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The Secret of Making Progress is to Get Started

- Mark Twain

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I spotted this Tortoise and his Human Pal taking an ocean-front walk along the cliffs of Palos Verdes California. One thing about California, you will usually find something interesting or unusual, even when you're not looking for it : )

 

The Tortoise:

 

Tortoises are "cold-blooded," meaning their body temperature varies with the surrounding environment. They are also herbivores, meaning they eat plants. Tortoises are found in a variety of habitats, including deserts, forests, grasslands, and swamps.

 

There are over 300 species of tortoises, and they come in a wide range of sizes. The smallest tortoise is the speckled padloper tortoise, which is only about 4 inches long. The largest tortoise is the Galapagos tortoise, which can grow to be over 150 pounds.

 

Tortoises are long-lived animals. Some species can live for over 100 years. The oldest known tortoise is a Galapagos tortoise named Jonathan, who is over 190 years old.

 

Here are some interesting facts about tortoises:

 

Tortoises have been around for over 200 million years.

 

The largest tortoise ever recorded was a Galapagos tortoise named "Johnathan" who weighed over 500 pounds and was over 190 years old.

 

Tortoises are very good at conserving water. They can go for long periods of time without drinking.

 

Tortoises are not very good swimmers.

 

Tortoises are very social animals and enjoy spending time with other tortoises.

 

Tortoises can be very affectionate and make great pets.

 

-Google Bard

  

(Sony, 200-600 @ 241 mm, 1/3200 @ f/8, ISO 4000, edited to taste)

The Grand Canal

 

Venice is an enchanting city that casts visitors under an intoxicating spell. It's dreamy and romantic, with an undercurrent of mystery and drama.

 

Venice, the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has no roads, just canals – including the Grand Canal thoroughfare – lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces.

 

The central square, Piazza San Marco, contains St. Mark’s Basilica, which is tiled with Byzantine mosaics, and the Campanile bell tower offering views of the city’s red roofs.

 

2004 Photo (Canon PowerShot SD880, 1/125 @ f/2.8, ISO 80)

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See also.........

  

www.fluidr.com/photos/58760809@N07</a</

  

Portulaca grandiflora is a succulent annual plant in the purslane family Portulacaceae.

It has many common names, including rose moss, eleven o'clock, Mexican rose, moss rose, sun rose, rock rose, and moss-rose

 

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Do not use any of my images on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission.

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This long exposure night photograph was taken from the Westminster Bridge looking towards the South Bank of River Thames, including London Eye and County Hall.

 

It was a windy night during my visit to London in October last year. The London Eye was temporarily stationary, with clouds seen drifting above. The light reflections of the structures in River Thames provided added interests to the nightscape.

 

Best wishes for a great weekend!

... including an 'untanglement' of another friendly plant.

... including a not sleeping bird

In my garden. La Ceja, Colombia; Central Andes; 2.300 meters above sea level.

 

Colibri coruscans

(Sparkling violet-ear / Colibrí grande verde)

 

The Sparkling Violetear is widespread in highlands of northern and western South America, including a large part of the Andes (from Argentina and northwards). This hummingbird is most abundant near coniferous or evergreen eucalyptus forests.

 

Wikipedia

Join us starting today @Frogmore for a 1 week photo challenge. This challenge will be located in our Shire area which includes a new garden splash pool for fun avatar photos. We have amazing views from every angle and lots of wildlife including Ducks, Egrets, Frogs, Doves, Seagulls, as well as Capybaras, Butterflies, and a Kitty or two. This is designed to be a fun challenge, and we will have prizes to go around. **Frogmore Inworld Group Membership Required** Avatars photos encouraged. Frogmore Main Landing - Join our group here ---> maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Frogmore/180/98/28 Shire location for photo challenge ---> maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Frogmore/19/73/21 Group discussion and photo challenge details ---> www.flickr.com/groups/frogmore/discuss/72157721918776317/ *Have fun and enjoy !!*

From my original photo taken in Brittany in 2007.

 

Vitré is a town located in the Ille-et-Vilaine department of Brittany, France. It has a population of approximately 20,000 people and is known for its medieval architecture, including a castle, ramparts, and half-timbered houses.

During World War II, Vitré was occupied by German forces and its residents experienced hardships and restrictions imposed by the occupying army. The town saw heavy fighting between the German army and the Allies, and was eventually liberated by American forces in August 1944.

The people of Vitré played a significant role in the resistance movement during the war, and their sacrifices and efforts are remembered and honored to this day.

 

Textures from Karen Burns and Kerstin Frank - thank you.

Outfit including top and skirt, ferris wheel halo, mask and hat : Curemore - Freak Circus. At Salem.

Hair : {Limerence} Ellie hair - Special for FaMESHed

Clown Make-up : Shiny Stuffs - Creepy Dollface. At The Dark Style Fair.

 

Decor :

RO - Circus Rot - Two Top Tent.

Vintage Halloween Clown Gate - FIN *RELIVE THE FIFTIES*. At Hallow Manor.

Little Egret - Egretta garzetta

  

The little egret (Egretta garzetta) is a species of small heron in the family Ardeidae. The genus name comes from the Provençal French Aigrette, egret a diminutive of Aigron, heron. The species epithet garzetta is from the Italian name for this bird, garzetta or sgarzetta.

 

It is a white bird with a slender black beak, long black legs and, in the western race, yellow feet. As an aquatic bird, it feeds in shallow water and on land, consuming a variety of small creatures. It breeds colonially, often with other species of water birds, making a platform nest of sticks in a tree, bush or reed bed. A clutch of bluish-green eggs is laid and incubated by both parents. The young fledge at about six weeks of age.

 

Its breeding distribution is in wetlands in warm temperate to tropical parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. A successful colonist, its range has gradually expanded north, with stable and self-sustaining populations now present in the United Kingdom.

 

It first appeared in the UK in significant numbers in 1989 and first bred in Dorset in 1996

 

In warmer locations, most birds are permanent residents; northern populations, including many European birds, migrate to Africa and southern Asia to over-winter there. The birds may also wander north in late summer after the breeding season, and their tendency to disperse may have assisted in the recent expansion of the bird's range. At one time common in Western Europe, it was hunted extensively in the 19th century to provide plumes for the decoration of hats and became locally extinct in northwestern Europe and scarce in the south. Around 1950, conservation laws were introduced in southern Europe to protect the species and their numbers began to increase. By the beginning of the 21st century the bird was breeding again in France, the Netherlands, Ireland and Britain. It has also begun to colonise the New World; it was first seen in Barbados in 1954 and first bred there in 1994. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed the bird's global conservation status as being of least concern..

  

Outfit including mask, locket collar, tail and ankle boots : !dM -TicToc Gacha. In main store.

Hair : Tableau Vivant - Buttercup. At Uber

Head : LAQ - Noelle. In main store.

Skin : LAQ - Natasha. Tattoo : Antielle - Catatonic

 

Pose : Poseidon - Whild Child.

 

Decor :

Backdrop : Irrisistible (textures added by me)

Giant Clover : Irrisistible.

Flying Cards : Ionic - from the Wonderland Gacha set.

Yellowhammer - Emberiza Citrinella

  

The yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) is a passerine bird in the bunting family that is native to Eurasia and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia. Most European birds remain in the breeding range year-round, but the eastern subspecies is partially migratory, with much of the population wintering further south. The male yellowhammer has a bright yellow head, streaked brown back, chestnut rump and yellow underparts. Other plumages are duller versions of the same pattern. The yellowhammer is common in open areas with some shrubs or trees, and forms small flocks in winter. Its song has a rhythm like "A little bit of bread and no cheese". The song is very similar to that of its closest relative, the pine bunting, with which it interbreeds.

 

Yellowhammer males learn their songs from their fathers, and over the course of time regional dialects have developed, with minor differences to the conclusion of the basic song; all are mutually recognised by birds from different areas. Each male has an individual repertoire of song variants within its regional dialect; females tend to mate with males that share their dialect, and prefer those with the largest repertoires.

 

The pine bunting and yellowhammer are so closely related that each responds to the other's song. The male yellowhammer's song is more attractive to females, and is one reason for the dominance of that species where the ranges overlap.

 

Yellowhammers of the British and Irish race, E. c. caliginosa were introduced to New Zealand by local acclimatisation societies in 1862, and soon spread over the main islands. They sometimes visit New Zealand's subantarctic islands, although rarely staying to breed, and have reached Australia's Lord Howe Island on a number of occasions. At the beginning of the 20th century, this bunting was seen as a serious agricultural pest in its adopted country.

 

Populations of yellowhammer have also been introduced to the Falkland Islands, and South Africa.

 

The yellowhammer is a bird of dry open country, preferably with a range of vegetation types and some trees from which to sing. It is absent from urban areas, forests and wetlands. Probably originally found at forest edges and large clearing, it has benefited from traditional agriculture, which created extensive open areas with hedges and clumps of trees.

 

Populations have declined in recent decades in western Europe, including the British Isles, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and Italy. The yellowhammer is a red-list (severely declining) species in Ireland and the UK In eastern Europe, numbers appear to be stable, although the trend in Russia is unknown. Changes to agricultural practices are thought to be responsible for reduced breeding densities. The introduced population in New Zealand has been very successful, with breeding densities much higher than in the UK.

  

Kimono : Luas Sukah, including sleeves, obi, harness, hat. At Neo Japan.

Hair : {Limerence} Sybil hair. At Neo Japan.

Lantern and hold pose : .Evil Baby. - Hotaru's Lantern. At Neo Japan.

Tattoo : DAPPA - Akemi Tattoo. [FADED]

Lipstick : ~Shiny Stuffs~ Sweet Wine. At Shiny Shabby.

Eyeshadow : violetta. Koi HD Eyeshadow AD. At Neo Japan.

 

Decor :

Pine trees : -Garden- by anc "Ukiyoe" pinetree 4Li (autumn).

Willow trees : Konoha - Salix goppi with seasons change. At Neo Japan.

High grass : garden by anc "jugoya" Japanese pampas grass. At Neo Japan.

Tori Gate : {anc} tori-i gate and fence (redxblack)

including a shy hummingbird, can you find it?

 

View large

Harbour Authority vessels, fishing boats, sailboats, yachts and various other water craft, including Kayaks, canoes and paddleboards share the waterway that runs along the banks of the Fraser River in Ladner, BC.

This small section of the River is lined with colourful float homes.

  

Ladner is a part of the City of Delta, British Columbia, Canada, and a suburb of Vancouver, British Columbia. It was created as a fishing village on the banks of the Fraser River.

 

Named for Thomas and William Ladner, who came to the area in 1868 and began large farming and fishing operations, it developed as a centre for these operations. A series of ferries, culminating in the Ladner Ferry, allowed for access across the river to Richmond. The George Massey Tunnel provided a permanent connection in 1959.History

Like many areas around the Fraser River on what is now Greater Vancouver the area on the south side of the south arm of the Fraser was named for the original Europeans to settle there. First called Ladner's Landing, the area was settled by Thomas Ellis Ladner (1837–1922) and William Henry Ladner (1826–1907).[1] They had travelled from their home in Cornwall, UK to pursue the gold rush in California and later on the Fraser River. Settling on the area of the Fraser River Delta either side of the Chilukthan Slough in 1868, both turned to farming and fishing.

Wikipedia

 

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

 

Stay Healthy

  

Happy Clicks,

~Christie (happiest) by the River

   

*Best experienced in full screen

Outfit including dress, furbelt, crown, halo, wings, earrings, boots, face jewelry, skin : P The Plastik - Fraia Ice Queen Gacha. At The Epiphany

Head : Lelutka - Simone 3.3

Lipstick : Glam Affair for Lelutka.

Hair : Mina - Leslie. In main store.

 

Decor :

.:Tm:.Creation : "The Polar Refuge" Winter Nature Scene. At Swank Home & Garden.

DRD Death Row Designs - Building Remains. At Eclipse

It has been a awhile since we’ve spotted a Kestrel. We were visiting Yolo Bypass near Davis Ca and there were lots of birds to see, including this little beauty.

This Female kestrel was easy to identify by the rufous coloring on her head, wings, and back, with black barring.

The female’s wings lack the male’s blue-gray color.

Credits

 

Kitty (left) :

 

Outfit including hair, boots, dress, jewelry, eye patch, gloves, shoulder piece : Irrisistible - Blind Love Gacha.New!! ❥ @ Gacha Garden 🐾

Shiny Stuff Hd make up ( lipstick and shadows ) New!! ❥ The Liaison Collaborative 🐾

#09 [ SpotCat ] Delicate motives - Postcard New!! ❥ @ Gacha Garden 🐾

. ERSCH - Dragon Earring

  

Kynne :

Outfit including hair, boots, dress, jewelry, eye patch, gloves : Irrisistible - Blind Love GachaNew!! ❥ @ Gacha Garden 🐾

Lipstick : Persephone [p] - just bitten

Eyeshadow : Persephone -

[p] reckless eyeshadows - lelutka. At Planet 29.

  

Decor :

  

Backdrop :Irrisistible - Romantic Valentine Backdrop (3 background textures)Irrisistible - Love Circle Floating Chair. New!! ❥ @ Gacha Garden 🐾

 

09 [ SpotCat ] Delicate motives - Postcard New!! ❥ @ Gacha Garden 🐾

15 [ SpotCat ] Delicate motives - Bear grey New!! ❥ @ Gacha Garden 🐾

  

-Garden- by anc "baby's breash"{natural}

-Garden- by anc "poppy"{red}

  

This large museum of natural history combines three museums into one, including a four-story taxonomy wing, a building of skeletons and fossils and a separate structure devoted entirely to geology.

All rights reserved.

  

This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.

Sarah has departed and embarked on her 23 hour (including stop-overs) adventure to New Zealand. Monique and Charlotte are well settled in and getting back to their routines after spending a week at home.

 

I am alone now and I too will settle back into my routine. Collectively the four of us travelled 800 Km in the car and Sarah and I an additional 709 Km this past week.

 

It was an adventure like no other I have ever experienced and most certainly one that I will cherish all my life and reflect back upon and live over and over again in my mind. Yes our time together has come to an end however the bond and friendship we all formed will never end…

 

This is dedicated to the three of you for making my life richer and stronger. TWMA.

 

MSP

 

Protected with PIXSY

 

This 18th-century church boasts the highest tower in colonial Quito and a wealth of fascinating art, including paintings that show volcanoes erupting over the church roofs of the city and the capital covered with ashes.

 

Legend says that the tower, the only unblessed part of the church, is possessed by the devil. Supposedly the only person strong enough to resist the devil was a bell-ringer named Ceferino, and no one has dared enter the tower since he died in 1810.

  

***

  

The Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Merced is located in the Ecuadorian capital Quito. The white building has five domes and a square tower. The building is decorated with Incan and Moorish inscriptions. Construction started in 1701. The tower was completed in 1736 and the basilica was consecrated in 1747.

(including the bullshit you've told her about me)

 

Schlosspark Rheinsberg, Promenade

Some little known facts about jelly fish:

 

1. The largest recorded jellyfish had tentacles over 120ft long!

 

The largest jellyfish known to man is the Lions Mane jellyfish. It has an average bell diameter of around 50cm but the largest specimens can be as big as 6ft in diameter with tentacles 100ft or more in length! The largest Lions Mane jellyfish recorded was found in Massachusetts. It had a bell diameter of 2.3m and its tentacles were 37m (121.4ft) long!

 

2. Jellyfish have no brain!

 

They also have no heart, bones or blood and are around 95% water! So how do they function without a brain or central nervous system? They have a basic set of nerves at the base of their tentacles which can detect touch, temperature, salinity etc. Since they don’t have a brain, they depend on automatic reflexes in response to these stimuli! Catching prey is also a matter of chance. They don’t actively hunt down their food; they just wait for prey to come in contact with their tentacles.

 

3. There are around 2000 known species of jellyfish!

 

There are more than 2000 different types of jellyfish, with many more still waiting to be discovered. Only approximately 70 of these species have stings strong enough to harm humans. Jellyfish are found in every ocean of the world, including around the UK!

 

4. Jellyfish have been around for approximately 650 million years!

 

Jellyfish have no bones so fossils are hard to come by, but scientists have evidence that these creatures have been bobbing along in the world’s oceans for around 650 million years or even longer. That means they pre-date the dinosaurs by hundreds of millions of years!

 

5. Jellyfish are a popular snack for the Leatherback Turtle!

 

Leatherback Turtles are known to follow groups of jellyfish in order to get a tasty meal, often bringing them close to coastlines like the UK. These turtles aren’t the only species to find jellyfish appetizing; in some parts of the world humans also view jellyfish as a delicacy! The most common jellyfish chosen for this delicacy is the Cannonball jellyfish.

 

6. Jellyfish are not actually fish!

 

Jellyfish live mainly in the ocean but aren’t actually fish. They are plankton, and float in the water as they are carried by currents. They are members of the Cnidarian family, along with coral and anemones!

 

7. Jellyfish are taking over the oceans!

 

In recent years certain parts of the world have seen a problematic increase in jellyfish populations, called blooms. Scientists believe this is to do with additional nutrients in the water, climate change or fishing along the coastlines. Some researchers are concerned that the increased numbers of jellyfish could compete for food resources with fish and other marine animals, and eventually out-compete native local species. Jellyfish are one of the very few creatures that have been known to adapt to ocean dead zones, where there is little oxygen and lots of pollution.

 

Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric (pronounced /ˈ or fly Amanita (pronounced , is a poisonous and psychoactive basidiomycete fungus, one of many in the genus Amanita. Native throughout the temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, Amanita muscaria has been unintentionally introduced to many countries in the Southern Hemisphere, generally as a symbiont with pine plantations, and is now a true cosmopolitan species. It associates with various deciduous and coniferous trees. The quintessential toadstool, it is a large white-gilled, white-spotted, usually deep red mushroom, one of the most recognizable and widely encountered in popular culture. Several subspecies, with differing cap colour have been recognised to date, including the brown regalis (considered a separate species), the yellow-orange flavivolata, guessowii, and formosa, and the pinkish persicina. Genetic studies published in 2006 and 2008 show several sharply delineated clades which may represent separate species.

 

Although generally considered poisonous, deaths are extremely rare, and it has been consumed as a food in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America after parboiling in water. Amanita muscaria is now primarily famed for its hallucinogenic properties, with its main psychoactive constituent being the compound muscimol. It was used as an intoxicant and entheogen by the peoples of Siberia and has a religious significance in these cultures. There has been much speculation on traditional use of this mushroom as an intoxicant in places other than Siberia; however, such traditions are far less well-documented.

Kynne (left) :

Outfit including sweaterdress and pom-poms : Giz Seorn - Fa La La La Gacha. At The Epiphany.

Head : Catwa - Catya

Skin : Glam Affair - Anais applier. At The Arcade Gacha.

Hair : Tableau Vivant - Sweetmas Gacha - Canies. At The Arcade Gacha.

 

Duchess (right) :

Outfit including sweaterdress and pom-poms : Giz Seorn - Fa La La La Gacha. At The Epiphany.

Head : Catwa - Kimberly

Skin : Glam Affair - Anais applier. At The Arcade Gacha.

Hair : Tableau Vivant - Sweetmas Gacha - Ice Cream. At The Arcade Gacha.

 

Pose : Friends Pose Unbeatable!

 

Decor :

Pine trees and snowy trees : Keke Pine Trees. At Uber.

Frozen Kingdom Ice Sculptures by HEXtraordinary ~ Available at The Epiphany.

Twinkle Twinkle poses including moon and stars by Samposes at Samposes Store

All rights reserved. No use, reproduction or duplication including electronic is allowed without written consent.

Crops including rice, growing near Sembalun Lawang village, Lombok, Indonesia. The rice which is ready to harvest is yellow. The fields are also near traditional Sasak ethnic houses.

 

f/11 1/400 ISO 200 16mm Pentax DA f/2.8 16-50mm Pentax K-5

Please, no invitations to award/forced comment groups or to those with large/animated comment codes.

 

Small brownish wren, usually rather plain overall, with dark barring on the wings and tail. Lacks white eyebrow. Occurs in a variety of open or semiopen habitats, including suburbs, parks, rural farmland, and woodland edge with thick tangles. Larger, longer tailed, and generally slightly paler than Winter and Pacific Wrens. Often perches conspicuously when singing, but otherwise fairly secretive. Listen for bubbly song of chatters and trills, and harsh scolding calls. (eBird)

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One of my favourite birds! For such a small bird they are both incredibly vocal and very fierce. This one was singing up a literal wind storm but didn't seem the least fussed about the wind mussing his feathers.

 

Carden Alvar Provincial Park, Kawartha Lakes, Ontario. June 2025.

Old Harry Rocks are three chalk formations, including a stack and a stump, located at Handfast Point, on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, southern England. They mark the most eastern point of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Feeling strong gratitude that these 2 eagles live opposite the creek from me and I am able to watch and enjoy them each and every day. Including the times they have offspring and during those times having the pleasure of watching the youngsters grow.

If we look around we have so much to be grateful for!

 

Thank you for your kind visit. Have a wonderful and beautiful day! ❤️❤️❤️

This blue hour photograph was taken two weeks ago near Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay looking towards some landmarks including (from left) ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands, Marina Bay Financial Centre and part of Central Business District.

 

It was windy that evening in Marina Bay. The colourful reflections provided complementary interests to the cityscape at blue hour.

 

Best wishes for a relaxing Sunday!

NEW EVENT! Please join me at the Out of Chicago LIVE! Online Global Photography Conference taking place April 24-26, 2020. Without leaving home, immerse yourself in photography inspiration and learning with three days of live presentations and 100+ interactive sessions,including panel discussions, tutorials, individual photo challenges and group image reviews. Learn online face to face from over 60 world-class professional photographers that love to teach. Highlights:•Instructor guided learning, online over 3 days LIVE!•150+ presentations and interactive sessions on a wide range of topics and photography fields including landscape, nature, travel, street, architecture, post-processing and more.•Thousands of dollars in prizes.•Access to presentations and recordings will be available after the conference.For more information,

 

visitwww.outofchicago.com/live.

Junk Food - "Disaster Dinner". From those crazy two who know how to celebrate Thanksgiving comes yet another hysterical must have. Move over "Thanksgiving in a Can", Thanksgiving Tupperware Leftovers" and make room for "Disaster Dinner" Four sets to choose from including Instant Mashed Taters, Sweet Potato Pie, Sweet Potato Casserole, and Turkey. Of course anything that looks this good should be shared, Junk Food has you covered with clickable, bento hold animations for your friends to enjoy too! Available in-world only during this weekend's Saturday Sale.

 

Junk Food In-World (It's like Disney but for foodies!):

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Junk%20Food/192/72/36

Junk Food MP:

marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/150026

Junk Food on FB:

www.facebook.com/junkfoodsl/

Junk Food Flickr:

www.flickr.com/groups/junkfoodstore/pool/

®All rights reserved Aida L.Plazzotta. Please do not use this image on any media and/or advertising, including blogs, websites without my explicit written permission. Thank you.

The brown pelican is one of three species found in the Americas and one of two that feed by diving into water. It is found on the Atlantic Coast from New Jersey to the mouth of the Amazon River, and along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to northern Chile, including the Galapagos Islands.

~ Wikipedia

Scotch Argus Butterfly:

 

Despite its name, the Scotch Argus is not only found in Scotland; it is also found at two sites in the north of England. A freshly emerged Scotch Argus is a sight to behold; the dark brown velvety upper sides making the butterfly appear almost jet black from a distance. The butterfly is unmistakable when seen basking with its wings open, when orange bands containing distinctive spots are revealed. This butterfly lives in well-defined colonies that are often very large.

Like the Mountain Ringlet, the ability of this butterfly to survive cool temperatures means that it was probably one of the first species to recolonise the British Isles after the last ice age, over 10,000 years ago. The English colonies, Arnside Knott and Smardale Gill, are both found in Westmorland. Colonies are much more numerous in Scotland, where this butterfly can be found in most of northern, western and southwest Scotland. This butterfly is absent from the lowlands of central Scotland, many of the western isles (including the Outer Hebrides), Orkney and Shetland.

 

Courtesy of UK Butterflies website

The dahlia originates from the high plateaus of Mexico, where it originally grew as a wildflower. Indigenous peoples, including the Aztecs, cultivated these flowers not only for their aesthetic value but also used their long, hollow stems as water conduits. The botanical name, pinnata, honors Anders Dahl, an 18th-century Swedish botanist and student of Carl Linnaeus.

www.flowerbulbsamsterdam.nl/geschiedenis-van-de-dahlia/

Something New Props & Poses - "Happy New Year 2021" Couples poses includes everything you see here including toilet paper roll. Best of all, this pose is FREE as a Group Gift in-world only.

@http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rainbow%20Illuzion/82/81/1003

""Yayoi Kusama, 草間 彌生 (1929) is a female Japanese artist and writer.

Her artworks are enormously famous and inspire numbers of artists worldwide.

Throughout her career she has worked in a wide variety of media, including painting, collage, soft sculpture, performance art, and environmental installations, most of which exhibit her thematic interest in psychedelic colors, repetition, and pattern.

A precursor of the pop art, minimalist and feminist art movements, Yayoi Kusama influenced her contemporaries such as Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenburg, and George Segal and exhibited works alongside the likes of them.""

Info - WiKi

 

At the entrance of the Matsumoto City Museum of Art (松本市美術館), Matsumoto City, Nagano, Japan is one of her famous sculptures, called "The Visionary Flowers" displayed.

You see it a little bit of the sculpture on the background. For full view, just click on the link above ;-))

including Notre Dame reconstruction; shot from the Pompidou, as I recall

 

This is a eclectic B&B converted from a old Funeral Parlor - possibly the first in Iowa.

The inside is filled wall to wall with antique items - weird artifacts including old caskets from 1800's.

 

Happy Bench Monday!

This night photograph of Waibaidu Bridge was taken over two weeks ago during my recent visit to Shanghai.

 

Waibaidu Bridge, also known as Garden Bridge of Shanghai, crossed the Suzhou River that merged with Huangpu River. This bridge was built in 1907 and was the first steel truss bridge in China.

 

The long exposure photograph was taken from a spot on the pedestrian walkway on one side of the Bridge. The illuminated bridge, with traffic light trails, contrasted well with some of Shanghai’s landmarks in Pudong, including Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower.

NS 7518 on the point of train LAZLCR 29 cools its heels at CP Main alongside the LA River while waiting for clearance into LATC. The colorful reflection off the rear well cars comes from the numerous signals on both sides of the river including those of Metro’s light rail system.

Butterflies, including the Orange Lacewing, often hold cultural significance in various societies. In some cultures, they symbolize transformation, beauty, and spiritual growth. They are also celebrated in art, literature, and folklore.

 

Like many other butterfly species, the Orange Lacewing butterfly exhibits mimicry as a defense mechanism. Its vibrant orange coloration and wing patterns mimic those of toxic or unpalatable species, deterring predators from attacking i

The pale chanting goshawk is an opportunistic raptor and eats a wide variety of prey including small mammals, lizards, birds, large insects and carrion. It has also been recorded predating upon Tent tortoise and Leopard tortoise hatchlings which are swallowed whole while the shell is still soft. There is some evidence of social hunting in breeding groups but solitary hunting is the norm. Pale chanting goshawks commonly associate with foraging Honey badgers and feed on organisms that are flushed by the Honey badger's feeding activity. This association increases the hunting opportunities and prey capture success of the pale chanting goshawk while the honey badger does not suffer any loss of foraging efficiency. (Wikipedia)

A wet weather day so editing some previously uploaded images including this one. The moon framed by some ominous looking clouds in the North of Gran Canaria. Taken with a Canon 5D4 and a Sigma 125mm Art lens, early one morning hence the need for the high ISO.

 

A blog about Framing in Photography

 

Moon photos on Getty Images

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