The Merlun Mission Magic Tree House is a popular book series written by Mary Pope Osborne. The series follows the adventures of a brother and sister, Jack and Annie, who discover a magic tree house filled with books that can transport them through time and space. With the help of the tree house's magical powers, they embark on various missions and travel to different historical periods and fictional worlds. In the Merlun Mission Magic Tree House, Jack and Annie are sent on a mission by the enchantress Morgan le Fay to the land of Merlun. This mission involves them traveling to a medieval kingdom and helping King Arthur and his knights defeat an evil sorceress. Throughout the series, Jack and Annie encounter various challenges and obstacles that they must overcome using their intelligence, bravery, and resourcefulness.
Freshly harvested branches of Hamamelis vernalis cut for forcing indoors
And then there are years when March is soft; weeks of misty skies, melty temperatures and warm sunshine dancing on snow banks as they slowly disappear. Intermediate Collection 8 moderately difficult plants for the Witch s Garden Belladonna, Clary Sage, Foxglove, Henbane, Hyssop, Rowan, Rue, Wormwood 29.
Throughout the series, Jack and Annie encounter various challenges and obstacles that they must overcome using their intelligence, bravery, and resourcefulness. They meet historical figures such as Leonardo da Vinci, William Shakespeare, and Thomas Edison, and experience important events and periods in history. The books in the Merlun Mission Magic Tree House series not only entertain young readers but also educate them about important historical events and characters.
Keep an Eye Out for Witch Hazel Flowers!
It’s early November, and although colorful leaves are the stars of the show, there’s still time to find flowers in the woods. You may know witch-hazel as a liquid you can by in the first aid or beauty section of a pharmacy – but did you know it comes from a locally native plant?
Witch hazels are shrubs and small trees in the genus Hamamelis. Of the five existing species, two are native to Asia and three are native to North America. American witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is the species native to the Triangle and it grows all along the East Coast from Canada to Mexico. Witch hazels are woodland understory plants, they usually grow to about 15 feet tall and can spread their branches out, seeking the light that filters through the canopy of taller trees. Forked and zig-zagging twigs are one of the tell-tale signs for identifying these plants in the wild.
The leaves and bark of Hamamelis virginiana have been used medicinally for a long time. Native Americans made witch hazel poultices and teas to reduce inflammation and fever, as well as for eye and skin irritation. A series of compounds in the leaves and bark (mainly tannins) have antiseptic and astringent properties, so today witch hazel extract continues to be used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals to reduce skin irritation (including bug-bites and poison ivy rashes), itching, and bruising.
Having it just been Halloween, you might be wondering what all this has to do with witches, but the answer might not be quite what you expect. Rather than anything related to casting spells, the name “witch hazel” probably comes from Europeans using the forked witch hazel branches to dowse for water. Also known as water-witching, the term comes form the Old English “wych” (or ‘wiche’) in reference to bending branches while dowsing.
Witch hazels flower in the fall and winter, which makes them an important source of food for pollinators (like winter moths) during these times of year. Each flower has four long, ribbon-like, wrinkly petals, and they grow in clusters on the stems, which makes them look like little fireworks or sunbursts. Some people say the flowers are “spidery,” but somehow, they always make me think of butterfly wings that are fresh out of the chrysalis and haven’t had time to iron themselves out. American witch hazel has bright yellow flowers that appear in October and November, sometimes even before all the leaves (which also turn yellow) have finished falling off the branches.
Witch hazel fruits, photo: TLC Staff
Once they are pollinated, the flowers go dormant and the seeds develop in little woody fruits that will take a year to mature. Unlike many temperate plants, this means that witch hazels bear fruits and flowers, as well as fuzzy leaf buds all at the same time. When the seedpods dry out, they literally pop open loudly, and the seeds are shot out – up to 30 feet away from the tree – a process biologists call “ballistic dispersal.”
Because witch hazels bloom so late (early?) in the year and are such hardy plants, they are quite popular as garden shrubs, and there are over 25 varieties available for sale. Other common names for these plants include Winterbloom, Snapping Hazelnut, and Striped Alder. Often the commercially available witch hazels are a hybrid of the Asian species, so it’s good to be on the lookout for the native species instead. One of the best ways to tell them all apart is that American witch hazel blooms yellow and in fall, while the Asian species bloom later in winter. Hamamelis vernalis, the Ozark witch hazel, grows further West than NC, and has red-to-orange blooms from January to March. If you are trying to replace non-native plants in your garden with native species, witch hazel is a great replacement for Forsythia, which is not native and can become invasive.
Fruit and gall of witch hazel, photo: TLC Staff
Lastly, if you are out in the woods and come across a clump of witch hazel, take a close look at the branches, and you might find some spiny growths in addition to the woody fruits and the flowers. Spiny witch hazel fall aphids lay their eggs in dormant flower buds, which causes the plant to create the galls.
It’s a great time of year to go out and look for blooming witch hazels – and to see if you can find aphid galls as well. See you out there!
Please note that we have a limited stock of collections available each growing season. If you see something marked as "Sold Out" try buying the seeds separately by clicking their links. We try to keep individual seed packets in stock throughout the year.
The series combines adventure, mystery, and historical facts to create an engaging reading experience for children. The Merlun Mission Magic Tree House books are loved by readers of all ages and have captured the imaginations of children around the world. The series promotes a love for reading and learning, as well as a sense of adventure and exploration. Overall, the Merlun Mission Magic Tree House series is a captivating and educational collection of books that takes readers on exciting adventures through time and history. It sparks curiosity, imagination, and a passion for learning in young readers while entertaining them with thrilling storytelling..
Reviews for "Unveiling the Secrets of Merlun in the Magic Tree House Series"
1. Mary - 2 out of 5 stars - I found "Merlun Mission Magic Tree House" to be incredibly boring and uninteresting. The story lacked depth and the characters felt one-dimensional. The plot was predictable and failed to engage my attention. I had high hopes for this book based on the previous installments in the series, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for an entertaining and engaging read.
2. John - 1 out of 5 stars - I was extremely disappointed with "Merlun Mission Magic Tree House". The writing was poor, with clunky sentences and repetitive phrases that made it a struggle to get through. The dialogue between characters felt forced and unnatural. The adventure itself seemed rushed and lacked any real excitement or suspense. Overall, this book fell short of my expectations and I would not recommend it to anyone.
3. Jane - 2 out of 5 stars - I found "Merlun Mission Magic Tree House" to be a major letdown. The story seemed haphazardly thrown together, with disjointed plotlines and underdeveloped characters. The writing style was choppy and made it difficult to become fully immersed in the story. Additionally, I felt that certain aspects of the book were far-fetched and unrealistic, making it hard to suspend disbelief. Overall, I was not impressed with this book and would not recommend it.
4. Tom - 2 out of 5 stars - "Merlun Mission Magic Tree House" left me feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied. The pacing of the story was off, with the action-packed scenes feeling rushed and the slower moments dragging on. The plot itself lacked originality and felt like a rehash of similar stories in the series. I was hoping for more creativity and excitement but was ultimately let down. I would not recommend this book to fans of the series who are seeking a fresh and engaging read.
5. Emily - 3 out of 5 stars - While "Merlun Mission Magic Tree House" had its moments, overall, I found it to be a mediocre addition to the series. The writing was decent, but the story lacked the magic and charm that drew me in with previous books. The adventure felt predictable and unoriginal, failing to surprise or captivate me. While it's not the worst book in the series, it certainly doesn't stand out as a memorable read.