14 June: Jasmine

Jasmine is the flower celebrated on this date by the French Revolutionary Calendar. Here are some things you might not know about Jasmine.

1. There are about 200 different species of jasmine. Some are shrubs, some are vines; some lose their leaves in winter, others don't.
2. Most jasmine flowers are White, about an inch (2.5cm) in size. A few species have Yellow flowers and rarely, they can be slightly Pink.
3. The name comes from the Persian word Yasameen, meaning "gift from God".
4. Jasmine is part of the olive family and is native to the continent of Asia. It is believed to have originated in the Himalayas in western China.
5. Jasmine is cultivated widely for its fragrance, which is released by the flowers and the buds (which are actually more fragrant than the flowers) after sunset, especially during a waxing Moon. This has given the plant the nickname “Queen of the Night” in India.
6. In China, jasmine is a symbol of feminine sweetness, beauty, deep affection, happiness and elegance, and when used for religious ceremonies, purity. In Thailand it is the symbol for mother and means love and respect.
7. Jasmine is the national flower of Hawaii, Indonesia, Pakistan and Philippines. It is also the symbol of the city of Damascus in Syria, which is sometimes called City of Jasmine.
8. Jasmine berries are Black when ripe.
9. Jasmine plants will grow in any soil type but ideally prefer a pH of between 4.9 and 8.3. They need lots of warmth, sunshine and water.
10. In Chinese medicine, jasmine is used to cool the blood, for example, to control fever or the effects of getting too much sun. They also have antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-tumour properties. Jasmine essential oil is used to improve mood, overcome stress and balance hormones.

The Raiders Trilogy

Book One

Book Three

Book Two

   

Power Blaster is a superhero who lives in a dimension not unlike our own, in the mega-nation of Innovia. No-one knows who he is or where his powers come from. 
After saving the life of the President several times, Power Blaster learns that a test of a nuclear warhead to defend the planet against asteroid strikes will have devastating consequences for his world and sets out to prevent it.

Power Blaster's actions lead to an unexpected result - a wormhole opens between his dimension and our own. Anyone in the vicinity is pulled through. People from diverse backgrounds and cultures must co-operate to survive and learn to live with the powers travel through the wormhole has bestowed on some of them.

A stable wormhole is established between the two dimensions. Power Blaster is determined to bring Desi Troyes, the person responsible for the bomb, to justice. Help comes from some rather unexpected sources. Meanwhile, Shanna Douglas sets out on a mission of her own, to find out if there is a cure for the life altering condition the wormhole gave her friend, Benedict Cole. Little does she know that she will stumble upon the secret of Power Blaster's mysterious origins.