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Orange Tree {Potted} v3 by The Little Branch is out now in the Main Store for 75L, for TMD Weekend Sale.
This small-stature ornamental tree is popular for its fragrance and small fruits. The beautifully shaped branches are arranged in a circular infinity pattern and the plant is situated in a ceramic planter. This is the perfect plant for your front porch or deck area to add a nice touch of softness and a splash of color. The item has copy and modify permissions with a total land impact rating of 5 Li.
These 100% original mesh creations are highly detailed with realistic textures resulting in a true, life-like appearance. Owner permissions allow Copy & Modify to ensure that each item can be adapted to suit your unique needs.
TMD Weekend Sale runs on Saturday & Sunday
TAXI to The Little Branch Main Store
After the event you will find the products at The Little Branch In-World Store or on MarketPlace
Trying to ensure the new-style screens don’t crack up isn’t easy, and I feel I’m on a learning curve with this. Waiting until the bus stops works well, with shutter speed and ISO levels low. The shot should then be in focus, as long as there is little or no movement, but this means we are going to have a plethora of three-quarter front-offside pictures!
How then do we capture near-side shots successfully on vehicles that have these screens? Well one way is at T junctions, when the bus is about to turn right.
Here, at the west end of Boswall Parkway, this 14 is about to turn right, and by taking plenty of consecutive-shootings we can capture a few angles as the bus turns. They always have to stop at T junctions and this is a good one, as the sun is in the right position. You usually get a nice wave from the driver too!
Other T junctions that work well are at the top of Pennywell Road, with 24s turning right, and also at the end of Clark Road onto Ferry Road, where the 23 turns right. Both of these are facing south so, again, good for the sun.
The Female Blue-black Grassquit (Volatinia jacarina) captured at The Lost City of Falan in Tolima, Colombia, is an exquisite example of avian beauty in her natural habitat. This shot features her perched gracefully on a branch, her subtle brown plumage blending harmoniously with the lush green foliage. The soft, diffused light highlights the intricate feather details, adding depth and texture to the image. Achieving this shot was particularly challenging as she was actively engaging in "leap display," a behavior where she jumps up and down on a branch to establish territory and attract mates. This required a shutter speed of 1/60 and an ISO of 3200 to capture sufficient light without motion blur.
From a technical perspective, the low light conditions and her dynamic behavior posed significant challenges. The high ISO setting was crucial to ensure her delicate details were well-defined despite the dim lighting. The shallow depth of field isolates her from the background, emphasizing the Grassquit's intricate plumage. This image exemplifies the meticulous approach needed to capture wildlife in its most natural and undisturbed state, reflecting my commitment to conservation photography. The balance of light and shadow in this composition speaks to the serene and hidden beauty of the forest environment.
©2022 Adam Rainoff Photographer
We had our home inspection yesterday. Of course Julian had to come along to ensure poodle readiness. The neighbors and their two pups came over while we there to meet us and Julian. You've got to like that!
The gentleman doing the inspections for us was great with us, and Julian. We were looking at heat transferance when of course I thought of 52 weeks for Jules!
The home's insulation and Julian both passed with flying colors!
I don't know about you guys, but that massive amount of red around his head sure is an indicator to me that there is a whole lot of brain mass in process.
The two little pink paw prints behind him were cool to see. We tracked his path across the floor.
Technically of course I did not take this photo. But I did give pointers on how to take a pet portrait. What a good sport he was.
If you are ever in need of a pet friendly home inspector Darrell at Island Inspections.
Battleship Texas is the last remaining battleship that participated in both World War I and World War II. Over her service life, the Navy repeatedly outfitted the ship with cutting edge technology. Fate spared Battleship Texas as she fought in two wars. Now she is fighting for survival against age and rust.
Powerful weapon
ship launch_800p.jpegLaunching the ship in 1912 (TPWD-Battleship Texas Archives)
The U.S. Navy com-mis-sioned USS Texas on March 12, 1914. She was the most powerful weapon in the world, a complex product of an industrial nation emerging as a force in global events.
In 1916, USS Texas became the first U.S. battleship to mount anti-aircraft guns. She was also the first to control gunfire with directors and range-keepers. These early computers increased firing accuracy.
In World War I, USS Texas joined the 6th Battle Squadron of the British Grand Fleet early in 1918. Her duties included laying a North Sea mine barrage, responding to German High Seas Fleet maneuvers, and helping prevent enemy naval forces from cutting off Allied supply lines.
Late in 1918, she escorted the German Fleet to its surrender anchorage.
Retooled ship
Two sailors swabbing the deck.Swabbing the deck (TPWD-Battleship Texas Archives)
In 1925, the Navy opted to modernize USS Texas instead of scrapping her. This meant con-vert-ing the ship to run on fuel oil instead of coal. Tripod masts and a single stack replaced the ship’s cage masts and two smoke stacks. Torpedo blisters added another layer of protection to the ship’s waterline.
USS Texas received one of the first radars in the U.S. Navy in 1939. With new anti-aircraft guns, fire control and communication equipment, the ship remained an aging but powerful asset in the U.S. naval fleet.
World War II
Baker-Bryant German Shell031_800p.jpgCaptain Baker and Admiral Bryan pose with the unexploded German shell (TPWD-Battleship Texas Archives).
USS Texas became flagship of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet before World War II. She had a close call in 1941 while on "Neutrality Patrol.” German Submarine U-203 had the ship in its sights and asked permission to fire. Adolf Hitler eventually denied permission to engage the ship, or any other U.S. ship.
Fate spared the battleship again when Japanese forces bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941: She was safe in Maine. The United States entered World War II soon after.
During the war, USS Texas fired on Nazi defenses in Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
Shortly afterward, German coastal defense artillery near Cherbourg hit the ship twice. The first shell exploded, injuring 12 and killing one. This was the only combat fatality ever aboard USS Texas. The second shell hit the ship, but did not explode. The Navy deactivated this “lucky shell” and returned it to the ship as a good luck charm.
After repairs, the battleship shelled Nazi positions in Southern France before transferring to the Pacific. There she lent gunfire support and anti-aircraft fire to the landings on Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
Final mission
Berthing the ship_800p.jpgTugboats bring the battleship to her final resting place in 1948 (TPWD-Battleship Texas Archives).
After Japan’s surrender, USS Texas carried soldiers stationed across the Pacific home from war.
When she completed her final mission, the state of Texas acquired the ship. On April 21, 1948, Battleship Texas was decom-missioned, and became a memorial ship.
Today, Battleship Texas is a floating museum and the last remaining U.S. battleship of her kind. She stands as a memorial to the bravery and sacrifice of the servicemen who fought in both world wars.
The battleship is both a National Historic Landmark and a National Mechanical Engineering Landmark. Ensuring her future will require a concerted effort from Texas citizens and businesses. Luck has gotten her this far, but now it’s up to Texans to save Battleship Texas.
Taken from; tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/battleship-texas/park_history
House Martin / delichon urbicum. Northumberland. 19/06/24.
'BUILDING WORK IN PROGRESS.'
Busily working early one morning to construct a nest of mud pellets. The work is done in stages, often taking a number of weeks, to ensure layers in the wall dry out and harden.
BEST VIEWED LARGE.
This is a panorama along about 60° of the northern summer Milky Way from Cepheus at left, to Cygnus at centre and at right. It frames the great variety of bright and dark nebulas in this region of the sky, notably:
- the circular IC 1396 nebula at left in Cepheus with the orange Garnet Star,
- the North America Nebula (NGC 7000) just left of centre,
- and the IC 1318 complex around Gamma Cygni just right of centre.
The dark Funnel Cloud Nebula, aka Le Gentil 3, is at left between IC 1396 and NGC 7000, while the dark region to the right (south) of NGC 7000 is the Northern Coal Sack, though to the eye, as here, that area does not appear as dark as the Funnel Cloud area.
The bright Cygnus Starcloud is right of centre, where we are looking down the Milky Way's spiral arm we live in. It is bordered below by the Cygnus Rift of dark lanes in the Milky Way which continue south into Aquila.
The small (on this scale) Wizard Nebula (NGC 7380) and Lion Nebula (Sh2-132) are at far left in Cepheus.
The small round red Cocoon Nebula, IC 5146, is at the end of a thin lane of dark dust, B168, or the Dark Cigar, at bottom left, while the tiny green Dumbbell Nebula, M27 in Vulpecula, is just visible at bottom right.
This is a stitch using Photoshop's Photomerge function of 10 segments, each segment a stack of 8 to 10 exposures of 1-minute each with the Canon RF135mm lens at f/2 on the red-sensitive Canon Ra camera at ISO 800. All on the Star Adventurer tracker.
The camera was turned to portrait orientation to align the long dimension of the frame across the width of the Milky Way for greater east-west coverage. This required moving the camera by only 5° from segment to segment to ensure enough overlap. I used a ball head with an additional panorama azimuth motion with degree gradations on it to faciliate panning along the Milky Way following the galactic equator using just one simple motion.
The lens had an 82mm URTH Night broadband light pollution reduction filter on it to help increase contrast and bring out the nebulas. No narrowband filters were used here. Even so, most of the contrast enhancement was in processing with the application of a Nik Collection 6 Pro Contrast filter, plus curves with luminosity masks, and a Nebula Filter action in PhotoKemi Startools actions.
Taken from home on a fine though not fully transparent night on May 14/15, 2023 when the time for shooting this area was limited due to the short spring night. Two more segments shot to the right farther down the Milky Way were too blue and struck by dawn twilight to be usable.
-- Available May 25 @ Uber --
Hi my darlings, meet the newest member of the #IWokeUpLikeThis family! ♥
This versatile kit combines natural freckles and beauty marks, blusher, highlighter and a simple yet flattering eyeliner in just one convenient layer for a fresh, effortlessly beautiful look!
There are 5 combinations in each pack:
■ freckles + beauty marks
■ freckles + beauty marks + blusher + highlighter
■ freckles + beauty marks + eyeliner
■ eyeliner + blusher + highlighter
■ all-in-one
The #IWokeUpLikeThis7 kit is available in the following packs:
■ Lelutka Evo/EvoX: BoM layers (Evo Classic + EvoX)
■ Genus: Appliers + BoM layers for Genus Project heads
■ Catwa: Appliers + BoM layers for Catwa Bento heads¹
■ Fatpack: all items listed above
Demo available! ♥
¹ Fit based on Catwa Bento heads (not HD Pro). Please try a demo to ensure compatibility.
The BoM tattoo layers provided have modify permissions, so you can fine tune each tone to taste.
(shown on Lelutka Avalon - skin from Amara Beauty, hair from Wings, eyes from Avi-glam, nose ring from Little fish; other WarPaint items shown include: Coquette lashes, Liplock balm, #IWokeUpLikeThis BodyEdit)
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A steady supply of breaking waves in February ensures Betsie's concrete apron remains a slippery slope till spring and beyond
Never have I fallen so many times in such a short span of time. Even with crampons, steady footing was no guarantee. Everything here on this morning was breaking, or trying to break. The sun broke once, breaking waves were many and the light herself seemed to want to break something of me. Had there been someone to witness the folly I am sure they would have thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Got roughed up a bit but still had a ball.
La foto es solo una excusa, una herramienta para hacer extensivo el mensaje, ¡ no es publicidad !, no es un engaño , es solamente un grito desesperado para conseguir un fin , salvar el que es uno de los entornos man singulares a nivel europeo mundial y desde luego único en España . Desconocido por muchos y maltratado por otros durante décadas de crecimiento urbanístico y expansión agrícola descontrolada. Si esperamos que lo salven los gobernantes ya esta acabado. Nos toca aportar y lo tenemos muy facil solamente con una firma “física” en alguno puntos señalado en el mapa del enlace para conseguir que el Mar Menor tenga personalidad jurídica lo que ayudara a agilizar los tramites para su defensa y conservación.
Firma y haz correr la voz porque es de todos
The photo is only an excuse, a tool to spread the message, it is not advertising! It is not a hoax, it is only a desperate cry to achieve an end, to save what is one of the most unique environments in Europe worldwide. and of course unique in Spain. Unknown to many and mistreated by others during decades of urban growth and uncontrolled agricultural expansion. If we wait for the rulers to save it, it is finished. We have to contribute and we have it very easy only with a "physical" signature at some point indicated on the link map to ensure that the Mar Menor has legal personality, which will help speed up the procedures for its defense and conservation.
Sign and spread the word because it belongs to everyone
SHOPPERS DRUG MART Weekend to End Women’s Cancers benefitting the BC Cancer Foundation
Join TEAM FINNS fight against Cancer! Put Yourself in the picture visit Team Finn.org
photos by Team Finn, PacBlue Printing and Ron Sombilon Gallery
Seed Sponsor Taylor-Veinotte-Sullivan Barristers
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Clear Right
The crew of this Huey, ensure the area around them is clear before starting a pivot to the right. Formerly US Army 64-13688, this old warrior is still working hard.
We were told to stay at home, from 12.00 on Wednesday 18 March until 5 April, to limit the spread of coronavirus. Police will be responsible for ensuring the confinement is respected. Essential outings will still be allowed - to buy food and medicine, go to a bank, petrol station or post office, attend a medical appointment, help an elderly relative or go to work if a job cannot be done remotely. Outdoor exercise - walking, jogging or cycling - is still "allowed, even recommended", either alone, among members of the same family living together, or with one friend…
We're back at the Monaco Ballroom on Friday December 12th for the final show of 2008!! Make sure you make it to see how the year's feuds end at this season ending super show - GPW: "Christmas Crunch"
We promise we wont crunch your credit.... we'll only crunch your Christmas!!
GPW Heavyweight Title Match
Bubblegum © vs. Dirk Feelgood
Just a few months ago you'd be forgiven for taking a double take at this match. The friendship between the two former friends totally imploded with the desire to become Heavyweight champion. Refusing to accept the demise of his friendship with Dirk Feelgood, Bubblegum spent months in turmoil not wanting to retaliate to the cutting comments and brutal attacks levelled his way by former friend and champion Feelgood. As time went by however, Bubblegum eventually unloaded on Feelgood but this will be the first time the two have ever come face to face in a one on one match. And to make things just a little more interesting... it's for the GPW Heavyweight Title. Can the fairytale championship reign continue for Bubblegum, or can Dirk shatter his dreams and become the first ever 2 time Heavyweight Champ?
Tag Team Special, Skeletor vs. Stella
Lethal Dose vs. Voodoo & "Sober" Mike Holmes
Alan Alan Alan Tasker's henchmen, Lethal Dose march into battle against former stable member Mike Holmes and the man they hold responsible for Holmes' new found sobriety - Voodoo. Cyanide and Toxic hope to tempt Holmes back over to the stable that two months ago he turned his back on. They want to snap him out of the spell they accuse Voodoo of putting him under. However, Holmes seems very happy with his new outlook on life and he and Voodoo look to send Lethal Dose packing in this tag team special. Lethal Dose have warned they will not be coming to the ring alone though, with them along with their attorney and law - Alan Alan Alan Tasker will be a 12 pack of Stella. Hoping the case of beer will prove to be a bigger demon to Holmes than the tag team itself. To fend off the 12 pack, Holmes and Voodoo will have Vooodoo's trusty skull, Skeletor in their corner. An unpredictable tag team match. Can MIke Holmes stay sober? Will Voodoo's spells work? Or will Lethal Dose deliver a beating big enough to break Voodoo's spell?
GPW British Title Match
Jak Dominotrescu vs. "Super" Sam Bailey
After pinning the British Champion last month in a tag team match, WKD's "Super" Sam Bailey has earned himself a title shot at GPW: "Christmas Crunch". Bailey, already a former tag team champion looks to add to his growing reputation by capturing his first ever singles gold in GPW. While reigning champion, Romanian Jak Domitrescu along with his cohorts - The Eastern Bloc look to make life as difficult as possible for the energetic live wire. Domitrescu has held onto the title since April this year with help from his fellow countrymen, but are his days numbered as champ? He surely wont be alone in this title outing and will have the Eastern Bloc close by, but can "Super" Sam Bailey overcome the odds to win his first singles gold in GPW?
And, the main event for the evening is...
GPW Tag Team Title 2/3 Falls Match
MIl-Anfield Connection © vs. Young Offenders
The heat just got turned up in this feud. The re-united Young Offenders have the most established tag team in GPW - The Mil-Anfield Connection firmly in their sights and not to mention the tag team trophy. These two teams met in September this year where there was no clear winner decided after the match ended in a draw. There will be NO excuses this time to not find a winner. This, for the first time in our history will be a 2/3 Falls Match for the tag team titles. A winner HAS to be decided, but who will it be? A truley epic encounter is in our midst as Jiggy Walker & "The Model" Danny Hope try to cling onto the championship that has defined them as a team and "Dangerous" Damon Leigh & Joey Hayes, The Young Offenders chase the title that one of the most popular tag teams in Europe have never held. Can the re-united friends overcome the well established unit that is The Mil-Anfield Connection? Or can the well oiled duo of the Mil-Anfield do what they've been doing all year and win again?
GPW British Title No.1 Contenders Match
Harry Doogle vs. Juice vs. Dylan Roberts vs. Chris Echo
After an eye catchingly good year from rookie Dylan Roberts, he has been included in this battle to earn a shot at the British Title. With a burning desire to win and the fans firmly behind him, Roberts could well mark his arrival onto the main roster by becoming the No.1 Contender and going for gold here. However, his opponents wont give him an easy ride. In a wonderful CC-08 tournament, no one impressed more than WKD's Chris Echo. Echo reached the CC-08 finals with two broken wrists and proved he is ready to take a step up. His previous attempts for British gold have been thwarted by the foreign legion numbers of the Eastern Bloc, is he ready to prove again that he is worthy of being No.1 Contender and finally lift the British title? Juice, the current CC8 champion has been as impressive as ever in singles competition this year, but can he compete in this match with 3 others all vying to be No.1 Contender? Also replacing Jervis Cottonbelly due to injury is Harry Doogle as a last minute entry could one half of the next gen score the upset win? , but with so many possible outcomes who will leave with the plaudits and go on to challenge for the British Title next year?
Lumberjack Match
Si Valour vs. Heresy
A violent and personal feud that has lasted all year long finally comes to a head in what promises to be a violent Lumberjack Match. Ever since brutalising Valour and cutting off all his hair, Heresy has, in some form or other dodged the challenge of Valour. Heresy claimed not to have lost his bottle or be running scared of the 2007 Break Out Star, yet during their Bull Rope clash at GPW: "V" where the two were tied to one another, Heresy still managed to find a way of escaping and creating distance between him and Valour. This time, in a special Lumberjack Match, no matter where either man go - there will be no escape. All lumberjacks will be at the ready to ensure neither man can escape the others clutches and a clear winner, one way or the other will HAVE to be decided. There will be nowhere to run to and nowhere to hide, no matter where they look. Heresy has been one step ahead of Valour all year, is this where he runs out of excuses, or can the master manipulator manipulate another win?
St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church has the dubious distinction of being situated on a site which was once a brothel and a music hall owned by one of Casanova's mistresses. It was initially a spiritual home for the Irish community in London, having been one of the first Catholic buildings established in Britain after the Protestant Reformation, but today also functions as the centre of the parish's volunteer work with the poor, sick and homeless in Soho, as well as delivering services in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Cantonese. It's also a stunning example of Italianate architecture in London, but somehow its multifaceted history -- and the fact that it's so peaceful despite being only minutes from Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden -- made it even more fascinating to photograph.
This was my second visit to the location in the past few years and the second time I've captured the church from the entrance to its arcaded nave. I visited on a clear day when the sun was high to ensure as much as light as possible would be flooding through the windows, lighting up the barrel-vaulted ceiling and amplifying the colour along the church's gilded apse. While the church looks magnificent in any light conditions, my aim was to bring out the location's bright, clean and airy ambience, with warm light illuminating the central aisle and the pews reflecting in the Renaissance-style marble floor.
The image was very straightforward to shoot and edit, comprising a combination of several exposures blended with luminosity masks, allowing me to control the intensity of the sunlight pouring through the windows at the same time as providing the best possible finish in the shadows. I made very few changes to the colour balance but tried to bring out the vibrance of the warm light while emphasising the muted blue-ish tones along the marble floor, as well as isolating and slightly desaturating the foreground to help guide the eye towards the centre of the image.
You can also connect with me on Facebook, 500px, Google+ and Instagram.
Chaplin Lake is a large saline body of water on the Canadian prairie, covering about 20 sq km but only a few inches deep. When the shallow water warms in spring, billions of brine shrimp hatch and provide a feast for thousands of shorebirds on their northward migratory journey. Usually this occurs in late April and early May.
But I don't think there is a "usual" or "normal" anymore. Many, many people have remarked on the strange, abnormal spring we're having, here and elsewhere. For example, I planted spinach in my garden on March 19. That's more than a month early; most years the earth remains frozen until late April. I covered it with a plastic sheet. The seeds germinated and I now have a healthy bed of baby spinach.
However, following the unseasonal warm spell came an unseasonal cold spell, and some terrible weather that swept through Montana, the Dakotas, Manitoba and western Ontario, bringing blizzard conditions and stopping the bird migration for many days. When my friend Lori took me on a guided tour of the restricted area of Chaplin Lake, there were no birds. She said the dykes and mounds should be covered with shorebirds at this time.
Likewise, she told me she had never seen ice wedged and piled on the lake shore like this so late in the season. The top left photo, however, isn't snow; it's sodium sulphate! Chaplin Lake is a huge producer of this mineral salt, an inorganic compound used in the production of pulp and paper, detergents, and in glass making.
Saskatchewan Mining and Minerals, the company that works this rich resource, manages water levels in the lake to ensure habitat protection for the migratory shorebirds while mining a world-class quality product. They work closely with government and environmental groups. A refreshing atmosphere of co-operation not always present with mining operations.
More than half the world's population of Sanderlings stop at Chaplin Lake, along with significant numbers of Stilt Sandpipers, Semi-palmated Sandpipers, Piping Plovers, and many other species.
I'm planning to head back up there in mid-May, expecting a pretty good show!
Photographed at Chaplin Lake, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2022 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
Looking for the best summer day camp? What to ensure that you child has a
great summer, meets new friends while building self-confidence and responsibility? Look NO FURTHER! Willow Grove Day Camp is the best there is!
Our Camp provides a friendly, safe, comfortable and clean environment for all our campers. We have tons of activities that kids of all ages love to do. Some activities include baseball, basketball, hockey, dance, theater, ceramic, swimming, and so much more!
What makes Willow Grove Day Camp stick out from the rest is our Modern restrooms in all camper cabins and other camp buildings, Air conditioned facilities, 4 heated pools and large wading pool, Plentiful shaded trees, Registered nurses on premises, American Camping Association accredited, Nutritious and delicious lunches and snacks, Transportation and Extended hours — a.m. and p.m..
So what are you waiting for? Sign your child up today to be a part of the best summer day camp! Visit our website at: willowgrovedaycamp.com
Mission Log from Cpt. Bannon: Our original mission was to ensure the imperial energy supply from the drilling platforms on the surface of Sarapin. However, things took an unexpected turn, when we received a direct holo transmission from Moff Barthol. Barthols number one agent, Lord Amus has revealed that Senator Belrus is in league with the New Republic and that he is secretly scheming to undermine the Commenor Remnant. Personally I’ve always felt that Commenor has been a little too lenient with the New Rebuplic. Sometimes you’ve got to wonder - what happened to the glory of the Empire?
Log update: We have received word that the treacherous Senator Belrus is in fact on Sarapin. How convenient that he is meeting with the administrator overseeing Sarapin mining. We have been instructed to rendezvous with Agent Amus and his men on the surface in order to capture the senator and return him to imperial custody.
A few moments later on a landing platform at the Sarapin mining administrations headquarters…
Cpt. Bannon: Senator! STOP! There’s nowhere to run! You are under arrest for treason against the Empire!
Administrator Shatul: Kill hime! Kill ze traitor!
Agent Amus: Sure would save us a lot of paperwork! But... Our job is to bring him in.
Belrus: Yes! I surrender! Take me back to Commenor… I demand to talk to High Command!
Cpt. Bannon: Right awa…
Agent Amus: Would you like a cup of Jawa Juice as well? Your imperial rights was revoked the moment you sided with the Republic scum! Take him away!
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I've spent a little more time on this build - let me know what you think! A few inspirational shoutouts to: ARKUM ELO and Thorsten Bonsch!
The Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District of San Francisco, California is a building originally constructed for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition. It was designed by Bernard Maybeck, who took his inspiration from Roman and Greek architecture. It was the only building from the Exposition not to be demolished, and in the 1960s it was entirely rebuilt to ensure its longevity.
The dome of the Palace of Fine Arts just outside the Exploratorium and the adjacent lagoon have often been used as backdrops for movies, such as Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo. One of the more recent sequences takes place in The Rock where FBI agent Stanley Goodspeed (Nicolas Cage) finally catches up with John Mason (Sean Connery) and So I Married an Axe Murderer where Charlie MacKenzie (Mike Myers) goes on his first date with Harriet (Nancy Travis).
- from Wikipedia
Azure Kingfisher
Ceyx azureus
March 9th, 2024
Buffalo Creek, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
Canon EOS R5
Canon EF 600mm f4L IS III USM lens
This is a bird that I've been chasing a decent shot of for a long time, & in 2024 I FINALLY managed one - the magnificent Azure Kingfisher!
A friend of mine, former bird photographer James White, located an active nest tunnel in an embankment of a river, that was being tended to by a pair of kingfishers returning with prey for their offspring. I was surprised by the size of some of the fish they caught to feed their chicks. Before entering their nesting tunnel, the birds would land on this specific perch, pausing motionless for a few moments, ensuring the coast was clear before flying directly into the cavity. This provided the opportunity to capture the beautiful deep blue iridescent plumage & bright orange feet against the golden water coloured by the late afternoon sun.
Photographing at this location at this particular time proved to be quite a challenge. As the sun was setting, we had to make our way out of the mangroves wading in chest-deep water as a king tide came up the river as we were hiding on the embankment. Thankfully we made it through unscathed, but not the smartest decision given the ever present risk of saltwater crocs in the area.
Canon EOS 6D - f/8 - 1/100sec - 100mm - ISO 400
This Aluminum Egg Wedger is perfect for creating tasty creations.
It has three stainless steel wires that cut the hard boiled egg in six, equal wedges. It ensures that the egg white and yolk stay together when cut.
Made from polished, die cast aluminum with a heavy-duty spring.
60029 ‘Ben Nevis’ brings up the rear of a Bristol to Appleford trainload of stone at a frozen Uffington in Oxfordshire.
In the 21st century snowfall in the UK is much less common than it was 50 years earlier. In the south of England snow is now rare, so the snow of January 2025 was a noteworthy event. In contrast to the heavy snow experienced further north, here in rural Oxfordshire the countryside has little more than a dusting of snow. Nevertheless, the low temperatures ensured that snow remained on the ground in Oxfordshire and nearby Wiltshire for a week or so.
Taken using a pole mounted camera. I have digitally removed the tail lamp.
Excerpt from Wikipedia:
Elements (圓方) is a large shopping mall located on 1 Austin Road West, West Kowloon, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It is developed and managed by MTR Corporation through its subsidiary Premier Management Service.
Elements is located directly above the Kowloon MTR station and near the International Commerce Centre, residential complex Union Square and the Western Harbour Crossing.
The mall is divided into five zones based on the concept of the five elements of Nature, namely Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth. Each zone is designed with a distinctive interior architectural theme that responds to the element, public art such as large scale sculptures are also employed to enhance the respective theme. The Fire Zone is symbolised by the sculpture "White Heat".
The Elements has a total of 123 shops as of 2008, along with an ice rink and the 1600-seat Premiere Cinema (formerly The Grand Cinema), currently the largest cinema complex in Hong Kong.
The mall has ten washrooms, outside which there is a lobby with sitting area and magazine rack. Management said these are conceived for men "to wait for their girlfriends outside the washroom", providing "a decent and comfortable place for them to wait".
Male washrooms are stocked with colognes, aftershaves and electronic shavers while the female washrooms have perfumes and make-up. Staff are on hand to ensure that all these personal items are kept hygienic.
The shopping mall has a great emphasis on fashion and wardrobe with (as of 2008) 58 shops in that category out of a total of 123 shops in the mall.
- large -
Two apple trees in a cow pasture. It's kind of amazing there are only two of them, seeing as they drop all their apples on the ground and the cows have a favourite path straight under to ensure new trees would have plenty of nourishment. But then again, I suppose they trample any little sprout that might find daylight.
Combining 5 exposures of 1/15 1/8 1/4 0.5 & 1 second
Aperture: f/11
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 200
ND8 filter
~Arab Proverb
What's Cooking? I know I haven't been around much lately, but I wanted to share that it is with good reason: for the past few weeks I've been working with a large publishing house on a series of cooking encyclopedias! Woo-hoo! And even though I'm working with a group of folks (set assistants, editor, art director, etc.), it has been sooooo much work. Thankfully, I wasn't hired to do the actual cooking shots (those are done in a sweaty, 4-kitchen studio space)...I'm doing more of the culinary and beauty shots...such as the chapter head pages shown above (for demo purposes here, I added the "herbs" type myself—the final graphical elements will be included in the design phase).
Note: I promised myself that 2011 would be the year that I would share more info, techniques & tips with my Flickr friends, and in doing so, hopefully make my stream more than just about my photography. And that started with the inclusion of my EXIF and Strobist info with each shot, which I'm glad many of you have found useful. :) But with large projects like these, it seems like a great time to offer more detailed information...lighting configs, set-up shots and set sketches. To that end, below is a page from my always-handy moleskine that I use to frame out shots, lighting and compositional elements. It's crucial when conveying concepts to a design team and to ensure that print margins, bleeds and areas for typographical elements are maintained when shooting. Hope this is helpful!
Macro Mondays (2.21.11): "Spices & Seasonings"
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM
Canon EF 25 II Extension Tube
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 50mm
ISO Speed: 100
Flash: Off-camera front, low; diffused, 2/3 power
Polarizer/Filter: None
Exposure: 1/6
RAW File Processing: Lightroom 3
Slik Sprint Pro w/ Manfrotto 496RC2 Ballhead
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
© Steven Brisson. Do not use without permission.
After I closed my old Action I start a new one "Sorry I don't give a Fav"
You Liked my pictures but I didn't like your pictures? I'm very Sorry, but this is your chance to change it.
Give me a Fav on this picture and I ensure you that I give it back.
Maybe I like your pictures and I multiply my Favs on your Profil or I follow you.
So Please like my Picture :-) Don't worry If it needs much time till I give it back I only check my Account in the evening.
The Picture is from the "Wurmlinger Kapelle" Wurmlingen is between Tübingen and Rottenburg in Germany It looks very small and cute :-)
Sorry for a crappy face shot. I was really busy today and by the time I was 1/3 done with my work it was nightime...
I'm pretty much started to hate what I'm doing, I'm irritable, I'm getting catty, I'm getting overly defensive. I sleep everywhere I go (I swear, even when I'm eating I can fall asleep)
I feel that ever since I entered this school I've changed for the worse. It makes you a more fucked up person. You got through so much shit, stress and drama that sometimes you change into the person you hate without really realizing it. ,
I used to love getting critique, my teachers used to say that they never met a student more willing to listen to criticism. But after I entered design school it started to irritate me. Well, depending on how the critique was phrased.
Sometimes critique sounds very rude and tactless. I've gone through harsh and at times, unreasonable critiques from lecturers.
Sometimes what they're saying is just "That's ugly, please re-do it." but they have to put you through at least 5 minutes of how ugly they think it is, and in front of the whole class. They don't even tell you how you can work on it to improve.
I'm so sick of this place, we work nearly 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it changes you, it warps you into someone you don't want to be, now I finally understand why so many of my schoolmates quit.
1. You change (for the worse). 2. You get constantly backstabbed and bitched about. 3. You face unreasonable lecturers. 4. Your skin turns bad, you develop eye bags, you feel tired all the time 5. You don't get enough time to sleep, rest etc.
And yet all your hardwork doesn't ensure that you'll get a good grade because after all that hard work you can be just put down in front of the class.
3 more days of torture. Then freedom for a short while.
I can't wait.
Island of Madagascar
Off The East Coast of Africa
Peyrieras Madagascar Exotic Reserve
Best Seen In Lightbox-
www.flickr.com/photos/42964440@N08/47317989821/in/photost...
Parson's chameleons are very stationary animals, and are not hard to photograph.
Wikipedia- The Parson's chameleon (Calumma parsonii) is a large species of chameleon that is endemic to isolated pockets of humid primary forest in eastern and northern Madagascar.
A long-lived species, C. parsonii may not reach sexual maturity until they are 3 - 5 years of age and may live to be more than 20 years old. C. parsonii are native to the primary rainforests of the elevated eastern area of Madagascar, up to an altitude of about 7,000 feet. However, their range extends all the way down to the eastern coast, where trade winds bring moisture ladden air to the land.
Adults may go for long periods without moving except to eat, drink, mate or deficate. They also do not spend much time basking, like many other true chameleons. They will, however, sit in the sun for short periods and slightly flatten one side of their body toward the sun. These sunning sessions are rarely more than 10 - 15 minutes long and usually take place early in the morning as soon as sun is available.
Near threatened according to the IUCN red list. The loss of humid forest, mainly through conversion from slash-and-burn agriculture but also due to logging, is a threat to this species. Much of the habitat of this species is extremely fragmented, and small forest fragments are unlikely to be viable to ensure persistence of this large chameleon that occurs at low densities.
Rafael Lopez de San Roman Blanco is a professional muralist based in the United States. He has been a studio artist since 2004 and has an extensive exhibition record both nationally and internationally. More recently, Blanco has been transforming his studio background in order to create large-scale public mural paintings in the United States. His medium of choice is a combination of exterior latex house paint and water mixable oils; and once completed, his murals are sealed with a UV and water sealer/protector to ensure their vibrant life for 20–30 years. He blends classic studio painting techniques like glazing with large-scale mural techniques. He also uses computer visual techniques like transparency layers in his mural work and plays with classical and contemporary styles. Blanco is also an Assistant Professor of Art at Elmhurst University and he resides in Aurora, Illinois, with his family.
The markings on the steps of this Illinois Central GP11 are ensuring your safety on this cold winter day.
The Haupapa / Tasman Glacier is the longest glacier in New Zealand, though it has significantly retreated over the past several decades. After landing by helicopter, we strapped crampons onto our hiking boots and grabbed our poles for balance. One glacier guide led the way, while the other followed at the rear to ensure the group’s safety. We spent about two hours trekking across the glacier, exploring fascinating water-carved features such as moulins, crevasse potholes, and even small waterfalls.
France, Alsace, Strasbourg, Petite France, "École élémentaire publique Saint-Thomas", Saint-Thomas Public Elementary School, located in Petit France along the Ill & opposite the front side on the Rue de la Monnaie, named after the 1756 built Hôtel de la Monnaie which had been demolished for the construction of the Ecole Saint-Thomas in1905 to 1907 by architect Fritz Beblo.
In his project of the Saint Thomas school he borrows from the architecture of the Alsatian Renaissance the forms for the gables with volutes & the turrets placed at the ends of the facade. Renaissance, are treated so as to ensure a harmonious transition with the neighbouring houses. The style of the building is historicism with however a dominance for the neo-renaissance style. There are also neo-Baroque elements of Italian influence such as the entrance portal & others.
During construction, Fritz Beblo put archaeologists to work.
👉 One World one Dream,
🙏...Danke, Xièxie 谢谢, Thanks, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Arigatô, Dhanyavad, Chokrane to you & over
13 million visits in my photostream with countless motivating comments
The Ontario Southland Railway plow extra takes a run at a particularly large snowdrift along the Port Burwell sub near Ostrander, Ontario. With all of the fluctuations in weather predicted, OSR wanted to ensure their tracks were clear before the conditions thaw & freeze, turning everything into an icy mess.
(I want to point and say this photo was done by Abel Kryon. He is an amazing photographer and Beyond brilliant. Please go check out his work.)
Queen Bee
Ivanna strides onto the runway, exuding confidence and grace as the Queen Bee, her presence commanding the attention of every eye in the room. Draped in a stunning ensemble inspired by the intricate beauty of a beehive, she embodies the elegance and significance of these remarkable creatures. Bees, often hailed as the unsung heroes of our ecosystem, play a crucial role in pollinating plants, ensuring the production of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Their tireless work supports biodiversity, sustains our food supply, and maintains the balance of nature. Ivanna's regal entrance not only celebrates her own stature but also pays homage to the vital contributions of bees to our world.
Ivanna's outfit from Irresistible is a masterclass in cohesive elegance, seamlessly integrating every detail to draw attention to her striking frame. The ensemble includes not only a meticulously crafted dress but also complementary hair , shoes, and accessories that harmonize to enhance her silhouette. Adorned with intricate bees and honeycomb jewelry, the outfit celebrates the beauty of nature's design, while the spinning bees add a refined, dynamic touch. Each element, from the golden hues to the delicate craftsmanship, culminates in a look that is both sophisticated and captivating, making Ivanna the epitome of the Queen Bee.
Ivanna feels an immense sense of pride and joy in her role as the Queen Bee, a title that resonates deeply with her appreciation for the vital work bees perform in our world. As she embodies this regal persona, she reflects on how bees tirelessly pollinate plants, contributing to the growth of our food supply and the preservation of biodiversity. This indispensable labor ensures the health of ecosystems and the sustenance of countless species, including humans. Ivanna’s pride stems not only from her own accomplishments but also from honoring the diligent bees whose efforts are crucial for life on Earth. It is this profound connection to their work that fills her with joy and a sense of purpose, reinforcing the significance of her role.
========================
Outfit: irrISIStible To Bee or not to Bee ( Outfit comes with hair piece, shoes, honeycomb tat, most bees attachment, and siut and skirt.)
Jewelry: Bracelet: Finesmith HoneyBee Bracelet
Necklace: @rOrO Bee Jewelry
Rings: Livia Honeycomb Rings
Nails: Livia Honeycomb Nails
Makeup: Eyeshadow: ChirppieBird Hive Queen
Lips: Opulein Glamourama Lipstick Black
Flower Petals: Persefona Floating Rose Petals (White)
Bees: SKBW Brain Full o' Bees Brown
Eyes: Opuleinm Cristiana Eyes (Honey)
To get here, you walk through a jungle trail, and it's easy to get a bit disoriented. That is until you pop out from the brush at sunset.
The image I took here is similar to one I did from the same spot a half dozen years ago. The clouds and weather ensure each image will be different, and I never tire of it.
Due to the full range of light and the difficulty of shooting into the sun, this is a combination of at least five photos. I combined the images with AuroraHDR and then parts of it re-layered in Photoshop. In some respects, this is a painting, in that the light was blended to create a picture. That creative process I find satisfying, even if it is the same scene on a different day.
Der 102,5 ha große Neue Garten liegt im Norden Potsdams am Jungfernsee. Über das Wasser hinweg bestehen gestalterische Verbindungen zu den Gärten von Sacrow, Pfaueninsel, Glienicke und Babelsberg, wodurch er eine zentrale Rolle in der Gartenlandschaft erhält. Trotz Überformung durch Lenné hat er noch sentimentale Einzelpartien aus der Entstehungsphase vor 1800 bewahrt.
Seine Geschichte fängt mit dem Ankauf eines zentralen Grundstückes durch den Kronprinzen Friedrich Wilhelm (II.) an. Im Jahre 1787, ein Jahr nach dem Regierungsantritt, begann die Anlage des Neuen Gartens, der seinen Namen programmatisch in der Abkehr vom alten Barockpark Sanssouci erhielt. Als Gestalter wurde der Wörlitzer Gärtner Johann August Eyserbeck verpflichtet, was die Umsetzung der an englischen Gärten orientierten Idealvorstellung Friedrich Wilhelms garantierte.
Ungünstig für den einheitlichen Charakter des Gartens war der sich über mehrere Jahre hinziehende Grundstücksankauf. Neben einbezogenen ehemaligen Wohnhäusern entstanden zwischen 1787 und 1792 wichtige neue Bauten im Garten, von denen heute noch viele bestehen: Marmorpalais, Küche in Form einer römischen Tempelruine, Gotische Bibliothek, Schindelhaus, Orangerie, Grotte, Meierei, Pyramide (Eiskeller) und das holländische Etablissement. Vor letzterem verläuft, begleitet von Pyramidenpappeln (seit 1864 Pyramideneichen), ein Musterstück für den preußischen Chausseebau. In der Gartenanlage entstand eine Fülle von Partien unterschiedlicher sentimentaler Prägung, die von den jeweiligen Bauten oder Pflanzungen in ihrem Charakter bestimmt werden. 1816 überarbeitete Peter Joseph Lenné im Auftrag des Thronfolgers den zugewachsenen und unmodern gewordenen Garten. Unter Erhalt vieler Bereiche und Entfernung zu dichter Gehölze bekam der Neue Garten große Sichten und Wiesenräume, gefälligere Wegeführung und vor allem die Blickverbindungen zu den Nachbargärten (Sacrow, Pfaueninsel, Glienicke, Babelsberg, Potsdam, Pfingstberg). Trotz kleinerer Veränderungen zur Kaiserzeit und durch Rücknahme von Einbauten aus der Zeit der russischen Nutzung (1945–1954) hat sich noch immer die von Lenné geplante Grundstruktur bewahrt.
Das Schloss Cecilienhof, 1913–1917 für den Kronprinzen erbaut, fügt sich sehr harmonisch ein. Eine 13 ha große Fläche, die 1960-1990 als Grenzgebiet zerstört war, ist inzwischen wieder hergestellt worden.
www.spsg.de/schloesser-gaerten/objekt/neuer-garten
The New Garden, which covers 102.5 hectares, lies at Jungfernsee Lake in the northern part of Potsdam. Creative viewing connections extend across the water to the gardens of Sacrow, Peacock Island, Glienicke and Babelsberg, evidencing the park’s central role in this overall garden landscape. Despite its having been reshaped by Lenné, the garden has nevertheless preserved individual, emotive areas that date from the phase of its creation before 1800. The garden’s history begins with the purchase of a central piece of land by Crown Prince Frederick William (II). In 1787, a year after his ascension to the throne, the laying out of the grounds commenced at the New Garden, the name being programmatic for the abandonment of the old baroque park at Sanssouci. Wörlitz gardener Johann August Eyserbeck was charged with its creation, a decision that ensured a transformation in alignment with Frederick William’s ideals oriented towards English gardens.
What undermined the uniform character of the garden was the fact that it had taken several years to purchase the land. In addition to the former private houses that were included, important new buildings were constructed in the garden between 1787 and 1792, many of which still exist today: the Marble House, the kitchen in the shape of a Roman temple ruins, the Gothic Library, Shingle House, orangery, grotto, dairy, pyramid (ice house) and the Dutch houses. In front of the latter, we find a prime example of Prussian country road construction lined with pyramid-shaped cottonwood poplars (now, since 1864, pyramid-shaped oaks). On the garden grounds, a number of areas were created, whose characters were emotively shaped by the respective buildings or plantings to varying degrees.
In 1816, Peter Joseph Lenné was commissioned by the successor to the throne to rework the overgrown garden, which no longer conformed with the contemporary taste. By preserving many areas while removing copses that had become too dense, the New Garden was provided with new perspectives and meadow spaces, more pleasing pathways and above all, with viewing connections to the neighboring gardens (Sacrow, Peacock Island, Glienicke, Babelsberg, Potsdam, Pfingstberg Hill). Despite the smaller changes made during Imperial times and owing to the removal of installations dating from the time the garden was used by the Russians (1945 –1954), Lenné’s basic structural design has been retained up to this day. Cecilienhof Country House, built for the Crown Prince from 1913 to 1917, harmonizes in this setting. In the meantime, an area of 13 hectares has been restored, which had been destroyed during its use as part of the border zone from 1960 to 1990.
Photo taken a few kilometers away from Reford Gardens | Les Jardins de Metis located at Grand Metis.
Visit : www.refordgardens.com/
From Wikipedia:
Elsie Stephen Meighen - born January 22, 1872, Perth, Ontario - and Robert Wilson Reford - born in 1867, Montreal - got married on June 12, 1894.
Elsie Reford was a pioneer of Canadian horticulture, creating one of the largest private gardens in Canada on her estate, Estevan Lodge in eastern Québec. Located in Grand-Métis on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, her gardens have been open to the public since 1962 and operate under the name Les Jardins de Métis and Reford Gardens.
Born January 22, 1872 at Perth, Ontario, Elsie Reford was the eldest of three children born to Robert Meighen and Elsie Stephen. Coming from modest backgrounds themselves, Elsie’s parents ensured that their children received a good education. After being educated in Montreal, she was sent to finishing school in Dresden and Paris, returning to Montreal fluent in both German and French, and ready to take her place in society.
She married Robert Wilson Reford on June 12, 1894. She gave birth to two sons, Bruce in 1895 and Eric in 1900. Robert and Elsie Reford were, by many accounts, an ideal couple. In 1902, they built a house on Drummond Street in Montreal. They both loved the outdoors and they spend several weeks a year in a log cabin they built at Lac Caribou, south of Rimouski. In the autumn they hunted for caribou, deer, and ducks. They returned in winter to ski and snowshoe. Elsie Reford also liked to ride. She had learned as a girl and spent many hours riding on the slopes of Mount Royal. And of course, there was salmon-fishing – a sport at which she excelled.
In her day, she was known for her civic, social, and political activism. She was engaged in philanthropic activities, particularly for the Montreal Maternity Hospital and she was also the moving force behind the creation of the Women’s Canadian Club of Montreal, the first women club in Canada. She believed it important that the women become involved in debates over the great issues of the day, « something beyond the local gossip of the hour ». Her acquaintance with Lord Grey, the Governor-General of Canada from 1904 to 1911, led to her involvement in organizing, in 1908, Québec City’s tercentennial celebrations. The event was one of many to which she devoted herself in building bridges with French-Canadian community.
During the First World War, she joined her two sons in England and did volunteer work at the War Office, translating documents from German into English. After the war, she was active in the Victorian Order of Nurses, the Montreal Council of Social Agencies, and the National Association of Conservative Women.
In 1925 at the age of 53 years, Elsie Reford was operated for appendicitis and during her convalescence, her doctor counselled against fishing, fearing that she did not have the strength to return to the river.”Why not take up gardening?” he said, thinking this a more suitable pastime for a convalescent woman of a certain age. That is why she began laying out the gardens and supervising their construction. The gardens would take ten years to build, and would extend over more than twenty acres.
Elsie Reford had to overcome many difficulties in bringing her garden to life. First among them were the allergies that sometimes left her bedridden for days on end. The second obstacle was the property itself. Estevan was first and foremost a fishing lodge. The site was chosen because of its proximity to a salmon river and its dramatic views – not for the quality of the soil.
To counter-act nature’s deficiencies, she created soil for each of the plants she had selected, bringing peat and sand from nearby farms. This exchange was fortuitous to the local farmers, suffering through the Great Depression. Then, as now, the gardens provided much-needed work to an area with high unemployment. Elsie Reford’s genius as a gardener was born of the knowledge she developed of the needs of plants. Over the course of her long life, she became an expert plantsman. By the end of her life, Elsie Reford was able to counsel other gardeners, writing in the journals of the Royal Horticultural Society and the North American Lily Society. Elsie Reford was not a landscape architect and had no training of any kind as a garden designer. While she collected and appreciated art, she claimed no talents as an artist.
Elsie Stephen Reford died at her Drummond Street home on November 8, 1967 in her ninety-sixth year.
In 1995, the Reford Gardens ("Jardins de Métis") in Grand-Métis were designated a National Historic Site of Canada, as being an excellent Canadian example of the English-inspired garden.(Wikipedia)
Visit : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsie_Reford
LES JARDINS DE MÉTIS
Créés par Elsie Reford de 1926 à 1958, ces jardins témoignent de façon remarquable de l’art paysager à l’anglaise. Disposés dans un cadre naturel, un ensemble de jardins exhibent fleurs vivaces, arbres et arbustes. Le jardin des pommetiers, les rocailles et l’Allée royale évoquent l’œuvre de cette dame passionnée d’horticulture. Agrémenté d’un ruisseau et de sentiers sinueux, ce site jouit d’un microclimat favorable à la croissance d’espèces uniques au Canada. Les pavots bleus et les lis, privilégiés par Mme Reford, y fleurissent toujours et contribuent , avec d’autres plantes exotiques et indigènes, à l’harmonie de ces lieux.
Created by Elsie Reford between 1926 and 1958, these gardens are an inspired example of the English art of the garden. Woven into a natural setting, a series of gardens display perennials, trees and shrubs. A crab-apple orchard, a rock garden, and the Long Walk are also the legacy of this dedicated horticulturist. A microclimate favours the growth of species found nowhere else in Canada, while the stream and winding paths add to the charm. Elsie Reford’s beloved blue poppies and lilies still bloom and contribute, with other exotic and indigenous plants, to the harmony of the site.
Commission des lieux et monuments historiques du Canada
Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
Gouvernement du Canada – Government of Canada
© Copyright
This photo and all those in my Photostream are protected by copyright. No one may reproduce, copy, transmit or manipulate them without my written permission.
8228
Visit : www.refordgardens.com/
From Wikipedia:
Elsie Stephen Meighen - born January 22, 1872, Perth, Ontario - and Robert Wilson Reford - born in 1867, Montreal - got married on June 12, 1894.
Elsie Reford was a pioneer of Canadian horticulture, creating one of the largest private gardens in Canada on her estate, Estevan Lodge in eastern Québec. Located in Grand-Métis on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, her gardens have been open to the public since 1962 and operate under the name Les Jardins de Métis and Reford Gardens.
Born January 22, 1872 at Perth, Ontario, Elsie Reford was the eldest of three children born to Robert Meighen and Elsie Stephen. Coming from modest backgrounds themselves, Elsie’s parents ensured that their children received a good education. After being educated in Montreal, she was sent to finishing school in Dresden and Paris, returning to Montreal fluent in both German and French, and ready to take her place in society.
She married Robert Wilson Reford on June 12, 1894. She gave birth to two sons, Bruce in 1895 and Eric in 1900. Robert and Elsie Reford were, by many accounts, an ideal couple. In 1902, they built a house on Drummond Street in Montreal. They both loved the outdoors and they spend several weeks a year in a log cabin they built at Lac Caribou, south of Rimouski. In the autumn they hunted for caribou, deer, and ducks. They returned in winter to ski and snowshoe. Elsie Reford also liked to ride. She had learned as a girl and spent many hours riding on the slopes of Mount Royal. And of course, there was salmon-fishing – a sport at which she excelled.
In her day, she was known for her civic, social, and political activism. She was engaged in philanthropic activities, particularly for the Montreal Maternity Hospital and she was also the moving force behind the creation of the Women’s Canadian Club of Montreal, the first women club in Canada. She believed it important that the women become involved in debates over the great issues of the day, « something beyond the local gossip of the hour ». Her acquaintance with Lord Grey, the Governor-General of Canada from 1904 to 1911, led to her involvement in organizing, in 1908, Québec City’s tercentennial celebrations. The event was one of many to which she devoted herself in building bridges with French-Canadian community.
During the First World War, she joined her two sons in England and did volunteer work at the War Office, translating documents from German into English. After the war, she was active in the Victorian Order of Nurses, the Montreal Council of Social Agencies, and the National Association of Conservative Women.
In 1925 at the age of 53 years, Elsie Reford was operated for appendicitis and during her convalescence, her doctor counselled against fishing, fearing that she did not have the strength to return to the river.”Why not take up gardening?” he said, thinking this a more suitable pastime for a convalescent woman of a certain age. That is why she began laying out the gardens and supervising their construction. The gardens would take ten years to build, and would extend over more than twenty acres.
Elsie Reford had to overcome many difficulties in bringing her garden to life. First among them were the allergies that sometimes left her bedridden for days on end. The second obstacle was the property itself. Estevan was first and foremost a fishing lodge. The site was chosen because of its proximity to a salmon river and its dramatic views – not for the quality of the soil.
To counter-act nature’s deficiencies, she created soil for each of the plants she had selected, bringing peat and sand from nearby farms. This exchange was fortuitous to the local farmers, suffering through the Great Depression. Then, as now, the gardens provided much-needed work to an area with high unemployment. Elsie Reford’s genius as a gardener was born of the knowledge she developed of the needs of plants. Over the course of her long life, she became an expert plantsman. By the end of her life, Elsie Reford was able to counsel other gardeners, writing in the journals of the Royal Horticultural Society and the North American Lily Society. Elsie Reford was not a landscape architect and had no training of any kind as a garden designer. While she collected and appreciated art, she claimed no talents as an artist.
Elsie Stephen Reford died at her Drummond Street home on November 8, 1967 in her ninety-sixth year.
In 1995, the Reford Gardens ("Jardins de Métis") in Grand-Métis were designated a National Historic Site of Canada, as being an excellent Canadian example of the English-inspired garden.(Wikipedia)
Visit : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsie_Reford
Visit : www.refordgardens.com
LES JARDINS DE MÉTIS
Créés par Elsie Reford de 1926 à 1958, ces jardins témoignent de façon remarquable de l’art paysager à l’anglaise. Disposés dans un cadre naturel, un ensemble de jardins exhibent fleurs vivaces, arbres et arbustes. Le jardin des pommetiers, les rocailles et l’Allée royale évoquent l’œuvre de cette dame passionnée d’horticulture. Agrémenté d’un ruisseau et de sentiers sinueux, ce site jouit d’un microclimat favorable à la croissance d’espèces uniques au Canada. Les pavots bleus et les lis, privilégiés par Mme Reford, y fleurissent toujours et contribuent , avec d’autres plantes exotiques et indigènes, à l’harmonie de ces lieux.
Created by Elsie Reford between 1926 and 1958, these gardens are an inspired example of the English art of the garden. Woven into a natural setting, a series of gardens display perennials, trees and shrubs. A crab-apple orchard, a rock garden, and the Long Walk are also the legacy of this dedicated horticulturist. A microclimate favours the growth of species found nowhere else in Canada, while the stream and winding paths add to the charm. Elsie Reford’s beloved blue poppies and lilies still bloom and contribute, with other exotic and indigenous plants, to the harmony of the site.
Commission des lieux et monuments historiques du Canada
Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
Gouvernement du Canada – Government of Canada
© Copyright
This photo and all those in my Photostream are protected by copyright. No one may reproduce, copy, transmit or manipulate them without my written permission.
This sport takes back ancestral traditions which allowed the Inuits to survive in the big Arctic deserts and represent the link with the nature.
Fast, exciting, well trained sled dog teams are the result of careful behind the scenes planning and hard work. Successful mushers are knowledgeable in such diverse areas as kennel management, canine behavior, nutrition, veterinary care, psychology, physical conditioning, housing and transportation. Wise mushers soon learn that success or failure in any of these areas affects performance dramatically. Considering this fact it is obvious that the welfare of the dogs is of paramount importance.
Team and driver develop a close, trusting relationship because of the amount of time they spend together. To betray that trust by not meeting all of the dog’s needs runs counter to the goal of having a happy, healthy, highly motivated team.
What you see at a race is the result of long hours of work and planning to ensure that the team is prepared to test its abilities against the trail and the competition.
Qualifying, TCSA Round 7/8 at Motegi Twin Ring, Motegi Haga, Tochigi,Japan on September 12 2015.Photo: Keith Mulcahy
SOOC Image Straight Out Of Camera!! NO editing, tweaking, of ANY kind. Only framed in Photoshop & saved ~15MB RAW image as an under 5MB JPG.
<Bille Jean, the song by the late pop idol Michael Jackson, has to be one of the most popular, interesting, memorable and enjoyable songs of all times. It also resonates with me in ways that I cannot go into detail here, at least not without ensuring the end of any future political career. LOL.
Liliy, gene king, (sorry, couldn't resist the link to Bille Jean King, the Tennis star), almost as much as roses, are also always among the most enjoyable, popular, colorful and delightful flowers around.
I do not know the name of this exact variety that my next door neighbors, Mrs. & Mr. M, recently planted, in the area in front of our homes. But, even as I took this photo, I had NO idea how stunned even I would be, when I saw it as a desktop picture on my 27" iMac.
What was stunning in impact was the explosively subtle range of colors along the length of even one single petal.
Maybe it's me. Maybe I am too romantic, too passionate, too filled with lust for love, and love for lust...
Or, maybe it IS in the air, all around, if only we would open our eyes and see, our loves, our beloved lovers, lying waiting in front of us.....
The luscious pink petal's furled edges welcoming the eye and caressing looks deep into its folds, of delectable vanilla milky smooth skin, with stamens rising up on dimpled skin to welcome loving carriers of life, to enter, and meld in eternity, softly entwined in the embrace of tendrils, on a soft dark and light bokeh bed.
Lily gene, IS my love(r), but was not in MY (flower)bed ;) ... and I hope it's "child" grows in the sun, in coming years... while coming generations of secret lovers smile openly secretly at what the words of the song mean to them.
Long live love, long live lovers, long live children created in love. Rest in peace, Michael Jackson.
© 2010 IMRAN
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We then climbed up the hill to get a better view over Avalon. And continue to assess future rental possibilities.
The success of Catalina Island as a tourist destination was ensured once the island was bought out by the Wrigley (as in chewing gum) family in 1919. William Wrigley invested millions into the island, generally building up the infrastructure to make it a desirable place to visit. The family continues to own the island, although they have stopped further development and created the "Catalina Island Conservancy" to protect the island and conserve its native species.
[This picture is better viewed large.]
CN L580 holds the South Main at Brantford with GMTX 2323 CN 4726 CN 2675 and 109 cars bound for Garnet Yard and then Nanticoke.
With the Aboriginal Blockade lifted from the tracks after 2 weeks of closure, CN is running trains through to Garnet in Daylight only to ensure safety of all.
Der 102,5 ha große Neue Garten liegt im Norden Potsdams am Jungfernsee. Über das Wasser hinweg bestehen gestalterische Verbindungen zu den Gärten von Sacrow, Pfaueninsel, Glienicke und Babelsberg, wodurch er eine zentrale Rolle in der Gartenlandschaft erhält. Trotz Überformung durch Lenné hat er noch sentimentale Einzelpartien aus der Entstehungsphase vor 1800 bewahrt. Seine Geschichte fängt mit dem Ankauf eines zentralen Grundstückes durch den Kronprinzen Friedrich Wilhelm (II.) an. Im Jahre 1787, ein Jahr nach dem Regierungsantritt, begann die Anlage des Neuen Gartens, der seinen Namen programmatisch in der Abkehr vom alten Barockpark Sanssouci erhielt. Als Gestalter wurde der Wörlitzer Gärtner Johann August Eyserbeck verpflichtet, was die Umsetzung der an englischen Gärten orientierten Idealvorstellung Friedrich Wilhelms garantierte. Ungünstig für den einheitlichen Charakter des Gartens war der sich über mehrere Jahre hinziehende Grundstücksankauf. Neben einbezogenen ehemaligen Wohnhäusern entstanden zwischen 1787 und 1792 wichtige neue Bauten im Garten, von denen heute noch viele bestehen: Marmorpalais, Küche in Form einer römischen Tempelruine, Gotische Bibliothek, Schindelhaus, Orangerie, Grotte, Meierei, Pyramide (Eiskeller) und das holländische Etablissement. Vor letzterem verläuft, begleitet von Pyramidenpappeln (seit 1864 Pyramideneichen), ein Musterstück für den preußischen Chausseebau. In der Gartenanlage entstand eine Fülle von Partien unterschiedlicher sentimentaler Prägung, die von den jeweiligen Bauten oder Pflanzungen in ihrem Charakter bestimmt werden. 1816 überarbeitete Peter Joseph Lenné im Auftrag des Thronfolgers den zugewachsenen und unmodern gewordenen Garten. Unter Erhalt vieler Bereiche und Entfernung zu dichter Gehölze bekam der Neue Garten große Sichten und Wiesenräume, gefälligere Wegeführung und vor allem die Blickverbindungen zu den Nachbargärten (Sacrow, Pfaueninsel, Glienicke, Babelsberg, Potsdam, Pfingstberg). Trotz kleinerer Veränderungen zur Kaiserzeit und durch Rücknahme von Einbauten aus der Zeit der russischen Nutzung (1945–1954) hat sich noch immer die von Lenné geplante Grundstruktur bewahrt. Das Schloss Cecilienhof, 1913–1917 für den Kronprinzen erbaut, fügt sich sehr harmonisch ein. Eine 13 ha große Fläche, die 1960-1990 als Grenzgebiet zerstört war, ist inzwischen wieder hergestellt worden.
www.spsg.de/schloesser-gaerten/objekt/neuer-garten
The New Garden, which covers 102.5 hectares, lies at Jungfernsee Lake in the northern part of Potsdam. Creative viewing connections extend across the water to the gardens of Sacrow, Peacock Island, Glienicke and Babelsberg, evidencing the park’s central role in this overall garden landscape. Despite its having been reshaped by Lenné, the garden has nevertheless preserved individual, emotive areas that date from the phase of its creation before 1800. The garden’s history begins with the purchase of a central piece of land by Crown Prince Frederick William (II). In 1787, a year after his ascension to the throne, the laying out of the grounds commenced at the New Garden, the name being programmatic for the abandonment of the old baroque park at Sanssouci. Wörlitz gardener Johann August Eyserbeck was charged with its creation, a decision that ensured a transformation in alignment with Frederick William’s ideals oriented towards English gardens.
What undermined the uniform character of the garden was the fact that it had taken several years to purchase the land. In addition to the former private houses that were included, important new buildings were constructed in the garden between 1787 and 1792, many of which still exist today: the Marble House, the kitchen in the shape of a Roman temple ruins, the Gothic Library, Shingle House, orangery, grotto, dairy, pyramid (ice house) and the Dutch houses. In front of the latter, we find a prime example of Prussian country road construction lined with pyramid-shaped cottonwood poplars (now, since 1864, pyramid-shaped oaks). On the garden grounds, a number of areas were created, whose characters were emotively shaped by the respective buildings or plantings to varying degrees.
In 1816, Peter Joseph Lenné was commissioned by the successor to the throne to rework the overgrown garden, which no longer conformed with the contemporary taste. By preserving many areas while removing copses that had become too dense, the New Garden was provided with new perspectives and meadow spaces, more pleasing pathways and above all, with viewing connections to the neighboring gardens (Sacrow, Peacock Island, Glienicke, Babelsberg, Potsdam, Pfingstberg Hill). Despite the smaller changes made during Imperial times and owing to the removal of installations dating from the time the garden was used by the Russians (1945 –1954), Lenné’s basic structural design has been retained up to this day. Cecilienhof Country House, built for the Crown Prince from 1913 to 1917, harmonizes in this setting. In the meantime, an area of 13 hectares has been restored, which had been destroyed during its use as part of the border zone from 1960 to 1990.
Good morning everyone!
Here is another lemur photo from Madagascar for you.
This is a black-and-white ruffed lemur that I was able to find and photograph on my recent adventures.
There's really nothing quite like standing face to face with one of these critically endangered animals. Like other lemurs, loss of habitat is their biggest threat. They are not only found only in one country but only within very specific ranges of it.
It's up to all of us to help ensure future generations can get to enjoy these amazing animals.
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This week in 1996, STS-78 and its primary payload, the Life and Microgravity Spacelab, launched. During the 17-day spaceflight, the crew conducted a diverse slate of experiments divided into a mix of life science and microgravity investigations.
Five space agencies -- NASA, European Space Agency, French Space Agency, Canadian Space Agency and Italian Space Agency -- along with research scientists from 10 countries worked together on the design, development and construction of the laboratory.
LMS investigations, managed by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, conducted the most extensive telescience to date, similar to investigations on the International Space Station.
Today, Marshall is home to the Payload Operations and Integration Center -- the command center for all science operations on the ISS, ensuring successful science operations to benefit people on Earth and to pave the way for deep space exploration. Flight controllers are on the clock 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help astronauts in orbit and scientists on the ground.
For more fun throwbacks, check out Marshall's History Album by clicking here.
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