Botanica’s Eggs-Ploring Easter Egg Hunt has 16 eggs to find and a Grand Prize of a Flying Pysanky Hot Air Balloon! Each egg gives a notecard with information about the history and traditions of Easter Eggs and a clue to the next egg. Find all 16 and win a Pysanky Hot Air Balloon that flies two!
THE FREE REPUBLIC OF SONOMA In the Bear Flag Revolt of 1846 Sonoma broke away from Mexico and formed the Sonoma Republic. In this “Alt History,” Captain Fremont and his army were lost at sea and the Sonoma Republic was never annexed to the United States 46 days after its founding. Russians, Old Californios, and New Settlers learned to get along. Abolitionists arrived with the ‘49ers during our constitutional convention. All Sonomans were declared free and equal by law. Women got the vote and indigenous peoples established a place in the new Sonoman society.
In 1855 when entomologist Asa Fitch identified the American “vine louse” Pemphigus vitifoliae, Sonoman vintners began grafting European Vitis vinifera onto American rootstock, outsmarting both the pest and the French. Sonoman vineyards flourished when European vineyards were devastated, and with the advent of the steamship we became the major exporter of wine worldwide.
The Santa Rosa Steam Works became a leader in the Steam Revolution and drew engineers and entrepreneurs like miners to gold. When investors pulled out of Nikola Tesla’s Wireless Electricity Company because it would make electricity free to everybody, Sonomans stepped in, knowing free electricity meant a larger market for our inventions.
Our Motto is Independence through Innovation.
Greetings Agent Steampunker.
As you may know, Baron Von Bitterman was exiled after his most recent failed coup attempt. He has vowed vengeance on the world. We believe he is now living in the desert under the assumed name of Jedidiah Smith. Reports say he is working on a new invention – some type of weapon of mass destruction.
A week ago Leo Wilde and Cyril Gadget were sent to investigate. We know they arrived at Bitterman’s compound and managed to get invited to dinner. Gadget managed to escape but is in a coma in the hospital. Wilde is still missing.
Your assignment is to infiltrate Bitterman’s compound and find Wild and rescue him, assuming he is still alive. If you are able, find and rescue Wilde. He knows where the weapon is. Find it and destroy it. Be careful as you go. Rumors are that Bitterman has a private army and his compound is riddled with traps to catch or kill intruders.
You’ll be rewarded for your bravery if you succeed. Good Luck.
Now through February 5. 2023 is the year of the Rabbit. One Quarter of the people on Earth celebrate the Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year/Spring Festival) which begins on January 21. This 12 stop educational hunt explains some of the traditions and history of this Asian 15 day holiday which is now celebrated in cities the world over. Each hunt red envelope contains a $L100 Creatrix Gift Card so participants can pick their own prizes. Find all 12 and win the Grand prize of a Flying Dragon Steed.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Blue%20Moon/183/233/23
Wander through Botanica’s winter wonderland finding 14 gifts inspired by Clement Moore’s beloved poem while learning about it and Christmas traditions. A Steam Punk Santa Sleigh awaits those who find all 14.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Blue%20Moon/182/233/23
Preview Days now to October 1. Officially open October 1 through November 4. Botanica’s 11th Annual Haunted Corn Maze” Interactive Trick AND Treat Hunt that takes you through the cemetery, swamp, haunted cornfield maze and a few more surprises. 23 Tricks give 23 Treats. Collect all to win the Grand Prize Jack-O’-Rambler. It is a little spooky with a whole lot of corn. Lots of photo ops playing with avi safe animations and old-fashioned Halloween fun. If you make it through the maze teleport to the broom racing track and Amusement Park to try out our rides.
That hut really gets around on those chicken legs!
Grand Opening of Cara’s Crab Shack, Dock and Dine on the Swansea River. Full service Roleplay Restaurant (XeoLife compatible). Meet with friends for a casual fish dinner and cocktails, or have a little role play fun taking turns tending bar or cooking; Fish and enjoy a boat ride down the river! http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Swansea/174/251/22
Botanica has been invaded by Bees! Big “B”s, little “b”s and a lot of wordplay and bad poetry. Find 16 “B” gifts for a Big Bee Balloon Grand Prize.
The Second Life Birthday Exhibition, SL19B, runs from June 16th to July 5th. Botanica has not entered an exhibit since 2013 and of course we had to include a hunt! Liz and I brainstormed. Our starter seed was the Octopus’s Garden from the Mielville Steam Hunt but the lot was twice its size. We wanted the exhibit to be interactive fun, incorporating the new buffet from the Sea Food and Eat It restaurant. Liz lobbied hard for a bathysphere. We went for expedient. The North Pole Hot Chocolate Stand fit the bill but needed a face lift. The plan was to fill the plaza with some steampunk tables, flowers and a fountain and viola we would be ready!
Before
and
After
Renovation!
The exhibit was made in the workshop before building on site opened and the idea was to just drop it and be done.
Second Life is all about residents creating their own world. SL19B celebrates that. Some of the exhibits are mind-blowing-breathtaking (the “Last Stop by Rapa” exhibit on SLB Breathtaking is well worth a visit!) Somethings are clearly created and imported from modeling packages by skilled graphic artists and some are made by residents who use the basic SL building blocks in world to create and share their vison. It’s not a building competition; it’s about imagination and the joy of creation.
Once we got there we started to get out own visons. Our exhibit needed more Steam! The exhibit took 2 more weeks of building.
The Octopus’s Garden went from this…
…to this
Lowering it to sea level to make a water garden floating on gears and making new worn brick arches.
The plaza went from pure pavement to a checker board of pavement and glass panels that allowed a glimpse of the sea below. Which meant we had to build a water world!
Liz got her bathysphere!
We weren’t sure we could add a hunt but found we had a day and half left to the building cut-off deadline. We even had time to make a souvenir flying hot air balloon for the grand prize and a T-Shirt everyone will be just itching to have!
Can’t wait until it opens and you can join us on June 16th.
The Virtual Garden 