Made in 1629, Koishikawa Botanical Gardens is a traditional Japanese garden located near Tokyo Dome. Quite a few of the scenes in the garden are inspired by famous Chinese landscapes. The garden is loved by locals for its cherry blossoms in the spring and its fall foliage.
A captivating fantasy castle made of white stone, adorned with numerous towers and turrets. Surrounded by billowing clouds against a dreamy pink sky backdrop. The castle evokes a sense of enchantment but shows signs of neglect with broken windows and cracked walls.
I have written about character building before, but this time, I want to have a particular focus on character building for the fantasy genre. My books are more than often, character driven and art of characterisation can be powerful, turning plots into amazing and awesome stories.
Disney is a cornerstone of the American childhood. Even for someone like myself who was raised in an environment where most Disney movies were banned because of the witchcraft, sorcery, or overt references to Satan (The cat in Cinderella is named Lucifer, for example), I was still influenced via friends or the occasional contraband storybook found in a dentist’s or doctor’s waiting room that I would sneak into a corner or playhouse and read. I didn’t see most Disney movies until I was a babysitting teenager. To this day I have never seen Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs or 101 Dalmatians, yet I could tell you the stories and even sing nearly all the songs. With such a pervasive influence, it was impossible to escape the clutch of Disney.
Five Shocking Animal Hybrids That Truly Exist in Nature, From Narlugas to Grolar Bears to Coywolves
The now-famous “virgin” stingray Charlotte is not having hybrid babies, scientists say. But in nature, distinct species sometimes interbreed to produce surprising offspring
I had long assumed that the God of Crossroads was some lesser, unknown deity within the pantheon of Greek or Nordic mythologies, but that was before I delved deep into the world of black fantasy art.
We took a road trip from our apartment in Baumholder along Germany’s Fairytale Road. Germany is where the Brothers Grimm wrote famous tales like Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Sleeping Beauty. There are so many amazing road trips in Germany, but this one allows you to relive those childhood stories. It’s also one of the prettiest drives in the country. The route offers beautiful views and a deep dive into the Brothers Grimm’s tales. Be ready for an experience that might surprise you.
I just love these colors. The photographer, William Dalton, did a superb job in matching the subtle colors of the flower and background to the bird. Now if we just knew the name of this beautiful bird we be completely happy! OK, somebody, tell us who he is…
Discover how to transform your home into a cozy, inviting space with these timeless traditional interior design ideas. This slideshow features elegant living rooms, charming patios, serene bedrooms, and classic dining rooms-each showcasing the warmth and sophistication that defines traditional decor. Whether you're looking for design inspiration or tips on how to incorporate vintage furniture, neutral color palettes, and stylish accents, this video offers everything you need to c
The Ford Fusion is a mid-size car that was manufactured and marketed by the Ford Motor Company.[2] From the 2006 through 2020 model years, two generations of the Fusion have been produced in gasoline, gas/electric hybrid, and gas/plug-in electric hybrid variants. The Fusion was manufactured at Ford's Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly plant in Sonora, Mexico, alongside the Lincoln MKZ, and formerly the Mercury Milan,[3] both of which share its CD3 platform.
A visual scene of a tiny, magical fairy, sparkling with a mystical aura. The fairy is of Middle Eastern descent with long, luxurious dark hair that contrast with a pair of iridescent wings fluttering softly. She is wearing a dress made from petals and leaves, radiating an array of rich, vibrant colors that reflect the enchanting fairyland. She is seated delicately on a large, blooming flower, possibly a sunflower or a lily, with tiny dewdrops shining like diamonds onto its velvety petals. The fairy is reaching out to one of these dewdrops with curiosity and delight. The setting is a soothing, early morning, with the sun casting a warm, golden light passing through quickly dancing leaves.
Create a colourful wall of your favourite fairytale characters! This Enormous Turnip sign is manufactured on tough outdoor quality rigid plastic panel, so it's fade and weather resistant.
A cozy autumn setting with a lit candle, warm beverage, stacked books, and scattered leaves.
Nestled among a collection of old, worn books, a warm cup rests on a knitted blanket, emitting a sense of warmth and comfort. A lit candle adds a soft glow, enhancing the cozy atmosphere. Nearby, a small pumpkin and fallen leaves hint at the autumn season, while the background features a rustic bookshelf overflowing with literature, suggesting a quiet corner perfect for reading and relaxation. This scene captures the essence of fall and the pleasure of quiet, introspective moments spent indoors.
Pythons have several names. Each name reflects something unique about the python, whether it's a physical trait or the region they call home. Consider the Ball pythons, also called Royal pythons. It's an odd name for a snake, but it perfectly captures its tendency to curl into a tight ball when feeling threatened.
This little snake hails from sub-Saharan Africa, and although it's the smallest species on the continent, its name is undoubtedly a big conversation starter.
Now, let's journey to Southeast Asia, where we encounter two remarkable species: Burmese pythons, known for their immense size, takes its name from its homeland, Burma (now Myanmar), and the reticulated python, which got its name from its appearance. 'Reticulated' describes something resembling a net or network, perfectly describing the intricate pattern adorning this python's skin.
Another interesting fact about gorillas is that they have opposable thumbs, just like humans do! Gorillas can touch their thumbs to the tips of their fingers.
Interestingly, few mammals have thumbs that can move and oppose their other fingers. Some examples are opossums, koalas, and panda bears. Only marmosets and tarsiers among primates have thumbs that can't oppose their fingers.
Gorillas can grip and manipulate objects with dexterity. Like us, they utilize their opposable thumbs efficiently, adeptly grasping food, picking items, and cleverly using tools. This ability is crucial in their daily activities and helps them navigate their environment effectively.
One interesting fact about caterpillars is that they have two types of legs: true legs and prolegs or false legs.
The true legs are the three pairs of jointed legs located on the Caterpillar's thoracic segments closest to its head. These legs are"true" because the Caterpillar retains them into adulthood when it transforms into a butterfly or moth. They use these legs to crawl and walk.
Additionally, on their abdomen, caterpillars possess several pairs of fleshy, unjointed prolegs adorned with tiny hooks called crochets. A caterpillar may have up to five pairs of prolegs, but the number can vary among species. These prolegs firmly grip surfaces as they move about while feeding or resting.
However, caterpillars shed these prolegs as they approach pupation, developing structures needed for metamorphosis into chrysalides or pupae during their transition to adult butterflies or moths.
Additionally, sometimes larvae from the Hymenoptera order - which includes ants, bees, and wasps - get mistaken for caterpillars. However, there are key differences. For example, sawfly larvae superficially resemble caterpillars but have unique features. They sport prolegs on each abdominal segment, unlike caterpillars. Caterpillars have hooks on their prolegs, a feature not found in sawfly larvae.
Did you know that caterpillars have a unique feature called "stemmata" or "ocelli" that function as simple eyes?
These light-sensitive cells differ from the compound eyes found in adult insects on the sides of the Caterpillar's head in pairs. The number of ocelli can vary from species to species, with most having six arranged in three pairs.
However, some caterpillars may have fewer or additional ocelli. Despite their small size, these ocelli play an essential role in helping caterpillars detect changes in light intensity and navigate their environment, especially during low-light conditions.
Male moose, called bulls, start to grow antlers during spring. These distinctive broad palmate antlers can span up to 6 feet in width and weigh as much as 40 pounds. Palmate antlers have a flat, palm-like structure with tines or points, which is uncommon for other deer family members with twig-like structured antlers.
Interestingly, only bulls grow antlers, each with a unique pattern. All male moose grow and lose their antlers. Moose shed their antlers between mid-November and March.
Furthermore, the shed antlers play a crucial role in the ecosystem. Smaller mammals like squirrels, mice, and porcupines rely on fallen moose antlers to extract vital nutrients for bone strength, health, and reproduction.
Birds, including woodpeckers and grouse, also benefit from consuming the antler fragments. Meanwhile, decomposition enriches the soil, fostering plant growth and supporting a more sustainable ecosystem.
Their skin is thick (up to two inches) and wrinkly. It acts as a natural armor against threats, shielding them from thorny bushes, rough branches, and the scorching sun. Furthermore, the folds on rhino skin aid in thermoregulation and easy mobility.
So what made their skin thick? The thickness of rhino skin results from a dense layer of collagen fibers. Collagen is a fibrous protein that provides structural support and strength to various tissues in the body. In rhinos, this collagen layer is particularly well-developed, offering robust protection against physical impacts and external injuries.
Another contributing factor is the presence of a thick layer of subcutaneous fat. This layer acts as insulation and further enhances the skin's durability. However, it's important to note that though thick, their skin is extremely sensitive. That's why they use their mud sunscreen.
Rhinos have one of the longest gestation periods in mammals. They give birth to their calf after 15 to 16 months. The reason? This extended period is likely because they carry a much larger baby that requires more time and energy to develop. A newborn rhino calf can weigh between 88 to 140 pounds. Typically, rhino babies stay with their mothers for up to three years.
The orca is an apex predator, meaning it's at the top of its food chain and has no immediate threat as one of the largest and most powerful aquatic animals. However, the species is still threatened by environmental concerns, such as fishing equipment discarded or lost at sea like nets that pose entanglement dangers, chemicals that don't break down in nature and become stored in the fatty tissue of the orcas when they digest contaminated food, and shock waves from underwater explosives or military sonar that can cause orca blood vessels to burst and hemorrhage.
As social animals, orcas rely on a system of communication tools to talk with members of their pods, navigate the ocean, and hunt. On the surface, they use body language like breaching, slapping their flippers or tail, or bringing their head out of the water. Each population of killer whales has its own unique language, developed over millions of years, and made up of a series of whistles, clicks, pulsed calls, low-frequency pops, and jaw claps made by forcing air through the nasal passages and amplifying the sound through the fatty area of their heads, commonly referred to as the melon. When receiving sound, the orca uses its jaw - sound waves from echolocution travel from the jaw to the inner ear and then to the brain, where a detailed image is created. Their echolocution is considered the most powerful and most sophisticated of any animal.
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