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Haaga Rhododendron Park
Haaga Rhododendron Park
In early June, if it"s a "good" year, people in Western Helsinki get treated to bursts of color at the Haaga Rhododendron Park. Started in 1975 as a research location for the University of Helsinki, the plan was to create rhododendron plants that would thrive in Finland"s northern climate. And, boy, did they. Around 3,000 specimens of a Japanese variety of rhododendron were originally planted, then selectively bred to produce eight new varieties of "rhodies" over the years.Desktop Version
Easter
Easter
The American robin doesn"t go out of its way to hide its colored eggs, nor does it need watercolor to celebrate Easter! Thanks to a process in the mother"s blood, her eggs—which she can lay up to three times each year—are always colored this lovely shade of blue. There"s even a name for the hue, "robin"s-egg blue."Desktop Version
Museum Night in Berlin
Museum Night in Berlin
As the summer is fading away, we find ourselves reminiscing about vacations and long hours of lively evenings. But let"s not bury the picnic days just yet! There is plenty to look forward to, especially if you are in Berlin. The Long Night of Museums only happens once a year—on the last Saturday of August since 1997—but it shakes up Museum Island and the rest of the German capital. The event series is more than a peaceful appreciation of artifacts—quite the opposite—you can expect music, talks, workshops, cocktails, dance, and more from 6 PM into the small hours of the morning. Featured in today"s image, Museum Island—embraced by the Spree River—is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is home to a museum quintet: Altes, Bode, Pergamon, and Neues Museums, and Alte Nationalgalerie.Desktop Version
Wildlife crossing, Wierden, Netherlands
Wildlife crossing, Wierden, Netherlands
It"s not just chickens that cross the road. Wild creatures from frogs to elk roll the dice with death when they need to traverse the thousands of highways humans have threaded through wildlife habitat. Sadly, the dice don"t fall favorably for millions of animals each year, and collisions with vehicles often cause fatalities for both them and the drivers who hit them.Desktop Version
National Trails Day
National Trails Day
Whether you"re a leisurely day walker or a hardcore hiker, there"s a US National Trail with your name on it. Thankfully the trails in the national network are categorized as "Scenic," "Historic," or "Recreational" to simplify things. Probably the most famous pathways are the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail (both designated "Scenic" trails), which were the first to be officially named to the National Trails System when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the system into law in 1968.Desktop Version
Apple Tree Day
Apple Tree Day
Apple Tree Day is a nationwide ode to the art of apple cultivation and the health benefits this beloved fruit brings to our lives. Apples made their way to North America with European colonists in the 17th century. In 1625, the first apple orchard in North America was planted in Boston by William Blaxton. Today, from Red Delicious to Honeycrisp to Pink Lady, some 200 varieties are grown in the US. The chaffinch on our homepage today is pictured amid tiny crab apples. Sure, they can be a bit tart, but they make for a lovely display in winter and some birds depend on them when other food is scarce. Sliced, baked, in a salad, or as cider, how do you like them apples?Desktop Version
World Turtle Day
World Turtle Day
That"s a Florida red-bellied turtle celebrating World Turtle Day with a dip in the clear waters of Rainbow Springs State Park in Florida. This river turtle species spends the bulk of its day basking in Florida"s abundant sunshine and chomping on vegetation, but it"s nice to cool off with a swim, too. Red-bellied turtles have been known to sneak into alligator nests to lay eggs. If you"re going to find someone to protect your kids, you might as well make it an alligator!Desktop Version
Mute swan
Mute swan
The mute swan is a symbol of beauty and elegance, thanks in no small part to the beloved fairy tale "The Ugly Duckling," about an awkward and unsightly duckling who upon growing up discovers he is actually a swan. The proverbial story is often used as a lesson in transformation and the relative nature of beauty. One glance at this swan, seen here holding a feather in a nature preserve in the Netherlands, and it"s easy to see how the idiom "graceful as a swan" came about.Desktop Version
Womens History Month
Womens History Month
For the first day of Women"s History Month, we"ve come to the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, to view the Portrait Monument, which depicts three founding mothers of the 19th-century women"s rights movement. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and Susan B. Anthony are particularly known for their efforts to gain American women the right to vote.Desktop Version
Waiānapanapa State Park, Maui, Hawaii
Waiānapanapa State Park, Maui, Hawaii
Brooding black sand beaches are popular with photographers looking for something a little different, and Hawaii has plenty of them on offer. This famous beach at Wai"ānapanapa State Park on Maui was created when basalt, a dark volcanic rock, was eroded by waves into fine grains, creating a stunning shoreline. You"ll find it on Maui"s east side, toward the end of the legendary Road to Hana, a scenic 64-mile highway. You can also find black sand shores around the world, from Alaska to Greece, Costa Rica, Italy, Iceland, Indonesia, and New Zealand.Desktop Version
Happy Fathers Day!
Happy Fathers Day!
Father"s Day may appear to go hand in hand with Mother"s Day, but this wasn"t always the case. It was proposed by Sonora Smart Dodd, who believed fathers should have their own celebration, perhaps motivated by the inaugural Mother"s Day of 1908. Father"s Day was first celebrated in 1910 and was recognized by President Woodrow Wilson six years later. It fell out of popular practice in the 1920s but eventually regained popularity—partly due to marketing—and was set as a permanent national observance by President Richard Nixon in 1972. Our homepage image today shows a common tern papa, doing his bit for the family—with this species, both parents build the nest and incubate the eggs.Desktop Version
Pollinator Week
Pollinator Week
We spread our wings and fly into Pollinator Week with these exquisite Old World swallowtail butterflies who are enjoying a sip of nectar. The gorgeous swallowtail is welcome in any garden, both for its beauty and its ability to pass pollen from flower to flower. Far less desired are swallowtails in their caterpillar form, which can take a toll on ornamental plants or citrus crops. There are more than 550 swallowtail butterfly species, and their name comes from the forked appearance of their hindwings, which can be seen when the butterfly is resting with its wings spread.Desktop Version
50 years of the Endangered Species Act
50 years of the Endangered Species Act
Today is a special milestone for our furry, scaly, and feathered friends: the Endangered Species Act is turning 50. This landmark legislation, signed into law in 1973, has been helping species on the brink for half a century. Who"s that in the spotlight? A humpback whale! Known for their haunting songs and acrobatic breaches, these gentle giants are a success story of the ESA. They were once on the edge of extinction, largely due to commercial whaling, but thanks to conservation efforts, their population has bounced back from around 5,000 in 1966 to an estimated 135,000 today. However, our work isn"t over. Challenges persist, from habitat loss to poaching. So, what can we do? Spread the word, support conservation efforts, participate in local initiatives, and be eco-friendly.Desktop Version
National Park Service Founders Day
National Park Service Founders Day
While most of us play in our vast system of 63 national parks, others work there. Today, on National Park Service Founders Day, we recognize their efforts and the priceless gift of our country"s national parks. The NPS protects and maintains these parks as well as hundreds of national monuments and other natural, historical, and recreational properties. They include some of our most stunning natural landscapes, like North Cascades National Park in Washington state, featured here. This image, of the Triplets and Cascade Peak, is taken from atop Forbidden Peak.Desktop Version
Elephant Rock, Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia
Elephant Rock, Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia
Over millions of years, the dazzling sandstone formation known as Elephant Rock was carved by nature. Thanks to the wind and water erosion, this 117-foot-high rock near the city of Al-Ula in Saudi Arabia took on the shape of an elephant and has become a prominent landmark in the region. As the sun sets, it casts a warm glow upon the red-hued mammoth and the golden sand of the surrounding desert.Desktop Version
Broken Beach in Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia
Broken Beach in Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia
Let"s be real—the beaches in Bali are beautiful, but the ones in Nusa Penida? That"s a whole new vibe. This off-the-beaten-path island, part of the Bali province, is where nature gets a little wild, and the sights are nothing short of epic. With its rugged cliffs and crystal-clear waters, the island offers an escape from Bali"s busier tourist hubs. The name "Nusa Penida" translates to "island of priests," and historically, it served as a spiritual retreat, with temples and rituals that locals still honor today.Desktop Version
Flamenco dancers
Flamenco dancers
Today"s image captures a split second of the sweeping arm movements and rhythmic foot stamping that are characteristic of Spain"s most famous style of dance. Flamenco is packed with passion and drama, as performers transmit their deepest emotions—from sadness and regret to exuberance and joy—through body movements and facial expressions. But flamenco is more than just a dance: It"s an art form that mixes dancing with singing, guitar playing, clapping, and finger snapping.Desktop Version
Common raven
Common raven
The common raven is an intelligent and adaptable bird known for its striking appearance and remarkable behaviors. This elegant bird is easily identified by its characteristic wedge-shaped tail and glossy black feathers. Their keen eyesight and agile flight make them proficient hunters, often scavenging for prey or stealing from other predators. Ravens are known for their playful behavior and their omnivorous diet, feeding on a wide variety of foods, including carrion, insects, and small mammals.Desktop Version
Tegallalang terrace farms in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Tegallalang terrace farms in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Sweeping downhill in our homepage image are the famous rice terraces of Tegallalang, one of Bali"s most popular tourist attractions. They are carved into the side of a valley near the town of Ubud and use the traditional Subak irrigation system, which dates back to the 9th century. Bali"s rivers and streams provide year-round water for its crops but here people work hand-in-hand with nature, and a network of irrigation channels distribute water to each paddy field. They carefully tend rice plants during the growing season, as generations have done before them, before harvesting and distributing the rice between the community. The Subak system is so important in Balinese culture, it has been recognised by UNESCO. These terraces offer visitors panoramic views over the surrounding rice fields and lush landscape, as well as a picturesque example of people living in harmony with nature.Desktop Version
Rapa Valley in Sarek National Park, Sweden
Rapa Valley in Sarek National Park, Sweden
Rapa Valley runs through Sarek National Park in northern Sweden, where rivers cut into lush meadows and towering peaks reach towards the sky. In this national park, covering about 760 square miles of pristine wilderness, elk roam freely, golden eagles soar overhead, and the elusive arctic fox leaves traces of its presence in the snow. From the beauty of Abisko to the rugged peaks of Sarek, Sweden"s many national parks boast a range of landscapes from glaciers to lush green forests and sandy beaches. The Sámi people have called this alpine region home since ancient times, and their cultural heritage is intertwined with the landscape. They fish the coasts, and perhaps most famously, herd reindeer.Desktop Version
Sibiu Christmas market, Romania
Sibiu Christmas market, Romania
As the winter chill sets in, the city of Sibiu transforms into a dazzling holiday wonderland as it hosts one of Romania"s most popular Christmas markets. The Sibiu Christmas Market, known in Romanian as Târgul de Crăciun din Sibiu, is held in the central square from the end of November until early January. Sparkling strings of lights drape across the square, seen in today"s image, creating a canopy that bathes the cobblestone streets in a warm, festive glow. There also stands a beautifully lit Christmas tree, surrounded by charming wooden huts selling everything from handcrafted ornaments to locally made treats like cozonac, a traditional Romanian sweet bread; vin fiert, an aromatic mulled wine; and covrigi, a type of pretzel served warm and sprinkled with salt.Desktop Version
Blue linckia sea stars in Papua New Guinea
Blue linckia sea stars in Papua New Guinea
In shallow areas of the tropical Indo-Pacific, you"ll come across the blue linckia sea star. Oftentimes it"s found anchored to or hiding under rocks. This duo was spotted near the coast of New Ireland, an island in Papua New Guinea. Even though "blue" is in the name, this species of sea star has also been observed in purple, pink, or orange. The vibrant colors make the linckia popular in the seashell trade, unfortunately, and intensive poaching has diminished their populations. But new research could lead to calls for their protection: Scientists have studied potential anti-tumor and antibacterial properties inherent to the blue linckia.Desktop Version
Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo
Many celebrations of Cinco de Mayo owe a debt to these rolling fields of blue agave, or agave azul, the source material required to make genuine tequila. The distilled spirit is to Mexico what Scotch whisky is to Scotland and sake to Japan. Tequila is also the base ingredient in the beloved margarita cocktail certain to be served in abundance today.Desktop Version
Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park, Australia
Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park, Australia
Aboriginal Australians have lived in this area for more than 20,000 years. But only recently did the rest of the world learn of the extraordinary terrain of the mountains known as the Bungle Bungle Range. In 1982, a nature-documentary crew was filming in remote areas within the Kimberley region of Western Australia and "discovered" the little-known mountain range. Today it is the most popular aspect of Purnululu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Desktop Version
National Bison Month
National Bison Month
July is National Bison Month and we"ve chosen today to honor America"s official and largest land-dwelling mammal. The male American bison in today"s photo is lazing among wildflowers in Yellowstone National Park, the only place in the country where there"s been a continuous population of bison since prehistoric times. Once widespread across the American plains and revered by Native Americans, they numbered in the tens of millions. Tragically, settlers hunted the bison nearly to extinction by the late 1800s. Fewer than 1,000 of the giants were left in 1905 when the American Bison Society was formed to save them. These days, the population has stabilized with a little more than half a million bison spread across the country, with a few thousand living freely on the plains at Yellowstone.Desktop Version