Also known as the Little Banded Goshawk, this is a ferocious raptor that attacks birds in their nests and deep inside canopy. The birds are patient and will wait for the right moment to strike. Often they attack the chicks in the nests, or even the parents. The birds are common in the countryside and seen a lot, but hard to get a decent shot.

On this day, I sighted this bird pulling out worms from the ground - something that I found very surprising and was new to me. But apparently, its a normal behaviour. The worms are coming out of the soil and we sighted 2 Shikras on the ground pulling them out and consuming them. This happened for over 30 mins, but the bird moved further and further away soon due to our presence.

Thanks in advance for your views and feedback Much appreciated.

Known as Kindig-It-Design Dave Kindig is a master at high end automobile customization. He is on Motortrend TV as "Bitchin' Rides". This Buick is one of my favorite cars that he has done. Based in Salt Lake City I loved visiting his booth at the Autorama Shows and seeing his beautiful work first hand.

Leech Lake is known in the fishing world as a walleye factory for all the walleyes produced in its depths year after year and is arguably one of the best places in the world to catch a walleye. Many Minnesota residents fish for nothing else since their fillets taste so fantastic. My son released this trophy walleye so she can lay many more eggs next spring, though we ate walleye fillets from smaller fish we caught every night we were up north. Lucky for me that my sons are fantastic chefs and all I had to do was enjoy their cooking.

Drosanthemum floribundum, commonly known as rodondo creeper or dew-flower, is a succulent plant in the ice plant family, Aizoaceae. The species is native to the Eastern Cape in South Africa and is naturalised in Portugal and the states of South Australia, Western Australia, and Victoria in Australia, as well as Pacific Grove, California. It is a trailing perennial with hairy stems and leaves that are either cylindrical or triangular in cross section. These are between 3 and 15 mm in length and 1 to 2.5 mm in width. Flowers are up to 2.5 cm in diameter and are lavender, pink or occasionally white. 29365

A Red Kite, scientifically known as Milvus milvus, is a majestic bird of prey that is commonly found in Europe. Its distinctive reddish-brown plumage and forked tail make it a striking sight against a clear blue sky.

In Italian, the Red Kite is commonly known as "Nibbio reale", while in German, it is called "Rotmilan".

As the Red Kite takes to the air, it soars effortlessly on thermal currents, its wingspan reaching up to 1.8 meters. Suddenly, it spots its prey and with lightning-fast reflexes, it dives towards the ground, reaching speeds of up to 80 km/h. The Red Kite's sharp talons and hooked beak make quick work of its prey, typically small mammals and birds.

Watching a Red Kite fling in a blue sky is a truly unforgettable experience, and serves as a testament to the power and beauty of these incredible birds.

Known as 'Cadillac Ranch' these ten Cadillacs are partially buried nose down along US I-40 just west of Amarillo, in the Texas panhandle. Spray painting is encouraged.

Kalamaki, as Kalkan was known in ancient history is thought to have been founded between 150-200 years ago by traders from the Greek Island of Meis, which lies 2 miles off shore from the town of Kas, which is 18 miles from Kalkan.

The success of those early traders encouraged others of both Greek and Turkish origin to settle. Evidence of this can be seen in the similarity in architecture in Meis and Kalkan. Settlement was further stimulated by Kalkan's harbour which was the only safe, hospitable harbour between Fethiye and Kas.

Kalkan Mosque

Kalkan's Mosque, originally a Greek orthodox church is one of Kalkan's earliest buildings and the architecture is very reminiscent of churches that can be seen in the Greek Mediterranean today.

Kalkan people were largely involved in trade. Various produce, including charcoal, silk, cotton, Olive oil, timber, grapes and sesame were brought by camel from the plains of Patara and mountains to be loaded onto ships where goods were taken to other parts of the Ottoman empire such as Egypt, Syria, Cyprus, Rhodes and Lebanon.

The 20th century saw Kalkan prosper with this trade, and history records that in the early 1900's there was a customs House, 17 restaurants, a goldsmith and several tailors at this time.

The 1920's saw the start of changes, with the founding of the Turkish Republic, and population exchange of Greeks and Turks. Greeks who were living in Turkey moved to Greece and Australia, and Turks who were living in Greece moved to Turkey.

In the 1960's a coastal road was completed between Kalkan and the larger towns of Antalya to the East and Fethiye to the West. This new mobility and the opportunities for local people to develop businesses further afield meant that at that time many people left Kalkan.

Bumblebees are known

as easy, efficient and reliable pollinators.

These are the advantages of bumblebees:

Bumblebees provide maximum insurance for optimal pollination, due to their high number of flower visits and large pollen transfer.

Bumblebee pollination results in higher yields, better shaped fruit, quality products and faster ripening of the fruit.

Bumblebees are reliable workers, they work 7 days a week from sunset to sunrise

Bumblebees work well under bad weather conditions and in protected environments

www.koppert.nl/bestuiving-met-hommels/over-hommels/

Also known as Wallace's Standardwing...

Endemic to Northern Moluccas in eastern Indonesia and is the westernmost species of the true birds-of-paradise.

The most difficult capture of my entire life.

We set off from a homestay located near the entrance of Aketajawe-Lolobata National Park park around 5 p.m. and walked about two kilometers along a very difficult trail full of mud. We had to climb over fallen tree trunks and huge, quite sharp volcanic rocks.

We had to cross streams walking on very slippery tree trunks, even more slippery because our sneakers were covered in mud.

We camped relatively close to the place where we were going to photograph and where we had to be at five in the morning.

The tent had no matress and as they had put palm leaves below, to avoid humidity, I believe, we could feel like stones or pits everywhere. Impossible to sleep…

We got up at 3 a.m. and walked in the darkness only with our head lamps, about a quilometre or more along a trail even worse than the previous one.

Then, finally, we reached the base of the tower, which is about 15 meters high, from where we were going to shoot. The vertical wooden ladder was very rudimentary, and the distance between the steps (crossbars...) was half a meter or more... and I had to climb to the third floor.

Besides not being in very good shape, partly due to the two recent hip surgeries and also because I hadn't prepared myself for such an effort, I am a short person and would never be able to climb those stairs without help. So, and now you can laugh, I climbed with the precious help of a nice young ranger who placed my feet step by step and with my friendly guide, Noldi, pushing my but!

I am eternally grateful to them for all the help they gave me that day, especially because the way back was even more difficult, since, due to fatigue, I had barely eaten dinner the night before and, after a sleepless night, I was completely exhausted.

Finally, I reached the top of the tower and, after a few minutes of waiting, the show began. It was not an easy session, with many obstacles between us and our subjects, but we managed to get some photos.

Many thanks to those who managed to reach the end of this tedious narrative.

Many of you, the vast majority, I believe, know well what a nature lover is capable of doing to achieve a goal. But some people have no idea :)

Aketajawe-Lolobata National Park, Halmahera, North Moluccas, Indonesia

Also known as the Western Reef Heron, this is a medium sized heron found on the coasts of India, but very rare in inland water bodies. In Goa where there are coasts and lots of backwaters, we sighted them in plenty.

This particular shot was taken in the Zuari river mangroves where we sighted several exciting birds. The Egret was casually walking in the morning low tide hunting for fish and other crustaceans found on the shallow banks.

Just a couple of meters away, was a large mugger crocodile with its snout barely visible and as the Heron came closer that reptile disappeared. The Reef Heron seemingly oblivious walked pretty close to the Crocodile - 2-3 meters away - and then much to our surprise suddenly flew and landed far away. None of us thought it saw the predator nearby. There was a tinge of disappointment of missing some action, but a lot of satisfaction in seeing the beautiful bird out of danger!

Thank you so much in advance for your views, feedback and faves.

The Nlak’pamux Church, also known as St. Michael and All Angels Anglican Church. c. Early 1900's

Believed to be built sometime between 1905 - 1907

A photographer's favorite.

A small wood framed, Gothic Revival building, it is quite straightforward in design, with a small narthex at the front of the rectangular nave, a small bell tower over the entrance and a small altar extending out the rear. The bell tower is of interesting design, rising out of the gable of the narthex, with a shingled steeple like a little brown helmet, surmounted by a wooden cross. The belfry vents, with gable tops, are open all around, exposing the 26 inch bell which still hangs within. The building is clad entirely in shingles, many of which are now coming adrift, indicating its recent years of inactivity. All openings are rectangular, lacking Gothic arches, doubtless concessions to economics and the need to complete the church in a timely fashion.

Spences Bridge is a community in the Canadian province of British Columbia, situated 35 km north east of Lytton and 44 km south of Ashcroft. In 1892, the population included 32 people of European ancestry and 130 First Nations people. There were five general stores, three hotels, one Church of England and one school. Wikipedia

Thank-you for all the overwhelming support and many friendships.

Stay Healthy

~Christie

*Best experienced in full screen

Kaba volcano (locally known as Bukit Kaba), a beautiful and natural panorama with moderate temperature, has a number of visitors from domestic and foreign tourists who love trekking or mountain climbing to catch a view of a unique and spectacular sulfuric crater. Read more about Kaba volcano at my blog virtualadrian.blogspot.com/2013/03/bukit-kaba-beautiful-v...

Location: Rejang Lebong distric, Bengkulu Province, Indonesia

#bukitkaba #gunungkaba #crater #LetsGuide

The Black Cat Island lm. maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Black%20Cat%20Island/153/1...

Also known as the spreadwing as it belongs to a group of damsels which mostly perch with their wings open like a true dragonfly, rather than held closed along the length of the abdomen like most other damsels.

Their metallic green casings make them unlikely to be confused with any other species (in our region at least), the only other metallic green damsel being the female Banded Demoiselle, but colour is the only thing they have in common, the demoiselles are obviously bigger, longer legged, are green in their entirety and the wings are very large in comparison and tinted green, plus they are usually only found on rivers, emeralds very rarely are.

The last of the damsels to emerge, they aren't usually seen until July, and will be the only damsel remaining in late season, lasting through September.

The Yonghe Temple Palace of Peace and Harmony, also known as the Yonghe Lamasery, or popularly as the Lama Temple, is a temple and monastery of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism located on 12 Yonghegong Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China. The building and artwork of the temple is a combination of Han Chinese and Tibetan styles. This building is one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in China proper. The current abbot is Lama Hu Xuefeng. Building work on the Yonghe Temple started in 1694 during the Qing dynasty on the site where originally stood an official residence for court eunuchs of the Ming dynasty. After the Chinese Civil War ended in 1949, the temple was declared a national monument and closed for the following 32 years. It is said to have survived the Cultural Revolution due to the intervention of Premier Zhou Enlai. Reopened to the public in 1981, it is today both a functioning temple and highly popular tourist attraction in the city. 1681

Lincoln Ne ~ Iron Horse Legacy ~ Brick mural sculpture ~ Haymarket Park ~ Film 90's

Haymarket Park.

Jay Tschetteris a well-known sculptor not only in Lincoln but also in Nebraska, and the United States. Some of Jay's work includes the well-known Iron Horse Legacy in Historical Haymarket Square in Lincoln; (17' X 40" color brick mural), 164

Known as the Gray Ghost...and it really is a ghost ..lol

Thank you very much for your kind comments, favorites and looking and please stay safe !

Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus (M)

(Double click)

The common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It is also known as the European kestrel, Eurasian kestrel, or Old World kestrel. In Britain, where no other kestrel species occurs, it is generally just called "the kestrel".

This species occurs over a large range. It is widespread in Europe, Asia, and Africa, as well as occasionally reaching the east coast of North America.

Kestrels can hover in still air, even indoors in barns. Because they face towards any slight wind when hovering, the common kestrel is called a "windhover" in some areas.

Unusual for falcons, plumage often differs between male and female, although as is usual with monogamous raptors the female is slightly larger than the male. This allows a pair to fill different feeding niches over their home range. Kestrels are bold and have adapted well to human encroachment, nesting in buildings and hunting by major roads. Kestrels do not build their own nests, but use nests built by other species.

Their plumage is mainly light chestnut brown with blackish spots on the upperside and buff with narrow blackish streaks on the underside; the remiges are also blackish. Unlike most raptors, they display sexual colour dimorphism with the male having fewer black spots and streaks, as well as a blue-grey cap and tail. The tail is brown with black bars in females, and has a black tip with a narrow white rim in both sexes. All common kestrels have a prominent black malar stripe like their closest relatives.

The cere, feet, and a narrow ring around the eye are bright yellow; the toenails, bill and iris are dark. Juveniles look like adult females, but the underside streaks are wider; the yellow of their bare parts is paler. Hatchlings are covered in white down feathers, changing to a buff-grey second down coat before they grow their first true plumage.

Data from Britain shows nesting pairs bringing up about 2–3 chicks on average, though this includes a considerable rate of total brood failures; actually, few pairs that do manage to fledge offspring raise less than 3 or 4. Compared to their siblings, first-hatched chicks have greater survival and recruitment probability, thought to be due to the first-hatched chicks obtaining a higher body condition when in the nest. Population cycles of prey, particularly voles, have a considerable influence on breeding success. Most common kestrels die before they reach 2 years of age; mortality up until the first birthday may be as high as 70%. At least females generally breed at one year of age; possibly, some males take a year longer to maturity as they do in related species. The biological lifespan to death from senescence can be 16 years or more, however; one was recorded to have lived almost 24 years.

Population:

UK breeding:

46,000 pairs

Known as the Blue Chaser in Male Adult form as its Abdomen turns bright blue with a Black tip.

Also known as Mount Taranaki, this was taken from my plane window as it flew from Auckland to Queenstown. New Zealand's most perfectly formed volcano which is now dormant, it was used as Japan's Mount Fuji in the film The Last Samurai starring Tom Cruise. Today, the area around it is a national park and nature reserve.

Echinopsis pachanoi (syn. Trichocereus pachanoi) — known as San Pedro cactus — is a fast-growing columnar cactus native to the Andes Mountains at 2,000–3,000 m (6,600–9,800 ft) in altitude.[2][3] It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru,[4][5] and it is cultivated in other parts of the world. Uses for it include traditional medicine and traditional veterinary medicine, and it is widely grown as an ornamental cactus. It has been used for healing and religious divination in the Andes Mountains region for over 3,000 years.

See my "About" page on Flickr for the link to support my efforts... just the price of a cup of coffee is appreciated. Thank you. www.flickr.com/people/jax_chile/

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Thanks for your visit, FAVs, and comments, I truly appreciate it.

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© John B Fotografía

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Cactus Flower - Santa Gemita - 011622 - Enhanced-5

This all white mushroom, known as the Destroying Angel (Amanita sp.), contains a potent toxin (amatoxin) and is extremely poisonous if consumed.

The mushroom is widespread in East North America. It forms a network that is intricately associated with the roots of certain trees and facilitates the uptake of essential nutrients, such as phosphates and nitrogen compounds that would otherwise be unavailable to the host plant ( known as an ectomycorrhizal association).

For more information see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroying_angel

Photo taken September 2017. Mixed deciduous/coniferous forest, West Quebec, Canada

Camera: Olympus EM5 MkII

Lens: Meyer Optik Görlitz Oreston 50/1.8 (early zebra: M42)

P8200183

known for being quite gregarious, the pointy billed blackbirds seem to dominate the rural landscape and I'll see them in mixed flocks of grackles, cowbirds and starlings.

Their calls and robin calls I strongly associate with the emergence of spring.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_Blackbird/sounds

Thank you for your visits and inspiration!

Ostuni is known for the striking figure it cuts thrusting up through the surrounding olive groves but the gastronomical delights of the city should not be overlooked either, some of the best olive oil of the Puglian region is produced here as well they are also known for the almonds, wines and many fine eateries that serve them all.

Diet is not the only reason the locals are so fit as this scene captures another one of the reasons and a typical view if you wander further into the heart of the old town away from the main touristic areas.

I love walking on stone that could have been laid a millennia ago day dreaming about the lives of the people that have trod them and the stories it can tell if you listen carefully enough and have a little imagination.

I admire the practical design of these type of hill streets the stairs provide an easier climb when needed for Nonna but the center area was for carts or wagons now mostly for Vespas but it really comes into its own when rain comes to a hill town, it safely diverts water away from the homes while providing a safe walkway on either side shedding the overflow like water of a ducks back.

I took this on Sept 22, 2016 with my D750 and Nikon 24-85 f3.5-4.5 Lens at 24mm 1/1250s f/4.5 ISO 250 processed in LR, PS +Lumenzia, Topaz , and DXO

Disclaimer: My style is a study of romantic realism as well as a work in progress

Pisac, Peru

Pisac is perhaps best known for its Incan ruins, known as Inca Písac, which lie atop a hill at the entrance to the valley. The ruins are separated along the ridge into four groups: P'isaqa, Inti Watana, Qalla Q'asa, and Kinchiraqay.[3] Inti Watana group includes the Temple of the Sun, baths, altars, water fountains, a ceremonial platform, and an inti watana, a volcanic outcrop carved into a "hitching post for the Sun" (or Inti). The angles of its base suggest that it served to define the changes of the seasons.[4] Qalla Q'asa, which is built onto a natural spur and overlooks the valley, is known as the citadel. (Wikipedia)

Días de fulgor vivo en la intemperie

de los cuerpos: aceros convertidos

al silencio del ácido:

noches desdichadas hasta la última harina:

estambres agredidos de la patria nupcial

Pablo Neruda

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Commonly known as moth orchids, is a genus of about seventy species of orchids in the family orchid. Orchids in this genus are monopodial epiphytes or lithophytes with long, coarse roots, short, leafy stems and long-lasting, flat flowers arranged in a flowering stem that often branches near the end. Orchids in this genus are native to India, China, Southeast Asia, New Guinea and Australia with the majority in Indonesia and the Philippines. A few to many, small to large, long-lasting, flat, often fragrant flowers are arranged on erect to hanging racemes or panicles. The sepals and petals are free from and spread widely apart from each other. The lateral sepals are usually larger than the dorsal sepal and the petals much wider than the sepals. The labellum is joined stiffly to the column and has three lobes. The side lobes are erect and more or less parallel to each other and the middle lobe sometimes has a pair of appendages or antennae. 21295

Acer rubrum, the red maple, also known as swamp maple, water maple, or soft maple, is one of the most common and widespread deciduous trees of eastern and central North America. The U.S. Forest Service recognizes it as the most abundant native tree in eastern North America. The red maple ranges from southeastern Manitoba around the Lake of the Woods on the border with Ontario and Minnesota, east to Newfoundland, south to Florida, and southwest to East Texas. Many of its features, especially its leaves, are quite variable in form. At maturity, it often attains a height around 30 m (100 ft). Its flowers, petioles, twigs, and seeds are all red to varying degrees. Among these features, however, it is best known for its brilliant deep scarlet foliage in autumn.

Known in Irish as the Capaillín Chonamara, the Connemara pony is a hardy, yet kind-hearted, breed of horse unique to Ireland. It is native to the area in the west of Ireland known for its rugged yet beautiful landscape.

The origins of the Connemara Pony – Ireland’s native pony – are shrouded in mystery. Some believe that today’s Connemara Ponies are descended from Viking ponies, brought here by the Celts in the 4th century B.C. Others tell the tale of Andalucian horses swimming ashore from a shipwrecked Spanish Armada in the 16th century to breed with local stock.

It’s strength and surefootedness made it ideal for negotiating the rough and inhospitable terrain of mountain, bog and seashore. It’s strong, broad back carried turf and seaweed in creels. It provided transport between the shafts of a cart or a trap. Natural hardiness helped it to survive the harsh winters, with little food or shelter.

Connemara ponies are famed for their kind eye and good nature, making them perfect for children's trekking as they are gentle, trusting, honest, and willing.

Despite their smaller stature, Connemara ponies adapted to the terrain in their local area by becoming fabulous jumpers, a trait they carried with them when they left the work fields behind them and entered the equestrian ring.

The Memphis Pyramid, initially known as the Great American Pyramid, formerly referred to as the Pyramid Arena and locally referred to as The Pyramid, the Tomb of Doom[5] and the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid,[6] was originally built as a 20,142-seat arena located in downtown Memphis, in the U.S. state of Tennessee, at the banks of the Mississippi River. The facility was built in 1991 and was originally owned and operated jointly by the city of Memphis and Shelby County; Shelby County sold its share to Memphis in April 2009.[7] Its structure plays on the city's namesake in Egypt, known for its ancient pyramids. It is 321 feet (98 m) (about 32 stories) tall and has base sides of 591 feet (180 m); it is by some measures the tenth-tallest pyramid in the world.

The Memphis Pyramid has not been regularly used as a sports or entertainment venue since 2004. In 2015, the Pyramid re-opened as a Bass Pro Shops "megastore", which includes shopping, a hotel, restaurants, a bowling alley, and an archery range, with an outdoor observation deck adjacent to its apex.

The Roman bridge of Córdoba is a bridge in the Historic centre of Córdoba, Andalusia, southern Spain, originally built in the early 1st century BC across the Guadalquivir river, though it has been reconstructed at various times since. It is also known locally as the Old Bridge as for two thousand years, until the construction of the San Rafael Bridge in the mid-twentieth century, it was the city's only bridge across the river.

Most of the present structure dates from the Arabs reconstruction in the 8th century.

HMS Endeavour, also known as HM Bark Endeavour, was a British Royal Navy research vessel that Lieutenant James Cook commanded to Australia and New Zealand on his first voyage of discovery from 1768 to 1771. (Wiki)

This replica is anchored in Whitby, where James Cook began his three major voyages.. Firstly on the Endeavour then the Adventure and Discovery... (another ship Cook commanded was the Resolution)

She (the Endeavour) departed Plymouth in August 1768, rounded Cape Horn, and reached Tahiti in time to observe the 1769 transit of Venus across the Sun. She then set sail into the largely uncharted ocean to the south, stopping at the Pacific islands of Huahine, Borabora, and Raiatea to allow Cook to claim them for Great Britain. In September 1769, she anchored off New Zealand, the first European vessel to reach the islands since Abel Tasman's Heemskerck 127 years earlier. (Wiki)

Commonly known as the carnation or clove pink, it is a species of Dianthus. It is probably native to the Mediterranean region but its exact range is unknown due to extensive cultivation for the last 2,000 years. It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing up to 80 cm tall. The leaves are glaucous greyish green to blue-green, slender, up to 15 cm long. The flowers are produced singly or up to five together in a cyme; they are around 3–5 cm diameter, and sweetly scented; the original natural flower color is bright pinkish-purple, but cultivars of other colors, including red, white, yellow and green, have been developed. The fragrant, hermaphrodite flowers have a radial symmetry. The four to six surrounding the calyx, egg-shaped, sting-pointed scales leaves are only ¼ as long as the calyx tube. Carnations require well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil, and full sun.They are used for medical purposes, such as for upset stomach and fever. Their fragrance was historically used for vinegar, beer, wine , sauces and salads. 27333

Echinopsis pachanoi (syn. Trichocereus pachanoi) — known as San Pedro cactus — is a fast-growing columnar cactus native to the Andes Mountains at 2,000–3,000 m (6,600–9,800 ft) in altitude.[2][3] It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru,[4][5] and it is cultivated in other parts of the world. Uses for it include traditional medicine and traditional veterinary medicine, and it is widely grown as an ornamental cactus. It has been used for healing and religious divination in the Andes Mountains region for over 3,000 years.

See my "About" page on Flickr for the link to support my efforts... just the price of a cup of coffee is appreciated. Thank you. www.flickr.com/people/jax_chile/

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Thanks for your visit, FAVs, and comments, I truly appreciate it.

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Press 'F11' for Large View then 'L' for a Largest View.

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This image may not be reproduced or used in any form whatsoever without my express written permission.

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© John B Fotografía

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Cactus Flower - Santa Gemita - 011622 - Enhanced-9

From Sonnet 18

It is well known now as Shakespeare's phrase "The Darling Buds of May" was used as the title for his novel by H.E. Bates... which has since been adapted for television too 😊

Apologies for using my Japanese plum in 3 successive photos - I am enjoying it before it freezes (-2.6c last night)

For the Smile on Saturday challenge: "picture with added text"

HCC and HSoS ;o)

Cliché and Smile on Saturday: Here

my Plum blossom set: Here

Blend and Merge: Here

Sonnet 18

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate:

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summer’s lease hath all too short a date;

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;

And every fair from fair sometime declines,

By chance or nature’s changing course untrimm'd;

But thy eternal summer shall not fade,

Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st;

Nor shall death brag thou wander’st in his shade,

When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st:

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,

So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

Sonnenberg Gardens, also known as Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park, Canandaigua, New York, USA, at the North end of Canandaigua Lake, in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. The house and gardens are open to the public every day, May through October.

The property was once the summer home of Frederick Ferris Thompson, a prominent banker in New York City, and his wife Mary Clark Thompson, whose father, Myron Holley Clark, was Governor of New York State in 1855. The Clark family was from Canandaigua, NY. Mr. & Mrs. Thompson's main home was in NYC in a large townhouse on Madison Avenue. The Thompsons purchased the Sonnenberg property in 1863, keeping the name, Sonnenberg (which means "sunny hill" in German). In 1887, they replaced the original farmhouse with a forty-room Queen Anne style mansion. The property also had a 100-acre farm to the east. Sonnenberg's gardens were designed and built between 1902–1919, and originally consisted of nine gardens in a variety of styles.

NRHP Reference#:73001240

FXT23815_P1

The Rakotzbrücke (also known as Teufelsbrücke, meaning "the Devil's Bridge") is 35 meters long and spans Rakotz lake. The bridge features artificially-formed basalt columns selected and shipped from distant quarries. It was commissioned in 1860 "by the knight of the local town". As of 2018, crossing the bridge was "strictly prohibited" as dangerous for the bridge The bridge was being renovated in 2018 and 2019 but construction work was reportedly complete as of May 21 2021.

From Wikipedia

Commonly known as the carnation or clove pink, it is a species of Dianthus. It is probably native to the Mediterranean region but its exact range is unknown due to extensive cultivation for the last 2,000 years. It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing up to 80 cm tall. The leaves are glaucous greyish green to blue-green, slender, up to 15 cm long. The flowers are produced singly or up to five together in a cyme; they are around 3–5 cm diameter, and sweetly scented; the original natural flower color is bright pinkish-purple, but cultivars of other colors, including red, white, yellow and green, have been developed. The fragrant, hermaphrodite flowers have a radial symmetry. The four to six surrounding the calyx, egg-shaped, sting-pointed scales leaves are only ¼ as long as the calyx tube. Carnations require well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil, and full sun. They are used for medical purposes, such as for upset stomach and fever. Their fragrance was historically used for vinegar, beer, wine, sauces and salads. 25897

Known as the Helmeted Guinea Fowl these birds form large flocks in the Non Breeding season and their calls are what make Africa Beautiful

The southern crested caracara (Caracara plancus), also known as the southern caracara or carancho, is a bird of prey in the family Falconidae. The classification of this species and name have evolved. It was formerly placed in the genus Polyborus. The use of the name formerly extended to two subspecies: the northern caracara (C. cheriway) of the southern United States, Mexico, Central America and northern South America, and the extinct Guadalupe caracara (C. lutosa) as subspecies. The use of the name southern caracara is now restricted to a bird that is found in central and southern South America.

A bold, opportunistic raptor, the southern crested caracara is often seen walking around on the ground looking for food. It mainly feeds on carcasses of dead animals, but will steal food from other raptors, raid bird nests, and take live prey if the possibility arises (mostly insects or other small prey, but at least up to the size of a snowy egret). It is dominant over the black and turkey vulture at carcasses. It is typically solitary, but several individuals may gather at a large food source (e.g. dumps). Breeding takes place in the austral spring/summer in the southern part of its range, but timing is less strict in warmer regions. The nest is a large open structure, typically placed on the top of a tree or palm, but sometimes on the ground. Average clutch size is two eggs.

Local Acrobat well known n the neighborhood able too climb any thing in search of food.

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Okavango Delta

Botswana

The African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), also known as the African savanna elephant, is the largest living terrestrial animal with bulls reaching a shoulder height of up to 4 m (13 ft). Both sexes have tusks, which erupt when they are 1–3 years old and grow throughout life.

It is distributed across 37 African countries and inhabits forests, grasslands and woodlands, wetlands and agricultural land. It is a social mammal, traveling in herds composed of cows and their offspring. Adult bulls usually live alone or in small bachelor groups. It is a herbivore, feeding on grasses, creepers, herbs, leaves and bark.

Since 2004, it has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. It is threatened foremost by habitat destruction, and in parts of its range also by poaching for meat and ivory.

They can weigh 7 t (7.7 short tons). The heaviest male on record weighed 10.4 t (11.5 short tons) and was shot in 1974 in Angola. Females are much smaller at about 2.2–2.6 m (7.2–8.5 ft) tall at the shoulder and up to 4 t (4.4 short tons) in weight. – Wikipedia

Also known as Mudéjar Palace, it was built next to the Alfonso X Gothic Palace at the initiative of King Pedro I between 1356 - 1366, artisans from Toledo, Granada and Seville itself collaborated in its construction. Later it was transformed at the time of the Catholic Monarchs and the first Austrias. This palace was born to serve as the private building of King Pedro I, built in the previous century by order of Alfonso X. He used Arabic epigraphy to exalt his virtues. This is because, from the fourteenth century, the Castilian monarchs stop copying European trends to be inspired by Andalusian models. This caused this palace to house various writings in Arabic. The interior is structured around two cores, one dedicated to the official life that is located around the courtyard of the Maidens and another to the private one around the courtyard of the Dolls. Walking along the galleries and rooms decorated with beautiful tiles and beautiful Mudejar ceilings, from the lobby you reach the courtyard of the Doncellas, main courtyard, a masterpiece of Andalusian Mudejar art. From the entrance to the courtyard of the maidens we find the Alcoba Real on the right, in front of it is the Ambassadors hall and on the left the Carlos V. Ceiling room On the top floor of the palace are the royal apartments, redecorated in the century XVIII. It has a first floor that does not extend throughout the ground floor, but only for some rooms.

www.alcazarsevilla.info/en/palace-king-don-pedro.html

Cologne is also known for its green belt and many parks ... not just for the Cathedral and the Carnival.

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Köln ist auch für seinen Grüngürtel und die vielen Parks bekannt ... nicht nur für den Dom und den Karneval und den 1. FC Köln

KNOWN FOR is the topic for Wed Sept 8 2021 Group Our Daily Challenge

Ginkgo biloba, commonly known as ginkgo or gingko, also known as the maidenhair tree, is a species of tree native to China. It is the last living species in the order Ginkgoales, which first appeared over 290 million years ago. Fossils very similar to the living species, belonging to the genus Ginkgo, extend back to the Middle Jurassic approximately 170 million years ago. The tree was cultivated early in human history and remains commonly planted.

The mountain range known around here as the Crazies is prominent in this image (All those very, very tiny black dots scattered around the hills in the mid-ground are black angus cattle grazing on prime Montana range land…). The highest point in this range is Crazy Peak at over 11,000 feet — these mountains dominate their surroundings and are plainly visible just north of Interstate 90 as you travel between Billings and Bozeman.

The name Crazy Mountains is said to be a shortened form of the name "Crazy Woman Mountains" given them, in recognition of their original Crow native american name, after a woman who went insane and lived in them after her family was killed in the westward settlement movement.

The Crow people called the mountains Awaxaawapìa Pìa, roughly translated as "Ominous Mountains", or even rougher and less accurately, "Crazy Mountains". They were famous to the Crow people for having metaphysical powers and being unpredictable—a place often used for vision quests...

Known as Wattle, it is the national flower of Australia,having its own national day, September 1.

Known in Brazil as "mariquita".

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Suborder: Passeri

Family: Parulidae

Genus: Setophaga Swainson, 1827

Species: S. pitiayumi (Vieillot, 1817)

Binomial name: Setophaga pitiayumi

Synonyms:

- Setophaga americana pitiayumi

- Parula pitiayumi

Known as "Knödelpresse", a class 180 locomotives runs along the river Elbe to Dresden.

Captured at the Eastern States Exposition, also known as

"The Big E", which is America's Premier Exposition and world's only multi-state fair, representing all six New England States.

The first Eastern States Exposition occurred over 100 years ago in October 1916, and is now held every autumn in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Each year, the fair opens on the second Friday after Labor Day and runs for seventeen days . . Stop in, you won't be disappointed! : )

West Springfield Population: 28,527

. . . www.thebige.com/