hoyt’s mother and Jessica’s vampire nature. Their breakup was both inevitable and necessary, giving them a chance to figure out who they were. They eventually reunite, and even though we don’t get to see how their life together plays out, chances are they make it work (at least, they’d better make it work after all the screen time the producers devoted to their wedding in the series finale).
Is this love?: 9/10
Alex and Hal, Being Human
Hal and Alex, Being Human
Okay, this one might be cheating since both characters are human by the end of the series, but sparks started flying while Hal was a vampire, so I’m counting it. Although both are attracted to each other, their budding relationship is cut short when another vampire takes it upon himself to kill Alex (and then gives her blood to an unsuspecting Hal to drink). Hal is horrified at what’s happened, and when he finds out Alex is still around in ghost form, he promises to get revenge for her murder. With nowhere else to go and few people to talk to (thanks to being invisible to humans) Alex ends up moving in with Hal. Their opposing personalities make them something of an odd couple: Hal is precise, compulsive, and terrified of losing control; while Alex is carefree, no-nonsense, and takes things as they come. But the real hindrance to a relationship is that one of them is incorporeal (and it doesn’t help that the other one is constantly fighting his blood lust). The series (officially) concludes with an interesting twist that has all supernatural beings become human again, finally giving Hal and Alex a real chance at a life together.
Is this love?: 8/10
What other vampires have a shot at love? Share your thoughts in the comments…
Want more vampires in love (and otherwise)? Get my books!
If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
Considering how much of it exists in the world, it’s surprising (or maybe not) that blood banks are perpetually short of their key product. Blood and blood components are needed to help people with various medical conditions (including those with blood cancers), for surgery, and for emergency situations, like during childbirth or after a car accident. When there isn’t enough blood to go around, the consequences are devastating. So today’s post is to ask you to please consider donating blood, if you can. You’ll be rewarded with the warm sense of having done some good in the world (and a cookie).
By the way, Giving Tuesday is coming up– donating blood is a great way to do good. Your local vampires would approve 🧛
Aspasía S. Bissas 