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Lom Stave Church is in Lom municipality in the Gudbrandsdal district of Norway. The church is a triple nave stave design using free standing inner columns to support a raised section in the ceiling of the main nave. This type of church is a very old design. The church dates to approximately second part of 12th century, but was rebuilt into a cruciform church during the 17th century. The chancel was decorated in 1608, and the nave was enlarged towards west in 1634. The cross section was added in 1663, but this was made in stave like frame work. A complete restoration also took place in 1933, and a smaller one in 1973. This stave church is actually one of just a very few stave churches of which the original medieval crest with a dragon head still survives.
Description: African American man and woman holding newborn sitting on front porch.
Vintage African American photography courtesy of Black History Album, The Way We Were.
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Centaurea cyanus, commonly known as cornflower or bachelor's button, is an annual flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to Europe. In the past, it often grew as a weed in cornfields (in the broad sense of "corn", referring to grains, such as wheat, barley, rye, or oats), hence its name. It is now endangered in its native habitat by agricultural intensification, particularly by over-use of herbicides. However, Centaurea cyanus is now also naturalised in many other parts of the world, including North America and parts of Australia through introduction as an ornamental plant in gardens and as a seed contaminant in crop seeds.
Description
Centaurea cyanus is an annual plant growing to 40–90 cm tall, with grey-green branched stems. The leaves are lanceolate and 1–4 cm long. The flowers are most commonly an intense blue colour and arranged in flowerheads (capitula) of 1.5–3 cm diameter, with a ring of a few large, spreading ray florets surrounding a central cluster of disc florets. The blue pigment is protocyanin, which in roses is red. Fruits are approx. 3.5 mm long with 2–3 mm long pappus bristles. It flowers all summer.
Distribution
Centaurea cyanus is native to temperate Europe, but is widely naturalized outside its native range.
It has been present in Britain and Ireland as an archaeophyte (ancient introduction) since the Iron Age. In the United Kingdom, it has declined from 264 sites to just 3 sites in the last 50 years.
In reaction to this, the conservation charity Plantlife named it as one of 101 species it would actively work to bring 'back from the brink'.
In the County Clare (VC H9) in Ireland, Centaurea cyanus is recorded in arable fields as very rare and almost extinct, while in the North-East of Ireland, it was abundant before the 1930s.
Genetics and breeding
Centaurea cyanus is a diploid flower (2n = 24). The genetic diversity within populations is high, although there could be a future decline in diversity due to population fragmentation and intensive agriculture. In general, Centaurea cyanus is a self-incompatible species. However, selfing still occurs occasionally, but results in inbreeding depression.
Cultivars
Several cultivars of Centaurea cyanus with varying pastel colours, including pink and purple, have been selected for ornamental purposes. The species is also grown for the cut flower industry in Canada for use by florists. Doubled blue cultivars (such as 'Blue Boy' or 'Blue Diadem') are most commonly used for this purpose, but white, pink, lavender and black (actually a very dark maroon) cultivars are also used, albeit to a lesser extent.
Breeding goals
As for all ornamental plants, important goals of Centaurea cyanus breeding include the induction of phenotypic variation (e.g. in flower coloration, size and shape, foliage characteristics or plant height), higher flower yield, resistance to pests and diseases as well as tolerance to abiotic stress (e.g., extreme temperatures, drought or salinity).
Ecology
Weed in arable crops
Centaurea cyanus is considered a noxious weed in arable crops, especially cereals and rapeseed. In winter wheat, one plant per m2 can cause a yield loss of up to 30 kg / ha. Centaurea cyanus produces around 800 seed per plant, which are either shed shortly before the harvest of cereals, or they are threshed together with the cereal grains, contributing to the further spread of the species by the harvesting machinery and contaminated seed. The occurrence of Centaurea cyanus strongly decreased during the last decades due to improved seed cleaning, more intensive nitrogen fertilization and herbicide use. However, Centaurea cyanus has become more common in cropland due to an increase in crop rotations dominated by winter cereals and rapeseed and the use of more selective herbicides with a low effectiveness against Centaurea cyanus. In addition, the emergence of resistance against the herbicide class of sulfonylureas has been reported recently. Due to its strong roots, Centaurea cyanus is difficult to control mechanically in spring.
Fodder for insects and birds
The pollen of Centaurea cyanus is used by several different insect species. Insects of the orders Hymenoptera and Diptera are particularly attracted by the flower. As Centaurea cyanus is a self-incompatible species, it needs external pollination. The nectar of Centaurea cyanus is very sweet with a sugar content of 34%. Due to its high sugar production of up to 0.2 mg sugar per day and flower, the species is highly appreciated by beekeepers.
The seeds of Centaurea cyanus are one of the favourite foods of the European goldfinch.
Control of insect pests
Centaurea cyanus was found to produce volatiles attracting Microplitis mediator, which is a major parasitoid of the cabbage moth (Mamestra brassicae), which is the most important pest of cabbage (Brassica oleracea) in central Europe. Planting Centaurea cyanus in cabbage fields as a companion plant was thus suggested as an alternative to the widespread use of insecticides to control Mamestra brassicae. Field experiments showed that planting Centaurea cyanus in cabbage fields at a density of 1 plant / m2 can result in a significant increase in parasitation of Mamestra brassicae larvae, predation of Mamestra brassicae eggs (e.g. by carabid beetles or spiders) and ultimately cabbage yield.
Cultivation
Soil and climate requirements
Centaurea cyanus requires full sun and neutral (pH 6.6–7.5) to mildly alkaline (pH 7.6–7.8), moist and well-drained soil. However, Centaurea cyanus is quite tolerant to drought once established.
Sowing
For summer-blooming plants, sowing should be executed in late spring. In moderate climates, however, it is also possible to sow Centaurea cyanus in early fall. In this case, plants will already start to flower in the following spring. Recommended spacing between plants is approx. 20 to 30 cm. Centaurea cyanus can germinate from up to 10 cm depth, but the best result is obtained at 1 cm sowing depth. Germination occurs quickly after sowing.
Fertilization and cultural practices
High phosphorus fertilization in mid-summer will increase flower production. Mulching is recommended to prevent drying out of the soil and exposure of the root system to the sun.
Pests and diseases
In general, Centaurea cyanus is not very susceptible to pests and plant diseases. However, it may be affected by stem rot and stem rust if grown too tightly or by powdery mildew. Furthermore, aphids and leafhoppers can cause relevant damage to Centaurea cyanus.
Seed harvesting
Seeds are harvested either by hand or, in an agricultural setting, with a seed harvesting machine. On average there are 97,000 seeds in a pound of cornflower seeds.
Hand collecting can be time-consuming and yields are rather low.
A seed harvesting machine is more efficient than collecting the seeds by hand, but it is costly. The main principle of such a machine is that it brushes the ripe seeds off the plant and creates a cross flow fan action that generates sufficient air velocity to hold and gather the seeds into the seed bunker.
Pruning
Deadheading will encourage the plant to produce more blooms. Cornflowers are often used for ornamental purposes and by cutting them, up to their third leaves, they will produce more blooms and grow a bigger stem.
Uses
The flowers of Centaurea cyanus can be eaten raw, dried or cooked. Dried petals are used in foods, including in spices. Their main purpose is to add colour to food. There are cheeses or oils that contain raw petals. Petals can also be added to salads, drinks, or desserts for garnishing purposes in raw or dried form.
Beverages
Dried petals are also used in teas and other beverages. Blue cornflower petals are sometimes one of the ingredients in Lady Grey tea.
Ornamental use
Centaurea cyanus is used as an ornamental plant. There are varieties with blue, white, purple, pink or even black petals.
Pigment
The blue color of Centaurea cyanus is due to protocyanin, an anthocyanin pigment that is also found in roses. Different anthocyanins derived from Centaurea cyanus are used as natural additives in food products, such as yoghurts.
Medicinal purpose
Centaurea cyanus contains a wide range of pharmacologically active compounds, such as flavonoids, anthocyanins and aromatic acids. Especially the flower head finds application in herbal medicine, but leaves and seeds are also used for pharmacological purposes, albeit to a lesser extent.
In particular, extracts from the flower heads have anti-inflammatory properties used in the treatment of minor ocular inflammations. Antioxidant properties are high due to ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds. Furthermore, extracts of the flower head and vegetative parts of the plant were shown to have gastroprotective effects due to their content of quercetin, apigenin and caffeic acid derivates.
Phytoremediation
Centaurea cyanus has been evaluated for phytoremediation of soils contaminated with lead. Inoculation of the contaminated soil with Glomus spp. (fungus) and Pseudomonas spp. (bacterium) would significantly enhance the biomass production and lead uptake of Centaurea cyanus.
Folklore and symbolism
In folklore, cornflowers were worn by young men in love; if the flower faded too quickly, it was taken as a sign that the man's love was not returned.
The blue cornflower was one of the national symbols of Germany. This is partly due to the story that when Queen Louise of Prussia was fleeing Berlin and pursued by Napoleon's forces, she hid her children in a field of cornflowers and kept them quiet by weaving wreaths for them from the flowers. The flower thus became identified with Prussia, not least because it was the same color as the Prussian military uniform. After the unification of Germany in 1871, it went on to become a symbol of the country as a whole. For this reason, in Austria the blue cornflower is a political symbol for pan-German and rightist ideas. It was worn as a secret symbol identifying members of the then-illegal NSDAP in Austria in the 1930s. Members of the Freedom Party wore it at the openings of the Austrian parliament since 2006. After the last general election 2017 they replaced it with the edelweiss.
It was also the favourite flower of Louise's son Kaiser Wilhelm I. Because of its ties to royalty, authors such as Theodor Fontane have used it symbolically, often sarcastically, to comment on the social and political climate of the time.
The cornflower is also often seen as an inspiration for the German Romantic symbol of the Blue Flower.
Due to its traditional association with Germany, the cornflower has been made the official symbol of the annual German-American Steuben Parade.
The blue cornflower has been the national flower of Estonia since 1969 and symbolizes daily bread to Estonians. It is also the symbol of the Estonian Conservative People's Party.
It is also the symbol of the Finnish National Coalition Party, and the Liberal People's Party of Sweden, where it has since the dawn of the 20th century been a symbol for social liberalism.
It is the official flower of the Swedish province of Östergötland and the school flower of Winchester College and also of Dulwich College, where it is said to have been the favourite flower of the founder, Edward Alleyn.
In France the bleuet de France is the symbol of the 11 November 1918 armistice and, as such, a common symbol for veterans (especially the now defunct poilus of World War I), similar to the Remembrance poppies worn in the United Kingdom and in Canada.
The cornflower is also the symbol for motor neurone disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Cornflowers are sometimes worn by Old Harrovians, former pupils of the British Harrow School.
A blue cornflower was used by Corning Glass Works for the initial release of Corning Ware Pyroceram cookware. Its popularity in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia was so high that it became the symbol of Corning Glass Works.
The Pinnacle of Bizarre Hungarian May Day Fair Festivities including poppunk/MIA/dubstep-y cover bands, men with lovely glasses, meat everywhere and baked cinnamon tubes galore.
Description taken from my previous pic:
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Lofoten, kvalvika beach.
After a hike in the very muddy way to this piece of heaven, I arrived to this beach under a cold drizzle, that was unexpectedly giving life to this landscape. I couldn't stop looking at those mountains, fainting in the light rain and the sunset light
"
Description: Shanghai: Female Prisoners
Location: Shanghai, China
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Our Catalogue Reference: Part of CO 1069/416.
This image is part of the Colonial Office photographic collection held at The National Archives. Feel free to share it within the spirit of the Commons.
Please use the comments section below the pictures to share any information you have about the people, places or events shown. We have attempted to provide place information for the images automatically but our software may not have found the correct location.
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Fort Langley, BC Canada
DESCRIPTION OF HISTORIC PLACE
Fort Langley Community Hall is a large, classic revival building set back on a spacious property on Fort Langley's main street, Glover Road.
HERITAGE VALUE
Fort Langley played a pivotal role in the creation of British Columbia. It was the first permanent European settlement in the Fraser Valley, the site of the proclamation of the Crown Colony of British Columbia and the first major commercial agricultural centre in B.C. The Hudson's Bay Company used the fur trade fort based here for exporting Fraser River salmon as well as agricultural products and furs to Europe and to Pacific Rim countries. In 1858, when gold was discovered on the bars of the Fraser River, the influx of prospectors caused fears of American annexation, and directly led to Britain proclaiming a Crown Colony under the direction of Governor James Douglas. The fort and the Village that grew up adjacent to it are now part of the Township of Langley.
Designed by a prominent Vancouver architect, Archibald Campbell Hope, and constructed in 1931, Fort Langley Community Hall is recognized for its landmark status as well as its historic, social and aesthetic significance to the Township.
A.C. Hope and his wife Mary came to Vancouver in 1908 from England and via a two year stay in San Francisco, where he obtained his architect's certificate. Primarily known for designing schools in Vancouver, Hope is also known for designing municipal halls and is best known for his design of Heritage Hall (formerly Postal Station C) at Main and 15th in Vancouver.
Hope likely received the commission to design Fort Langley Community Hall through his brother, Charles, who was a long time and prominent resident in Fort Langley. Built by volunteers for the Fort Langley Community Improvement Society, the Hall has played an important role in the community's life by faithfully providing a place to meet and hold functions that encourage a strong and vital community life.
Through volunteer commitment, the Hall has and continues to accommodate a variety of social, athletic, public and business events. The sustained use of the Hall shows the enduring dedication and enthusiasm of both the community and the Fort Langley Community Improvement Society (which has always owned and operated the building). To the residents of Fort Langley, this continuity of function is an important part of their civic pride.
Noteworthy for its time when men tended to dominate civic life, the Association's first president was Mrs. Hector Morrison, a woman of dedication who was also the president of the Fort Langley Women's Institute. Women have continued to play strong lead roles in the management of the Hall, in both its programming and its conservation.
The Hall is a fine and rare example of a wooden classic revival building in the Fraser Valley. The formality of the Hall is emphasized by its placement at the rear and centre of a large, open property, and by the requirement to approach the entrance via a sweeping drive. At the same time, the Hall also appears gracious and welcoming, due primarily to its symmetry, its celebration of approach and entry from Glover Road, and its sense of old world charm.
The row of large, deciduous Maple trees on each of the north and south property lines are also important as they offer a direct historic and symbolic link to the original directors of the Society, who planted these trees in celebration of the Hall's construction.
Together with the Coronation Block and the Canadian Northern Railway Station, the Fort Langley Community Hall played an important role in focusing the community on heritage conservation issues. Its imposing and uniquely grand design helped create the public and political will to ensure the success of Langley's first Heritage Conservation Area, which was established in 1997 and includes a 9 square block area of the Village of Fort Langley.
Source: Langley Centennial Museum, heritage files
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Sonja
Description of the coal flora of the Carboniferous formation in Pennsylvania and throughout the United States ....
Harrisburg,Board of Commissioners for the Second Geological Survey,1879-84..
Description of six new species of the genus Unio, embracing the anatomy of the oviduct of one of them :
Philadelphia :American Philosophical Society,1830
Image Description from historic lecture booklet: "Jacob's well is situated near Nabulous, along the highway from Judea to Galilee at the entrance of the valley between Mt. Gerizim on the left and Mt. Ebal on the right. Jews, Christians, and Moslims [sic] agree that this is the very well from which "our father Jacob drank."
The well has been made sacred by that marvelous conversation had there with the woman of Samaria (John4: 1-43). This is the only precise spot on earth which we may [be] sure was hallowed by his sacred presence and rendered memorable forever by his divine teaching."
Original Collection: Visual Instruction Department Lantern Slides
Item Number: P217:set 010 030
You can find this image by searching for the item number by clicking here.
Want more? You can find more digital resources online.
We're happy for you to share this digital image within the spirit of The Commons; however, certain restrictions on high quality reproductions of the original physical version may apply. To read more about what “no known restrictions” means, please visit the Special Collections & Archives website, or contact staff at the OSU Special Collections & Archives Research Center for details.
Description: Sikh sepoys, non-commissioned and Indian Officers in uniform and mufti
Location: North west frontier of India
Date: 1933-1935
Our catalogue reference: Part of CN 4/8
This image is part of the War Office photographic collection held at The National Archives. Feel free to share it within the spirit of the Commons
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Old Swedish countryside cottage. It's color radiation caught my lens as I was passing, Saturday morning.
Caption: Using the "narrow"-lens and the native HDR setting of my Xiaomi Mi6 smartphone camera, I cut as close to the chimney-top as possible. Due to my frog perspective, I didn't want to skew the lines of the cottage (as I so irritatingly did sideways).
Post-production: Adding the "Faded Glow" filter of Snapseed, and then letting the app do all it's trickery and magic to the photo during the save.
Description: (Faux-colour version), Infrared shot of a young couple walking at the summit of Scrabo Hill giving a sense of scale of the Tower.
Kit: Fuji X-Pro1, 14mm, R72 infrared filter
Settings: 0.5 seconds @ F16, ISO 1250
管樂小集 - 安平港邊億載金城 / 白雲藍天音樂滿 - 來人歡喜午後心
Great Music - Nearby Anping Port Eternal Golden Castle / Blue sky and white clouds full of music - People are very happy here afternoon mood
Gran música - Puerto próximo de Anping Eterna Castillo de Oro / Cielo azul y nubes blancas llenas de música - La gente es muy feliz aquí el estado de ánimo por la tarde
管楽小集 - 安平港の辺億載金城 / 白い雲の青空の音楽がいっぱいです - 誰か来る喜びの正午の背中の真ん中のところ
Große Musik - Nahe gelegener Anping-Hafen Eternal Golden Castle / Blauer Himmel und weiße Wolken voller Musik - Menschen sind hier sehr glücklich Nachmittag Stimmung
Grande musique - Port voisin d'Anping Eternal Golden Castle / Bleu ciel et les nuages blancs pleins de musique - Les gens sont très heureux ici humeur après-midi
Anping Tainan Taiwan / Anping Tainan Taiwán / 台灣台南安平
管樂小集 2014/08/23 安平港德陽艦演出 Deyang ship performances
{View large size on fluidr / 觀看大圖}
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其實我是黑管妹(愛睏仙=無敵鳳眼妹)的粉絲
I am a fans of The sister with a clarinet
Soy los ventiladores de la hermana con un clarinet
私はクラリネットを持つ姉妹のファンである
Ich bin Ventilatoren der Schwester mit einem Clarinet
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{My Blog / 管樂小集精彩演出-觸動你的心}
{My Blog / Great Music The splendid performance touches your heart}
{My Blog / 管楽小集すばらしい公演-はあなたの心を心を打ちます}
{Mi blog / La gran música el funcionamiento espléndido toca su corazón}
{Mein Blog / Große Musik die herrliche Leistung berührt Ihr Herz}
{Mon blog / La grande musique l'exécution splendide touche votre coeur}
書中風起雲動 劍下虎嘯龍吟
The book stroke have the clouds to move under the sword the tiger's roar and dragon to recite
誰知成敗早已天定
Who knows the success or failure already to decide for GOD
回首江山依舊 入眼夕陽正紅
Who looks back on the landscape as before pleasant setting sun is red now
但願人長久情長在
Hopes the persons long-time sentiment exist
熱蘭劍士無悔無憾
The Zeelandia's swordsman regretless not regrets
Description: Recreation Grounds, Donaghadee, Co. Down.
Date: 16th May 1958
Catalogue reference: D4069/11/8
New channel announcement. If you guys haven’t watched my newest video on YouTube (Which I recommend watching) I make a major announcement in the video of a new channel that I have created “LPC II: Vlogs/Updates” this channel will focus primarily on just updates and vlogs (from time to time) and just stuff that I’m working on. So yeah that’s pretty much it and the channel link is down below in the comments. Make sure to check it out. P.S it’s also in the featured section on my channel
Description: Pathan recruit arriving for enlistment
Location: North western frontier of India
Date: 1933-1935
Our catalogue reference: Part of CN 4/8
This image is part of the War Office photographic collection held at The National Archives. Feel free to share it within the spirit of the Commons
Please use the comments section below the pictures to share any information you have about the people, places or events shown.
For high quality reproductions of any item from our collection please contact our image library
Description from the back - "Inside these golden doors are priceless waxen figures of world-famous movie and television stars - past and present - lavishly costumed, stopped in action in authentic settings reminiscent of their best-known roles. Standing at the entrance is one of the Museum's two gold-finished Rolls-Royces."
Published by SeniKrome and distributed by Golden West.
Postmarked Long Beach, CA September 24, 1962 - "Hi, Just a line before leaving for work. Hot here - 92. Yesterday went to the Wax Museum yesterday. Enjoyed it very much. Had a figure of Marilyn Monroe + Jean Harlow reclining on a white chair lounging. Have you heard any more from my mink??? Gerry"
Description: Prior to the construction of Tower Bridge, as we know it today, a number of designs were invited for consideration. A special committee examined at least ten alternative schemes in addition to the widening of London Bridge. These included two low-level bridges with different forms of swing opening for the passage of ships into the Upper Pool; a moveable or rolling bridge shuttling constantly across the river, leaving part free for navigation at all times; a further bridge near the east side of London Bridge and connected to it at both ends and at intervals throughout its length; a high level bridge with hydraulic hoists at each end, eliminating the need for expensive compensation for property on long approaches; a high level bridge with a spiral ascent on the south side; submerged railway lines with a "deck" above high water level moving on them; a submerged cast-iron archway cum tunnel on the river bed; a further high level bridge; and paddle-wheel ferry boats.
Here we see one of these designs, by Frederic Barnett, for a 'duplex' low-level Tower Bridge, allowing 'uninterrupted continuity of vehicular and general traffic.'
Date of Execution: 1876
Engraver: Maclure, Macdonald & Macgregor
Medium: lithograph
Collection: Main Print
Reference No: SC/PR/La/Pr/S3/TOW/bri/p5410547
Find more images relating to Tower Bridge via our image library.