Magical Plant Care and Maintenance?! Lola did not know what it was but ohh--OHHH SHE WAS AN INTELLIGENT PLANT! She thought for a moment and then spoke of all the possibilities that the thing could mean. She raised her hand high in the air and spoke, "Professor, I believe that this Magical Plant Care and Maintenance thing is about making sure to take care of your plant...as if it were a chiiiiiiiild!--you'd have to change their pots as if they were diapers, raise them to be well-disciplined and creative beings, feed them to be sturdy and TOUGH, and help them through their hormonal years with all the rebelling and growing--" By then, she was twirling the coil on her hat, "I would know--I'm a plant and my mother did a tremendous job raising me."

She posed, flaunting off all of her decorations.

Did she just get a wave from Destiny? A wave that wasn't accompanied by any looks or sarcasm or her horrid nickname? Arya just blinked at Destiny. It had to be because Mia was sitting beside her.

Or maybe not. The girl did seem be a little... off. More than she usually was. Not that Arya worried about Destiny or anything. Nope.

Turning her attention back to Mia when the girl spoke, taking notice of the look she was receiving. "That and OWLs." Though it still didn't make up for going ghost on her friends. Not in her eyes it didn't.

Her attention was pulled away from her friend and Destiny when the professor began the lesson. One hand went in the air while the other turned to a clean piece of parchment. "Caring for the plant, like removing pests and making sure they have enough water. And it could mean grooming the plant.... like topiary."

Salander cracked a smile. Yeah he got it, lil Lola was being a plant today. "Your welcome..." he replied and actually wanted to ask what kind of plant she was when the Professor started to speak....

Oh cool! So they get a little certificate thing for saving the planet and what not. Haha see Wizards are better when taking care of the world rather than Muggles... then again the ship has sailed when arguing that point....

He winced when the Professor started speaking about plant care and maintenance. Undesirable muggle chores flooded his memory when he was still living with his father "Uhm... mowing, watering, weeding, and...." dang this is starting to sound like a weekend chore ".... making sure the plant burps!"

*blink*

Well he had to say something remotely wizardy right?

Blah, blahh, blahhh.

Sierra did a quick doodle on her parchment as her mind raced with possible answers. Was there a definite answer to this, or was it one of those questions that had too many answers to even count? She could say anything from pruning a bush to defending oneself against a Venomous Tentacula. She listened to a few of the others answer and, deciding that there were a variety of different answers she could say, she raised her hand.

"You can't just drown a plant in water and then stick it out in sunlight to help it survive," she answered, "...especially a magical plant. So maybe we're going to learn what else we should do to help them survive." She shrugged. "Maybe which spells to use. Oh, and I think it involves how we should protect ourselves when dealing we these plants, too. Some of them...well, bite back."

Aurora smiled, she loved herbology. "Caring for plants, keeping them healthy, watered and fed. Free of parasites and removing any pests like slugs, gnomes and that sort of thing... and someone already said grooming topiary. But I suppose with some plants they like certain things. The Granta herb likes Kneazle blood for sustenance but Granta is illegal I suppose..." she said, this was uncle Rufin's job and she was glad she paid him attention. "But maybe it includes giving a plant coffee to keep it... perky for a special occasion. Though you shouldn't do that, it's unhealthy for the plant..." She trailed off, sure that Professor Bentley knew that. Aurora's mother used to do water the bleeding hearts and lilies with coffee when she held her soirees.

"Well, lots of plants require different and unique care, right?" Presley knew next to nothing about plants. Show her a flower and she could tell you what it meant, but keeping them alive? Forget it. Herbology was her worst subject. But being a good little Ravenclaw, she was determined to get better at it. Struggling in any subject was unacceptable to her. "I know Mandrakes need to be repotted every so often." And that was all she knew.

Lexi raised her hand and said, "Putting mooncalf poop on them?" Yeah. She was familiar with it. And didn't like it one little bitty bit. Feh.

Wiliam raised his hand. "We should know how to plant those plants carefully and know if they belong in the shade or the sun" Wiliam told the profeeor. " We should know how much water is needed with the palnts and we should knoww how they work in the Wizarding world because they are magic" Wiliam explained to the professor.

Even before the professor finished asking the question, Eino's hand shot up. Oh, oh, oh, pick me, pick me! Eino jumped up and down with his hand raised! He knew this one, he knew all of them, it didn't even matter what the question was. At least while everyone else replied he was actually able to know the question and develop a well (kind of) developed answer. YES, FINALLY IT WAS HIS TURN! "Since it's magical plant care and maintenance, the first thing this entails is hiding them from muggles." This was the first rule for all things magical, so of course it wouldn't be an exception for plans.

Although Ari hadn't been particularly enthusiastic about Herbology when she arrived at Hogwarts, she began to grow quite fond of the subject. The fact that they had obtained a certificate for their previous activity made the girl feel proud of the coral she reluctantly replanted. The idea that she had done something worthwile made her smile. But she didn't have much time to dwell on that, since the lesson had already begun.

And now the question. Care and maintainance for magical plants? 'It refers to everything that's needed to make a plant grow and survive, like watering, adding fertilizer, protective charms or growth spells, and also the measures needed to hide those plants from the Muggles.' the young Gryffindor replied.

Ariella's hand shot up into the air. "It could include protecting magical plants from non-magical humans and animals. Or possibly how to keep magical plants healthy....like what kinds of ingredients, charms, or other components that go into the process." Did that sound too stupid? Ugh. She hoped not.

Spike grinned at Ellie, having pretty much already sat down anyway. He looked at her curiously though. She was looking awfully happy today. not that she wasn't usually cheery...just today more than usual. Probably still the high from the match, he decided.

"Looking after your plants properly," Spike answered the Professor. "Doing what's best for their needs, giving them the right environment - whether that be food or water or protection. And checking up on them. What is good one time, might not necessarily be what the plant needs at another time. That's the maintenance bit."

Nika thought about the question before raising her hand to give her own answer. "It means that in order for a plant to grow all healthy and stuff you have to take care of it and watch it properly." She suggested with an eyebrow raised.

Jai raised his hand and said,"Well, knowing what kind of plant you have would be a good start and that would help in know how to care for that plant. Caring it would mean knowing what makes it grow, how to protect it from harmful diseases and from withering and ultimately dying."

"Well it entails knowing the plant you have and how to best care for that plants. In general that means watering the plant, clipping off it's dead leaves so it can grow and stay strong, and making sure it has nutrient rich soil.", Chloe responded happilly with her hand raised high.

Janice raised her hand, and attempted to answer, but all that came out her mouth was "Err, uhm" so she put her hand down and thought about it again.

She raised her hand for the second time, and answered.
"Is it something about taking care of the plants like, watering, fertilizing, cutting off parts that you need to cut off like grapes' vines, and such?"

Brielle nodded happily. She had seen the certificate, and thought the idea of giving it to the students was wonderful. It would really motivate them to do more... hopefully.

"Well, from the statement itself, it would entail the raising, and the caring of plants. How they can be kept healthy and alive." Brielle stopped. She had just repeated the question, really. But, "well, isn't Magical Plant Care and Maintenence a bit self explanatory, Professor?"

"Yes certainly, safety for both plant and handler is important," nodded Seren. "Though we'll be looking at general care not so much specified care."


"Yes absolutely, thats a very good point. Protection is vital for both parties," nodded Seren.

Seren smiled at the Slytherin... "Yes, thats the main idea behind it."

"Yes, but how do we do that?" probed Seren.

"Yep, absolutely right, but how do we do that?"

Seren nodded, "And what sort of things do we need to do to ensure this happens?"

"Correct!" smiled Seren. "Yes feeding, repotting and trimming are a few of the things you need to look at when caring for magical plants."

"Yes thats the aim, but how do we do this... whats involved?"


"Yes! absolutely watering and sunlight are the basic elements required to keep any plant alive and healthy- magical or mundane."

"Oh I certainly agree with you there," replied Seren seriously. "Some magical plants require special attention, and will thrive when they recieve gestures of love and care. I myself sing to my plants quite often."

"Mmm... sort of. Though what do you think is actually involved in caring for these plants?"

"Yes thats right, though knowing about their magical properties is not essential for actually maintaining and caring for the plant... its only if you intend on using the plant that you will need to know those details. Today we're just looking at their basic care," she smiled.

Seren was a little taken aback by the girls answer... she didn't seriously think she was a plant did she? Still kudos for the enthusiasm.
"Yes, repotting, feeding and watering are all very important tasks when it comes to caring for our wonderful magical plants." They were practically her babies, so the girl was onto something.

"Ahh fantastic answer Miss Lovegoods, pests can create all sorts of issues of they get into your garden or greenhouse, so protection from them is vital."
She smiled brightly. "Topiary is not so much a care or maintenence requirement, its really up to the discretion of the gardener... not so much the plant." It was a good skill to have, but didn't relate to the care and health of a plant... unfortunate, they could have had a Topiary contest.

"Very good! Yes, though burping is only required for infant flesh eating trees... they sometimes suffer from indigestion."

"Absolutely, magic is something we can use to our advantage, so whether we're protecting ourselves from the plants, or the plants from us and muggles is very important."

Seren smiled at the young Slytherin, she was quite knowledgable on herbology. "Yes absolutely correct, many magical plants have special dietary requirements which we need to consider when caring for them."


"Yes they do, absolutely right. Plants sometimes outgrow their pots and so need to be repotted so that they don't suffocate and... expire." Seren imagined it would be much like growing inside a glass tube, eventually your nose would be pressed up against the sides and you wouldn't be able to breathe.

Seren smiled... Miss Denver didn't seem to appreciate Mooncalf dung... well that would soon change-- she hoped.
"Yes dung is very useful, either as fertilizer or in compost."

Seren nodded at the young Gryffindor, "yes sunlight and water are fundemental to a plants health."

"Bravo!... yes protecting magical plants from the prying eyes of muggles is important in a number of ways, it protects the plants from over-exposure and also protects us from muggles discovering our world."

Seren flashed a smile at the girl. "Yes brilliant response!" she chimmed.

"Not at all, you're abosolutely right. Protection is a two-way street, plants need to be protected from humand and beasts- magic or mundane, as well as us needing protection from them at times."

"Very good!.. yes plants can be fickle little beings, very fussy and particular. Desiphering what they need is a skill." Seren nodded... this was certainly the case with her Screechsnap.

Seren nodded, "And how do you suppose we care for a plant?"

Seren nodded, "Identification is important... you wouldn't want to be under the impression that your Devils Snare is a Flitterbloom... little mistakes like these can be fatal."

"Very good response!" grinned Seren.


"Yes absolutely, some plants need regular pruning otherwise they will just grow over the top of anything near them, and this could be harmful to other plants."

"Mmm it can be. But theres a lot involved in caring for plants, so it sometimes sounds easier than it actually is."


With a swish and a flick of her wand the board behind her cleared, and new words began to form.

With another flick of her wand, three black buckets appeared in the centre of the table. Each filled to the brim with variants of squishy, lumpy brown substances.... they were a bit smelly too.

"Now one of the things we have mentioned is... fertilizer. So who can identify the three substances we have here?" asked Seren making her way around the table to stretch her legs.

Riley loved Herbology to no end but the Gryffindor about found that end each and everytime they got onto the subject they were discussing so far in class, fertilizer. It was such a gross thing to produce such wonderful plants he looked at the buckets, a lip raised in slight disgust.

"Well professor I suppose one would be Dragon dung, the more common of the magical plant fertilizers?" he said lowering his hand after speaking.

Nika leaned over to get a look at the stuff in the buckets. She crinkled her nose in response to the smell. Ewwwy. It was bron, lump, and it looks squishy... "Is it poo- I mean manure?"

POOP?!

Man!

Lexi knew it was unusually stinky in the greenhouse today.

Raising her hand she said, "Dung. It's all dung. But not mooncalf dung... it's silver. I have no idea what kind that is but it all stinks just the same." Yeah. TURNING MY NOSE UP HAUGHTILY OVER HERE.

Just... YUCK.

HEHE. Ellie was totally in love with this Professor. No joke. She was super, UBER, nice and Ellie liked her. Second or third on her favorite teachers list. Definitely.

...Or...Wait.

No. Ew. No.

Ellie had thought it was only Vindictus that had the weird obsession with Dragon Dung...so please. Merlin, please, let none of those be Dragon Dung.

Please.

She'd refuse to answer until she was sure.

Eino regretted being in the very front seat once the Professor summoned poo. Well, he had made the resolution that he was going to dedicate himself entirely to herbology, which to him included exposing his sense of smell to all kinds of smell. Of course, dung wasn't what he had in mind, but he still took one big whiff at it. YUCK! Never again. Plus, that didn't even help him identify the substances, but he tried nonetheless. "I don't know if this is included there..." He began with his hand raised "But the spores from Colly Bugle can be used as fertilizer."

Jai could identify or least try to as the stuff smelled aweful. He looked at his Professor with a face that said, it smells but I will try to answer."Would two of those be Dragon dung. It is commonly used in fertilizing magical plants." It brought back memories of when he would garden with his mother while he was home for the holiday. It obviously was his least favourite part.

Awesome! So he got some of them right.... never thought his weekend Muggle chores would be of any use with Herbology.

He eyes the buckets before leaning nearer to Lexi-- who totally wasnt enjoy this. So it aint mooncalf poop? "What is it then?....Dragon poop?"

Then he glances up excited at the Profesor "We got Dragons here?"