Blogging with mehar_mah

Looking inland from Ponce de León Inlet toward the lighthouse, Florida by Jason Sponseller. We’re at the Ponce de León Inlet Light, a lighthouse in the US state of Florida, for Pascua Florida Day, marking the anniversary of the Spanish explorer's arrival here in 1513. Believing it to be an island, Ponce de León claimed the land for Spain and named it 'La Florida' because of the verdant landscape and because it was the Easter season, which the Spaniards called 'Pascua Florida' (Festival of Flowers). According to legend, Ponce de León arrived here in search of the Fountain of Youth, a mythical water source said to restore the youth of those who drink or bathe in its waters. While that mission was unsuccessful, his name lives on in history and on this lighthouse and the inlet where it shines.

A fool's hen? Ruffed grouse in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada by Jim Cumming. Various types of forest grouse are sometimes rather unkindly referred to as 'fool hens' because they don't fly away when approached by humans. In its northernmost habitat in Canada, the ruffed grouse pictured here is more likely to behave a little more ‘foolishly’, sitting and looking at people as they approach. But further south, they are more wary and fly off at the slightest sign of movement. And they can be quite the acrobatic fliers when needed, flying in short spurts and making sharp twists and turns as they navigate thick forests.

Sap buckets hanging on maple trees in a forest, Quebec Tapping for sap When springtime is around the corner, it’s time to go tapping for sap. Maple trees convert stored starch into sugars which when tapped, causes sap to flow. In this picture today, sap is likely dripping from the spout into the buckets attached to the trees. The amount of sap required to produce maple syrup is dependent on the sugar content of the sap. With a high sugar content, less sap is needed for syrup and vice versa. Once the sap is collected, it is kept cool and processed immediately to produce the highest quality of sweet maple syrup. (© Benoit Daoust/Shutterstoc)

Historic nursery land in Emerald Lake Park, Victoria Goodbye, Autumn! It's the start of the March when every brown and dark crevices of the nature begins to turn green. If you are a fan of a bright sky, lush green grass and clear blue water, then its time to get excited as we are going to welcome the first day of SPRING with open arms and warms hugs! (If only we could physically embrace it). Its the time of year when the nature takes a three sixty turn and exhibit its beautiful colors. T here’s no better place to witness that change than here in Emerald Lake Park.   The area of the popular park we’re spotlighting today was originally part of the historic Nobelius Nursery, which started during the 1880s by Carl Axel Nobelius. Because the ground was rich in soil, agricultural and horticultural growth was plentiful (particularly with fruit trees), allowing Nobelius to have 23 employees by 1899. Today, the ‘Nobelius Heritage Park’ manages to preserve a number of histori...

Cabins in Valley Forge National Historical Park, Pennsylvania.  Valley Forge is a National Historical Park in Pennsylvania which was once used as war encampment during 1777 and 1778. The Continental army which was led by George Washington had a deep relation with this landscape and you may hear the mythical but inspirational stories of American history about Valley Forge. Washington and his army faced severe cold, illness, devastation and death here but due to the heroic presence, constant and persistent working of George Washington, the army turned into the invincible force and he himself came out to be the most powerful and respected leader among his peers.