2021-03-13
Common rhododendrons in Semper Forest Park, Ruegen, Germany (© Sandra Bartocha/Minden Pictures)
森佩尔森林公园中的黑海杜鹃，德国吕根岛 (© Sandra Bartocha/Minden Pictures)
Often called the 'king of shrubs,' rhododendrons are prized by gardeners for their green, glossy leaves and often brightly colored flowers. Depending on the variety, the blooms usually emerge anytime from late winter into summer. Either evergreen or deciduous, rhododendrons make up a large and diverse genus of woody plants in the heath family. With over 1,000 wild species and scores of cultivated options, rhododendrons are native to temperate areas of Asia, North America, and Europe, as well as some tropical parts of Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Our image today captures 'rhodies' in full bloom in March along a path at Semper Forest Park of Ruegen, Germany.
Common rhododendrons in Semper Forest Park, Ruegen, Germany (© Sandra Bartocha/Minden Pictures)
森佩尔森林公园中的黑海杜鹃，德国吕根岛 (© Sandra Bartocha/Minden Pictures)
Often called the 'king of shrubs,' rhododendrons are prized by gardeners for their green, glossy leaves and often brightly colored flowers. Depending on the variety, the blooms usually emerge anytime from late winter into summer. Either evergreen or deciduous, rhododendrons make up a large and diverse genus of woody plants in the heath family. With over 1,000 wild species and scores of cultivated options, rhododendrons are native to temperate areas of Asia, North America, and Europe, as well as some tropical parts of Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Our image today captures 'rhodies' in full bloom in March along a path at Semper Forest Park of Ruegen, Germany.
2021-03-14
Lyon astronomical clock, Lyon, France (© kyolshin/Alamy)
里昂天文钟，法国里昂 (© kyolshin/Alamy)
If the first day of daylight saving time doesn't have you springing for joy, this towering timekeeper might be more your speed. The astronomical clock at Lyon Cathedral in France was built in 1660, long before daylight time became widely adopted in the 20th century. The clock's intersecting hands and dials don't just tell time, they form a flattened model of our planet that tracks the positions of the sun and moon relative to Earth. The zodiac dial, offset to account for the planet's rotational tilt, shows the star sign currently in season.
Lyon astronomical clock, Lyon, France (© kyolshin/Alamy)
里昂天文钟，法国里昂 (© kyolshin/Alamy)
If the first day of daylight saving time doesn't have you springing for joy, this towering timekeeper might be more your speed. The astronomical clock at Lyon Cathedral in France was built in 1660, long before daylight time became widely adopted in the 20th century. The clock's intersecting hands and dials don't just tell time, they form a flattened model of our planet that tracks the positions of the sun and moon relative to Earth. The zodiac dial, offset to account for the planet's rotational tilt, shows the star sign currently in season.
2021-03-15
Screech owl resting in a tree cavity, Massapequa Preserve, Long Island, New York (© Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography/Getty Images)
在树洞中休息的鸣角鸮，纽约马萨皮夸保护区 (© Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography/Getty Images)
We can think of no better way to celebrate National Napping Day than with this furry fellow, a screech owl asleep in a tree trunk in the Massapequa Preserve on Long Island, New York. Found in wilderness areas and near human settlements from the Atlantic seaboard to west Texas and up into Montana, Eastern screech owls like this one are well established in the US. They're nocturnal creatures, so they sleep during the day and become active after dusk. But don't worry about you or your pet getting attacked by these owls. While it's not apparent from this picture, screech owls are tiny–smaller than a pint glass–and prefer to feast on insects, worms, and small rodents.
Screech owl resting in a tree cavity, Massapequa Preserve, Long Island, New York (© Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography/Getty Images)
在树洞中休息的鸣角鸮，纽约马萨皮夸保护区 (© Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography/Getty Images)
We can think of no better way to celebrate National Napping Day than with this furry fellow, a screech owl asleep in a tree trunk in the Massapequa Preserve on Long Island, New York. Found in wilderness areas and near human settlements from the Atlantic seaboard to west Texas and up into Montana, Eastern screech owls like this one are well established in the US. They're nocturnal creatures, so they sleep during the day and become active after dusk. But don't worry about you or your pet getting attacked by these owls. While it's not apparent from this picture, screech owls are tiny–smaller than a pint glass–and prefer to feast on insects, worms, and small rodents.