Great Garden

Birds flutter and buzz busily around the many trees, bushes, and flowers marooned in miniature groves, separated by stone paths. Many people travel these paths, tending to various plants and taking notes. The Tree of Light presides above it all, its ancient roots reaching out and popping up in places around the garden, and is in the center of the garden. As it gets dark, people flock to it to pick its fruit as a source of light.
And in the dark and still, the streams bubble contentedly as they hurry to ponds and back to their river. Bats come out of their man-made homes, diving down occasionally to drink from a pond. The sweet scent of night-flowers as they open fills the air. Many come here to take refuge for a moment, or to learn, or just to serve in the castle. Either way, there is always awe and respect for the garden and those who care for it.

Geography

Surrounded by a castle to protect it, the Great Gardens are the heart of Icor. A river runs through the outer edge, and through man-made and natural means is directed to flow in small streams and creeks throughout the garden. Nurtured by this fresh water, all manner of plants grow. Greenhouses nurture more specific environments. It also houses the Silver Spring, which is the only water that nurtures the Tree of Light.

Fauna & Flora

The garden houses the largest collection of species on the continent, including plants that feed and plants that are extinct elsewhere. Other countries give Icor their plants as gifts, and Icor faithfully cultivates them in its garden. As a result, it has plants from all across the continent, including underwater plants. To keep up with the needs of their plants, they also cultivate bees and other pollinators from all over.
The centerpiece of the garden, and the oldest and most impressive tree on earth, the Tree of Light, has been nurtured by Icor--from early settlers to the modern kingdom. The only one of its kind, it is nurtured by water from the Silver Spring, and the Silver Spring alone. The tree grows bulbs that give off light in a variety of colors, about the size of a melon. Once picked, the light globes last for about a day before fading out and giving up their magical ability to float behind those who picked it. A day after that, they slowly evaporate until nothing of them remains. Attempts to propogate it have been unsuccessful.

Type

Territory

Location under

Fert

Owner/Ruler

Alik Icorious

Owning Organization

Icor