There are 30 species and over 20,000 cultivars of dahlias. Those cultivars are categorized based on size, flower pattern, and how they resemble other flowers (like waterlilies, anemones, and cactus blooms). The large decorative types and cactus types are among the most popular, and many varieties are used in cut flower gardens.

It is a time of quiet joy, the sunny morning. When the glittery dew is on the mallow weeds, each leaf holds a jewel which is beautiful if not valuable. This is no time for hurry or for bustle. Thoughts are slow and deep and golden in the morning.

John Steinbeck

For Smile on Saturday - "shimmer and glitter"

For "Looking close... on Friday!" - "Raindrops or Dewdrops"

Kudu, also known as the Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), is a magnificent antelope species found in various parts of sub-Saharan Africa. It is a large and majestic animal, renowned for its unique and striking appearance.

Physical Characteristics:

The Kudu is one of the largest antelope species, with males, known as bulls, weighing up to 600 kg (1,300 lbs) and standing around 1.5 to 1.7 meters (5 to 5.5 feet) tall at the shoulder. Females, known as cows, are smaller and lighter.

Both males and females have long, spiral-shaped horns. The horns can grow up to 1.8 meters (6 feet) in length in males, while in females, they are shorter and slimmer.

Appearance:

Kudus have a beautiful coat with distinctive white stripes along their sides. These stripes are believed to act as a form of camouflage in their woodland habitats, helping them blend in among dappled sunlight and shadow.

The coat coloration varies, but they are generally reddish-brown with a tinge of blue-grey in some areas. The undersides are usually pale.

Habitat and Behavior:

Kudus are found in a range of habitats, including woodlands, savannas, and dense bush areas. They are adaptable animals but prefer regions with enough vegetation for cover.

These antelopes are mainly browsers, feeding on leaves, fruits, and shoots. They have the ability to reach high branches to access food that other herbivores might not reach.

Kudus are predominantly nocturnal, which means they are most active during the night, helping them avoid predators and the heat of the day.

Males are typically solitary or found in small bachelor groups, while females form small herds, often accompanied by one dominant male.

Conservation Status:

The Kudu population is generally considered stable, but some local populations face threats due to habitat loss and hunting for their meat, hides, and horns.

Conservation efforts focus on preserving their natural habitats, implementing anti-poaching measures, and promoting responsible tourism to protect this iconic African species.

Kudus are not only remarkable creatures for their physical beauty but also for their role in maintaining the ecological balance of their habitats. As such, efforts to safeguard their existence are crucial for the overall health of Africa's biodiversity.

www.clickasnap.com/profile/Creativegaz/photo/01FC41EZ0GGT...

Thank you so much for your comment. If you get time check out my link below and view and support my work would much appreciate it

www.clickasnap.com/3a036c70-8391-586d-8022-d68d503f0dfb/p...

Just taken from home I wake up seeing the mountain you forget how beautiful it is

www.clickasnap.com/Creativegaz

My favorite motiv in the beautiful Stotel Forest.

I combined two exposures by using the layer mask technic in GIMP - 15 seconds for the flowing water and 1 second for the trees to avoid too much movement in the branches.

A nice story besides, the last two times I spent time here taking photos, I met lost hikers and kindly explained them how to get back to the stony road in the east.

I love this place so much and I hope it will stay in this condition as long as possible.

As to all of my photos I also added GPS coordinates to this one with my wish in case you feel to come here and enjoy this place as much as I do: Please respect the nature and be aware it is home and shelter for so many treasures. Let us leave this place the way we would like to find it the time we come back here again.

I love this summer 'golden' sunset at Rainbow Beach, Gold Coast, Australia, here, where a lot of surfers enter the water and where a good wave break is. The shimmering light over the wet sands really caught the eye.

/em>

Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems.

Rainer Maria Rilke

I haven’t been out photographing over the Xmas period opting to spend more time with family before work starts again.

Here’s an image of a stormy sea at Filey from sept 2020, that’s our van site on the right that was getting full on 50mph winds and gusts, a great weekend.

MKU_0901

from Glacier Point.

rowan or mountain-ash

We lose our souls if we lose the experience of the forest, the butterflies, the song of the birds, if we can't see the stars at night.

Thomas Berry

Off track just one of many of the waterfalls you can see up on MT Taranaki

In Danish we are calling them "chocolate flowers" :)

Early morning at the bird sanctuary

Un atardecer que me dio por ir a buscar olas chocando contra las rocas me encontré con un montón de flores al borde de los acantilados, y claro, no me pude resistir.

#sonyalpha

#bealpha

#earthfocus

#earthpix

#earthpics

#cantabria

#naturelover_gr

#jaw_dropping_shots

#moods_in_frame #landscapephotography #the_mirror_of_our_souls #depthobsessed

#depthofearth

#cantabria_ig

#sonyphotography

#landscape_lovers

#fineartphotography

#earth_shotz

#natgeolandscape

#tufotonatgeo

#addicted_to_cantabria #fever_cantabria

#cantabriainfinita

#cantabriamola

#postureocantabro

Early morning in my home region of Taranaki New Zealand

Watching the other birds feeding, should I, shouldn’t I

IMG_2567