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Kirkjufell is a 463 m high mountain on the north coast of Iceland's Snæfellsnes peninsula, near the town of Grundarfjörður. It is claimed to be the most photographed mountain in the country.
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula is a region in western Iceland known for its dramatic landscapes. At its western tip, Snæfellsjökull National Park is dominated by Snæfellsjökull Volcano, which is topped by a glacier. Nearby, a trail leads through lava fields to black-pebble beach
From my own front yard under one of Melbourne’s rare crisp, clear, winter skies, I captured this view of Centaurus A. A striking lenticular galaxy around 13 million light-years away. Known for its dramatic dust lane slicing through a luminous elliptical core, Centaurus A is a vivid reminder of cosmic collisions, thought to be the result of a merger between two galaxies. It’s among the closest active galaxies to Earth and home to a powerful radio source. This image was taken with my RC8 telescope during a calm, clear night. Proof that even from a suburban setting, deep space reveals its wonders.
Stacked and processed using PixInsight.
Equipment Details:
• GSO 8" Carbon Fibre Ritchey Chretien (RC8) Telescope
• Skywatcher NEQ6 Mount
• ZWO ASI533MC Pro Color Camera cooled to -10'c
• Orion ST80 Guide Scope
• ZWO ASI120 Mini Guide Camera
• ZWO ASIAir Pro for Mount Control, Polar Aligning and Image Acquisition.
Exposure Details:
• 60 X 180 seconds - Bin 1x1
Total Integration Time: 3.0 hours
The Miami Tower is a 47-story, landmark office skyscraper in Miami, Florida, United States. It is located in central Downtown. It is currently the 8th tallest building in Miami and Florida. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter placed it on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places as the Bank of America Tower.
Built for CenTrust Bank in 1987, the 47-story building ranks in the top ten tallest skyscrapers in Miami and in Florida at a height of 625 feet (191 m) and is known for its elaborate night-time illuminations and its dramatic three glass tiers. Designed by the Pei Cobb Freed & Partners architectural firm, the tower consists of two separate structures: A 10-story parking garage owned by the city and the 47-story office tower built upon the air rights of the garage. Preliminary planning for the tower began in February 1980; construction on the garage began by November. The garage was completed in February 1983 and the tower began construction a year later. On August 1984, while the tower was under construction, a 5-alarm fire began on the ninth floor; construction was subsequently delayed for several weeks. On December 15, 1985, the tower was lit for the first time in Miami Dolphins aqua and snowflakes.
By mid-1986, the tower's exterior was complete and the grand opening for the complex was set for early fall that same year. Due to the uneven settling of the tower's foundation to one side by several inches, and the resulting misalignment of the tower's elevator rails, the grand opening for the complex was delayed until February 1987. The complete complex featured the world's only elevated metro station in a skyscraper (Knight Center station). It also gained notoriety for its luxurious interiors, including a skylobby on the 11th floor covered in marble and gold and a 10,000 sq ft (930 m2) outdoor terrace. Also its indoor gym features mahogany cabinets. The tower is connected to the James L. Knight Center by a pedestrian walkway and on the first floor is a retail spine covered with green marble. The tower contains 1,160,000 sq ft (108,000 m2) with 503,000 sq ft (46,700 m2) of office space and a 535,000 sq ft (49,700 m2), 1,500 space parking garage.
The building appears during the end credits of the 1986 movie Flight Of The Navigator in an aerial shot of Miami. The very top floors can clearly be seen still under construction.
The roof of the building was the set of Gloria Estefan's 1994 video for "Turn The Beat Around". The building is also one of many featured on the backdrop of the stage on The Tonight Show.
On January 1, 2010, the building was renamed the Miami Tower.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
Souter lighthouse, Coast Rd, Whitburn, Sunderland, UK
Brief history
Souter Lighthouse was opened in 1871 and immediately became a technological milestone: it was the first lighthouse in the world designed and built to operate on electricity rather than oil or gas. Its powerful electric arc lamp made it one of the brightest coastal lights of its era, guiding ships along the hazardous stretch of coastline between the Tyne and the Wear, an area notorious for shipwrecks. The lighthouse was engineered by Sir James Douglass, with electrical systems by Professor William Thomson (later Lord Kelvin), two giants of Victorian innovation. For more than a century it served as a vital navigational aid, staffed by keepers who lived in the adjoining cottages. After being decommissioned in 1988, it was preserved by the National Trust and now stands as a heritage site, offering visitors a glimpse into maritime history and the life of lighthouse keepers on England’s rugged northeast coast.
Maritime tales
The coastline around Souter Lighthouse has long been a magnet for eerie tales, thanks to its dramatic cliffs, unpredictable weather, and centuries of maritime tragedy. Many visitors and staff have reported strange experiences inside the old keeper’s cottages, from unexplained footsteps and doors moving on their own to the lingering scent of pipe smoke in rooms where no one has smoked for decades. One of the most persistent stories is that of a quiet, watchful figure known as the “Man in the Blue Coat,” believed to be a former lighthouse worker. He has been seen in the engine room, near the tower base, and occasionally staring out of cottage windows before vanishing. On stormy nights, some people claim to hear the faint tolling of a ship’s bell drifting across the cliffs, even though no such bell exists there today.
Just south of the lighthouse, Marsden Bay adds its own layer of folklore. The caves and sea stacks were once hideouts for smugglers and wreckers, and the most famous tale is that of John the Jibber, a smuggler who betrayed his gang and was supposedly left to die in the caves. Locals say his restless spirit still haunts the shoreline, especially at dusk when the tide creeps in. The cliffs themselves are said to “sing” when the wind hits them at the right angle, producing eerie tones that fishermen once believed were warnings from drowned sailors.
The area’s supernatural reputation is rooted in very real maritime danger. Before modern navigation, the stretch between the Tyne and the Wear was notorious for shipwrecks. The Zephyr, a collier brig, struck the rocks near Whitburn Steel in the 1830s, and survivors reported seeing mysterious lights on the cliffs—stories that fed later ghost lore. The Betsy Cains was lost in fog in the 1850s, and although some crew were rescued, several bodies washed ashore days later, giving rise to tales of shadowy figures seen during sea mists. Even into the industrial age, ships like the Hesperus in the 1890s continued to run aground in storms, their wrecks becoming part of the seabed and their stories part of the coastline’s haunted identity. With so many tragedies, it’s no surprise that Souter’s cliffs feel steeped in memory, myth, and the lingering echoes of the past.
Badlands National Park is in South Dakota. Its dramatic landscapes span layered rock formations, steep canyons and towering spires. Bison, bighorn sheep and prairie dogs inhabit its sprawling grasslands. The Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240) winds past scenic lookouts. Several trails begin near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. The Fossil Exhibit Trail is a boardwalk with displays on fossils uncovered in the park.
The beautiful and now tranquil setting of Augustinian Lanercost Priory belies an often troubled history. Standing close to Hadrian's Wall, it suffered frequent attacks during the long Anglo-Scottish wars, once by Robert Bruce in person. The mortally sick King Edward I rested here for five months in 1306-7, shortly before his death on his final campaign.
The east end of the 13th-century church survives to its full height, housing within its dramatic triple tier of arches some fine monuments.
More photos of Lanercost Priory here: www.flickr.com/photos/davidambridge/albums/72157624989399623
7426-2 | MECONOPSIS BETONICIFOLIA
Visit : www.refordgardens.com/
Visit : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsie_Reford
From Wikipedia:
Elsie Stephen Meighen - born January 22, 1872, Perth, Ontario - and Robert Wilson Reford - born in 1867, Montreal - got married on June 12, 1894.
Elsie Reford was a pioneer of Canadian horticulture, creating one of the largest private gardens in Canada on her estate, Estevan Lodge in eastern Québec. Located in Grand-Métis on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, her gardens have been open to the public since 1962 and operate under the name Les Jardins de Métis and Reford Gardens.
Born January 22, 1872 at Perth, Ontario, Elsie Reford was the eldest of three children born to Robert Meighen and Elsie Stephen. Coming from modest backgrounds themselves, Elsie’s parents ensured that their children received a good education. After being educated in Montreal, she was sent to finishing school in Dresden and Paris, returning to Montreal fluent in both German and French, and ready to take her place in society.
She married Robert Wilson Reford on June 12, 1894. She gave birth to two sons, Bruce in 1895 and Eric in 1900. Robert and Elsie Reford were, by many accounts, an ideal couple. In 1902, they built a house on Drummond Street in Montreal. They both loved the outdoors and they spend several weeks a year in a log cabin they built at Lac Caribou, south of Rimouski. In the autumn they hunted for caribou, deer, and ducks. They returned in winter to ski and snowshoe. Elsie Reford also liked to ride. She had learned as a girl and spent many hours riding on the slopes of Mount Royal. And of course, there was salmon-fishing – a sport at which she excelled.
In her day, she was known for her civic, social, and political activism. She was engaged in philanthropic activities, particularly for the Montreal Maternity Hospital and she was also the moving force behind the creation of the Women’s Canadian Club of Montreal, the first women club in Canada. She believed it important that the women become involved in debates over the great issues of the day, « something beyond the local gossip of the hour ». Her acquaintance with Lord Grey, the Governor-General of Canada from 1904 to 1911, led to her involvement in organizing, in 1908, Québec City’s tercentennial celebrations. The event was one of many to which she devoted herself in building bridges with French-Canadian community.
During the First World War, she joined her two sons in England and did volunteer work at the War Office, translating documents from German into English. After the war, she was active in the Victorian Order of Nurses, the Montreal Council of Social Agencies, and the National Association of Conservative Women.
In 1925 at the age of 53 years, Elsie Reford was operated for appendicitis and during her convalescence, her doctor counselled against fishing, fearing that she did not have the strength to return to the river.”Why not take up gardening?” he said, thinking this a more suitable pastime for a convalescent woman of a certain age. That is why she began laying out the gardens and supervising their construction. The gardens would take ten years to build, and would extend over more than twenty acres.
Elsie Reford had to overcome many difficulties in bringing her garden to life. First among them were the allergies that sometimes left her bedridden for days on end. The second obstacle was the property itself. Estevan was first and foremost a fishing lodge. The site was chosen because of its proximity to a salmon river and its dramatic views – not for the quality of the soil.
To counter-act nature’s deficiencies, she created soil for each of the plants she had selected, bringing peat and sand from nearby farms. This exchange was fortuitous to the local farmers, suffering through the Great Depression. Then, as now, the gardens provided much-needed work to an area with high unemployment. Elsie Reford’s genius as a gardener was born of the knowledge she developed of the needs of plants. Over the course of her long life, she became an expert plantsman. By the end of her life, Elsie Reford was able to counsel other gardeners, writing in the journals of the Royal Horticultural Society and the North American Lily Society. Elsie Reford was not a landscape architect and had no training of any kind as a garden designer. While she collected and appreciated art, she claimed no talents as an artist.
Elsie Stephen Reford died at her Drummond Street home on November 8, 1967 in her ninety-sixth year.
In 1995, the Reford Gardens ("Jardins de Métis") in Grand-Métis were designated a National Historic Site of Canada, as being an excellent Canadian example of the English-inspired garden.(Wikipedia)
LES JARDINS DE MÉTIS
Créés par Elsie Reford de 1926 à 1958, ces jardins témoignent de façon remarquable de l’art paysager à l’anglaise. Disposés dans un cadre naturel, un ensemble de jardins exhibent fleurs vivaces, arbres et arbustes. Le jardin des pommetiers, les rocailles et l’Allée royale évoquent l’œuvre de cette dame passionnée d’horticulture. Agrémenté d’un ruisseau et de sentiers sinueux, ce site jouit d’un microclimat favorable à la croissance d’espèces uniques au Canada. Les pavots bleus et les lis, privilégiés par Mme Reford, y fleurissent toujours et contribuent , avec d’autres plantes exotiques et indigènes, à l’harmonie de ces lieux.
Created by Elsie Reford between 1926 and 1958, these gardens are an inspired example of the English art of the garden. Woven into a natural setting, a series of gardens display perennials, trees and shrubs. A crab-apple orchard, a rock garden, and the Long Walk are also the legacy of this dedicated horticulturist. A microclimate favours the growth of species found nowhere else in Canada, while the stream and winding paths add to the charm. Elsie Reford’s beloved blue poppies and lilies still bloom and contribute, with other exotic and indigenous plants, to the harmony of the site.
Commission des lieux et monuments historiques du Canada
Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
Gouvernement du Canada – Government of Canada
© Copyright
This photo and all those in my Photostream are protected by copyright. No one may reproduce, copy, transmit or manipulate them without my written permission.
A fjord is a long, narrow and deep inlet of the sea between high cliffs, typically formed by submergence of a glaciated valley. Austnesfjorden is a fjord situated on the northern coast of the Austvagoy Island in the Lofoten archipelago, which is a chain of islands clustered together in Norwegian sea. The fjord is renowned for its dramatic scenery by steep mountainsides rising directly from the deep blue waters.
There were more than 3 feet snow covering the Austnesfjorden viewpoint area, and it took me quite an effort to get on the top. Unfortunately, the viewpoint only provided me a partial view of the entire scene. After exploring the area for a while, I found an open area that needed to go down the hill and then climb up to another hill. However, I was not sure if I should go there because I had to carry 20+ pounds of the camera gear in deep snow. While I was hesitant, one member of our workshop said to me that we traveled thousands of miles to visit this wonderful place and the location you wanted was only less than half mile away. His words inspired me and both of us went there together. This was what I got.
The photo was stitched by 4 images.
Excerpt from Wikipedia:
Cathedral Gorge State Park is a public recreation area and geologic preserve featuring a dramatic landscape of eroded soft bentonite clay covering more than 1,600 acres (650 ha) in Lincoln County, Nevada. The state park is located along U.S. Route 93 at the west end of State Route 319, two miles (3.2 km) northwest of the town of Panaca.
The site has been popular with local picnickers since the nineteenth century, when it was known as Cathedral Gulch. During the 1920s, its dramatic landscape provided a background for open-air plays and annual Easter ceremonies. Governor James Scrugham began acquiring and setting aside the area for preservation in 1924. It subsequently became one of the four original Nevada state parks created in 1935. Members of the Civilian Conservation Corps built picnicking facilities that are still in use as well as a stone water tower and stone restroom which are no longer in operation.
The park sits at an elevation of 4,800 feet (1,500 m) above sea level, and is typically arid with semi-hot summers, and very cold winters. In the summer, temperatures range roughly from 95 °F (35 °C) in midday to 55 °F (13 °C) at night. Rainfall is variable and thunderstorms prevalent.
A majority of Meadow Valley (which lies along U.S. Route 93 from the towns of Caliente to Panaca) was covered by a freshwater lake nearly 1 million years ago during the Pliocene Era. The richly colored canyons of Cathedral Gorge (called the Panaca Formation) are remnants of this ancient lakebed. Over centuries, the lake began to gradually drain. Erosion began working away at the exposed portions of sediment and gravel that once composed the lake bottom. Rainwater and melting snow carved rivulets in the soft siltstone and clay shale, splitting tiny cracks and fissures into larger and larger gullies and canyons.
The Miami Tower is a 47-story, landmark office skyscraper in Miami, Florida, United States. It is located in central Downtown. It is currently the 8th tallest building in Miami and Florida. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter placed it on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places as the Bank of America Tower.
Built for CenTrust Bank in 1987, the 47-story building ranks in the top ten tallest skyscrapers in Miami and in Florida at a height of 625 feet (191 m) and is known for its elaborate night-time illuminations and its dramatic three glass tiers. Designed by the Pei Cobb Freed & Partners architectural firm, the tower consists of two separate structures: A 10-story parking garage owned by the city and the 47-story office tower built upon the air rights of the garage. Preliminary planning for the tower began in February 1980; construction on the garage began by November. The garage was completed in February 1983 and the tower began construction a year later. On August 1984, while the tower was under construction, a 5-alarm fire began on the ninth floor; construction was subsequently delayed for several weeks. On December 15, 1985, the tower was lit for the first time in Miami Dolphins aqua and snowflakes.
By mid-1986, the tower's exterior was complete and the grand opening for the complex was set for early fall that same year. Due to the uneven settling of the tower's foundation to one side by several inches, and the resulting misalignment of the tower's elevator rails, the grand opening for the complex was delayed until February 1987. The complete complex featured the world's only elevated metro station in a skyscraper (Knight Center station). It also gained notoriety for its luxurious interiors, including a skylobby on the 11th floor covered in marble and gold and a 10,000 sq ft (930 m2) outdoor terrace. Also its indoor gym features mahogany cabinets. The tower is connected to the James L. Knight Center by a pedestrian walkway and on the first floor is a retail spine covered with green marble. The tower contains 1,160,000 sq ft (108,000 m2) with 503,000 sq ft (46,700 m2) of office space and a 535,000 sq ft (49,700 m2), 1,500 space parking garage.
The building appears during the end credits of the 1986 movie Flight Of The Navigator in an aerial shot of Miami. The very top floors can clearly be seen still under construction.
The roof of the building was the set of Gloria Estefan's 1994 video for "Turn The Beat Around". The building is also one of many featured on the backdrop of the stage on The Tonight Show.
On January 1, 2010, the building was renamed the Miami Tower.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
The Miami Tower is a 47-story, landmark office skyscraper in Miami, Florida, United States. It is located in central Downtown. It is currently the 8th tallest building in Miami and Florida. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter placed it on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places as the Bank of America Tower.
Built for CenTrust Bank in 1987, the 47-story building ranks in the top ten tallest skyscrapers in Miami and in Florida at a height of 625 feet (191 m) and is known for its elaborate night-time illuminations and its dramatic three glass tiers. Designed by the Pei Cobb Freed & Partners architectural firm, the tower consists of two separate structures: A 10-story parking garage owned by the city and the 47-story office tower built upon the air rights of the garage. Preliminary planning for the tower began in February 1980; construction on the garage began by November. The garage was completed in February 1983 and the tower began construction a year later. On August 1984, while the tower was under construction, a 5-alarm fire began on the ninth floor; construction was subsequently delayed for several weeks. On December 15, 1985, the tower was lit for the first time in Miami Dolphins aqua and snowflakes.
By mid-1986, the tower's exterior was complete and the grand opening for the complex was set for early fall that same year. Due to the uneven settling of the tower's foundation to one side by several inches, and the resulting misalignment of the tower's elevator rails, the grand opening for the complex was delayed until February 1987. The complete complex featured the world's only elevated metro station in a skyscraper (Knight Center station). It also gained notoriety for its luxurious interiors, including a skylobby on the 11th floor covered in marble and gold and a 10,000 sq ft (930 m2) outdoor terrace. Also its indoor gym features mahogany cabinets. The tower is connected to the James L. Knight Center by a pedestrian walkway and on the first floor is a retail spine covered with green marble. The tower contains 1,160,000 sq ft (108,000 m2) with 503,000 sq ft (46,700 m2) of office space and a 535,000 sq ft (49,700 m2), 1,500 space parking garage.
The building appears during the end credits of the 1986 movie Flight Of The Navigator in an aerial shot of Miami. The very top floors can clearly be seen still under construction.
The roof of the building was the set of Gloria Estefan's 1994 video for "Turn The Beat Around". The building is also one of many featured on the backdrop of the stage on The Tonight Show.
On January 1, 2010, the building was renamed the Miami Tower.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula is a region in western Iceland known for its dramatic landscapes. At its western tip, Snæfellsjökull National Park is dominated by Snæfellsjökull Volcano, which is topped by a glacier. Nearby, a trail leads through lava fields to black-pebble beach
"The Way of Suffering" for Easter 2023.
Michelangelo’s Pietà (1498-99). It’s the high point of Renaissance marble sculpture. Ostensibly a religious subject - the lifeless body of Jesus cradled by his mother after he was taken down from the cross - but to limit it to this is shortsighted and a serious underestimation of the human condition. This is only a poor copy of the statue, and I have done my best to show it in its dramatic context. This is a single shot and all I’ve done is bring up the highlights on the figures and turned day into night.
But contemplate this image for a moment. Imagine a mother who has just witnessed her son die in the most extreme and painful of executions, all the while knowing her son is innocent. How would you react? Mary would gladly have put herself in Jesus’ place I’m sure and it is no wonder she is adored as an archetype of grace (Ave Maria). Hours before, her son was alive and now she had no idea what would happen next. The pain is as psychologically excruciating as the physical pain Jesus bore (note the etymology of the word “cruciate” derived from Latin crux meaning cross). The thing the dead have over those who witness the death of a loved one, is that their pain is over. Those who remain feel that pain as grief for as long as we live.
And so Gautama Buddha was right, at the heart of the human condition is inevitable suffering. Only solipsistic fools feel blissful and happy about their life, warding off the deep psychological scars we all bear like a fearful person in the dark with garlic to fend off the vampires of the soul. They do this by living on the surface of trivialities. They have forgotten how to feel. They have almost ceased to be human and thus lack compassion. That’s another word worth exploring: Com-passion. It means to “suffer with”, to feel the pain of others as acutely as we feel our own. So contemplate Mary the Mother of Jesus. See how much her pain is also ours too. It’s what the hymn writer had in mind when he penned “The Old Rugged Cross” (1912 - as the world was about to be plunged into its very own Calvary).
When my father died last year his last days were made as comfortable as possible, but for nearly two years he suffered. His death was beautiful because it was a release from the pain and into the presence of the God he loved. But for those of his family gathered to watch him breathe his last our pain was excruciating. My mother would have swapped places with my father in an instant, and even tried to take those last laboured breaths for him. I’m sure many have been in exactly the same position. That’s what love is, and the more we love the harder it is to see our beloved suffer. Contemplate Mary, who shares these moments with every soul who opens their heart.
The body of Jesus was beaten and broken. The scourge of the whip had torn the flesh from his body even before the nails were driven through his hands and feet. Have you wondered why it is that the central symbol of the Christian faith is a crucifix? Oh there are some Christians who jump ahead to the triumphant Resurrection and want to bypass the suffering of the cross. But that is something we cannot ever do. Even Jesus told his disciples, “Following me will cost you too. Take up your cross if you want to come after me.” And so they did, martyrs to the Roman empire by their thousands. And still the faith survived, as it will against its enemies today too. Something truly eternal cannot ever really die (the pagan philosopher Parmenides knew that much too).
After the family had left the room, the palliative care nurse asked if I would be able to assist her in holding my father’s body so that she could gently wash it down. I never hesitated, and as I held my father’s lifeless body on its side I looked down the length of it to his pallid face. He was not there anymore, but the body we loved was broken and scarred from many surgeries. The tears did not flow at this time, but I remembered Mary holding the body of her son, only in this case the role was reversed into its natural order. And I felt her loving embrace. For those in Christ, Mary is indeed the mother of us all (Ave Maria).
Once again this Easter Christians contemplate the holiest moment in world history. But this is a truly transcendental moment for all of humanity whatever belief system you may or may not hold. Imagine for just a moment that the Easter story really is true. That Jesus actually did take upon himself the suffering of the entire world and transformed it by an alchemy of love into Eternal Life.
The world is surely passing away, and it will come sooner for us than we think. Are we ready for what lies beyond the veil of death? For as I said at my father’s funeral, “The clock is ticking for death.” No need to beat around the bush with euphemisms, stare death down, look it in the face. As St Paul once said, “Oh Death where is thy sting? Oh grave thy victory?” The gift of God is Eternal Life. That’s why the Gospel is good news.
* For those with a little time this Easter, let me encourage you to listen to this marvellous talk by author Tom Holland. www.tom-holland.org/
"Tom Holland - Why I changed my mind about Christianity"
Quirpon Island (pronounced "kar-poon") is a remote, 6.5 km long island located off the northeastern tip of Newfoundland's Great Northern Peninsula in "Iceberg Alley". It is celebrated for its dramatic coastal scenery, frequent whale sightings, and being a prime location for viewing icebergs as they drift south from the Arctic.
Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in northern Vietnam is known for its dramatic limestone karst scenery, winding rivers, caves and historic temples. Often explored by small boat, the area combines natural beauty with cultural and archaeological significance, and has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The landscape is especially noted for its towering limestone formations rising from the waterways and rice fields of Ninh Binh Province.
5417
REFORD GARDENS | LES JARDINS DE MÉTIS
Visit : www.refordgardens.com/
From Wikipedia:
Elsie Stephen Meighen - born January 22, 1872, Perth, Ontario - and Robert Wilson Reford - born in 1867, Montreal - got married on June 12, 1894.
Elsie Reford was a pioneer of Canadian horticulture, creating one of the largest private gardens in Canada on her estate, Estevan Lodge in eastern Québec. Located in Grand-Métis on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, her gardens have been open to the public since 1962 and operate under the name Les Jardins de Métis and Reford Gardens.
Born January 22, 1872 at Perth, Ontario, Elsie Reford was the eldest of three children born to Robert Meighen and Elsie Stephen. Coming from modest backgrounds themselves, Elsie’s parents ensured that their children received a good education. After being educated in Montreal, she was sent to finishing school in Dresden and Paris, returning to Montreal fluent in both German and French, and ready to take her place in society.
She married Robert Wilson Reford on June 12, 1894. She gave birth to two sons, Bruce in 1895 and Eric in 1900. Robert and Elsie Reford were, by many accounts, an ideal couple. In 1902, they built a house on Drummond Street in Montreal. They both loved the outdoors and they spend several weeks a year in a log cabin they built at Lac Caribou, south of Rimouski. In the autumn they hunted for caribou, deer, and ducks. They returned in winter to ski and snowshoe. Elsie Reford also liked to ride. She had learned as a girl and spent many hours riding on the slopes of Mount Royal. And of course, there was salmon-fishing – a sport at which she excelled.
In her day, she was known for her civic, social, and political activism. She was engaged in philanthropic activities, particularly for the Montreal Maternity Hospital and she was also the moving force behind the creation of the Women’s Canadian Club of Montreal, the first women club in Canada. She believed it important that the women become involved in debates over the great issues of the day, « something beyond the local gossip of the hour ». Her acquaintance with Lord Grey, the Governor-General of Canada from 1904 to 1911, led to her involvement in organizing, in 1908, Québec City’s tercentennial celebrations. The event was one of many to which she devoted herself in building bridges with French-Canadian community.
During the First World War, she joined her two sons in England and did volunteer work at the War Office, translating documents from German into English. After the war, she was active in the Victorian Order of Nurses, the Montreal Council of Social Agencies, and the National Association of Conservative Women.
In 1925 at the age of 53 years, Elsie Reford was operated for appendicitis and during her convalescence, her doctor counselled against fishing, fearing that she did not have the strength to return to the river.”Why not take up gardening?” he said, thinking this a more suitable pastime for a convalescent woman of a certain age. That is why she began laying out the gardens and supervising their construction. The gardens would take ten years to build, and would extend over more than twenty acres.
Elsie Reford had to overcome many difficulties in bringing her garden to life. First among them were the allergies that sometimes left her bedridden for days on end. The second obstacle was the property itself. Estevan was first and foremost a fishing lodge. The site was chosen because of its proximity to a salmon river and its dramatic views – not for the quality of the soil.
To counter-act nature’s deficiencies, she created soil for each of the plants she had selected, bringing peat and sand from nearby farms. This exchange was fortuitous to the local farmers, suffering through the Great Depression. Then, as now, the gardens provided much-needed work to an area with high unemployment. Elsie Reford’s genius as a gardener was born of the knowledge she developed of the needs of plants. Over the course of her long life, she became an expert plantsman. By the end of her life, Elsie Reford was able to counsel other gardeners, writing in the journals of the Royal Horticultural Society and the North American Lily Society. Elsie Reford was not a landscape architect and had no training of any kind as a garden designer. While she collected and appreciated art, she claimed no talents as an artist.
Elsie Stephen Reford died at her Drummond Street home on November 8, 1967 in her ninety-sixth year.
In 1995, the Reford Gardens ("Jardins de Métis") in Grand-Métis were designated a National Historic Site of Canada, as being an excellent Canadian example of the English-inspired garden.(Wikipedia)
Visit : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsie_Reford
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Visit : www.refordgardens.com/
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LES JARDINS DE MÉTIS
Créés par Elsie Reford de 1926 à 1958, ces jardins témoignent de façon remarquable de l’art paysager à l’anglaise. Disposés dans un cadre naturel, un ensemble de jardins exhibent fleurs vivaces, arbres et arbustes. Le jardin des pommetiers, les rocailles et l’Allée royale évoquent l’œuvre de cette dame passionnée d’horticulture. Agrémenté d’un ruisseau et de sentiers sinueux, ce site jouit d’un microclimat favorable à la croissance d’espèces uniques au Canada. Les pavots bleus et les lis, privilégiés par Mme Reford, y fleurissent toujours et contribuent , avec d’autres plantes exotiques et indigènes, à l’harmonie de ces lieux.
Created by Elsie Reford between 1926 and 1958, these gardens are an inspired example of the English art of the garden. Woven into a natural setting, a series of gardens display perennials, trees and shrubs. A crab-apple orchard, a rock garden, and the Long Walk are also the legacy of this dedicated horticulturist. A microclimate favours the growth of species found nowhere else in Canada, while the stream and winding paths add to the charm. Elsie Reford’s beloved blue poppies and lilies still bloom and contribute, with other exotic and indigenous plants, to the harmony of the site.
Commission des lieux et monuments historiques du Canada
Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
Gouvernement du Canada – Government of Canada
© Copyright
This photo and all those in my Photostream are protected by copyright. No one may reproduce, copy, transmit or manipulate them without my written permission.
Slowenien - Strunjan
Strunjan Nature Park is a protected gem of Slovenia's coastline, celebrated for its dramatic flysch cliffs, traditional salt pans, diverse wildlife, and lush landscapes shaped by both nature and human hands over centuries. It is a haven for nature enthusiasts and those seeking to explore the harmony between cultural heritage and natural beauty.
What makes Strunjan Nature Park special
Spectacular cliffs and coastal views: The park’s northern boundary features an 80-meter-high flysch cliff, offering breathtaking views over the Gulf of Trieste and the shimmering Adriatic Sea.
Traditional salt pans and lagoon: Strunjan’s still-operating salt pans and coastal lagoon are a living testament to traditional salt-making practices and provide habitats for many bird species.
Rich biodiversity: The park is home to a wide variety of plants and animals, making it an excellent spot for bird-watching and nature exploration.
(portoroz.si)
Der Landschaftspark Strunjan ist ein geschütztes Juwel der slowenischen Küste, bekannt für seine beeindruckenden Flyschklippen, traditionellen Salinen, vielfältige Tierwelt und üppige Landschaften, die im Laufe der Jahrhunderte von der Natur und vom Menschen geprägt wurden. Er ist ein Paradies für Naturliebhaber und all jene, die die Harmonie zwischen kulturellem Erbe und natürlicher Schönheit entdecken möchten.
Was macht den Landschaftspark Strunjan besonders?
Spektakuläre Klippen und Küstenausblicke: Die nördliche Grenze des Parks wird von einer 80 Meter hohen Flyschklippe geprägt, die atemberaubende Ausblicke auf den Golf von Triest und das schimmernde Adriatische Meer bietet.
Traditionelle Salinen und Lagune: Die noch immer aktiven Salinen und die Küstenlagune von Strunjan sind ein lebendiges Zeugnis traditioneller Salzgewinnungsmethoden und bieten Lebensräume für zahlreiche Vogelarten.
Reiche Biodiversität: Der Park beherbergt eine große Vielfalt an Pflanzen und Tieren, was ihn zu einem ausgezeichneten Ort für Vogelbeobachtungen und die Erkundung der Natur macht.
(portoroz.si)
Kirkjufell is a 463 m high mountain on the north coast of Iceland's Snæfellsnes peninsula, near the town of Grundarfjörður. It is claimed to be the most photographed mountain in the country.
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula is a region in western Iceland known for its dramatic landscapes. At its western tip, Snæfellsjökull National Park is dominated by Snæfellsjökull Volcano, which is topped by a glacier. Nearby, a trail leads through lava fields to black-pebble beach
Canon EOS M5 - Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM
Mono Lake is famous for its dramatic sunrises, sunsets and weird tufa formations that rise spookily from the lake bottom. It is an enormous lake, covering more than 43,000 acres, and is highly saline and alkaline since it has no outlet, allowing minerals and salts to accumulate. Resting at the foot of the Eastern side of the Sierra Nevada in California, the lake presents a myriad of moods depending on the time of day, the season and the weather, making it a favorite spot for landscape photographers and tourists.
Last week when I was visiting the area, a series of thunderstorms had rolled through the Sierra, creating day after day of dramatic skies. On this particular day, the lake presented me with a pink sunset, soft and lovely. I ran into a Japanese couple as I walked back to my truck who expressed dismay and some disappointment in the pink sunset. They had been told it would be red.
6491-2 MECONOPSIS BETONICIFOLIA
Himalayan flower imported by Elsie Reford in the early 1930s that has since become the floral emblem of the Gardens.
Visit : www.refordgardens.com/
From Wikipedia:
Elsie Stephen Meighen - born January 22, 1872, Perth, Ontario - and Robert Wilson Reford - born in 1867, Montreal - got married on June 12, 1894.
Elsie Reford was a pioneer of Canadian horticulture, creating one of the largest private gardens in Canada on her estate, Estevan Lodge in eastern Québec. Located in Grand-Métis on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, her gardens have been open to the public since 1962 and operate under the name Les Jardins de Métis and Reford Gardens.
Born January 22, 1872 at Perth, Ontario, Elsie Reford was the eldest of three children born to Robert Meighen and Elsie Stephen. Coming from modest backgrounds themselves, Elsie’s parents ensured that their children received a good education. After being educated in Montreal, she was sent to finishing school in Dresden and Paris, returning to Montreal fluent in both German and French, and ready to take her place in society.
She married Robert Wilson Reford on June 12, 1894. She gave birth to two sons, Bruce in 1895 and Eric in 1900. Robert and Elsie Reford were, by many accounts, an ideal couple. In 1902, they built a house on Drummond Street in Montreal. They both loved the outdoors and they spend several weeks a year in a log cabin they built at Lac Caribou, south of Rimouski. In the autumn they hunted for caribou, deer, and ducks. They returned in winter to ski and snowshoe. Elsie Reford also liked to ride. She had learned as a girl and spent many hours riding on the slopes of Mount Royal. And of course, there was salmon-fishing – a sport at which she excelled.
In her day, she was known for her civic, social, and political activism. She was engaged in philanthropic activities, particularly for the Montreal Maternity Hospital and she was also the moving force behind the creation of the Women’s Canadian Club of Montreal, the first women club in Canada. She believed it important that the women become involved in debates over the great issues of the day, « something beyond the local gossip of the hour ». Her acquaintance with Lord Grey, the Governor-General of Canada from 1904 to 1911, led to her involvement in organizing, in 1908, Québec City’s tercentennial celebrations. The event was one of many to which she devoted herself in building bridges with French-Canadian community.
During the First World War, she joined her two sons in England and did volunteer work at the War Office, translating documents from German into English. After the war, she was active in the Victorian Order of Nurses, the Montreal Council of Social Agencies, and the National Association of Conservative Women.
In 1925 at the age of 53 years, Elsie Reford was operated for appendicitis and during her convalescence, her doctor counselled against fishing, fearing that she did not have the strength to return to the river.”Why not take up gardening?” he said, thinking this a more suitable pastime for a convalescent woman of a certain age. That is why she began laying out the gardens and supervising their construction. The gardens would take ten years to build, and would extend over more than twenty acres.
Elsie Reford had to overcome many difficulties in bringing her garden to life. First among them were the allergies that sometimes left her bedridden for days on end. The second obstacle was the property itself. Estevan was first and foremost a fishing lodge. The site was chosen because of its proximity to a salmon river and its dramatic views – not for the quality of the soil.
To counter-act nature’s deficiencies, she created soil for each of the plants she had selected, bringing peat and sand from nearby farms. This exchange was fortuitous to the local farmers, suffering through the Great Depression. Then, as now, the gardens provided much-needed work to an area with high unemployment. Elsie Reford’s genius as a gardener was born of the knowledge she developed of the needs of plants. Over the course of her long life, she became an expert plantsman. By the end of her life, Elsie Reford was able to counsel other gardeners, writing in the journals of the Royal Horticultural Society and the North American Lily Society. Elsie Reford was not a landscape architect and had no training of any kind as a garden designer. While she collected and appreciated art, she claimed no talents as an artist.
Elsie Stephen Reford died at her Drummond Street home on November 8, 1967 in her ninety-sixth year.
In 1995, the Reford Gardens ("Jardins de Métis") in Grand-Métis were designated a National Historic Site of Canada, as being an excellent Canadian example of the English-inspired garden.(Wikipedia)
Visit : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsie_Reford
Visit : www.refordgardens.com
LES JARDINS DE MÉTIS
Créés par Elsie Reford de 1926 à 1958, ces jardins témoignent de façon remarquable de l’art paysager à l’anglaise. Disposés dans un cadre naturel, un ensemble de jardins exhibent fleurs vivaces, arbres et arbustes. Le jardin des pommetiers, les rocailles et l’Allée royale évoquent l’œuvre de cette dame passionnée d’horticulture. Agrémenté d’un ruisseau et de sentiers sinueux, ce site jouit d’un microclimat favorable à la croissance d’espèces uniques au Canada. Les pavots bleus et les lis, privilégiés par Mme Reford, y fleurissent toujours et contribuent , avec d’autres plantes exotiques et indigènes, à l’harmonie de ces lieux.
Created by Elsie Reford between 1926 and 1958, these gardens are an inspired example of the English art of the garden. Woven into a natural setting, a series of gardens display perennials, trees and shrubs. A crab-apple orchard, a rock garden, and the Long Walk are also the legacy of this dedicated horticulturist. A microclimate favours the growth of species found nowhere else in Canada, while the stream and winding paths add to the charm. Elsie Reford’s beloved blue poppies and lilies still bloom and contribute, with other exotic and indigenous plants, to the harmony of the site.
Commission des lieux et monuments historiques du Canada
Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
Gouvernement du Canada – Government of Canada
© Copyright
This photo and all those in my Photostream are protected by copyright. No one may reproduce, copy, transmit or manipulate them without my written permission.
The Miami Tower is a 47-story, landmark office skyscraper in Miami, Florida, United States. It is located in central Downtown. It is currently the 8th tallest building in Miami and Florida. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter placed it on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places as the Bank of America Tower.
Built for CenTrust Bank in 1987, the 47-story building ranks in the top ten tallest skyscrapers in Miami and in Florida at a height of 625 feet (191 m) and is known for its elaborate night-time illuminations and its dramatic three glass tiers. Designed by the Pei Cobb Freed & Partners architectural firm, the tower consists of two separate structures: A 10-story parking garage owned by the city and the 47-story office tower built upon the air rights of the garage. Preliminary planning for the tower began in February 1980; construction on the garage began by November. The garage was completed in February 1983 and the tower began construction a year later. On August 1984, while the tower was under construction, a 5-alarm fire began on the ninth floor; construction was subsequently delayed for several weeks. On December 15, 1985, the tower was lit for the first time in Miami Dolphins aqua and snowflakes.
By mid-1986, the tower's exterior was complete and the grand opening for the complex was set for early fall that same year. Due to the uneven settling of the tower's foundation to one side by several inches, and the resulting misalignment of the tower's elevator rails, the grand opening for the complex was delayed until February 1987. The complete complex featured the world's only elevated metro station in a skyscraper (Knight Center station). It also gained notoriety for its luxurious interiors, including a skylobby on the 11th floor covered in marble and gold and a 10,000 sq ft (930 m2) outdoor terrace. Also its indoor gym features mahogany cabinets. The tower is connected to the James L. Knight Center by a pedestrian walkway and on the first floor is a retail spine covered with green marble. The tower contains 1,160,000 sq ft (108,000 m2) with 503,000 sq ft (46,700 m2) of office space and a 535,000 sq ft (49,700 m2), 1,500 space parking garage.
The building appears during the end credits of the 1986 movie Flight Of The Navigator in an aerial shot of Miami. The very top floors can clearly be seen still under construction.
The roof of the building was the set of Gloria Estefan's 1994 video for "Turn The Beat Around". The building is also one of many featured on the backdrop of the stage on The Tonight Show.
On January 1, 2010, the building was renamed the Miami Tower.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
Mount Cook, also known as Aoraki / Mount Cook, is the highest mountain in New Zealand, standing at 3,724 meters (12,218 feet). Located in the Southern Alps on the South Island, it’s part of Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park—a UNESCO World Heritage area renowned for its dramatic alpine scenery, glaciers, and rugged peaks. This shot was taken at the Glentanner Lookout on State Highway 80.
This is a favorite place for filming Hollywood movies. Famous films like the Bladerunner, Chinatown, Wolf and Lethal Weapon 4 to name a few made money out of this classic and elegant architecture. This is one great place to apply the HDR that I am fond of. ~ KK
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"The unique work of an otherwise conservative career, this daring and unusual office building owes as much to the remarkable vision of Wyman's patron Louis Bradbury, a self-made mining tycoon, as it does to an autodidact architect's exceptional talent."
"...the Bradbury Building is unique not only for its dramatically projecting stair and lift towers, but also for its glazed hydraulic elevators giving access to the various office floors. These constructions serve to animate the volume of the court movement; a lively effect compounded of light filtering through the stair landings and of the oscillation of the elevator cabins. By way of contrast, the exterior of the building is traditional, being built of a mixture of sandstone and dressed brickwork."
— Kenneth Frampton and Yukio Futagawa. Modern Architecture 1851-1945. p60.
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I'm unleashing my book "HDR UNLEASHED" in July.
VISIT MY FACEBOOK PAGE. I'VE LOADED SOME OF MY DISNEY PICTURES. UNTOUCHED.
Kirkjufell is a 463 m high mountain on the north coast of Iceland's Snæfellsnes peninsula, near the town of Grundarfjörður. It is claimed to be the most photographed mountain in the country.
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula is a region in western Iceland known for its dramatic landscapes. At its western tip, Snæfellsjökull National Park is dominated by Snæfellsjökull Volcano, which is topped by a glacier. Nearby, a trail leads through lava fields to black-pebble beach
Greetings, wishing every one a happy St David's day and a great week ahead. Have fun.
Saint David (Welsh: Dewi Sant) was born towards the end of the 5th century. He was a scion of the royal house of Ceredigion, and founded a Celtic monastic community at Glyn Rhosyn (The Vale of Roses) on the western headland of Pembrokeshire (Sir Benfro), at the spot where St David's Cathedral stands today. The date of Saint David's death is recorded as 1 March, but the year is uncertain – possibly 588. As his tearful monks prepared for his death Saint David uttered these words: "Brothers be ye constant. The yoke which with single mind ye have taken, bear ye to the end; and whatsoever ye have seen with me and heard, keep and fulfil."
For centuries, 1 March has been a national festival. Saint David was recognised as a national patron saint at the height of Welsh resistance to the Normans. Saint David's Day was celebrated by Welsh peoples from the late Middle Ages.
Saint David's Day is not a national holiday in the United Kingdom. It is invariably celebrated by Welsh societies throughout the world with dinners, parties, and eisteddfodau (recitals and concerts).
St Davids is the smallest City in Wales and the United Kingdom, having a population of over 1500 on the last electoral roll
The exposed peninsula is famous for its dramatic coastal scenery and its wildlife that appeals to those who enjoy natural history and outdoor pursuits.
The City status of St Davids, while having ecclesiastical roots going back for centuries, was granted to all of St Davids by HM the Queen by Royal Charter on 1st June 1995.
Canyonlands National Park, located in southeastern Utah, is a sprawling wilderness of stunning desert landscapes, carved by the Colorado River and its tributaries. Known for its dramatic rock formations, vibrant red rock canyons, expansive mesas, and towering buttes, the park is divided into four distinct districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the rivers themselves. Each district offers unique vistas and experiences.
White Sands National Monument is in the northern Chihuahuan Desert in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It's known for its dramatic landscape of rare white gypsum sand dunes. Trails through the dunes include the raised Interdune Boardwalk and the Dune Life Nature Trail, dotted with interpretive exhibits on wildlife and other features. Dunes Drive is a looped road from the White Sands Visitor Center to the dune field. Read the blog post - www.dvrawfiles.com/white-sands-new-mexico Watch the vlog - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhwKZVqNfiU
A sweeping panorama stitched from seven frames, captured on October 14, 2024, at Mjelva camping near Åndalsnes. To the left, the majestic Romsdalen cradles the E136 highway, while to the right, Isterdalen climbs toward the legendary Trollstigen. Rising between these valleys are Norafjellet and Nonshaugen, with Setnesfjellet piercing the mist on the far right. Autumn’s golden hues embrace the foreground, contrasting with snow-dusted peaks and a dramatic sky, a perfect harmony of seasons and landscapes.
Fun Fact
Trollstigen, visible through Isterdalen, is one of Norway’s most iconic mountain roads, featuring 11 hairpin bends and a 10% incline. It’s closed in winter due to heavy snow, making autumn one of the last chances to experience its dramatic beauty before the seasonal closure.
A breathtaking view of Vestrahorn mountain partially covered in low clouds, with its dramatic slopes descending into the reflective black sands and shallow waters. The mist rising from the surface enhances the mystical and cinematic atmosphere of this iconic Icelandic landscape.
Descrizione (Italiano):
Una vista mozzafiato del monte Vestrahorn parzialmente coperto da nuvole basse, con i suoi pendii drammatici che scendono verso le sabbie nere riflettenti e le acque poco profonde. La nebbia che si solleva dalla superficie amplifica l’atmosfera mistica e cinematografica di questo paesaggio islandese iconico.
It is a popular beach and the name of the surrounding suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Bondi Beach is located 7 km east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Waverley Council, in the Eastern Suburbs. Bondi, North Bondi, and Bondi Junction are neighbouring suburbs. Bondi Beach is one of the most visited tourist sites in Australia. The sweeping white-sand crescent of Bondi is one of Australia’s most iconic beaches. Reliable waves draw surfers while, nearby, hardy locals swim in the Icebergs ocean pool year-round. Trendy, health-conscious Sydneysiders head to laid-back cafes around Hall Street, while hip backpackers frequent the area's casual pubs. Walkers and joggers use the clifftop Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, with its dramatic scenery. 8033
9691 MECONOPSIS BETONICIFOLIA
Himalayan flower imported by Elsie Reford in the early 1930s that has since become the floral emblem of the Gardens.
Visit : www.refordgardens.com/
From Wikipedia: Visit : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsie_Reford
Elsie Stephen Meighen - born January 22, 1872, Perth, Ontario - and Robert Wilson Reford - born in 1867, Montreal - got married on June 12, 1894.
Elsie Reford was a pioneer of Canadian horticulture, creating one of the largest private gardens in Canada on her estate, Estevan Lodge in eastern Québec. Located in Grand-Métis on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, her gardens have been open to the public since 1962 and operate under the name Les Jardins de Métis and Reford Gardens.
Born January 22, 1872 at Perth, Ontario, Elsie Reford was the eldest of three children born to Robert Meighen and Elsie Stephen. Coming from modest backgrounds themselves, Elsie’s parents ensured that their children received a good education. After being educated in Montreal, she was sent to finishing school in Dresden and Paris, returning to Montreal fluent in both German and French, and ready to take her place in society.
She married Robert Wilson Reford on June 12, 1894. She gave birth to two sons, Bruce in 1895 and Eric in 1900. Robert and Elsie Reford were, by many accounts, an ideal couple. In 1902, they built a house on Drummond Street in Montreal. They both loved the outdoors and they spend several weeks a year in a log cabin they built at Lac Caribou, south of Rimouski. In the autumn they hunted for caribou, deer, and ducks. They returned in winter to ski and snowshoe. Elsie Reford also liked to ride. She had learned as a girl and spent many hours riding on the slopes of Mount Royal. And of course, there was salmon-fishing – a sport at which she excelled.
In her day, she was known for her civic, social, and political activism. She was engaged in philanthropic activities, particularly for the Montreal Maternity Hospital and she was also the moving force behind the creation of the Women’s Canadian Club of Montreal, the first women club in Canada. She believed it important that the women become involved in debates over the great issues of the day, « something beyond the local gossip of the hour ». Her acquaintance with Lord Grey, the Governor-General of Canada from 1904 to 1911, led to her involvement in organizing, in 1908, Québec City’s tercentennial celebrations. The event was one of many to which she devoted herself in building bridges with French-Canadian community.
During the First World War, she joined her two sons in England and did volunteer work at the War Office, translating documents from German into English. After the war, she was active in the Victorian Order of Nurses, the Montreal Council of Social Agencies, and the National Association of Conservative Women.
In 1925 at the age of 53 years, Elsie Reford was operated for appendicitis and during her convalescence, her doctor counselled against fishing, fearing that she did not have the strength to return to the river.”Why not take up gardening?” he said, thinking this a more suitable pastime for a convalescent woman of a certain age. That is why she began laying out the gardens and supervising their construction. The gardens would take ten years to build, and would extend over more than twenty acres.
Elsie Reford had to overcome many difficulties in bringing her garden to life. First among them were the allergies that sometimes left her bedridden for days on end. The second obstacle was the property itself. Estevan was first and foremost a fishing lodge. The site was chosen because of its proximity to a salmon river and its dramatic views – not for the quality of the soil.
To counter-act nature’s deficiencies, she created soil for each of the plants she had selected, bringing peat and sand from nearby farms. This exchange was fortuitous to the local farmers, suffering through the Great Depression. Then, as now, the gardens provided much-needed work to an area with high unemployment. Elsie Reford’s genius as a gardener was born of the knowledge she developed of the needs of plants. Over the course of her long life, she became an expert plantsman. By the end of her life, Elsie Reford was able to counsel other gardeners, writing in the journals of the Royal Horticultural Society and the North American Lily Society. Elsie Reford was not a landscape architect and had no training of any kind as a garden designer. While she collected and appreciated art, she claimed no talents as an artist.
Elsie Stephen Reford died at her Drummond Street home on November 8, 1967 in her ninety-sixth year.
In 1995, the Reford Gardens ("Jardins de Métis") in Grand-Métis were designated a National Historic Site of Canada, as being an excellent Canadian example of the English-inspired garden.
LES JARDINS DE MÉTIS
Créés par Elsie Reford de 1926 à 1958, ces jardins témoignent de façon remarquable de l’art paysager à l’anglaise. Disposés dans un cadre naturel, un ensemble de jardins exhibent fleurs vivaces, arbres et arbustes. Le jardin des pommetiers, les rocailles et l’Allée royale évoquent l’œuvre de cette dame passionnée d’horticulture. Agrémenté d’un ruisseau et de sentiers sinueux, ce site jouit d’un microclimat favorable à la croissance d’espèces uniques au Canada. Les pavots bleus et les lis, privilégiés par Mme Reford, y fleurissent toujours et contribuent , avec d’autres plantes exotiques et indigènes, à l’harmonie de ces lieux.
Created by Elsie Reford between 1926 and 1958, these gardens are an inspired example of the English art of the garden. Woven into a natural setting, a series of gardens display perennials, trees and shrubs. A crab-apple orchard, a rock garden, and the Long Walk are also the legacy of this dedicated horticulturist. A microclimate favours the growth of species found nowhere else in Canada, while the stream and winding paths add to the charm. Elsie Reford’s beloved blue poppies and lilies still bloom and contribute, with other exotic and indigenous plants, to the harmony of the site.
Commission des lieux et monuments historiques du Canada
Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
Gouvernement du Canada – Government of Canada
© Copyright
This photo and all those in my Photostream are protected by copyright. No one may reproduce, copy, transmit or manipulate them without my written permission.
This astonishing Sitka spruce defies nature in Olympic National Park along Washington's coast where it hangs in mid air, suspended on either side by roots that appear to be barely holding on. Its seemingly impossible living arrangements are the result of erosion caused by a stream that has carved a cave beneath the tree's roots where it flows onto the beach. It's popularly referred to as the Tree of Life and while I assume that name comes from its dramatic appearance, its precarious situation seems to more aptly deserve that name. The constant erosion from the stream that flows beneath it combined with the vigorous west coast surf threatens it's existence daily, so I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to see it before it is claimed by the elements.
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula is a region in western Iceland known for its dramatic landscapes. At its western tip, Snæfellsjökull National Park is dominated by Snæfellsjökull Volcano, which is topped by a glacier. Nearby, a trail leads through lava fields to black-pebble Djúpalónssandur Beach. In Stykkishólmur fishing village, the 19th-century wood-frame Norwegian House is a regional museum with a craft shop
Badlands National Park is in South Dakota. Its dramatic landscapes span layered rock formations, steep canyons and towering spires. Bison, bighorn sheep and prairie dogs inhabit its sprawling grasslands. The Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240) winds past scenic lookouts. Several trails begin near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. The Fossil Exhibit Trail is a boardwalk with displays on fossils uncovered in the park.
The Lysefjord lighthouse is a landmark in the Lysefjord, a popular fjord in south-western Norway, known for its dramatic cliffs and iconic Preikestolen rock. The fjord itself is a 26 miles long waterway with vertical rock walls plunging over 1,100 yards into the water. The lighthouse, a beacon during the summer months, stands as a testament to the fjord's natural beauty and its importance as a tourist destination.
Glen Etive is a stunning, remote valley in the Scottish Highlands, renowned for its dramatic mountain scenery. A 12-mile single-track road leads you down to the Loch.
Étretat is famous for its dramatic cliffed coastline. It was immortalised by the likes of Monet and Gustave Courbet. Join me in April 2021 for a photography workshop through Normandy and the Loire Valley. Details at www.aperturetours.com/normandy-and-loire-valley-workshop
Baroque interior of the Chiesa della Santissima Trinità degli Spagnoli in Rome, featuring a central altarpiece of a female saint beneath a gold-leaf pediment. "Lucrèce pleurant sa disgrâce" (Lucretia mourning her disgrace) is created by the Italian artist Andrea Casali (1705–1784). The church is known for its dramatic architectural style and rich decorative elements typical of 18th-century Rome.
#AbFav_SEA_WATER_💧
GOLDEN HANDSHAKE? LOL
An Autumn Sunday in North-Wales.
Little winding roads amongst the golden larches, up towards Mount Snowdon, this river surprised me with its golden and indigo colours, the limpid water ice cold and wild.
Wales, with its dramatic scenery, is steeped in mystery and romance.
Its majestic heather-clad hills cut by cascading waterfalls, and mountain streams rushing through gladed valleys are both the places of legends and of history running back into the mists of time.
Yet, beneath the quartzite surface of this jewelled landscape, there is another treasure, as valuable as it is beautiful – Welsh gold.
Today, Welsh gold is scarcer than it has ever been.
When mining took place at the Clogau St. David’s Gold Mine in the late 1990s it used to cost over £1000 an ounce to extract.
Look at that golden hand, maybe a giant fell?
Isn't imagination a wonderful gift?
I wish you all a golden day and thank you for visiting, Magda (*_*)
For more: www.indigo2photography.com
Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved
river, hand, leaves, Snowdonia, rapids, water, rocks, Wales, colour, horizontal, "Nikon F4", "Magda indigo"
Despite being Andalucía's fastest-growing town - it overtook Córdoba in the big three Andaluz tourist attractions, behind Sevilla and Granada, in the early 21st century - Ronda retains much of its historic charm, particularly its old town. It is famous worldwide for its dramatic escarpments and views, and for the deep El Tajo gorge that carries the rio Guadalevín through its centre. Visitors make a beeline for the 18th century Puente Nuevo 'new' bridge, which straddles the 100m chasm below, for its unparalleled views out over the Serranía de Ronda mountains.
32 portrait images joined into a panorama taken at 24mm - no filters
At the very edge of Norway’s rugged coastline, Veiholmen stretches into the Atlantic like a quiet sentinel. On this October afternoon, the sky unfolds in rippled layers of silver and gray, mirrored perfectly in the still waters below. Red boathouses and weathered homes cling to the rocks, telling stories of centuries bound to the sea. Here, where land surrenders to ocean, time feels suspended—an eternal dialogue between sky, water, and stone.
Fact: Veiholmen is one of Norway’s most exposed fishing villages, located on Smøla in Møre og Romsdal. It is known for its dramatic weather, rich fishing heritage, and breathtaking views toward the open Atlantic.
Fun Fact: Veiholmen was once home to more than 1,000 inhabitants during its peak fishing era, making it one of Norway’s largest fishing communities outside the Lofoten region.
View from Mt Difficulty Vineyard in Bannockburn where we are having lunch. April 27, 2016 Central Otago in the South Island of New Zealand.
The Cellar Door at Mt Difficulty Wines is known as much for its dramatic views of rugged rock and thyme landscapes as it is for its stylish wine and food.
The unique microclimate of the Bannockburn area is partially created by the presence of Mount Difficulty which overlooks the southern Cromwell basin, and is the namesake of Mt Difficulty Wines. Mount Difficulty is integral in providing low rainfall and humidity for the region. Bannockburn enjoys hot summers, a large diurnal temperature variation and long cool autumns; conditions which bring the best out of the Pinot Noir grapes. These conditions, along with soils which are ideal for viticulture, provide an excellent basis not only for Pinot Noir, but also for Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Chardonnay. The soils are a mix of clay and gravels, but all feature a high pH level; grapes produce their best wines on sweet soils.
For More Info: www.mtdifficulty.co.nz/aboutus/ourstory.html
This Passion Vine (Passiflora vitifolia) grows along fences, over shrubs and garages here in South Florida. The leaves are glossy green and grape-leaf like. But what will simply knock your socks off are its dramatic, outrageous flowers! Surely they come from another planet! But no, they come from South America.
Legend and romance surround the passion flower - legend because of historical associations with Christianity. And romance because of its suggestion of romantic passion. Early explorers and missionaries to the Southern hemisphere named these dramatic vines Passiflora or Passion Flower to help in their conversion of native Americans to Christianity. They used the beautiful intricate flower parts to tell the story of the death of Jesus, making the story more memorable to listeners. The family name, Passifloraceae, means "Flower of the Passion" or "Flower of the Cross."
The color symbolized the blood shed on the cross; the 10 petals and sepals represented the 10 apostles present of the crucifixion; the 5 stamens, the 5 wounds, the 3 styles, the 3 nails ( or, in some versions, Christ and the 2 thieves crucified with him); the vine tendrils, the ropes and scourges; the 3 secondary leaf bracts, the holy trinity. The flower is usually open 3 days representing the 3 years of Christ's ministry on Earth. Source: Florida's Fabulous Flowers, Their Stories by Winston Williams.
See my set Passionate Passion Vines for more pictures of this amazing exotic, erotic flower.
Biscayne Park, FL
Grimsthorpe Castle stands in rolling parkland north-west of Bourne in Lincolnshire. The core of the house goes back to the early 1200s when a fortified manor with King John’s Tower guarded routes between the Fen edge and the Great North Road. Later medieval owners included the de Gant and Lovell families before the estate was taken into Crown hands.
In 1516 Henry VIII granted Grimsthorpe to William Willoughby, 11th Lord Willoughby de Eresby, as a wedding gift when he married Maria de Salinas, lady-in-waiting to Katherine of Aragon. Their daughter Katherine Willoughby inherited the estate and married Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, one of Henry’s closest friends. Brandon rebuilt and enlarged the house in grand Tudor style using stone from the dissolved Vaudey Abbey and Henry VIII stayed here in 1541 on his northern progress.
In the early 18th century Robert Bertie, 1st Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven, commissioned Sir John Vanbrugh to redesign the north front. Vanbrugh created the great Baroque façade with its central hall and corner towers which still gives the castle its dramatic outline. A little later Lancelot “Capability” Brown reshaped the surrounding park with lakes, long avenues, woodland belts and sweeping lawns so the house sat at the heart of a designed landscape.
Through the female line the property passed to the Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby family who still hold the historic title of Baron Willoughby de Eresby. The castle and park saw military use in both world wars, then returned fully to family occupation in the mid-20th century. Notable later residents include Nancy, Viscountess Astor, who spent her final years here with her daughter.
Today Grimsthorpe remains the country seat of Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 28th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby. The house, formal gardens and wider park are managed by the Grimsthorpe and Drummond Castle Trust which looks after the buildings, collections and landscape, opens them to visitors on selected days and uses events, filming and weddings to help support the upkeep of this long-lived Lincolnshire castle.
Aerial - Grimsthorpe Castle
“The Second Greatest Show on Earth!”
That’s what showman P.T. Barnum proclaimed in 1869 as he stepped down off the train and marveled at the view from Mount Washington’s rocky summit. High praise indeed from the man whose grand circus occupied the primary spot.
Today, more than 150 years later, the Mount Washington Cog Railway continues to thrill passengers from all over the world with its dramatic ascent to the summit of the highest peak in the Northeast.
The Cog is the first mountain-climbing cog railway in the world. With an average grade of 25% (some sections approach nearly 38%), it’s also the second steepest! Motive power is primarily provided by a fleet of seven powerful biodiesel locomotives, each custom designed, built and maintained on site. And with a nod to its steam heritage, the railway also continues to operate a pair of coal-fired steam engines in the warmer months, both well over a century old.
This is the Elvis Chapel at the Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum in Apache Junction.
www.pinal.gov/faq.aspx?TID=134
The Superstition Mountain area has long been of interest to filmmakers, with its dramatic views and romantic history. Movie stars such as Glenn Ford, Elvis Presley, John Wayne, and Tom Mix starred in films set in our area. Elvis Memorial Chapel is a movie prop that was built for the 1969 Elvis Presley western Charro!, which was the only movie Elvis made in which he did not sing, but played a strictly dramatic role. During the moving shoot, a specially-made steeple was constructed and put on the chapel so that it could be blown off during an explosion central to the movie's plot
www.mountaintripper.com/historic-buildings-arizona/the-el...
The Elvis Memorial Chapel is a movie prop from the 1969 Elvis Presley film “Charro!” that survived two fires and was relocated to the Superstition Mountain Museum where it stands to this day.
Originally part of the Apacheland Movie Ranch, it is the sole surviving structure from that iconic Western filming location.
Now serving as a wedding chapel, it stands as a testament to preservation efforts and a unique connection to Elvis’ only non-singing acting role.
www.visitarizona.com/directory/superstition-mountain-lost...
Discover Desert Riches at the Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum! Our 15-acre campus, nestled at the base of the Superstition Mountains, had trails, mining equipment, Apacheland Barn, the Elvis Chapel, large-scale model trains, Cossack stamp mill, and so much more! Our museum exhibits revisit the Arizona Territory, documenting early settlers, native culture, geology, flora and fauna, mining and smelting, and all you want to know about the Lost Dutchman and his mine. We have family-friendly special events, partnering with local businesses and charities, making out museum a truly community-centric organization.
infoarizona.com/superstition-mountain-museum/
The desert stretches before you—vast, golden, and silent except for the whisper of wind against stone. Towering peaks rise sharply from the earth, their rugged faces glowing in the Arizona sun, each contour etched with stories of fortune and fate. These are the Superstition Mountains, a landscape steeped in legend, where the line between myth and reality fades into the dust.
Tucked against this backdrop lies the Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum, a treasure trove of the region’s mysteries. Within its walls, echoes of prospectors, pioneers, and restless spirits come to life through artifacts, exhibits, and tales passed down through generations.
Founded in 1980 by the Superstition Mountain Historical Society, the museum was born from the dreams of “Dutch hunters”—enthusiasts obsessed with the legendary Lost Dutchman Mine. These folks weren’t just casual treasure seekers; they were dedicated to preserving the lore and artifacts of the region, turning their fascination into a cultural institution.
A shot of the towering Tryfan taken from the flanks of Glyder Fach on a wonderful walk around the Glyderau with Flickr Pal Clive Griffiths.
We were blessed with a nice cool, blue sky day on this trip. So whilst the photography was anything but spectacular, it was nonetheless a stellar day to take in the wide views across Snowdonia. I think Tryfan has to be the best looking mountain in Wales with its dramatic triangular form.
It is a popular beach and the name of the surrounding suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Bondi Beach is located 7 km east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Waverley Council, in the Eastern Suburbs. Bondi, North Bondi, and Bondi Junction are neighbouring suburbs. Bondi Beach is one of the most visited tourist sites in Australia. The sweeping white-sand crescent of Bondi is one of Australia’s most iconic beaches. Reliable waves draw surfers while, nearby, hardy locals swim in the Icebergs ocean pool year-round. Trendy, health-conscious Sydneysiders head to laid-back cafes around Hall Street, while hip backpackers frequent the area's casual pubs. Walkers and joggers use the clifftop Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, with its dramatic scenery. 8932
The rights of our furry friends are celebrated annually on International Animal Rights Day on December 10. The holiday is shared with Human Rights Day, as it should be, because animals have the right to be treated with respect, and acts of cruelty against them need to end just as much as for humans.
Prompt: Use Image 1 as style-and-tone reference only, preserving its dramatic, ultra-realistic, fine-art aesthetic while generating a new scene. Create a wide panoramic, horizontal composition showing two anthropomorphic cats and three anthropomorphic dogs—one clearly identifiable West Highland White Terrier— all dressed in formal office suits. The Westie sits at an office table in the foreground, with the other animals standing around in a structured group portrait. Maintain crisp detail, rich textures, and sophisticated lighting consistent with Image 1; match its subdued, atmospheric mood without introducing shoreline elements or noise effects. Render a clean back wall featuring a sign that reads “International Animal Rights – Law Firm,” integrated naturally with correct perspective, shadows, and material texture. Ensure overall lighting, shadows, and color temperature remain consistent, with no halos, seams, or stylistic drift. Output one ultra-realistic digital fine-art image; maintain coherent scale and anatomical proportions across all characters; preserve all unmentioned aspects of the base image’s stylistic qualities.
This digital fine art was created using OpenAI Sora AI and Photoshop
Canyonlands National Park in southeastern Utah is known for its dramatic desert landscape carved by the Colorado River. Island in the Sky is a huge, flat-topped mesa with panoramic overlooks. Other notable areas include the towering rock pinnacles known as the Needles, the remote canyons of the Maze and the Native American rock paintings in Horseshoe Canyon. Whitewater rapids flow through Cataract Canyon.