Dathanscage
LightNews LightNews
banner
dathanscage.bsky.social
Dathanscage
@dathanscage.bsky.social
170 followers 160 following 140 posts
UX designer, orchid enthusiast, scifi/fantasy nerd, lifelong vegetarian, and general believer in respect and empathy for nature, science and most humans.
Posts Replies Media Videos
dathanscage.bsky.social
Real dog, sitting in a real chair, no AI.
Cute little purple heeler with her head over the arm of a white chair, with sunlight streaming through blonds
December 2, 2025 at 7:52 AM
dathanscage.bsky.social
Just finished reading The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling. It's horror, historical, fantasy, suspense and supernatural all woven together, but definitely worth the read. I won't give away the key theme of the book 🥩

📚💙 #booksky
Book cover for The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling. Nun, with a beekeeping honey frame, and the face obscured by another illustration of three faces, all on a bright yellow background. It's the story of a knight, a heretic, and disgraced royalty, surviving an untenable situation.
November 27, 2025 at 5:52 AM
dathanscage.bsky.social
Post a book you love from the 80s. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.
#BookSky #bookchallenge #readingchallenge #readingcommunity #booktok #bookish #books
Book cover for C.J. Cherryh, Rimrunners from 1989. The cover illustration shows the main character, Bet Yeager, running through a space station corridor.
November 19, 2025 at 7:15 AM
dathanscage.bsky.social
Spotted this little guy at the Petrified Forest National Park. According to Google Lens and the NPS website, it's a collared lizard. They're known to run on their hind legs, which makes them resemble small dinosaurs. Guess I missed that part🦖

#nps #nationalparkgeek #npsphotography 🏞️ 🌲💙
Turquoise and yellow collared lizard (I think) sunning on a reddish brown piece of petrified wood.
November 18, 2025 at 6:07 AM
dathanscage.bsky.social
Psychopsis, the butterfly orchid. It's one of my favorites, not just because it looks so beautifully unique, but because it is a sequential bloomer, and will reflower on the same spike for years, with the right care.

#flowers #bloomscrolling #gardening #orchids 💙🪴🌴🌱 sky
Psychopsis Mendenhall 'Hildos' has three very long and thin petals on the top, which look like a stylized crown, to me. Then fringed, long sepals along the lower sides, and one large, fringed lip. The whole flower then has striking yellow and dark orange striping and dappling. This picture was taken near a South facing window.
November 16, 2025 at 2:14 PM
dathanscage.bsky.social
Photos from Saguaro National Park this summer, well before the government shutdown. So much natural diversity despite the arrid conditions, and treasures worth protecting.

#cacti #nationalpark #nps
🌱🌵💙
Fishhook cactus in bloom. Along with the orange flowers you can see the long curving needles that give it the name. Ocotillo plant on the desert garden walk. Long thin branches of the bush like plant with small oval leaves. Unusual arm growth off of a Saguaro cactus. These tall plants only grow in this area, one of the largest cacti in the world. Prickly pear cactus, without fruit. The grey green oval forms add some interesting textures to the desert landscape.
October 23, 2025 at 9:27 AM
dathanscage.bsky.social
The Zinnias I planted late summer are still going strong, even in October. Love this color, Queeny Lemon Peach.

#bl9mscrolling #gardening #flowers 🌸🪴🌴🌱💙
Photo of a Zinnia flower bloom, with garden plants in the background, including cucumber, sunflower, and oregano gone to flower. The colors are bright orange pink center, and yellow to peach color radiating out from the middle. The variety is Queeny Lemon Peach.
October 10, 2025 at 4:16 AM
dathanscage.bsky.social
A favorite orchid, Jacquiniella Equitantifolia. Flowers are about 1/2 inch, but a sequential bloomer. Each spike has one bloom, and when that wilts, falls off, another flower will take its place. So, with about 10-25 spikes, always in bloom 🥰

#flowers #bloomscrolling #gardening #orchids 💙🌱🌴🪴 sky
Jacquiniella Equitantifolia orchid, small soft peach colored bloom, with strappy, but somewhat succulent, leaves behind it. You can see the remnants of the previous blooms on the right side of the flower. Jacquiniella Equitantifolia orchid. This is a new spike, and the bloom has less of a peach color, more yellow and a little green. You can also see that the sikes actually almost look like one of the leaves. Jacquiniella Equitantifolia, a bloom from the side. It's a soft pale peach color, the sepals and petals are long and thin, and the lip is as well, with a small flare at the end. They are also quite small, not getting larger than about half an inch. Jacquiniella Equitantifolia orchid. This flower is just opening, and hasn't quite reached the full yellow and peach color. This plant is from South America, and a grower in Equidor. I got it at a local orchid society meeting.
September 17, 2025 at 1:05 PM
dathanscage.bsky.social
Haven't posted in a while. But this was such a wonderful little miracle, had to share. Monn. Millennium Magic 'Witchcraft' ... The almost black orchid. It's first bloom, and it is a little bit of magic.

#flowers #bloomscrolling #gardening #orchids 💙🪴🌴🌱 sky
Three orchid blooms from the Milliinium Magic 'Witchcraft' orchid, with deep burgundy flowers that are almost black.
September 15, 2025 at 5:18 AM
dathanscage.bsky.social
Blooming once again, Coelogyne Pandurata 'Tristan' orchid ... the camera can't quite capture the unique shade of light green in the flowers. They don't last very long, but still striking, however briefly.

🌱💙🌴🪴
Close up of my Coelogyne Pandurata 'Tristan' orchid flowers, pale green with dark chocolate centers. Close up of my Coelogyne Pandurata 'Tristan' orchid flowers, pale green with dark chocolate centers.
July 22, 2025 at 6:05 AM
dathanscage.bsky.social
🌱 for #FlowersonFriday
Purple and white Zygo. Cynosure 'Blue Birds' orchid. There really isn't a true blue orchid, but enthusiasts keep trying.
June 6, 2025 at 3:31 PM
dathanscage.bsky.social
I've felt pretty down, overwhelmed with the state of the world. And then I look at this delicate orchid, the incredible odds that this plant can create this beautiful bloom, and how resilient and strong life is. Reminds me not to give up on these miracles.

🌱🌸🪴💙
Photo of a light pink and purple orchid bloom from a Hono Hono plant.
May 6, 2025 at 2:03 PM
dathanscage.bsky.social
Violas are not only the earliest flowers to make an appearance in the garden, but they're always volunteer plants, coming back on their own year after year. 🌱
Photo of dark purple viola flowers in wood mulch Photo of light violet viola flowers in wood mulch
April 22, 2025 at 3:44 AM
dathanscage.bsky.social
What makes an ideal Phaleanopsis orchid? Blooms have consistent color (even if it's white), are uniform and round, and petals and sepals are flat. What do you think? What makes an outstanding specimen?

#orchids #flower #houseplants #photography 🌱🌴🪴sky
White Phaleanopsis orchid blooms on an inflorescence with white petals and yellow lip with an orange center. Close up of white Phaleanopsis orchid blooms on an inflorescence with white petals and yellow lip with an orange center.
April 8, 2025 at 2:40 AM
dathanscage.bsky.social
It looks like spring might be here, at least for today. Thankfully nature doesn't care about tariffs or the stock market.

🌱💙🌴🌸
Close up of white blossoms on an ornamental pear tree Light pink with dark pink centers, blossoms on an ornamental plum tree.
April 6, 2025 at 9:54 PM
dathanscage.bsky.social
It's the last day of March and #womenshisyorymonth so closing out my 20 writers #booksky 💙📚

Day 17, 18, 19, 20 - Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Margery Allingham, and Gail Simone

Three legendary mystery authors, and one kick-a$$ comic book writer. Ladies, you rock!
Black and white photo of author Agatha Christie. She created such famous fictional sleuths as Hercule Proirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote one of the longest running plays in London, The Mousetrap. Black and white photo of Dorothy L Sayers, the mystery writer who created Lord Peter Whimsy. But, she was also a playwright, translator and critic. Black and white photo of Margery Allingham, one of the Queens of Crime from the golden age of Detective Fiction. She created the character Albert Campion. Photo of Gail Simone with blurred comic book characters behind her. She is famous for writing for characters in the DC universe, like Birds of Prey, Batgirl and Wonder Woman. She also has written for other comic book universes, including Red Sonja and Deadpool.
April 1, 2025 at 3:38 AM
dathanscage.bsky.social
Choose 20 women writers whom you admire. 1 writer/day/20 days. #booksky 💙📚
#womenshistorymonth

Day 16 - Jane Yolen

Sister Light, Sister Dark was impactful to me, in early adulthood. But, Yolen has written over 400 books, leaving a legacy of storytelling for every age.
Black and white photo of author Jane Yolen. She's written and/or edited over 400 hundred books, won two Nebulas and three World Fantasy Awards, and one of a handful of women to win the Danon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award.
March 31, 2025 at 2:45 AM
dathanscage.bsky.social
What makes orchids so fascinating is all the little differences between genus, species, etc. These are both Dendrobiums, but look closer, and you see all the differences. Of course, when my partner asks why I have two of the 'same' orchid, I just say 'because.' 🤷

🌱💙🌴🪴🌸
Magenta colored Dendrobium blooms. This is a supermarket purchase, so I don't know anything other than the family. This once has grooves in the leaves, and the blooms tend to be broader and rounder Another supermarket find, This magenta colored orchid has a little darker color, the petals are thinner, the lip has a little bit of frill, and the leaves are smooth.
March 30, 2025 at 2:59 AM
dathanscage.bsky.social
Choose 20 women writers whom you admire. 1 writer/day/20 days. #booksky 💙📚
#womenshistorymonth

Day 15 - Tanith Lee

Weird, lush, vibrant, exotic, elegant, perverse, darkly beautiful ... her weird writing style made her the first woman to win the British Fantasy Award for her novel Death's Master.
Black and white photo of author Tanith Lee. She wrote fantasy, science fiction, and even historical novels for adults and kids. She won the Bran Stoker Lifetime Achievement award for Horror
March 30, 2025 at 12:40 AM
dathanscage.bsky.social
Choose 20 women writers whom you admire. 1 writer/day/20 days. #booksky 💙📚
#womenshistorymonth

Day 14 - Shirley Jackson

Can women really write horror stories? Yes, yes they can! With intelligence, suspense, and terror!!!!
Black and white photo of Shirley Jackson, who wrote over 200 shirt stories, including The Lottery and the novel The Haunting of Hill House.
March 29, 2025 at 3:17 AM
dathanscage.bsky.social
Choose 20 women writers whom you admire. 1 writer/day/20 days. #booksky 💙📚
#womenshistorymonth

Day 13 - Margaret Atwood

The Handmaid's Tale ... She tried to warn us, how easy it could be to lose your rights, I'm sure she was hoping to be wrong.
Black and white photo of author Margaret Atwood. Some of her famous stories, like The Handmaid's Tale, ring more true today than when she wrote it in 1985.
March 28, 2025 at 4:36 AM
dathanscage.bsky.social
Choose 20 women writers whom you admire. 1 writer/day/20 days. #booksky 💙📚
#womenshistorymonth

Day 12 - Becky Chambers

Two amazing series, the Wayfarers and the Monk & Robot. Someone I consider at the forefront of a new generation of American science fiction writers.
Portrait of author Becky Chambers. Best known for the two series, Wayfarers and the Monk & Robot. Covers of her two books, The Galaxy and the Ground Within and A Psalm for the Wild Built.
March 27, 2025 at 12:36 AM
dathanscage.bsky.social
Choose 20 women writers whom you admire. 1 writer/day/20 days. #booksky 💙📚
#womenshistorymonth

Day 11 - Anne McCaffrey

The Dragonriders of Pern flipped the fantasy genre and made it science fiction, inspiring many young writers to challenge genres and storytelling tropes.
Photo of author Anne McCaffrey with her cat. Her Dragonriders of Pern was award winning, and inspired many in the industry. She was the first woman to win a Hugo for fiction, as well as a Nebula award.
March 24, 2025 at 4:24 PM
dathanscage.bsky.social
Beautiful orchid display of Phaleanopsis Schilleriana. These have the rare traits of fragrance and mottled leaves. It only goes on display once a year, and I am thankful to the person who takes care to cultivate and nurture it the rest of the year.

🌱🪴🌴sky
#orchids
#flower
#houseplants
#photography
Orchids mounted to a tree, Phaleanopsis Schilleriana, with branching pink flowers, and green and soft grey mottled leaves. In a dark pot, inside the Seattle Spheres. Close up of and orchid display information card. Phaleanopsis Schilleriana This "moth orchid," endemic to the Philippines, is admired for its cascading rose-scented blooms and speckled leaves. Fragrance and mottled foliage rare traits within the Phalaenopsis genus, making them highly prized among growers. This epiphyte prefers high humidity, warm daytime, and cool nighttime temperatures to thrive Close up of the pink, branching flowers of the Phaleanopsis Schilleriana, with some buds and full blooms.
March 24, 2025 at 1:17 PM
dathanscage.bsky.social
Choose 20 women writers whom you admire. 1 writer/day/20 days. #booksky 💙📚
#womenshistorymonth

Day 10 - Tamsyn Muir

Best known for the Locked Tomb series, won a 2020 Locus Award for the first book in the series, and nominations and awards for the full set of novels.
March 24, 2025 at 5:36 AM