Entitled photos on Flickr

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Seen in my set entitled ‘Pelargoniums’

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Within my collection entitled ‘The Garden’

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Pelargonium (Wikipeida)

Pelargonium is a genus of flowering plants which includes about 200 species of perennial, succulent, and shrub plants, commonly known as geraniums. Confusingly, Geranium is the correct botanical name of the separate genus which contains the related Cranesbills. Both genera are in the Family Geraniaceae. Linnaeus originally included all the species in one genus, Geranium, but they were later separated into two genera by Charles L’Héritier in 1789. Gardeners sometimes refer to the members of Genus Pelargonium as "pelargoniums" in order to avoid the confusion, but the older common name "geranium" is still in regular use.

The first species of Pelargonium known to be cultivated was Pelargonium triste, a native of South Africa. It was probably brought to the botanical garden in Leiden before 1600 on ships which stopped at the Cape of Good Hope. In 1631, the English gardener, John Tradescant the elder, bought seeds from Rene Morin in Paris and introduced the plant to England. The name Pelargonium was introduced by Johannes Burman in 1738, from Greek πελαργός pelargos = "stork", because part of the flower looked like a stork's beak.

Other than grown for their beauty, species of Pelargonium such as P. graveolens are important in the perfume industry and are cultivated and distilled for its scent. Although scented Pelargonium exist which have smells of citrus, mint, or various fruits, the varieties with rose scents are most commercially important. Pelargonium distillates and absolutes, commonly known as "scented geranium oil" are sometimes used to supplement or adulterate expensive rose oils.

Pelargonium species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Angle Shades.

Pelargoniums are believed to deter mosquitoes.

Garden geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum; syn. Pelargonium zonale) is one of the most common ornamental potted-plants, with over 200 varieties.

In 1988 the flower was described and illustrated in a comprehensive 3-volume work Pelargoniums of Southern Africa by Ellaphie Ward-Hilhorst with van der Walt and Vorster.

Cultivars

Species of Pelargonium are indigenous to Southern Africa and are drought and heat tolerant, and can tolerate only minor frosts. Pelargoniums are extremely popular garden plants, grown as annuals in temperate climates, and thousands of ornamental cultivars have been developed from about 20 of the species.

Zonal varieties, also known as P. × hortorum, are mainly derived from P. zonale and P. inquinans.

Ivy-leaved varieties are mainly derived from P. peltatum.

Regal varieties, also known as French geraniums or P. × domesticum are mainly derived from P. cucullatum and P. grandiflorum.

Scented-leaf varieties are derived from a great number of species, amongst others P. graveolens.

Structural variations

Pelargonium leaves are usually alternate, and palmately lobed or pinnate, often on long stalks, and sometimes with light or dark patterns. The erect stems bear five-petaled flowers in umbel-like clusters called pseudoumbels. The shapes of the flowers have been bred to a variety ranging star-shaped to funnel-shaped, and colors include white, pink, red, orange-red, fuchsia to deep purple.

In early 2006 a long-awaited yellow-flowered variety was launched. Called the Guernsey Flair, it was supplied exclusively to the television shopping channel QVC in the UK, and all available plants were sold within a few minutes. See photo of yellow geranium. The flower has a much yellower hue than the cream-colored varieties which some developers had called yellow previously.

Horticultural pelargoniums (as opposed to botanical, the wild 'species') fall into six major groups, with zonals subdivided further:

Angel

Ivy-leaved = hanging

Regal (or Royal) = French

Shrubby-leaved

Unique

Zonal - erect and bushy

Cactus-flowered

Deacon (mostly dwarfs, cf. infra)

Double-flowered

Fancy-leaved

Formosum hybrid

Rosebud

Tulip-flowered

Single-flowered

Stellar

Straight Zonals

It is also usual to classify small Zonals alternatively by size or odorous excellence :

Dwarfs (small)

Miniatures (even smaller)

Parfum-leaved

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelargonium

"Entitled" ~ greatnorthwoodsdesign.com by great_north_woods_design

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The Barbers' Garden: Peony Bud by Bill Barber

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From my set entitled “Peonies”

www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/sets/72157607186459134/

In my collection entitled “The Garden”

www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/collections/7215760718...

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peony

The peony or paeony (Paeonia) is the only genus in the flowering plant family Paeoniaceae. They are native to Asia, southern Europe and western North America.

Most are herbaceous perennial plants 0.5–1.5 metres tall, but some are woody shrubs up to 1.5–3 metres tall. They have compound, deeply lobed leaves, and large, often fragrant flowers, ranging from red to white or yellow, in late spring and early summer. In the past, the peonies were often classified in the family Ranunculaceae, alongside Hellebores and Anemones.

The peony is named after Paeon or Paean, a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. Asclepius became jealous of his pupil; Zeus saved Paeon from the wrath of Asclepius by turning him into the peony flower

The peony is among the longest-used flowers in ornamental culture and is one of the smallest living creature national emblems in China. Along with the plum blossom, it is a traditional floral symbol of China, where it is called 牡丹 (mǔ dān). It is also known as 富贵花 (fuguihua) "flower of riches and honour", and is used symbolically in Chinese art.[2] In 1903, the Qing Dynasty declared the peony as the national flower. Currently, the Republic of China on Taiwan designates the plum blossom as the national flower, while the People's Republic of China has no legally designated national flower. In 1994, the peony was proposed as the national flower after a nationwide poll, but the National People's Congress failed to ratify the selection. In 2003, another selection process has begun, but to date, no choice has been made.

The famous ancient Chinese city Luoyang has a reputation as a cultivation centre for the peonies. Throughout Chinese history, peonies in Luoyang are often said to be the finest in the country. Dozens of peony exhibitions and shows are still held there annually.

In Japan, Paeonia lactiflora used to be called ebisugusuri ("foreign medicine"). In kampo (the Japanese adaptation of Chinese medicine), its root was used as a treatment for convulsions. It is also cultivated as a garden plant. In Japan Paeonia suffruticosa is called the "The King of flowers" and Paeonia lactiflora is called the "prime minister of flowers".

Pronunciation of 牡丹 (peony) in Japan is "botan". Before the Meiji period, meat taken from quadrupeds was seldom consumed in Japan due to Buddhism. Thus in cases where such meat was handled, it was paraphrased using the names of flowers. The term botan was used (and is still used) to paraphrase wild boar meat. This comes from the flowery resemblance of the sliced meat when spread over a dish. Another example is sakura (cherry blossoms) which stands for horsemeat.

In 1957, the Indiana General Assembly passed a law to make the peony the state flower of Indiana, a title which it holds to this day. It replaced the zinnia, which had been the state flower since 1931.

Mischievous nymphs were said to hide in the petals of the Peony thus causing this magnificent flower to be given the meaning of Shame or Bashfulness in the Language of Flowers. It was named after Pæon, a physician to the gods, who obtained the plant on Mount Olympus from the mother of Apollo. Once planted the Peony likes to be left alone and punishes those who try to move it by not flowering again for several years. Once established, however, it produces splendid blooms each year for decades (Taken from The Language of Flowers, edited by Sheila Pickles, 1990).

Peonies are also extensively grown as ornamental plants for their very large, often scented flowers.

Peonies tend to attract ants to the flower buds. This is due to the nectar that forms on the outside of the flower buds.

Peonies are a common subject in tattoos, often used along with koi-fish.

Morning Glory by Bill Barber

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From my set entitled “Morning Glory”

www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/sets/72157607213945288/

In my collection entitled “The Garden”

www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/collections/7215760718...

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_glory

Morning glory is a common name for over 1,000 species of flowering plants in the family Convolvulaceae, belonging to the following genera:

Calystegia

Convolvulus

Ipomoea

Merremia

Rivea

As the name implies, morning glory flowers, which are funnel-shaped, open in the morning, allowing them to be pollinated by Hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other daytime insects and birds as well as Hawkmoth at dusk for longer blooming variants. The flower typically lasts for a single morning and dies in the afternoon. New flowers bloom each day. The flowers usually start to fade a couple of hours before the petals start showing visible curling. They prefer full sun throughout the day and mesic soils. In cultivation, most are treated as perennial plants in tropical areas and as annual plants in colder climates, but some species tolerate winter cold. Some moonflowers, which flower at night, are also in the morning glory family.

Morning glory is also called asagao (in Japanese, a compound of 朝 asa "morning" and 顔 kao "face"). A rare brownish-coloured variant known as Danjuro is very popular. It was first known in China for its medicinal uses, due to the laxative properties of its seeds. It was introduced to the Japanese in the 9th century, and they were first to cultivate it as an ornament. During the Edo Period, it became a very popular ornamental flower. Aztec priests in Mexico were also known to use the plant's hallucinogenic properties. (see Rivea corymbosa).

Ancient Mesoamerican civilizations used the morning glory species Ipomoea alba to convert the latex from the Castilla elastica tree and also the guayule plant to produce bouncing rubber balls. The sulfur in the morning glory's juice served to vulcanize the rubber, a process pre-dating Charles Goodyear's discovery by at least 3,000 years.[1]

Because of their fast growth, twining habit, attractive flowers, and tolerance for poor, dry soils, some morning glories are excellent vines for creating summer shade on building walls when trellised, thus keeping the building cooler and reducing heating and cooling costs.

Popular varieties in contemporary western cultivation include the Morning Glory "Sunspots" "Heavenly Blue", the moonflower, the cypress vine, and the cardinal climber. The cypress vine is a hybrid, with the cardinal climber as one parent.

In some places such as Australian bushland morning glories develop thick roots and tend to grow in dense thickets. They can quickly spread by way of long creeping stems. By crowding out, blanketing and smothering other plants, morning glory has turned into a serious invasive weed problem.

Ipomoea aquatica, known as water spinach, water morning-glory, water convolvulus, Ong-Choy, Kang-kung, or swamp cabbage, is popularly used as a green vegetable especially in East and Southeast Asian cuisines. It is a Federal Noxious Weed, however, and technically it is illegal to grow, import, possess, or sell. See: USDA weed factsheet. As of 2005, the state of Texas has acknowledged that water spinach is a highly prized vegetable in many cultures and has allowed water spinach to be grown for personal consumption. This is in part because water spinach is known to have been grown in Texas for more than fifteen years and has not yet escaped cultivation.[2] The fact that it goes by so many names means that it easily slips through import inspections, and it is often available in Asian or specialty produce markets.

The seeds of many species of morning glory contain ergot alkaloids such as the hallucinogenic ergonovine and ergine (LSA). Seeds of I. tricolor and I. corymbosa (syn. R. corymbosa) are used as hallucinogens. The seeds can produce similar effect to LSD when taken in the hundreds. Though the chemical LSA is illegal to possess in pure form, the seeds are found in many gardening stores, however, the seeds from gardening stores may be coated in some form of mild poison in order to prevent ingestion or methylmercury to retard spoilage.[3] They should not be taken by people with a history of liver disorders or hepatitis. They should not be taken by pregnant women as they can cause uterine contraction which can lead to miscarriage. Individuals with a history of cardiovascular disease (Heart attack, blood clot, and stroke) or a family history of such problems, and the elderly should avoid consuming these seeds due to their vasoconstrictive effects.[4][5][6]

Note that the plant known as Korean morning glory, Datura stramonium, is of a different species, is poisonous, and also produces hallucinogenic effects.

CSIS Policy Forum： Lessons from Abroad for the U.S. Entitlement Debate by CSIS | Center for Strategic & International Studies

The Center for Strategic and International Studies hosts a discussion of the global state of the art in retirement policy and pension system reform. The occasion is the release of Lessons from Abroad for the U.S. Entitlement Debate, a new CSIS report that puts the U.S. aging challenge in international perspective, reviews the most promising retirement reform initiatives in other developed countries, and draws lessons for U.S. policymakers.

“Entitle” (Amanda Parer) by Jason Painter

“‘Entitle’ is an elaborate light installation designed in the 18th-century Rococo style and crafted using the traditional techniques of Chinese lantern- making. Covering 10 square metres, the artwork features four large decorative towers, heavily ornamented with gold and brightly coloured flowers, which surround a base displaying a light-sculpture of a mother pig and her suckling young.

“Whilst it channels the ornamental excess of the Rococo, ‘Entitle’ is not intended to be just a decorative piece. Instead, artist Amanda Parer uses the work to make a statement about the consequences of overly indulgent contemporary lifestyles. The pig represents gluttony, and the flowers adorning the towers are not the pretty European flora that featured in the Rococo; instead, they are extinct species. The piglets feeding from their mother represent the ‘entrenched sense of multi-generational entitlement’ that exists in Western culture.

“In Europe during the 1700s, the Rococo was a period of excess. For those who could afford it, the lifestyle of the period was highly indulgent and based on the pursuit of pleasure at the expense of the other strata of society. The artwork of the time is reflective, with intricate floral and pattern designs featuring fanciful curves and the use of gold and bright colours.

“‘Entitle’ references both Eastern and Western culture to enhance the theme of overindulgence using the lavish Chinese lantern technique, the overly ornate Rococo-inspired design and the symbolism of the greedy pig.”

BrannockLight by Gabby Brannock

This work is entitled: “A Colorful Christmas.” It is successful because it meets the project requirements, is intriguing to look at, and evokes excitement. This piece definitely has interesting light. Nearly black on the right side, the colorful lights and their reflections contrast very well. The lights cast splotches of color on the highly textured wall. The wall is actually painted a mustard gold. A strength of this work is the movement of the eye from the left of the photo to the central red light and back and over. A weakness is the imbalance between the sides of the photo. In order to take this photograph, I had to stand on the top of a couch to be eye level with the lights. The overhead lights in the area were turned off. I personally love lights because they make me feel warm and excited. Those feelings are portrayed in the photo.

Tuberous Begonia by Bill Barber

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From my set entitled “Tuberous Begonia”

www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/sets/72157607213634242/

In my collection entitled “The Garden”

www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/collections/7215760718...

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Begonia is a genus in the flowering plant family Begoniaceae. The only other member of the family Begoniaceae is Hillebrandia, a genus with a single species in the Hawaiian Islands. The genus Symbegonia is now included in Begonia. "Begonia" is the common name as well as the generic name for all members of the genus.

With ca. 1500+ species, Begonia is one of the ten largest angiosperm genera. The species are terrestrial (sometimes epiphytic) herbs or undershrubs and occur in subtropical and tropical moist climates, in South and Central America, Africa and southern Asia. Terrestrial species in the wild are commonly upright-stemmed, rhizomatous, or tuberous. The plants are monoecious, with unisexual male and female flowers occurring separately on the same plant, the male containing numerous stamens, the female having a large inferior ovary and two to four branched or twisted stigmas. In most species the fruit is a winged capsule containing numerous minute seeds, although baccate fruits are also known. The leaves, which are often large and variously marked or variegated, are usually asymmetric (unequal-sided).

Because of their sometimes showy flowers of white, pink, scarlet or yellow color and often attractively marked leaves, many species and innumerable hybrids and cultivars are cultivated. The genus is unusual in that species throughout the genus, even those coming from different continents, can frequently be hybridized with each other, and this has led to an enormous number of cultivars. The American Begonia Society classifies begonias into several major groups: cane-like, shrub-like, tuberous, rhizomatous, semperflorens, rex, trailing-scandent, or thick-stemmed. For the most part these groups do not correspond to any formal taxonomic groupings or phylogeny and many species and hybrids have characteristics of more than one group, or fit well into none of them.

The genus name honors Michel Bégon, a French patron of botany.

The different groups of begonias have different cultural requirements but most species come from tropical regions and therefore they and their hybrids require warm temperatures. Most are forest understory plants and require bright shade; few will tolerate full sun, especially in warmer climates. In general, begonias require a well-drained growing medium that is neither constantly wet nor allowed to dry out completely. Many begonias will grow and flower year-round but tuberous begonias usually have a dormant period, during which the tubers can be stored in a cool and dry place.

Begonias of the semperflorens group are frequently grown as bedding plants outdoors. A recent group of hybrids derived from this group is marketed as "Dragonwing Begonias"; they are much larger both in leaf and in flower. Tuberous begonias are frequently used as container plants. Although most Begonia species are tropical or subtropical in origin, the Chinese species B. grandis is hardy to USDA hardiness zone 6 and is commonly known as the "hardy begonia". Most begonias can be grown outdoors year-round in subtropical or tropical climates, but in temperate climates begonias are grown outdoors as annuals, or as house or greenhouse plants.

Most begonias are easily propagated by division or from stem cuttings. In addition, many can be propagated from leaf cuttings or even sections of leaves, particularly the members of the rhizomatous and rex groups.

The cultivar Kimjongilia is a floral emblem of North Korea.

7933_The Colors of Fall in Yardley OCT 2012 by Jerome

These 39 pictures entitled "Colors of Fall in Yardley . . ." were all taken around my home in late October, pre-Hurricane Sandy. Number 7968 is a photo of the tree that came crashing down on two unsuspecting cars parked underneath it at the height of the hurricane.

Fall happens to be my favorite time of year and not just because pumpkin flavors are all the rage. From late September to early November, Mother Nature puts on her most spectacular show. Trees of all types slowly transition from their standard leaves to shades of red, orange, gold, brown, and even purple. Landscapes across the country pop with vibrant colors and serve as a brief reminder just how beautiful nature can be.

It's a great time for hiking and scenic drives and below are all the resources you need to make your trip happen. Whether you want to know just why leaves change their colors or are looking for where to see specific shades, the answers are here.

So Why Do Leaves Change Colors?

The answer lies in one word: chlorophyll. It's the chemical that gives leaves their green color. Chlorophyll is also responsible for photosynthesis - a process where plants turn water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugar. Confused? Let's back up to the basics.

Trees take water from the ground using their roots. They also take carbon dioxide from the air. But trees need oxygen and glucose to grow big and healthy. In order to do that, they use sunlight to turn the water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose. That's photosynthesis. And chlorophyll helps make it happen.

When summer ends and autumn begins, there is less sunlight since the days get shorter. This is an important hint for trees and other plants to prepare themselves for the winter. Since there isn't enough light and water during the winter for photosynthesis, trees go into rest-mode and will feed off food they have stored up over summer. While processes shut down, chlorophyll starts to disappear from the leaves, taking away the green color. As the green fades, the leaves show other colors that have been there all along - yellow and orange. They have been hidden all summer by chlorophyll and during the fall, it is their time to shine!

You're probably wondering about the other signature colors of autumn - red, purple, and brown. Well, in some trees, such as maples, glucose is trapped in the leaves after photosynthesis stops. That glucose is turned into a red color from the sunlight and the cool nights of autumn. The brown color of trees, such as oaks, is made from tannin - a waste product left in the leaves.

The brilliance of colors you see every fall is directly related to weather conditions. The brightest colors are seen when late summer is dry, and autumn has bright sunny days and cool evenings. A good supply of rainfall also keeps the leaves on trees longer and helps to enhance the color.

For more information go to this site:

usparks.about.com/od/fallfoliage/a/Fall-Colors.htm

1:144 Airbus Industries A318 MPA Phase II ’Magellan’; ‘60+12’/’Siegfried Boysen’ of the Marineflieger Geschwader (MFG) 1, Deutsche Bundesluftwaffe; Nordholz Air Base (near Cuxhaven, Lower Saxony, Germany), 2026 (What-if/modified Eastern Express kit) by Dizzyfugu

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+++ DISCLAIMER +++

Nothing you see here is real, even though the conversion or the presented background story might be based on historical facts. BEWARE!

Some background:

As early as 1985 there was a study entitled Maritime Patrol Aircraft for the 90s (MPA 90) for the German Bundeswehr, which aimed to replace the Breguet Atlantic with the P-3C Update 4. The study was carried out by the Lockheed California Company and the MBB transport and commercial aircraft division (today Airbus Deutschland, with locations in Hamburg and Bremen) together with the BWB. In 1997, Lockheed Martin offered Germany and Italy a “Orion 2000” or “P-3C Plus” as a replacement for the Breguet Atlantic BR 1150. Both countries established a management team at the Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement in Koblenz and signed an MPA Definition MoU on October 21, 1999. Between 2007 and 2015, Germany was supposed to receive 10 aircraft, Italy 14. On July 26, 2002, Lockheed Martin offered a P-3C with revised wings, Allison T56 engines and modern avionics. However, the program was stopped, and alternatives were searched. Among others, Airbus was eager to response and proposed in 2001 a dedicated ASW/maritime patrol aircraft based on the A320 short-/medium-range airliner, even though the development of such an aircraft would certainly take several years and it would not be ready for service before 2010.

In the meantime, in 2003, the Netherlands offered its thirteen P-3C Update 2.5, which had originally been delivered between 1982 and 1984, for sale, and Germany became interested. On October 31 of the same year, both countries signed a memorandum of understanding for the sale of 10 aircraft. It was later decided that Germany would receive eight aircraft and Portugal the remaining five. With this solution, even though only a temporary stopgap for the German naval forces, Airbus’ proposal waned from attention – but only temporarily, since things did not unfold as planned.

The contract with the Netherlands was signed on November 15, 2004, and provided for Germany to supply eight P-3Cs, spare parts, a flight simulator, and other materials at a cost of 271 million euros. For a further 24 million euros, the Dutch armed forces trained the ground and flight personnel of the Marineflieger Geschwader (Marine Aviation Squadron/MFG) 3 “Graf Zeppelin” from Nordholz air base directly in the Netherlands. The Dutch reconnaissance aircraft were supposed to be responsible for long-range maritime surveillance and reconnaissance above and under water for the German Navy for the next twenty years, while a potent and up-to-date successor would be developed domestically or together with European partners. The Luftwaffe officially received the first P-3C on May 18, 2006.

While the P-3C had been bought and delivered, the procurement program for a potential successor was launched, since it was clear that the used P-3Cs would have only a limited lifetime left on their airframes and that maintenance would escalate over time. The potential P-3 successor became the project “Magellan”, which could trace back its origins to 2001. Magellan had been proposed by Airbus after the global market with turboprop-powered maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft had been analyzed in the late Nineties and a huge global market opportunity had been discovered – including the demand of the German Luftwaffe and its naval air arm, the Marineflieger. Another driving factor behind the project was that similar aircraft produced abroad did not fully meet European – and most specifically German – requirements, so that the development of a purpose-built indigenous aircraft became a highly attractive option, also fueled by political pressure to support the European aircraft industry. Consequently, the German Ministry of Defense submitted the domestic development of the Magellan maritime patrol aircraft as part of its April 2001 – March 2006 Five-Year Defense Plan. In October 2003, following its earlier proposal and with the P-3C deal with the Netherlands, Airbus Industries received prime contractor status and Magellan started to take shape.

To save cost and development time, the Magellan ASW aircraft was not a completely new design. Like many former ASW aircraft (e. g. the Lockheed P-3, the BAe Nimrod, and the recent Boeing P-8) it was based on the airframe of an existing airliner. In Magellan’s case it was the new Airbus A318, which shared many components with the rest of the short/medium range A320 airliner family, including body components, cockpit windows, outer wings, horizontal stabilizer, and other systems. Internal shared parts included the auxiliary power unit, cockpit panels, flight control system computer, anti-collision lights, and gear control unit. This reportedly saved US$ 3.3 billion during the aircraft’s development until 2019.

To adapt the civil airliner to its new and specialized military role, many modifications were made. The most obvious change was a switch of powerplants, from a pair of high-bypass turbofans under the wings to four smaller engines in separate underwing nacelles. This required a thorough yet invisible modification of the wings’ internal structure, which allowed two extra hardpoints for the additional engines, and this also made the wings more stress-resistant for frequent low-/medium altitude operations. An increased use of composite materials helped to limit the resulting gain in structural weight.
The four-engine design adopted for the Magellan resulted in a flight profile with better maneuverability and stability at low-speed, low-altitude flight and allowed the aircraft to continue its mission in the event of a single and even a two-engine failure. As well as greater operational survivability, the high-bypass engines provided for quiet, fuel-efficient operation. Compared with the P-3 or the Breguet Atlantic, the Magellan also had, thanks to its jet propulsion, reduced transit times in comparison to turboprop-powered competitors, and the turbofans were quieter, making it more difficult for submerged submarines to detect the aircraft above them acoustically.

Propulsion came from four Pratt & Whitney PW1000Gs, a new high-bypass geared turbofan engine (also called the GTF = geared turbofan). The gearbox between the fan and the low-pressure spool allowed each to spin at its optimal speed, allowing a higher bypass ratio for a better propulsive efficiency. Pratt & Whitney claimed the engine was 16% more fuel efficient than the previous generation, and up to 75% quieter. Additionally, response to throttle input could be improved, resulting in a higher agility especially at lower speed.
The first variant to enter service was the PW1100G for the Airbus A320neo in January 2016. The engine had teething problems after its introduction, extending to grounded aircraft and inflight failures, but this was solved soon afterwards. The Magellan was the first military aircraft to use the new GTF engine type operationally. In the Magellan, the modified engines (designated PW1700M) with only two instead of three low pressure compression stages) provided a thrust of 15.000 lb (67 kN) each, so that the four GTF engines of the Magellan offered a little more thrust than the commercial airliners’ powerplants. In flight and on long-range patrol missions, one pair of engines would frequently be shut down to save fuel and reduce the noise profile even further, and the geared fans could be automatically set at diffefent ratios so that the frequencies generated from one engine would overlay and reduce the noise profile from the other one. This system was usspoed to be so effective that the audio signature of the Magellan would resemble strong wind and not man-made sound.

From the start the Magellan was equipped with many newly developed technologies and features, particularly in terms of its avionics and mission systems. One such key feature was the use of a fly-by-optics flight control system, which essentially replaced standard metal wiring with optical fiber cables. This also had the beneficial effect of decreasing electro-magnetic disturbances to the sensors on-board in comparison to more common fly-by-wire control systems, and it also helped to make the Magellan harder to detect from the outside.
The Magellan was equipped with various sensors to enable the aircraft to perform its primary purpose of maritime patrol and detecting submarines and surface vessels; these include the AMPaR active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar from Cassidian, a Airbus Defence and Space subsidiary, which used an array consisting of three separate antennas mounted under a mutual nose radome to provide 240-degree coverage at a range of more than 450 km (280 mi). All antennae together consisted of more than 3000 very small transmitter/receiver elements that divided the azimuth range into three overlapping 90° sectors. They could examine their sectors simultaneously and could also simultaneously track many maritime and aviation targets within each sector. The number of targets that can be tracked automatically is 1,000 and the number of targets that can be combated at the same time is around 60. AMPaR (Airborne Maritime Patrol Radar) was able to track surface vessels at sea at a range of 300 km (186 mi) while high-flying aircraft of fighter size could automatically be tracked at >250 km (150 mi). Even sea-skimming missiles could be detected and tracked at >25 km (15 mi). The data obtained is passed on to a command and weapon deployment system. The ASEA radar was furthermore supplemented by an Infrared/Light sensor array with an integrated laser range finder and target designator for surface detection, which allowed passive observation and tracking as well as target illumination for guided weapons, either deployed by the Magellan itself or from another carrier.
Further mission sensors included a magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) embedded into the aircraft's tail (where it replaced the airliner’s APU, which was re-located into the left-wing root area, while a heat exchanger was mounted on the right). Sophisticated acoustic systems were also added for this purpose. Another novelty was the integration of an artificial intelligence (AI) system that directed the TACCO operator to the optimal flight course to track or attack a submarine.

Behind the cockpit, the cabin was separated into three sections, consisting of the ASW operators’ section with workstations and observer places, a rest and general storage area with a small kitchen and four bunk beds for crews working in shifts on long-term missions, and a final section for 5” sonobuoy storage and their manual deployment through a total of four two release shafts, connected with the cabin through air locks. Vertical and oblique cameras were mounted together with the sonobuoy shafts in the lower fuselage and accessible from the cabin through hatches in the floor. The two rear sections could optionally be combined and re-arranged to make room for eventual transport duties, and seats could be installed, too to offer space for up to 28 passengers.
Under the cabin floor, two separate unpressurized bomb bays, one in front of and the other behind the wings, housed the bulk of the aircraft's ASW munitions. The bomb bay was supplemented by a total of eight external hardpoints, two pairs under the inner and outer wings each. Weapons available on the Magellan included torpedoes, mines, and depth charges internally. Air-to-surface missiles (including AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, AGM-65 Maverick ASMs and AGM-88 HARM anti-radar missiles), air-to-air missiles (AIM-9 Sidewinder or Iris-T) for self-defense, ECM and chaff/flare dispenser pods, or bombs, including laser-guided precision weapons, were typically carried on the wing pylons externally. The sonobuoy shafts were located behind the rear bomb bay and not connected with it.
Armaments and their deployment were managed by a stores management system, which included a newly developed Universal Stores Control Unit (USCU) capable of accommodating hundreds of different munitions, including future ones and precision weapons. Multiple radar warning receivers provided all-round awareness of missile threats, which were combined with a defensive countermeasure suite. Additional fuel tanks were integrated into the fuselage, too, which extended the A318’s typical airliner range from 5.740 km (3,100 nmi) to 8.000 km (5,000 mi), making patrol missions of 18 hours and more possible without need to refuel.

In June 2007, Airbus rolled out the Magellan prototype (coded 60+10, later re-designated 98+70 and handed over to WTD 71 in Eckernförde for further development work), converted from an existing civil airliner airframe, and now official designated A318 MPA (“Maritime Patrol Aircraft”) to mark the aircraft’s heritage and role. The rollout had been delayed for three months due to the discovery of defective rivets which required remedial repairs to be performed. On 28 September 2007, the Magellan conducted its maiden flight from Hamburg Finkenwerder, where the civil A318 airliners were finally assembled, too; this lasted one hour and ended successfully.

On 31 August 2007, Airbus announced that they would produce four Magellan production airframes for the Bundesluftwaffe, with an option for four more aircraft, with a unit price of US$ 141.5 million for each aircraft and to be delivered in 2012. At that time Airbus officials claimed that the Magellan was a more capable, albeit more expensive, aircraft than the Boeing P-8 Poseidon; in comparison to the P-8, the Magellan had a greater range, a larger bomb bay, and had been optimized for the maritime patrol mission. Beyond Germany, Norway (4 aircraft), Spain (6) and Taiwan (3, with an option for 3 more) also procured the Magellan. Argentina and Chile also showed interest in the type.

Due to development and budgetary problems the delivery of the A318 MPA to the Marineflieger was delayed several times, and the anticipated maintenance problems with the former Dutch P-3Cs in German service escalated. At the end of 2016, the magazine Der Spiegel reported that none of the aircraft were operational as of September 30, 2016, and that one of the aircraft had only completed two and a half hours of flight in 10 years. Total costs could no longer be calculated, and as a result, soon not a single German P-3 was operational for at least several weeks. The situation became so severe that the German Ministry of Defense considered to lease five Boeing P-8A Poseidon as another interim solution, but in late 2019 the first Magellan Airbus was introduced to the re-established MFG 1, which had operated Tornado IDS’ in the maritime strike and reconnaissance role until 1993. At the time of their operational introduction the aircraft had already been updated: SIGINT equipment had been added (outwardly recognizable through slender wingtip pods and an extended spinal fairing in front of the fin) to survey and record radio communication. In this configuration the aircraft were officially designated A318 MPA Phase II.

However, instead of the MFG 1’s former base Jagel the unit now was located at Nordholz, where the P-3 facilities were used to operate the similar-sized A318 MPAs. Operations started only slowly, though, and during early exercises and NATO deployments to Lithuania the first two A318 MPAs (60+11 and 12) reportedly suffered radar, sensor integration, and data transfer problems, leading to more testing. 1./MFG 1 only received full operational status with its four planned initial aircraft in early 2022, and a second squadron with four more aircraft will probably only become operational with MFG 1 in 2027.

[b][u]General characteristics:[/u][/b]

Flight crew: 3

Mission crew: 8 (but operationally up to 12 with working in shifts on long-range missions)

Length: 36,52 m (118 ft 9 in) overall

Wingspan: 33,98 m (111 ft 3¾ in)

Wing area: 122.4 m² (1,318 sq ft)

Wing sweepback: 25°

Tail height: 12,24 m (40 ft 1 in)

Operating empty weight: 44.100 kg (97,100 lb)

Maximum zero-fuel weight (MZFW): 59.100 kg (130,200 lb)

Maximum landing weight (MLW): 62.100 kg (136,800 lb)

Maximum take-off weight (MTOW): 79,700 kg (175,708 lb)

[u]Powerplant[/u]:

4× Pratt & Whitney PW1700M high-bypass geared turbofan engines, 67 kN (15,000 lbf) thrust each

[u]Performance:[/u]

Maximum speed: 996 km/h (619 mph, 538 kn)

Cruise speed: 833 km/h (518 mph, 450 kn)

Range: 8,000 km (5,000 mi, 4,300 nmi)

Combat radius: 2,500 km (1,600 mi, 1,300 nmi) with 4 hours on station for anti-submarine warfare

Service ceiling: 13,520 m (44,360 ft)

[u]Armament:[/u]

2 internal bomb bays with a total of eight stations,

8 external underwing pylons

Total capacity of 9,000 kg (19,842 lb) for torpedoes, mines, depth charges, various

air-to-surface missiles (ASMs), or bombs, plus short-range AAMs for self-defense

[b]The kit and its assembly:[/b]

This fictional Airbus ASW aircraft was spawned by the Kawasaki P-1, an indigenous Japanese P-3 replacement with an unusual four-engine propulsion on a relatively small airframe. I envisioned a European alternative, inspired by the sad state of the Dutch P-3s in German duty – and that made a converted Airbus airframe a natural choice. I eventually settled for the smallest type, the A318, also because it had similar dimensions as the Japanese P-1 and procured an Eastern Express kit when I stumbled upon a priceworthy offer.

As a side information: there were real plans for an A319 ASW derivative, but this build here is unrelated (found out about it much later, after I started work on my model) and only shares the “MPA” suffix. I was not able to find any detail info about it, though.

The alternative/extra engines for my A 318 MPA turned out to be a major challenge. My initial plan to use the four nacelles with pylons from a 1:144 Revell WhiteKnight Two/SpaceShip Two kit set came to naught when I realized that these would be much too small for the A318 airframe. They eventually went into a BAe 146ish conversion of a DC-9 airframe with shoulder-mounted wings that I build a couple of weeks ago, where they looked fine. But the Magellan would require something more substantial, and finding a suitable and affordable alternative took some time and legwork. I eventually found aftermarket engine nacelles from Skyline Models for a 1:200 Hasegawa Boeing 747-200/300, made from IP with resin exhausts. They offered IMHO a good size and shape compromise, with a good level of detail for 1:144, and the quartet was affordable, too, because I did not want to buy a donor kit just for the engines. However, even though the pods look nice and have fine surface details, they do not go together at all: you have either to sand the fan discs into an unnatural oval shape or you have to bridge a massive 1 mm(!) gap on the underside when you force the halves together. The resin tail cones themselves are crisp and look very good, but they do hardly fit into the fan shroud and the pylons’ shape doesn’t match up with then, either. Fits well in style with the A318 kit, though… Did I mention that the Eastern Express A318 kit is a PITA? It has quite nice surface detail, but the bigger the parts the less they go together. Esp. the wing and fuselage halves were a TOTAL mess, the latter could only be closed through force and combining the hull with the wing halves, which have a weird construction on the lower hull – the mold layout was chosen to allow proper detail to be added around the main landing gear wells, but building this is a horror, was a nightmare, with poor fit, massive gaps and dislocations of up to 1 mm!

Talking about trouble: mounting the wacky 747 pods under the Airbus’ wings required even more hardware mods on top of the basic fit problems. The inner pair of engines went closer to the fuselage, to make more space for the outer pair, even though they ended up pretty close to the main landing gear. The A318’s original attachment points under the wings were PSRed away and the inner pair of donor pods was mounted onto the inner flap mechanism fairings. Their pylons had to be modified accordingly, though. The outer pair was mounted at about half distance from the inner engines and the wing tips. Their pylons had to be shortened, due to the low wing depth. Outside of them I added weapon stations from a Dragon 1:144 Tornado IDS, which also provided AGM-88 HARMs and Sidewinders as suitable ordnance.

The rest of modifications were more of a cosmetic kind. The biggest change was a bigger, more bulbous nose radome for the surveillance radar; in this case I used a leftover nose section from an Airfix 1:72 D.H. Venom trainer, mounted and PSRed over the Airbus’s original nose. Not a big modification, but the different nose profile changes the Airbus‘ look significantly to something P-3ish, and it resembled the Japanese P-1 a lot now.

The windscreen itself, while quite clear, had to be forced into its opening, and due to its poor fit and some gaps I PSRed it over and later used aftermarket decals to create the windscreen. Other graft-ons included a MAD boom carved from sprue material, a dorsal antenna bulge (from an Airfix A-4B kit) behind the cockpit and a pair of optical sensor turrets under the chin, somewhat B-52Gish. Under the lower rear fuselage, I added a pair of bulges for the sonobuoy launch tubes and cameras, leftover optional parts form/for a Heller Saab S32C’s camera nose. Fin and wing tips were slightly clipped, and I added scratched sensor fairings (sprue material), what considerably changes the aircraft’s look away from an airliner, and I also added a low spinal fairing (styrene profile) at the fin’s base. Finally, some blade antennae made from 0.5mm styrene sheet were mounted around the hull and small scoops for the relocated APU and heat exchangers were added.

[b]Painting and markings:[/b]

As usual, a tricky choice. The German P-3Cs did not carry a special camouflage – they simply retained the former Dutch Navy livery in all-over Light Gull Grey (FS 36440), which I found too boring to apply on the whiffy ASW Airbus. Due to the aircraft’s sheer size, I refrained from a tactical paint scheme like the rather murky three-tone wraparound Norm ’87 scheme from the Marineflieger Tornados or any of its (though interesting) development patterns or derivatives. Instead, I rather took inspiration from the Luftwaffe’s MedEvac/MRT Airbus A310s, which were painted RAL 7001 (Silbergrau, Revell 374) overall. This shade of grey comes close to FS 36375 but is colder.

For an aircraft that would not only operate at high altitude and to conceal it from above I found a uniform RAL 7001 livery too bright, so that I decided to paint the upper surfaces in a slightly darker tone, RAL 7000 (Fehgrau, Revell 57), which is, as a coincidence, the tone of most Bundesmarine surface vessels’ superstructures since 1956: a cold blue-grey tone somewhere between FS 36320 and 35237. Together with a straight and low waterline this resulted in a rather low-viz-ish livery, augmented by relatively few and small markings and stencils.

The landing gear was painted white, the walkway/Corroguard areas on the wings received a slightly different shade of grey (RAL 7005 Mausgrau, Revell 47) than the basic camouflage, and I added a slightly darker anti-glare panel (RAL 7012, Basaltgrau, Revell 77) in front of the windscreen. The nose radome and other di-electric fairings were painted in a yet another slightly brownish shade of grey (RAL 7030, Steingrau, Revell 75), to create some more variety. Some light post-panel shading was done, and to emphasize the engraved panel lines I also applied a light black ink washing.

Windscreen, windows, and doors were created with decals, partly aftermarket, partly OOB. The cabin windows’ number was reduced to reflect the aircraft’s dedicated military role. Tactical markings were few and rather lustreless. German markings and codes were procured from appropriate generic material from TL Modellbau and Peddinghaus Decals, the small MFG 1 badges came from an Italeri Marineflieger Tornado kit (with subdued Norm ’87 markings). Stencils and walkway markings on the wings came from the OOB sheet.

Finally, everything was sealed with matt acrylic varnish from a rattle can, with a light sheen instead of pure matt.

The result looks simple in its all-grey livery but getting there – esp. with the poor-fitting Eastern Express Airbus A318 as basis and the even worse donor engines – was a long and tough fight. But despite the troubles, the model of this fictional Kawasaki P-1 alternative from Europe looks pretty convincing and the four-engine layout worked well, despite the relatively compact airframe.

´

Tuberous Begonia by Bill Barber

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From my set entitled “Tuberous Begonia”

www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/sets/72157607213634242/

In my collection entitled “The Garden”

www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/collections/7215760718...

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Begonia is a genus in the flowering plant family Begoniaceae. The only other member of the family Begoniaceae is Hillebrandia, a genus with a single species in the Hawaiian Islands. The genus Symbegonia is now included in Begonia. "Begonia" is the common name as well as the generic name for all members of the genus.

With ca. 1500+ species, Begonia is one of the ten largest angiosperm genera. The species are terrestrial (sometimes epiphytic) herbs or undershrubs and occur in subtropical and tropical moist climates, in South and Central America, Africa and southern Asia. Terrestrial species in the wild are commonly upright-stemmed, rhizomatous, or tuberous. The plants are monoecious, with unisexual male and female flowers occurring separately on the same plant, the male containing numerous stamens, the female having a large inferior ovary and two to four branched or twisted stigmas. In most species the fruit is a winged capsule containing numerous minute seeds, although baccate fruits are also known. The leaves, which are often large and variously marked or variegated, are usually asymmetric (unequal-sided).

Because of their sometimes showy flowers of white, pink, scarlet or yellow color and often attractively marked leaves, many species and innumerable hybrids and cultivars are cultivated. The genus is unusual in that species throughout the genus, even those coming from different continents, can frequently be hybridized with each other, and this has led to an enormous number of cultivars. The American Begonia Society classifies begonias into several major groups: cane-like, shrub-like, tuberous, rhizomatous, semperflorens, rex, trailing-scandent, or thick-stemmed. For the most part these groups do not correspond to any formal taxonomic groupings or phylogeny and many species and hybrids have characteristics of more than one group, or fit well into none of them.

The genus name honors Michel Bégon, a French patron of botany.

The different groups of begonias have different cultural requirements but most species come from tropical regions and therefore they and their hybrids require warm temperatures. Most are forest understory plants and require bright shade; few will tolerate full sun, especially in warmer climates. In general, begonias require a well-drained growing medium that is neither constantly wet nor allowed to dry out completely. Many begonias will grow and flower year-round but tuberous begonias usually have a dormant period, during which the tubers can be stored in a cool and dry place.

Begonias of the semperflorens group are frequently grown as bedding plants outdoors. A recent group of hybrids derived from this group is marketed as "Dragonwing Begonias"; they are much larger both in leaf and in flower. Tuberous begonias are frequently used as container plants. Although most Begonia species are tropical or subtropical in origin, the Chinese species B. grandis is hardy to USDA hardiness zone 6 and is commonly known as the "hardy begonia". Most begonias can be grown outdoors year-round in subtropical or tropical climates, but in temperate climates begonias are grown outdoors as annuals, or as house or greenhouse plants.

Most begonias are easily propagated by division or from stem cuttings. In addition, many can be propagated from leaf cuttings or even sections of leaves, particularly the members of the rhizomatous and rex groups.

The cultivar Kimjongilia is a floral emblem of North Korea.

Inauguration of the ‘Mirrored Painting’ by ESA_events

The inauguration of the ‘Mirrored Painting’ by Italian artist Michelangelo Pistoletto, entitled 'Ritratto di Paolo Nespoli - Astronauta, Missione VITA', took place on 28 March 2018 at ESRIN, ESA’s centre for Earth observation in Frascati, Italy, as the climax of a joint initiative and a permanent symbol of the important link between space and art. The event hosted by the Head of ESA ESRIN and ESA's Director of Earth Observation Programmes Josef Aschbacher, was attended by ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli, Michelangelo Pistoletto, ASI representative Fabrizio Zucchini and RAM radiartemobile representatives Dora Stiefelmeier and Mario Pieroni.

This original piece of art, created by famous artist Michelangelo Pistoletto who is known as one of the founding fathers of the Italian Arte Povera contemporary art movement, features a full-scale representation of ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli. For Paolo’s VITA mission, ESA and ASI developed original ‘space and art’ initiatives as part of the communication activities to actively involve wider audiences. This began with Pistoletto’s development with ESA of the official patch for Paolo’s mission, which includes the artist’s symbol of his Third Paradise concept in the artwork.

A natural continuation of this cooperation was the ‘SPAC3’ app, which allowed users to select and combine Paolo’s images from space with their own photos. This activity was intended to draw attention to the wellbeing of our planet, and was inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. These provided the basis for Paolo’s choice of photos, and the app users could respond with their own photos on the same theme.

As a social artwork project, SPAC3 demonstrated that the two worlds of art and science can work together with the common objective of highlighting issues affecting our planet, and showed how involving a wider public could contribute to the vision and become part of this collective work. This joint initiative was made possible via a partnership between ESA and RAM radioartemobile, in cooperation with ASI and Cittadellarte-Fondazione Pistoletto.

Photos: ESA – M. Valentini

Cranesbill and Sumac by Bill Barber

From my set entitled ‘Sumac”

www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/sets/72157607186471302/

In my collection entitled “The Garden”

www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/collections/7215760718...

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumac

Sumac (also spelled sumach) is any one of approximately 250 species of flowering plants in the genus Rhus and related genera, in the family Anacardiaceae. The dried berries of some species are ground to produce a tangy purple spice often used in juice.

Sumacs grow in subtropical and warm temperate regions throughout the world, especially in North America.

Sumacs are shrubs and small trees that can reach a height of 1-10 meters. The leaves are spirally arranged; they are usually pinnately compound, though some species have trifoliate or simple leaves. The flowers are in dense panicles or spikes 5-30 cm long, each flower very small, greenish, creamy white or red, with five petals. The fruits form dense clusters of reddish drupes called sumac bobs.

Sumacs propagate both by seed (spread by birds and other animals through their droppings), and by new sprouts from rhizomes, forming large clonal colonies.

The drupes of the genus Rhus are ground into a deep-red or purple powder used as a spice in Middle Eastern cuisine to add a lemony taste to salads or meat; in the Turkish cuisine e.g. added to salad-servings of kebabs and lahmacun. In North America, the smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), and the staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina), are sometimes used to make a beverage, termed "sumac-ade" or "Indian lemonade" or "rhus juice". This drink is made by soaking the drupes in cool water, rubbing them to extract the essence, straining the liquid through a cotton cloth and sweetening it. Native Americans also used the leaves and berries of the smooth and staghorn sumacs combined with tobacco in traditional smoking mixtures.

Species including the fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica), the littleleaf sumac (R. microphylla), the skunkbush sumac (R. trilobata), the smooth sumac and the staghorn sumac are grown for ornament, either as the wild types or as cultivars.

The leaves of certain sumacs yield tannin (mostly pyrogallol), a substance used in vegetable tanning. Leather tanned with sumac is flexible, light in weight, and light in color, even bordering on being white.

Dried sumac wood is fluorescent under long-wave UV light. Mowing of sumac is not a good control measure as the wood is springy resulting in jagged, sharp pointed stumps when mowed. The plant will quickly recover with new growth after mowing. See Nebraska Extension Service publication G97-1319 for suggestions as to control.

At times Rhus has held over 250 species. Recent molecular phylogeny research suggests breaking Rhus sensu lata into Actinocheita, Baronia, Cotinus, Malosma, Searsia, Toxicodendron, and Rhus sensu stricta. If this is done, about 35 species would remain in Rhus. However, the data is not yet clear enough to settle the proper placement of all species into these genera.

From my set entitled “Cranesbill”

www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/sets/72157607214202240/

In my collection entitled “The Garden”

www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/collections/7215760718...

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geranium

Geranium is a genus of 422 species of flowering annual, biennial, and perennial plants that are commonly known as the cranesbills. It is found throughout the temperate regions of the world and the mountains of the tropics, but mostly in the eastern part of the Mediterranean region. These attractive flowers will grow in any soil as long as it is not waterlogged. Propagation is by semi-ripe cuttings in summer, by seed or by division in autumn or spring.

The species Geranium viscosissimum is considered to be protocarnivorous.

The name "cranesbill" derives from the appearance of the seed-heads, which have the same shape as the bill of a crane. The genus name is derived from the Greek γέρανος, géranos, or γερανός, geranós, crane. The long, palmately cleft leaves are broadly circular in form. Their rose, pink to blue or white flowers have 5 petals.

Cranesbills are eaten by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Brown-tail and Mouse Moth.

Confusingly, "geranium" is also the common name of members of the genus Pelargonium, which were formerly classified in the cranesbill genus. In the United States, true Geraniums are frequently distinguished from the less hardy Pelargoniums as (rather redundantly) "hardy geraniums" by gardeners and in the horticultural trade. One can make the distinction between the two by looking at the flowers: Geranium has symmetrical flowers, while Pelargonium has irregular or maculate petals. Other former members of the genus are now classified in genus Erodium, including the plants known as filarees in North America.

Help by Siddharth Setia

At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done.

We will be judged by "I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in. ― Mother Teresa

I was out on the streets of Delhi when I saw this unfortunate man in the middle of a very busy shopping area. There is almost a dignity to his stillness. It is sad and humbling the way he is simply asking for help without any sense of entitlement.

www.facebook.com/SiddharthSetiaPhotography

Trailing Geranium (Pelargonium) by Bill Barber

3 2

Seen in my set entitled ‘Pelargoniums’

www.flickr.com/photos/organize/?start_tab=one_set72157607...

Within my collection entitled ‘The Garden’

www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/collections/7215760718...

Pelargonium (Wikipeida)

Pelargonium is a genus of flowering plants which includes about 200 species of perennial, succulent, and shrub plants, commonly known as geraniums. Confusingly, Geranium is the correct botanical name of the separate genus which contains the related Cranesbills. Both genera are in the Family Geraniaceae. Linnaeus originally included all the species in one genus, Geranium, but they were later separated into two genera by Charles L’Héritier in 1789. Gardeners sometimes refer to the members of Genus Pelargonium as "pelargoniums" in order to avoid the confusion, but the older common name "geranium" is still in regular use.

The first species of Pelargonium known to be cultivated was Pelargonium triste, a native of South Africa. It was probably brought to the botanical garden in Leiden before 1600 on ships which stopped at the Cape of Good Hope. In 1631, the English gardener, John Tradescant the elder, bought seeds from Rene Morin in Paris and introduced the plant to England. The name Pelargonium was introduced by Johannes Burman in 1738, from Greek πελαργός pelargos = "stork", because part of the flower looked like a stork's beak.

Other than grown for their beauty, species of Pelargonium such as P. graveolens are important in the perfume industry and are cultivated and distilled for its scent. Although scented Pelargonium exist which have smells of citrus, mint, or various fruits, the varieties with rose scents are most commercially important. Pelargonium distillates and absolutes, commonly known as "scented geranium oil" are sometimes used to supplement or adulterate expensive rose oils.

Pelargonium species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Angle Shades.

Pelargoniums are believed to deter mosquitoes.

Garden geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum; syn. Pelargonium zonale) is one of the most common ornamental potted-plants, with over 200 varieties.

In 1988 the flower was described and illustrated in a comprehensive 3-volume work Pelargoniums of Southern Africa by Ellaphie Ward-Hilhorst with van der Walt and Vorster.

Cultivars

Species of Pelargonium are indigenous to Southern Africa and are drought and heat tolerant, and can tolerate only minor frosts. Pelargoniums are extremely popular garden plants, grown as annuals in temperate climates, and thousands of ornamental cultivars have been developed from about 20 of the species.

Zonal varieties, also known as P. × hortorum, are mainly derived from P. zonale and P. inquinans.

Ivy-leaved varieties are mainly derived from P. peltatum.

Regal varieties, also known as French geraniums or P. × domesticum are mainly derived from P. cucullatum and P. grandiflorum.

Scented-leaf varieties are derived from a great number of species, amongst others P. graveolens.

Structural variations

Pelargonium leaves are usually alternate, and palmately lobed or pinnate, often on long stalks, and sometimes with light or dark patterns. The erect stems bear five-petaled flowers in umbel-like clusters called pseudoumbels. The shapes of the flowers have been bred to a variety ranging star-shaped to funnel-shaped, and colors include white, pink, red, orange-red, fuchsia to deep purple.

In early 2006 a long-awaited yellow-flowered variety was launched. Called the Guernsey Flair, it was supplied exclusively to the television shopping channel QVC in the UK, and all available plants were sold within a few minutes. See photo of yellow geranium. The flower has a much yellower hue than the cream-colored varieties which some developers had called yellow previously.

Horticultural pelargoniums (as opposed to botanical, the wild 'species') fall into six major groups, with zonals subdivided further:

Angel

Ivy-leaved = hanging

Regal (or Royal) = French

Shrubby-leaved

Unique

Zonal - erect and bushy

Cactus-flowered

Deacon (mostly dwarfs, cf. infra)

Double-flowered

Fancy-leaved

Formosum hybrid

Rosebud

Tulip-flowered

Single-flowered

Stellar

Straight Zonals

It is also usual to classify small Zonals alternatively by size or odorous excellence :

Dwarfs (small)

Miniatures (even smaller)

Parfum-leaved

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelargonium

Science Camp at BID-Needham by Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Needham

This summer, the Needham Community Education course entitled "An Inside Look at the Medical Profession" invites students to get a front row view of the medical world at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Needham. Students learn in a classroom setting from BID-Needham's medical professionals before spending significant time in the hospital, learning and discovering in all areas, from the Operating Room to the Radiology Lab. For more information on the course, contact akence@bidneedham.org.

Fuschia Suspended From Mulberry by Bill Barber

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From my set entitled “Fuchsia”

www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/sets/72157607217665417/

In my collection entitled “The Garden”

www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/collections/7215760718...

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuchsia

Fuchsia is a genus of flowering plants, mostly shrubs and can grow long shoots, which were identified by Charles Plumier in the late-17th century, and named by Plumier in 1703 after the German botanist Leonhart Fuchs (1501–1566).[1] The English vernacular name Fuchsia is the same as the scientific name.

There are about 100–110 species of Fuchsia. The great majority are native to South America, but with a few occurring north through Central America to Mexico, and also several from New Zealand, and Tahiti. One species, Fuchsia magellanica, extends as far as the southern tip of South America occurring on Tierra del Fuego in the cool temperate zone, but the majority are tropical or subtropical. Most fuchsias are shrubs from 0.2–4 m (8 in-13 ft) tall, but one New Zealand species, Kotukutuku (Fuchsia excorticata), is unusual in the genus in being a tree, growing up to 12–15 m (39-49 ft) tall.

Fuchsia leaves are opposite or in whorls of 3–5, simple lanceolate and usually have serrated margins (entire in some species), 1–25 cm long, and can be either deciduous or evergreen depending on the species. The flowers are very decorative pendulous "eardrop" shape, borne in profusion throughout the summer and autumn, and all year in tropical species. They have four long, slender, sepals and four shorter, broader, petals; in many species the sepals are bright red and the petals purple (colours that attract the hummingbirds that pollinate them), but the colours can vary from white to dark red, purple-blue, and orange. A few have yellowish tones, and recent hybrids have added the color white in various combinations. The ovary is inferior and the fruit is a small (5–25 mm) dark reddish green, deep red, or deep purple, edible epigynous berry containing numerous very small seeds. Many people describe the fruit as having a subtle grape flavor spiced with black pepper.

Fuchsias are popular garden shrubs, and once planted will give years of pleasure for minimal amount of care. The British Fuchsia Society maintain a list of "hardy" fuchsias that have been proven to survive a number of winters throughout Britain and to be back in flower each year by July. Enthusiasts report that hundreds and even thousands of hybrids survive and prosper throughout the British Isles.

Fuchsias from sections Quelusia (F. magellanica and variants, F. regia, etc), encliandra (some encliandra hybrids flower continuously), Skinnera (F. excorticata, F. perscandens) and Procumbentes (F. procumbens is suitable as a groundcover) are proven to be hardy in widespread areas of Britain. Some temperate species will survive outdoors in the temperate areas, though may not always flower in the average British summer.

While the original pronunciation from the word's German origin is "fook-sya" /ˈfʊksja/, most English speakers tend to say "fyew'sha" /ˈfjuːʃə/. As a result, the word is often subjected to misspellings such as "fushcia" or "fuschia". In English, the other accepted pronunciation is "fyewk'see-ah", which is somewhat truer to the word's origin.

Among horticultural writers the fuchsia is jocularly referred to as "the world's most carefully spelled flower," a label which was apparently first given to it by Jimmy Barnes

Leonhart Fuchs was born in 1501. He occupied the chair of Medicine at the Tübingen University from the age of 34 until his death, on the 10th May 1566. Besides his medical knowledge, according to his record of activities which was extensive for the time, he studied plants. This was natural, for most of the remedies of the time were herbal and the two subjects were often inseparable.

In the course of his career Fuchs wrote De Historia Stirpium, which was published in 1542. In honour of Fuchs' work the fuchsia received its name shortly before 1703 by Charles Plumier. It was Plumier who compiled his Nova Plantarum Americanum, which was published in Paris in 1703, based on the results of his plant-finding trip to America in search of new genera.

The fuchsia was in England in the 18th century when Plumier took some seeds there after his expedition. The species he took was Fuchsia triphylla flore coccinea where specimens appeared in France. This may account for its reference under the name of "Thiles" in the Journal des Observations Botaniquesin 1725. Thiles was the name by which the plant was known in southern Chile where Plumier discovered it.

Professor Philip Munz, in his A Revision of the Genus Fuchsia, 1793 says, however, that the fuchsia was first introduced into England by a sailor who grew it in a window where it was observed by a nurseryman from Hammersmith, a Mr. Lee, who succeeded in buying it and propagating it for the trade. This was one of the short tubed species such as magellanica or coccinea.

This report is further embellished in various publications where Captain Firth, a sailor, brought the plant back to England from one of his trips to his home in Hammersmith where he gave it to his wife. Later on James Lee of St. Johns Wood, nurseryman and an astute businessman, heard of the plant and purchased it for £80. He then propagated as many as possible and sold them to the trade for prices ranging from £10 to £20 each.

In the Floricultural Cabinet, 1855, there is a report which varies slightly from the above. Here it says that F. coccinea was given to Kew Garden in 1788 by Captain Firth and that Lee acquired it from Kew.

By this time plant-collecting fever had spread and many species of numerous genera were introduced to England, some living plants, others as seed. The following plants were recorded at Kew: F. lycioides, 1796; F. arborescens, 1824; F. microphylla, 1827; F. fulgens, 1830; F. corymbiflora, 1840; and F. apetala, F. decussata, F. dependens and F. serratifolia in 1843 and 1844, the last four species attributable to Messrs. Veitch of Exeter.

With the increasing numbers of differing species in England plant breeders began to immediately develop hybrids to develop more desirable garden plants. The first recorded experiments date to 1825 as F. arborescens Χ F. macrostemma and F. arborescens X F. coccinea where the quality of the resultant plants was unrecorded.

Between 1835 and 1850 there was a tremendous influx to England of both hybrids and varieties, the majority of which have been lost.

In 1848 Monsieur Felix Porcher published the second edition of his book Le Fuchsia son Histoire et sa Culture. This described 520 species. In 1871 in later editions of M. Porchers book reference is made to James Lye who was to become famous as a breeder of fuchsias in England. In 1883 the first book of English fuchsias was published.

Between 1900 and 1914 many of the famous varieties were produced which were grown extensively for Covent Garden market by many growers just outside London. During the period between the world wars, fuchsia-growing slowed down as efforts were made toward crop production until after 1949, where plant and hybrid production resumed on a large scale.[3]

The Barbers' Garden: Peony Bud by Bill Barber

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