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First Trust Company Building is a historic commercial building located at Broadway and State Street in Albany, New York, United States. It was designed by noted architect Marcus T. Reynolds and built in 1904. Currently, it is the main offices of the Research Foundation for the State University of New York.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It is also a contributing property to the Downtown Albany Historic District.
This splendid Queen Anne style house was built c. 1890 just steps away from Duncan Park, named in honor of Joseph Duncan who served as Illinois governor from 1834-38, and whose historic house is located on the north side of the park.
This old Queen Anne is contributing to the Jacksonville Historic District. Listed in 1978 on the National Register of Historic Places, almost all architectural styles popular in Illinois from 1830 to the mid-1930s are represented in the district.
The central Illinois City of Jacksonville was founded in 1825 and is the seat of Morgan County. The population of Jacksonville was 17,616 at the 2020 census.
As night falls, I find comfort in the serene moments just before succumbing to sleep. Bathed in the gentle glow of muted lights, my surroundings transform into a sanctuary, signaling the peaceful journey that lies ahead. Beyond my window, the world recedes, making way for a tranquil tableau painted with the muted symphony of the night.
Captured within the frame is a snapshot of this tranquil interlude – a ritualistic pause before entering the realm of dreams. The interplay of shadows and the soft warmth of ambient light create a soothing ambiance, inviting a sense of calm that washes over me.
The image is a visual ode to this serene pause, a conscious moment before surrendering to the embrace of slumber. The unmade bed, carefully arranged essentials, and the quiet stillness all contribute to a delicate symphony of tranquility.
In this captured moment, I embrace the quietude, recognizing the beauty often overlooked in the hustle of the day. It serves as a daily reminder of the importance of finding peace amid chaos, offering a gentle prelude to the dreams awaiting in the realm of sleep.
Long-tailed Tit, a small, gregarious bird with a rounded, fluffy appearance, pinkish-black and white coloring, and a distinctive long tail. They are often seen in woodlands, parks, and gardens, and are known for forming flocks, which can contribute to their appearance as a "flying ball of fluff"
A huge early nineteenth-century country house built in the style of a Norman castle on the site of much earlier high-status dwellings, set within a wide park on a natural promontory between the Ogwen and Cegin rivers at the eastern end of the Menai Straits. Penrhyn castle dominates the surrounding landscape to an extraordinary degree. The Grand Lodge which forms the entrance to the park, and the high stone walls which surround it, contribute strongly to the sense of a wealthy, aristocratic enclave, yet its proximity to, and visual relationship with, the Quarry (NPRN 40564), the railway systems and Port Penrhyn (NPRN 306314) indicate the source of much of the vast wealth of the owning Pennant and Douglas Pennant families. Now part-owned and entirely managed by the National Trust, the Castle and Park are open to the public.This Neo-Norman residence was built for George Hay Dawkins Pennant (1764-1840), inheritor of the Penrhyn estate, in which work of the period 1827-37 overlays a Medieval hall, itself ‘gothicised’ in the late eighteenth century by Richard Pennant, Lord Penrhyn, the previous owner. The Castle is preserved in its late nineteenth century condition. A remarkable feature of its lavish interior is the use of slate in some furniture – a state bed, a desk, as cisterns and meat cupboard in the kitchen, as inkwell-holders and a billiard table. It is set within extensive grounds which were emparked in the early nineteenth century, and which are surrounded by a high mortared stone wall capped with slate. The grounds include extensive gardens, stabling and a home farm. The setting and relationship of the house to the park and landscape is outstanding. Within the castle stable block is an industrial railway museum which displays locomotives, rolling stock and artefacts from the Penrhyn Quarry Railway and the Dinorwic Quarry Railway.
The present building was created by the architect Thomas Hopper between the years 1822 and 1837 for George Hay-Dawkins Pennant who had inherited the Penrhyn estate from his cousin, Richard Pennant. Pennant himself had married into the Penrhyn family and had subsequently made his fortune through slate quarrying industries in north Wales and slavery in Jamaica.
Text source: coflein.gov.uk/en/site/16687/
The chapel was a gift of German-American Henry John Heinz, founder of the H.J. Heinz Company, who wanted to honor his mother, Anna Margaretta Heinz, with a building at the university. Upon his death in 1919, Heinz’s three surviving children (Howard, Irene, and Clifford) added to his bequest in order to memorialize their grandmother and honor their father. Their choice of a chapel for a memorial was guided by the concepts of education and religion which Anna Margaretta Heinz imbued in her children.
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property
Pittsburgh Landmark — PHLF
Built in 1911, this Queen Anne-style house features a buff brick facade with a front gable roof, corner turret with a conical roof, decorative stone trim and details, quoins, and decorative glass attic windows, double-hung windows in one-over-one and nine-over-one configurations, half-timbering on the gable ends, bargeboard at the front gable, concrete porch columns and railings, a rough-hewn stone base, a first-floor picture window with a decorative glass transom, and a double front door with decorative glass lights and a decorative glass transom. The house is a contributing structure in the East Row Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and expanded to include this part of the neighborhood in 1985.
Such a delicate and enticing Vanda. I love the colors and patterns... from almost leopard to a pale pale purple and everything in between.
The name "Vanda" is derived from the Sanskrit name for the species Vanda tessellata. These are mostly epiphytes (plants, such as a tropical orchid or staghorn fern, that grow on another plant and depends on it for mechanical support but not nutrients.) Also called aerophyte, air plant.) but sometimes they are lithophytic (plants that grows on rock and derive their nourishment chiefly from the atmosphere. Or terrestrial (plants that grow on the ground) Vandas are distributed in India, Himalaya, SE Asia, Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea, southern China and northern Australia.
The genus is monopodial, that is they grow upward from a single point, adding leaves to the apex and the stem grows longer accordingly. Some have flat, typically broad, ovoid leaves (strap-leaves), while others have cylindrical (terete), fleshy leaves and are adapted to dry periods. The stems of these orchids vary considerably in size; there are miniature plants and plants that grow to several meters.
There are few to many flattened flowers growing on a lateral inflorescence. Most show a yellow-brown color with brown markings, but they also appear in white, green, orange, red and burgundy shades. The lip has a small spur. Vandas usually bloom every few months and the flowers last for two to three weeks.
This genus is one of the five most horticulturally important orchid genera, because it has some of the most magnificent flowers to be found in the entire orchid family. This has contributed much to the work of hybridists producing flowers for the cut flower market. Vanda coerulea is one of the few botanical orchids with blue flowers (actually a very bluish purple), a property much appreciated for producing interspecific and intergeneric hybrids. Vanda dearei is one of the chief sources of yellow color in Vanda hybrids.
Many Vanda orchids (especially Vanda coerulea) are endangered, because of habitat destruction. The export of wild-collected specimens of the Blue Orchid (Vanda coerulea) and other wild Vandas is prohibited worldwide, as all orchids are listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
Ponpimol X coerulea
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
Somewhat punctuated my walk, lasted only about 5 minutes, but the boxer dog I was walking wanted to run around like a lunatic, hehe.
Aberdeenshire (Scottish Gaelic: Siorrachd Obar Dheathain) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It takes its name from the old County of Aberdeen which had substantially different boundaries. Modern Aberdeenshire includes all of what was once Kincardineshire, as well as part of Banffshire. The old boundaries are still officially used for a few purposes, namely land registration and lieutenancy. Aberdeenshire Council is headquartered at Woodhill House, in Aberdeen, making it the only Scottish council whose headquarters are located outside its jurisdiction. Aberdeen itself forms a different council area (Aberdeen City). Aberdeenshire borders onto Angus and Perth and Kinross to the south, Highland and Moray to the west and Aberdeen City to the east. Traditionally, it has been economically dependent upon the primary sector (agriculture, fishing, and forestry) and related processing industries. Over the last 40 years, the development of the oil and gas industry and associated service sector has broadened Aberdeenshire's economic base, and contributed to a rapid population growth of some 50% since 1975. Its land represents 8% of Scotland's overall territory. It covers an area of 6,313 square kilometres
This close-up view plunges into the intricate heart of a Gerbera daisy, capturing the lush, velvety texture of its coral-toned petals. The dynamic diagonal composition draws the eye across the frame, moving from the soft, sweeping drama of the main petals to the tightly clustered, contrasting tips of the disc florets at the flower's center. It’s a study in delicate complexity—a vibrant reminder of nature's detailed artistry, where every tiny element contributes to a spectacular whole.
Can you see the little red me in the picture? ;))
The ever-changing weather conditions also contribute to its beauty. The mountain is often shrouded in mist or surrounded by dramatic clouds, creating an ethereal and mysterious atmosphere. The interplay of light and shadow on the mountain and the surrounding landscape can create a truly magical and surreal experience.
DJI Mavic 3
Hasselblad L2D-20c
ISO200, 12.29mm, f/2.8, 1/1250s
An eastbound BNSF coal train rolls through Lombard, Montana. A bit of smoke from forest fires to the west contributes to a colorful sunset.
The Peacock Flower holds symbolic importance in some cultures, often associated with beauty, pride, and joy.
This plant is often celebrated for its spectacular flowers and its ability to bring a tropical touch to gardens and landscapes.
The Peacock Flower produces beautiful, showy flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow, or a combination of these, often resembling a peacock's tail in appearance.
The flowers are large, with long stamens that contribute to their dramatic look.
The plant itself can grow as a shrub or small tree, reaching heights of 3 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 meters), though it can grow taller in ideal conditions.
The leaves are finely divided, giving the plant a feathery or fern-like texture.
“Arts in Hats” is open!
Artists and designers created hats which are taken by photographers.
80 artists contributed to the biggest and most exciting hat show that Second Life ever has seen.
Saint Michael’s Cathedral of Alba Iulia was built between 1247 and 1291, which makes it contemporary to the famous Notre Dame of Paris. Furthermore, it appears that a great French architect, Villard de Honnecourt, contributed to its design. In addition to being the oldest and the longest cathedral in Romania (at 89.16 m measured along its axis), it is also considered the most important monument of Romanesque architecture in Transylvania.
The site is registered in the National Archaeological Repertory of Romania.
Lincoln's City Hall and Fire Department sits at the intersection of Broadway and N. McLean St., kitty-corner from the Logan County Courthouse on the northeast corner of the square. Constructed in 1886, the handsome Romanesque Revival building is a significant property in the Lincoln Courthouse Square Historic District that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
The telephone booth seen on the roof of City Hall is a Route 66 landmark. In the old days, the roof was used by the fire department as a lookout for weather spotters. If severe weather was spotted, a direct line from the booth to the fire house alerted the department to activate the storm siren.
The phone booth was added in the 1960s, and I can't imagine standing in it with the wind howling. This unique roof ornament was nearly lost to history when City Hall received a new roof in 2009 but, because of the historic value and the tradition, citizens spoke up and the historic conversation piece was kept in place.
The two buildings seen to north (left) of the courthouse in the 100 block of N. McLean St. also lie within the historic district. The closest building with two different facades at 114-116 N. McLean St. is an early 20th century commercial structure that is a contributing property in the historic district. The second building at 118 N. McLean St. dates to the 1890s. Originally an Italianate design, the structure was remodeled in the 1970s and is a non-contributing property in the district.
Lincoln is the seat of Logan County, which is situated in central Illinois approximately 26 miles northeast of Springfield, the state capitol. The estimated population of Lincoln in 2018 was 13,685.
Suzhou (/suːˈdʒoʊ/; Chinese: 苏州), alternately romanized as Soochow, is a major city in southern Jiangsu province, East China. Suzhou is the most populous city in Jiangsu, and a major economic center and focal point of trade and commerce. Administratively, Suzhou is a prefecture-level city with a population of 6,715,559 in the city proper, and a total resident population of 12,748,262 as of the 2020 census in its administrative area.
The city's canals, stone bridges, pagodas, and meticulously designed gardens have contributed to its status as one of the top tourist attractions and liveable cities in China. The Classical Gardens of Suzhou were added to the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1997 and 2000. Suzhou is often dubbed the "Venice of the East" or "Venice of China".
Suzhou (/suːˈdʒoʊ/; chino: 苏州), también romanizada como Soochow, es una importante ciudad del sur de la provincia de Jiangsu, en el este de China. Suzhou es la ciudad más poblada de Jiangsu y un importante centro económico y foco de comercio. Administrativamente, Suzhou es una ciudad a nivel de prefectura con una población de 6.715.559 habitantes en la ciudad propiamente dicha, y una población residente total de 12.748.262 habitantes según el censo de 2020 en su área administrativa.
Los canales, puentes de piedra, pagodas y jardines meticulosamente diseñados de la ciudad han contribuido a su estatus como una de las principales atracciones turísticas y ciudades habitables de China. Los Jardines Clásicos de Suzhou se incluyeron en la lista de Patrimonio de la Humanidad de la UNESCO en 1997 y 2000. Suzhou es apodada a menudo la "Venecia de Oriente" o la "Venecia de China".
The Kerrick-Barry House was built in 1886 for Leonidas Kerrick (1846-1907), a lawyer, a legislator, and a breeder of prized polled angus cattle. He was a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, and later in his life served on their board of trustees, as well as the board for the University of Illinois. The home's second owner was Edward Burry, a McLean County circuit court judge who occupied the bench from 1920 to 1933.
The two and one-half story house Victorian-era house is an irregular framed structure with shiplap siding. The house has a truncated hipped roof with an off-center front gable. The house has three dormers, all of which are slightly different but are of the gamble with over-hang variety. The railings on the porch are not original. The architect is unknown and the house is a mixture of styles.
The Kerrick-Barry House is a contributing property in Bloomington's Franklin Square Historic District, which is located northwest of downtown Bloomington. The Square is named in honor of Franklin Price, who was the mayor of Bloomington Mayor in 1856 when land for the Square was gifted to the city.
Franklin Square was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, and was designated a local historic district in 1979. The houses of Franklin Square were built in a variety of architectural styles from the mid 19th century through the early 20th century, including Georgian Revival, Italianate, Colonial, Queen Anne, and Richardsonian Romanesque.
Bloomington is the seat of McLean County. It is adjacent to Normal, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area. Bloomington is home to State Farm Insurance, Country Financial and Beer Nuts. Illinois Wesleyan University is located here, while the neighboring city of Normal is home to Illinois State University and Heartland Community College. Bloomington is 135 miles (217 km) southwest of Chicago, and 162 miles (261 km) northeast of St. Louis. The estimated population of Bloomington in 2019 was 77,330, with a metro population of 191,067.
This image will continue to remind me of Hidden Grove, because of the way these branches partially reveal themselves to my camera. As if shy in nature, they give us only enough to let us know they are there. Hidden behind a tree trunk, and using another to gain confidence, they contribute their beauty to the surrounding.
"Hidden Grove is a beautiful forested area with a network of hiking trails that pass by several enormous Douglas Fir trees. Located just north of Sechelt, the many different paths offer a unique opportunity to plan your route through a lush west coast forest, on routes that are well maintained."
The Christian Temple of the Apostles (Agii Apostoli Solaki, Άγιοι Απόστολοι Σολάκη) since 1000 A.D., in the Southeast corner of Agora. This church along with the Temple of Hephaestus are the only monuments in the Agora to survive intact since their foundation. Agii Apostoli played a significant role in the development of Byzantine architecture being the oldest example of the 'Athenian type' of Byzantine dome in the city. The church contributed to the development of Byzantine architecture by its successful combination of a central plan with a cross-in-square design. It houses several wall frescos.
A robin red breast in full winter plumage on a cold winter's day at Hengistbury Head, Dorset UK.
The distinctive orange breast of both sexes contributed to the European robin's original name of "redbreast", orange as a colour name being unknown in English until the 16th century, by which time the fruit of the same name had been introduced. The Dutch roodborstje, French rouge-gorge, Swedish rödhake, German Rotkehlchen, Italian pettirosso, Spanish petirrojo, Hungarian vörösbegy, and Portuguese pisco-de-peito-ruivo all refer to the distinctively coloured front.
In the 15th century, when it became popular to give human names to familiar species, the bird came to be known as robin redbreast, which was eventually shortened to robin. As a given name, Robin is originally a diminutive of the name Robert. The term robin is also applied to some birds in other families with red or orange breasts. These include the American robin (Turdus migratorius, a thrush) and the Australasian robins of the family Petroicidae, the relationships of which are unclear.
Other older English names for the bird include ruddock and robinet. In American literature of the late 19th century, this robin was frequently called the English robin.
Text courtesy of Wikipedia.
4 of the photos from the book exhibited rps.org/events/2017/march/30/living-london--exhibition-of... . I'm merely one of 10 photographers contributing to the Living London book. Exhibition until 27 April 2017 at Croatian Embassy, 21 Conway Street, London W1T 6BN, ring doorbell to get in - 11:00 to 14:00 Monday-Thursday, 10:00 to 12:00 Friday. . The subjects range from Al Fresco London to issues of homelessness. The book is going to be sold from RPS website. Photograph by Natasha Bennett, a fellow contributor to the book.
For nature management in the Netherlands, cattle of the Blonde d’Aquitaine breed are primarily used. These cattle graze year-round, together with their calves, in the area and are part of the 'heathland beef' initiative. They contribute to the preservation of the heath landscape and support ecological nutrient cycling.
Some interesting facts about probably the cutest world's rodents (Sciurus vulgaris):
- They do not hibernate;
- They hide nuts and seeds in the ground, which contributes to the growth of the tree population;
- Front teeth grow throughout life;
- They have a multifunctional tail - it helps to keep balance, brake, and even serves as an umbrella;
- If they look anxious, nervously jumping on the branches making high-pitched whistles (and there is no particular threat), it means that in 6-10 hours it will probably rain;
- If they hide in a hollow and their activity decreases, it means that a storm is coming.
Kilka interesujących faktów o tych jakże pociesznych gryzoniach (Sciurus vulgaris):
- Nie zapadają w sen zimowy;
- Ukrywają w ziemi orzechy i nasiona, co przyczynia się do wzrostu populacji drzew;
- Przednie zęby rosną przez całe życie;
- Mają wielofunkcyjny ogon - pomaga utrzymać równowagę, hamować, a nawet bywa parasolem;
- Jeśli wyglądają na zaniepokojone, nerwowo skaczą po gałęziach wydając wysokie gwizdy (a nie widać szczególnego zagrożenia), to znaczy, że prawdopodobnie za 6-10 godzin wystąpią opady;
- Jeśli chowają się w dziupli, a ich aktywność się obniża, to znaczy, że nadejdzie burza.
E.V.E LUXE for Bandana Day 2018
Francois l'Olonnais Black west
Scene: The looking grass
E.V.E LUXE for Bandana Day 2018
Hair Fair 2018 opens on September 22nd and E.V.E has designed special textures for one of the official bandanas with 100% of the proceeds to benefit Wigs for Kids, a nonprofit organization that has been serving children suffering from hair loss since 1981. Each year the Hair Fair collects millions of Lindens for Wigs for Kids and this year E.V.E wanted to contribute to the cause.
The unisex LUXE Bandana is material enabled to produce a shiny raven scales effect and gold line embellishment.
Wear your E.V.E Luxe bandana on Bandana Day! (Last day of event.)
Bandana Day in Second Life began in 2007. On this day people remove their hair and wear bandanas decorated by residents grid-wide to support children who have lost their hair due to illness or medical treatments.
Two Harvestmen use this cactus as a safe hiding place, I find them there hiding here most days (the cacti grow inside our polytunnel). This one has a large mite attached to it's leg (best viewed Large) HA12 & HBBBT!
If anyone contributing to Arachtober has suitable spider butt shots feel free to add them to the Beautiful Bug Butt Thursday group
This week will mark my first year as a contributing member of flickr... and I would like to thank you all for being a part of it. I look forward to enjoying another year with each and every one of you. *hugs*
For my photo of this world-famous mountain range, it absolutely had to be the blue hour! The first snow and beautiful clouds made this evening a photo excursion of the extra class! Since all the huts in the area were already closed, we had to walk back for an hour in the dark. This also contributed to an unforgettable overall experience...
Brede Hilledijk - Rotterdam
Het nieuwe Nederlands Fotomuseum is 7 februari 2026 geopend. De nieuwe locatie is gerealiseerd in een gebouw van bijna 125 jaar oud. Het voormalige pakhuis Santos, gebouwd in 1902, voor de opslag van koffie die vanuit de haven van Santos in Brazilië werd verscheept. Destijds was het, het hoogste en modernste pakhuis van Rotterdam.
Naast de vaste collectie zijn er nu ook twee tijdelijke tentoonstellingen; "Rotterdam in focus". Een reis door foto's die het Rotterdamse landschap laten zien. Die reis begint met een foto uit 1843 en loopt door tot de hedendaagse drone- en panoramafotografie. Meer dan 300 foto's laten de ontwikkeling zien van 180 jaar fotografie. De andere tentoonstelling "ontwaken in blauw" is een ode aan de cyanotypie. Dit is een eeuwenoude fotografische techniek die diepe blauwtinten creëert. Zonlicht, water, schaduw en tijd helpen mee om het beeld te maken.
The new Netherlands Photo Museum opened on February 7, 2026. The new location has been realised in a building that is almost 125 years old. The former Santos warehouse, built in 1902 to store coffee shipped from the port of Santos in Brazil. At the time, it was the tallest and most modern warehouse in Rotterdam.
In addition to the permanent collection, there are now two temporary exhibitions: "Rotterdam in Focus." A journey through photographs depicting the Rotterdam landscape. This journey begins with a photograph from 1843 and continues through to contemporary drone and panoramic photography. More than 300 photographs illustrate the development of 180 years of photography. The other exhibition, "Awakening in Blue," is an ode to cyanotype, a centuries-old photographic technique that creates deep blue tones. Sunlight, water, shadow, and time all contribute to the creation of the image.
Considering our upper level seating for my daughters graduation, this higher perspective rendered an interesting image. The repetition and high contrast of black and white, contributed as its own meaningful element. Do you remember your graduation, wearing the gown and throwing the mortarboard? (The cap)
The castle and garden at Sissinghurst Castle in the Weald of Kent, in England at Sissinghurst village, is owned and maintained by the National Trust. It is among the most famous gardens in England and is grade I listed.
Sissinghurst's garden was created in the 1930s by Vita Sackville-West, poet and gardening writer, and her husband Harold Nicolson, author and diplomat. Sackville-West was a writer on the fringes of the Bloomsbury Group who found her greatest popularity in the weekly columns she contributed as gardening correspondent of The Observer, which incidentally—for she never touted it—made her own garden famous. The garden itself is designed as a series of 'rooms', each with a different character of colour and/or theme, the walls being high clipped hedges and many pink brick walls. The rooms and 'doors' are so arranged that, as one enjoys the beauty in a given room, one suddenly discovers a new vista into another part of the garden, making a walk a series of discoveries that keeps leading one into yet another area of the garden. Nicolson spent his efforts coming up with interesting new interconnections, while Sackville-West focused on making the flowers in the interior of each room exciting.
For Sackville-West, Sissinghurst and its garden rooms came to be a poignant and romantic substitute for Knole, reputedly the largest house in Britain, which as the only child of Lionel, the 3rd Lord Sackville she would have inherited had she been a male, but which had passed to her cousin as the male heir.
The site is ancient; "hurst" is the Saxon term for an enclosed wood. A manor house with a three-armed moat was built here in the Middle Ages. In 1305, King Edward I spent a night here. It was long thought that in 1490 Thomas Baker, a man from Cranbrook, purchased Sissinghurst, although there is no evidence for it. What is certain is that the house was given a new brick gatehouse in the 1530s by Sir John Baker, one of Henry VIII's Privy Councillors, and greatly enlarged in the 1560s by his son Sir Richard Baker, when it became the centre of a 700-acre (2.8 km2) deer park. In August 1573 Queen Elizabeth I spent three nights at Sissinghurst.
After the collapse of the Baker family in the late 17th century, the building had many uses: as a prisoner-of-war camp during the Seven Years' War; as the workhouse for the Cranbrook Union; after which it became homes for farm labourers.
Sackville-West and Nicolson found Sissinghurst in 1930 after concern that their property Long Barn, near Sevenoaks, Kent, was close to development over which they had no control. Although Sissinghurst was derelict, they purchased the ruins and the farm around it and began constructing the garden we know today. The layout by Nicolson and planting by Sackville-West were both strongly influenced by the gardens of Gertrude Jekyll and Edwin Lutyens; by the earlier Cothay Manor in Somerset, laid out by Nicolson's friend Reginald Cooper, and described by one garden writer as the "Sissinghurst of the West Country"; and by Hidcote Manor Garden, designed and owned by Lawrence Johnston, which Sackville-West helped to preserve. Sissinghurst was first opened to the public in 1938.
The National Trust took over the whole of Sissinghurst, its garden, farm and buildings, in 1967. The garden epitomises the English garden of the mid-20th century. It is now very popular and can be crowded in peak holiday periods. In 2009, BBC Four broadcast an eight-part television documentary series called Sissinghurst, describing the house and garden and the attempts by Adam Nicolson and his wife Sarah Raven, who are 'Resident Donors', to restore a form of traditional Wealden agriculture to the Castle Farm. Their plan is to use the land to grow ingredients for lunches in the Sissinghurst restaurant. A fuller version of the story can be found in Nicolson's book, Sissinghurst: An Unfinished History (2008).
For further information please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sissinghurst_Castle_Garden and www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden
The Great Western Staircase is one of the Capitol’s most impressive features. Its stair well measures approximately 77 by 70 feet, and is 119 feet in height. Yet, it is also graceful and intricate, and a paradise of stone carving. Known in Albany as the Million Dollar Staircase, it was designed by H. H. Richardson, but transformed into an elaborately carved work of art by Isaac Perry. Governor Grover Cleveland called Perry out of retirement to become Commissioner of the Capitol in 1883. He was the last architect to work on the building and his involvement resulted in a dramatic increase in stone carving. At times he employed hundreds of stone carvers and cutters, paying them five dollars for a ten-hour day – twice the wage of a common laborer. The majority of the carvers were from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Palm Beach County is covered with 317 miles of canals, which provide flood coverage due to an overabundance of rain. These man made networks of water management are everywhere, contributing to maintaining the overall health of the county. Besides helping civilization function down here there’s an artistic element in play too. A lot of fascinating photographic possibilities, ponder.
I’ll be conducting some mini shoots now and then to take advantage of these canals and the surrounding landscape around ‘em. This shoot is an example of the aforementioned, showing off the surreal mesh of canals and massive power lines.
Pleasure sharing some samples . . .
Island Of Madagascar
Off The East Coast Of Africa
Peyrieras Madagascar Exotic Reserve
March 20th is World Frog Day, which was created in 2009 to increase awareness of the plight of threatened frog species around the world. All amphibians, including frogs, are important components of the global ecosystem, as indicators of environmental health and contributors to human health. More than one third of them are currently threatened with extinction. Addressing the amphibian extinction crisis represents the greatest species conservation challenge in the history of humanity.
We know there are at least 7,400 species of frogs (AmphibiaWeb), but sadly, we also know that at least 2,000 (28%) of these are threatened with extinction (IUCN Red List). The actual number of threatened species is no doubt considerably higher, because around 1,000 species (14%) have not yet been assessed for their threat categories, and for another 1,000 (14%) of them, so little is known about their status in the wild that they cannot be accurately assessed.
Many things are causing frog populations around the world to decline, and in fact, at least 35 species that we know of have gone extinct in recent times. Habitat loss and destruction is one of the worst problems, not only for frogs, but for many other species of animals and plants.
Many human activities contribute to habitat destruction and the decline of amphibians, including water pollution, the introduction of non-native species, climate change, agriculture, and urban development. Diseases, especially chytridiomycosis, which is caused by the chytrid fungus, are also having a massive effect on frogs, many of which are already under stress from the threats mentioned above. - Wikipedia
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Wikipedia - Dyscophus antongilii, the Madagascar tomato frog, is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae.
They breed in the rainy season and are nocturnal. They tend to eat small insects and invertebrates. They are also on the endangered species list. Their lifespan is 6 to 8 years.
When threatened, a tomato frog puffs up its body. When a predator grabs a tomato frog in its mouth, the frog's skin secretes a thick substance that gums up the predator's eyes and mouth, causing the predator to release the frog to free up its eyes.
Tomato frogs will reach sexual maturity in 9–14 months. Females are larger than males and can reach 4 inches in length. Males can reach 2 to 3 inches in length.
Owachomo Bridge is the longest natural arch in the United States. It spans 180 feet and is 106 feet high. The bridge above our heads is 27 feet wide and 9 feet thick. It was formed primarily by water erosion, by a stream that carved a path through thin sandstone walls, creating the bridge. Wind, rain, the freeze/thaw cycle also contributed.
Lisbon, Portugal
Laying the mosaic pavement requires backbreaking labor. It's an arduous job performed in a prostrate position, making this traditional art of calçeteiros both rare and expensive. When wet, the surfaces of "calçadas" tend to be slippery and can contribute to slips and falls. Also, the moisture breaks down the design requiring frequent maintenance. For this reason, today’s government is considering a way of creating a safer pavement for the pedestrian while at the same time maintaining the unique beauty of this art form as an important part of the nation's identity and heritage.
This image, taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, shows the colorful "last hurrah" of a star like our sun. The star is ending its life by casting off its outer layers of gas, which formed a cocoon around the star's remaining core. Ultraviolet light from the dying star makes the material glow. The burned-out star, called a white dwarf, is the white dot in the center. Our sun will eventually burn out and shroud itself with stellar debris, but not for another 5 billion years.
Our Milky Way Galaxy is littered with these stellar relics, called planetary nebulae. The objects have nothing to do with planets. Eighteenth- and nineteenth-century astronomers called them the name because through small telescopes they resembled the disks of the distant planets Uranus and Neptune. The planetary nebula in this image is called NGC 2440. The white dwarf at the center of NGC 2440 is one of the hottest known, with a surface temperature of more than 360,000 degrees Fahrenheit (200,000 degrees Celsius). The nebula's chaotic structure suggests that the star shed its mass episodically. During each outburst, the star expelled material in a different direction. This can be seen in the two bowtie-shaped lobes. The nebula also is rich in clouds of dust, some of which form long, dark streaks pointing away from the star. NGC 2440 lies about 4,000 light-years from Earth in the direction of the constellation Puppis.
The material expelled by the star glows with different colors depending on its composition, its density and how close it is to the hot central star. Blue samples helium; blue-green oxygen, and red nitrogen and hydrogen.
Credit: NASA, ESA, and K. Noll (STScI), Acknowledgment: The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.
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A last glimmer of light from the west is still reflected in this office building in Zurich, Switzerland. Otherwise, it is already dark. The black clouds contribute their share.
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Location: Selangor, Malaysia
October 2025.
For more photos, check out www.instagram.com/vinceadam2021/?hl=en
Found quite a few Wallace that night with a friend bringing two guests from Singapore.
Wallace's flying frog (Rhacophorus nigropalmatus) represents a remarkable example of arboreal adaptation within the family Rhacophoridae. First described by George Albert Boulenger in 1895 and named in honor of Alfred Russel Wallace, this species exhibits distinctive morphological traits that facilitate an extraordinary mode of locomotion—gliding flight between trees. Native to the rainforests of Southeast Asia, R. nigropalmatus possesses extensively webbed feet and a highly specialized patagium, allowing it to exploit the vertical strata of its environment effectively. Its unique locomotor capabilities, coupled with striking green coloration and nocturnal habits, contribute to its ecological success and offer valuable insights into the evolution of gliding mechanisms among amphibians.
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In "Autumn Rhythm," as in many of his paintings, Pollock first created a complex linear skeleton using black paint. For this initial layer the paint was diluted, so that it soaked into the length of unprimed canvas, thereby joining image and support. Over this black framework Pollock wove an intricate web of white, brown, and turquoise lines, which produce the contrary visual rhythms and sensations: light and dark, thick and thin, heavy and buoyant, straight and curved, horizontal and vertical. Textural passages that contribute to the painting's complexity — such as the pooled swirls where two colors meet and the wrinkled skins formed by the build-up of paint — are barely visible in the initial confusion of overlapping lines.
Although Pollock's imagery is nonrepresentational, "Autumn Rhythm" is evocative of nature, not only in its title but also in its coloring, horizontal orientation, and sense of ground and space.
Rock Detail
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA
June 2019
Most of the rocks in the Grand Canyon are sedimentary rocks, compressed and cemented into a beautiful design of colorful, horizontal layers laid patiently layer by layer over time. These sedimentary structures provide clues about the environment in which they were formed including the kinds of processes that occurred when the sediment was deposited. In geology, each layer represents a different event, some are long lived and others are short lived. Each layer is unique and reflects a certain time period in history with hidden stories waiting to be uncovered. All layers and colors collectively contribute to the beauty and uniqueness of the Grand Canyon.
Copyright Rebecca Ang 2022. All Rights Reserved.
Do not copy, reproduce, download or use in any way without permission.
just crab, simple as
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Built after the template of Punk Crab, Cacti and the Frustracean, all who had a specific theme; here is a plain vanilla crab using that format. Built for Time for Crab 2025!
Open all of July, Time for Crab invites everyone to build and share crustacean creations - all who contribute enter a raffle for a signed copy of 40781 Badnik: Crabmeat!
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More images: www.instagram.com/p/DMQvamJNJcV/
Like all professions being a chef has its risks:
Chefs face a multitude of health risks due to the demanding nature of their profession. These risks include physical injuries from slips, trips, and falls, burns, and cuts, as well as musculoskeletal issues like back pain and repetitive strain injuries.
Furthermore, the high-pressure environment can lead to mental health problems such as stress, anxiety, and even depression. Long hours, constant tasting of rich foods, and exposure to various hazards also contribute to other health issues.
Daniel was kind enough to stop work for a moment to let me take this shot - Thanks.
Address:
The Blue Hut
Strand, Teignmouth, Devon, UK.
TQ14 8XZ
Phone: 07453 464037
I loved spending long time just enjoying the view....how human efforts could contribute to the art and beauty and, in contrast, how we are ruining every sweet creative part of human in current world !!
Taken in Paris, France
A member of the leaf warbler family, the beautiful olive and yellow Willow Warbler is also one of our most widespread.
A summer visitor to the Britain & Ireland, the Willow Warbler’s cascading, liquid song can be heard from mid-April and is arguably one of the most beautiful sounds of the spring. Willow Warblers can be found breeding across Britain & Ireland.
The Willow Warbler population has experienced mixed fortunes in the UK, where it is Amber-listed. It is declining across England and Wales but increasing in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is thought that the northern populations winter in a slightly different area from the southern birds and that this difference might contribute to the overall UK trend.
A booth on Bombay Beach is ready for confessions. This installation is likely part of the Bombay Beach Biennale which occurs on random dates in the spring. The Biennale was founded in 2015 to provide renegade artistic, musical and philosophical expression outside of commercial galleries and events. It also highlights the ecological crisis of the Salton Sea. While thousands of people attend the party and many contribute art, music and performances of every description, we must have visited during a hiatus as we saw almost no one.
For centuries people of Romania have existed in harmony with a rich variety of birds and animals living a simple farm life using low intensity agricultural techniques enabling wildlife to flourish. This contributes greatly to a rich diversity of flora and fauna.
I made special mention of the guardian role of the Maremma Sheepdog earlier
On our walks through the beautiful flower rich meadows we saw scenes like this of working dogs herding the sheep and one, at the end of a hard day, resting in his tree kennel.
Thank you all for your kind responses.