The Landscape Image http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com . IMAGE . MIRAGE . PASSAGE . VOYAGE . MESSAGE . . . and LANDSCAPE . Sun, 28 Jun 2009 06:25:29 +0100 The Landscape Image http://files.nireblog.com/blogs/thelandscapeimage/gravatar.gif http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com http://nireblog.com <font color=#8c8f8c>.</font> http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2009/02/07/215528 http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2009/02/07/215528 THIS TRAIN STOPS HERE for a while.
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Many posts have not (yet) been translated: not enough time, I'm afraid.
Except for the home page and a few other posts, all images have been resized down to 20% of original size (however, they all have links to the original).
If you have any questions on any image or post don't hesitate to contact me: the e-mail link is on the side bar.
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Many thanks to you all.
[Last updated: June 2009].
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Campanha Light a Million Candles

The innocent victims of Internet child abuse cannot speak for themselves.
But you can.
We do not need your money. We need you to light a candle of support.
The more candles we light, the more powerful our voice becomes.
]]> Sat, 07 Feb 2009 00:40:01 +0100 MAY 2008 MINIATURES http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2009/01/27/may-2008-miniatures http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2009/01/27/may-2008-miniatures During this month there were five miniatures on the sidebar:

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Miniature 16 - Cloister......Miniature 17 - Flowers by the lake
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Miniature 18 - Riverside......Miniature 19 - Estoi sculpture......Miniature 20 - Liner funnel
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[Portuguese post on Oct 12th, 2008]

Category: MINIATURES

Comments

]]> Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:06:48 +0100 APRIL 2008 MINIATURES http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2009/01/27/april-2008-miniatures http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2009/01/27/april-2008-miniatures The four miniatures of April last year:

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Miniature 12 - Alentejo, Portugal......Miniature 13 - Lantern
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Miniature 14 - Cascais tide gauge station......Miniature 15 - Pink house
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[Portuguese post on Oct 12th, 2008]

Category: MINIATURES

Comments

]]> Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:04:29 +0100 216. HUMAN RIGHTS - SUBSEQUENT STORIES http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/13/216-human-rights-subsequent-stories http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/13/216-human-rights-subsequent-stories Following the anniversary of the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - and beyond the widespread media coverage of disregards for the most basic human rights all over the world - a four notes register to make us think about:

  • To read in Italian or in English in the (Italian) blog Art is Everywhere - the «Blogger-killer» law is being prepared in Italy. [UPDATE on Jan 27th 2009: the linked post has been removed].
    Besides, there's an ongoing campain in this country to repudiate this attempt to transform blogs in something like what some media already are: just crawling slaves or puppets in the hands of the installed power.

    • stavro_500x370.jpg

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  • The testimony of a Tibetan monk, in English, in the (Dutch) blog Cookie Mouse - Palden Gyatso, imprisoned and tortured in China for 33 years, then exiled in India and now travelling to spread the Tibetan cause.
    Leighton, the blog's author, posts: Somehow this simple monk's smile gives me hope. The human spirit is strong, and people like Palden Gyatso teach us the art of survival against all the odds. Tashi Delegs, Palden!

    • .

  • Two international petitions were present to representatives of the European Union and the United Nations, in favour of the extension of Universal Human Rights to the unborn children and the family:

    • An European petition reached 5.4 million signatures in less than a year - for the right to life of every human being, from conception to natural death.
    A Northen-American (Canada, United States and Mexico) petition with 330 000 signatures in about two months - for the extension of the right to life to all members of the human family, including the unborn child.

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  • The recently launched in the United Kingdom Campain for a Universal Declaration of Planetary Rights - the official website is called Trees Have Rights Too. Thanks to The Green Familia.

    • forect-b_500x75.jpg

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    See also other related posts: DIGNITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL OF US and HUMAN RIGHTS.

    [Portuguese post on Dec 12th, 2008]

    Category: OTHER IMAGES

    Comments

    ]]>     Sat, 13 Dec 2008 01:04:53 +0100     215. DIGNITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL OF US http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/10/215-dignity-and-justice-for-all-of-us http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/10/215-dignity-and-justice-for-all-of-us DIGNITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL OF US has been the theme of Conferences, Seminars, Symposia, Exhibitions and several different other activities all over the world to celebrate the year of the 60th anniversary of the proclamation of the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS by the United Nations.

    The anniversary is today - December 10th 2008.

    Planting treesMan, bench, bicycle, river

    Universal Declaration of Human RightsSeated - wait, pastime or despair

    AgeingBusy city pedestrian street

    And now, sixty years after the Declaration was proclaimed, the High Commissioner of the United Nations for Human Rights, Navanethem (Navi) Pillay states on December 9th 2008 [my bold]:

    Tens of millions of people around the world are still unaware that they have rights that they can demand, and that their governments are accountable to them, and to a wide-ranging body of rights-based national and international law. [...]
    For this reason, I warmly welcome the fact that next year has been designated the International Year of Human Rights Learning. And I would like to encourage ministries, institutions, teachers, parents and others in a position of responsibility all across the planet to take this opportunity to ensure that the next generation is given the maximum opportunity to claim what was promised to them in that extraordinary document known as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

    See also the post about HUMAN RIGHTS.

    [Portuguese post on Dec 9th, 2008]

    Category: THE UNIVERSAL TEXTS

    Comments

    ]]>     Wed, 10 Dec 2008 23:50:38 +0100     109. THE EARTH FLAG http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/10/109-the-earth-flag http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/10/109-the-earth-flag One of the most famous NASA's photographies of the Earth - by the Apollo 17 crew on December 7th 1972 - the AS17-148-22727, named Blue Marble, has been chosen as the (non official) Earth flag.

    The Earth Flag

    Both celebrations of the International Earth Day use this image on their flag - the original one on March 21st (the Equinox) and the other one on April 22nd.

    Does the fact that March 21st has so many different celebrations mean that there is some lack of imagination around?

    And besides, every day is good to celebrate the Earth!

    [Portuguese post on Apr 21st, 2008]

    Category: OTHER IMAGES

    Comments

    ]]>     Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:17:40 +0100     108. THE EARTH TONES, COLOURS OF THE EARTH http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/09/108-the-earth-tones-colours-of-the-earth http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/09/108-the-earth-tones-colours-of-the-earth The United Nations support the annual celebration of International Earth Day - a global holiday to celebrate the wonder of life on our planet - on the March equinox.
    However, a similar celebration is held in some countries on April 22nd. Both initiatives started in the United States, between 1969 and 1970 (how strange is that?).

    Cliffs in the north coast of Madeira Island - Portugal

    Dune sands - Monte Gordo, Vila Real de Santo António - Portugal

    Red soil - Vialonga, Vila Franca de Xira - Portugal

    Limestone outcrops - Odrinhas, Sintra - Portugal

    From top to bottom, all images in Portugal: Madeira Island (north coast), Monte Gordo (Vila Real de Santo António), Vialonga (Vila Franca de Xira)  and Odrinhas (Sintra).

    [Portuguese post on April 21st, 2008]

    Category: QUARTERS

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    ]]>     Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:05:10 +0100     107. THREE DIFFERENT PATIOS http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/07/107-three-different-patios http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/07/107-three-different-patios In rural areas, courtyards are often a house extension - an outdoor «living room», a place to take a rest by the end of the afternoon or even to store some tools, fruits and seeds.

    In urban areas, patios and courtyards can be very appealing places for different activities while providing quiet and privacy, even when the broad busy avenues are just around the corner...

    Patio in Seville - Spain

    Patio in Ljubljana - Slovenia (ex-Yugoslavia)

    Patio in Vienna - Austria

    Pleasant city patios - from top to bottom: in Seville (Spain), Ljubljana (Slovenia, ex-Yugoslavia) and Vienna (Austria).

    [Portuguese post on Apr 20th, 2008]

    Category: THE CITY

    Comments

    ]]>     Sun, 07 Dec 2008 02:26:45 +0100     106. THE ROYAL TOBACCO FACTORY http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/07/106-the-royal-tobacco-factory http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/07/106-the-royal-tobacco-factory The Rectorate and some Faculties of the University of Seville are housed, since the mid-twentieth century, in the (former) Royal Tobacco Factory, an industrial architecture building from the eighteenth century.

    Main entrance to the Rectorate - University of Seville, Spain

    Main entrance to the Rectorate - Seville, Spain.

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    Main entrance to the Rectorate - University of Seville, SpainInside the Rectorate - University of Seville, Spain

    A curious note is that the heroine of Carmen (Prosper Mérimée, Georges Bizet) «worked» in the Royal Tobacco Factory of Seville.

    [Portuguese post on April 19th, 2008]

    Category: THE ARCHITECTURE

    Comments

    ]]>     Sun, 07 Dec 2008 01:10:14 +0100     105. SLEEPING BIRDS http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/04/105-sleeping-birds http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/04/105-sleeping-birds It's really a privilege having a tree in front of the window!

    Sleeping Sparrow on a Nettle Tree - Cascais, PortugalSleeping Sparrow on a Nettle Tree - Cascais, Portugal

    Sleeping Sparrow on a Nettle Tree - Cascais, PortugalSleeping Sparrow on a Nettle Tree - Cascais, Portugal

    Sleeping Sparrow on a Nettle Tree - Cascais, PortugalSleeping Sparrow on a Nettle Tree - Cascais, Portugal

    Young and adult, male and female Sparrows (Passer domesticus) on a Nettle tree (the European Hackberry - Celtis australis, family Ulmaceae).
    Pictures taken between mid February and mid March. Cascais, Portugal.

    [Portuguese post on Apr 18th, 2008]

    Category: NATURALLY

    Comments

    ]]>     Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:58:45 +0100     104. A STORY ABOUT CORK OAKS - V http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/04/104-a-story-about-cork-oaks-v http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/04/104-a-story-about-cork-oaks-v Quercus suber I, 11 weeks - Cascais, PortugalQuercus suber I, 13 weeks - Cascais, PortugalQuercus suber I, 12 weeks - Cascais, Portugal

    .

    Quercus suber II, 11 weeks - Cascais, PortugalQuercus suber II, 13 weeks - Cascais, PortugalQuercus suber II, 12 weeks - Cascais, Portugal

    During the last couple of weeks, the two little Cork Oaks (Quercus suber, Fagaceae family) have inverted their proportions: the one that was smaller (Q. suber I) suddenly «jumped up» and is now the higher. In the meanwhile, the other one's growth slowed down considerably. This is biodiversity!
    Cascais, Portugal.

    [Portuguese post on Apr 17th, 2008]

    Category: A STORY ABOUT CORK OAKS

    Comments

    ]]>     Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:20:48 +0100     103. THE ROMAN MOSAICS OF MILREU http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/03/103-the-roman-mosaics-of-milreu http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/03/103-the-roman-mosaics-of-milreu Milreu ruins (a Portuguese National Monument located close to Faro - Algarve) consist of a roman house with peristyle, baths, temple and other buildings. According to different authors the main house dates back to the 2nd or the 4th century. The site displays an interesting and original mosaics collection, specially because of the marine fauna scenes.

    Milreu mosaics of the villa's peristyle - Faro, Portugal

    Mosaics of the villa's peristyle.

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    Milreu mosaics of the temple's podium - Faro, Portugal

    Mosaics of the temple's podium.

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    More details about these (and other) roman mosaics: Roman Mosaics in the Southwest of Hispania - Andaluzia and Algarve.

    [Portuguese post on Apr 16th, 2008]

    Category: THE HERITAGE

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    Comment by PEJA - 2008-12-05 - 22:42:55
    Oooh! You must come in Ladispoli (where i live)! You must see etruscan mosaic from Girpy (ancient commercial city...)

    Comment by AM.MA - 2008-12-07 - 02:48:36
    Yes, I'd like that, it sounds great!

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    Feb. 2009: Images down to 20% of ORIGINAL SIZE (click to see). Comments closed.

    ]]>     Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:25:38 +0100     102. THE RHINE FALLS http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/03/102-the-rhine-falls http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/03/102-the-rhine-falls The largest falls in Europe - 150 metres wide and 23 metres high - are located on the High Rhine, northern Switzerland, between the cantons of Schaffhausen and Zürich, at about 400 metres altitude and not far from the border with Germany.

    The Rhine falls - Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Switzerland

    The Rhine falls - Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Switzerland

    The Rhine falls - Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Switzerland

    The Rhine falls at Neuhausen am Rheinfall - canton of Schaffhausen, Switzerland.

    [Portuguese post on April 15th, 2008]

    Category: THE WATER

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    Comment by Neuhausen - 2008-12-16 - 20:42:31
    I love the flow of water. It is such a nice place to go visit it.

    Comment by AM.MA - 2008-12-17 - 19:13:04
    Indeed it is.
    I didn't know about «your» Neuhausen auf den Fildern - it also looks like a nice place!

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    Feb. 2009: Images down to 20% of ORIGINAL SIZE (click to see). Comments closed.

    ]]>     Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:45:52 +0100     101. SUNBEAM http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/03/101-sunbeam http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/03/101-sunbeam A ray of sunlight - on an old tree trunk.

    A ray of sunlight on an old tree trunk - Óbidos, Portugal

    Surroundings of Óbidos, Portugal.

    [Portuguese post on Apr 14th, 2008]

    Category: NATURALLY

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    Feb. 2009: Image down to 20% of ORIGINAL SIZE (click to see). Comments closed.

    ]]>     Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:40:01 +0100     ONE TO ONE THOUSAND - 1. CANOPIES http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/02/one-to-one-thousand-1-canopies http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/02/one-to-one-thousand-1-canopies The favourite post of visitors 1 to 1 000:

    (51) GLASS AND STEEL

    - new challenges in Architecture.

    Sony Centre - Berlin, Germany

    Canopy over the central atrium of the Sony Centre (eight buildings complex), Potsdamer Platz in Berlin - Germany.

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    DG Bank main entry - Berlin, Germany

    Glass canopy over the main entry to the DG Bank building (a project by Frank O. Gehry), Pariser Platz in Berlin - Germany.

    [Posted on March 15th 2008, under Category THE ARCHITECTURE].

    NOTE: The Portuguese blog's favourite post of visitors 1 to 1 000 was THE FRIGATE D. FERNANDO II E GLÓRIA.

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    Dec. 2008: Images down to 20% of ORIGINAL SIZE (click to see). Comments closed.

    ]]>     Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:55:04 +0100     MARCH 2008 MINIATURES http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/02/march-2008-miniatures http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/02/march-2008-miniatures Miniatures are published on Saturdays. March had five of them:

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    Miniature 7 - Pine trees......Miniature 8 - Sparrow......Miniature 9 - Cork Oak
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    Miniature 10 - Kew glasshouse......Miniature 11 - Sailing ship
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    [Portuguese post on Sep 19th, 2008]

    Category: MINIATURES

    Comments

    ]]>     Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:47:35 +0100     FEBRUARY 2008 MINIATURES http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/02/february-2008-miniatures http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/12/02/february-2008-miniatures Today I'm starting another Category - MINIATURES - to post the weekly miniatures that have been showing on the side bar since the beginning of this blog.

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    Miniature 5 - Tavira Municipality......Miniature 6 - Fisherman
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    [Portuguese post on Sep 19th, 2008]

    Category: MINIATURES

    Comments

    ]]>     Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:40:16 +0100     100. RIVERFRONT PAVING http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/07/28/100-riverfront-paving http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/07/28/100-riverfront-paving Paving detail near The Black Diamond - Copenhagen, Denmark

    Riverfront paving detail near The Black Diamond - Copenhagen, Denmark.

    [Portuguese post on Apr 13th, 2008]

    Category: A CLOSE LOOK

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    Comment by Pilia Emmanuele - 2008-08-13 - 02:13:03
    This is like street of city (civitavecchia, near Rome)!

    Comment by AM.MA - 2008-08-13 - 19:28:49
    A general lack of imagination nowadays, may be?
    And does the paving in Civitavecchia also have glass stripes? I specialy like these stripes.

    Comment by Pilia Emmanuele - 2008-08-25 - 15:08:45
    Ya! In civitavecchia worked architects like Bramante and Borromini, and now Fuksas and... me :). So, more street have glass in paving, specially near the sea, for see object from Rome and Etrurian... (My english is so terrible... :S )

    Comment by AM.MA - 2008-08-31 - 01:36:13
    There's also a paving with glass stripes at the docklands of Dublin (Ireland): the new Grand Canal Square by American Landscape Arquitect Martha Schwartz... It doesn't matter, glass stripes are nice anyway!
    May be you could write in Italian? I only hope that you use simple and short sentences (please) - and may be you could understand my Portuguese blog? Portuguese has a very clear latin root and I suggest that you try it and take a look at this post:
    http://aimagemdapaisagem.nireblog.com/post/2008/08/14/170-a-arquitectura-de-palladio

    Comment by Pilia Emmanuele - 2008-10-01 - 16:26:46
    Per me è molto difficile capire il portoghese, perchè la grammatica dei verbi è molto diversa. Ho letto che è la lingua più difficile da studiare!
    Ma ho molti amici brasiliani, forse loro possono tradurre per me! :)
    Pero provo a leggere ugualmente anche se sò che non capisco!
    Ciao, a presto! :)

    Comment by AM.MA - 2008-10-02 - 01:34:00
    No, it's not true that Portuguese is difficult! Anyway it's not more difficult than Italian, for sure!
    I hope I will soon add new posts here, since I haven't for a while - only in Portuguese, because it's so much easier...

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    Feb. 2009: Image down to 20% of ORIGINAL SIZE (click to see). Comments closed.

    ]]>     Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:34:44 +0100     99. THE BLACK DIAMOND http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/07/27/99-the-black-diamond http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/07/27/99-the-black-diamond DEN SORTE DIAMANT or THE BLACK DIAMOND is a recent building (1995-99) on the riverfront of «Castle Island» (Slotsholmen) - Copenhagen, Denmark.

    The Black Diamond - Royal Library of Copenhagen, Denmark

    The Black Diamond - Royal Library of Copenhagen, Denmark

    The Black Diamond - Royal Library of Copenhagen, Denmark

    The Black Diamond - Royal Library of Copenhagen, Denmark

    This building had several architecture awards and is an extension / expansion to the Royal Library of Copenhagen (the original brick building can be seen on the pictures and dates back to 1906).
    Its shape, the leaning façade on the water and the polished black granite cladding (from Zimbabwe), make this building one of the most striking elements on this area of the city.
    However, it has a general gray (and not black) tone under certain light and atmosphere conditions, due to the reflective properties of the polished stone.

    [Portuguese post on April 11th, 2008]

    Category: THE ARCHITECTURE

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    Comment by Pilia Emmanuele - 2008-08-13 - 02:11:39
    Ehi, this is like a Fuksas's project... I don't find any image, but it is in France, and was build in 1987... :)

    Comment by AM.MA - 2008-08-13 - 19:25:56
    Unfortunately I don't know very well the work of Massimiliano Fuksas. I went through a quick search on Google images and couldn't find anything similar by Fuksas.
    If you find something on the internet I appreciate if you let me know!

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    Feb. 2009: Images down to 20% of ORIGINAL SIZE (click to see). Comments closed.

    ]]>     Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:26:16 +0100     98. THE QUEEN PALM IN BLOSSOM http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/07/25/98-the-queen-palm-in-blossom http://thelandscapeimage.nireblog.com/post/2008/07/25/98-the-queen-palm-in-blossom The Palm trees along the Alameda dos Oceanos (images on previous post) are Queen Palms - Syagrus romanzoffiana, syn. Arecastrum romanzoffianum, family Palmae.

    Queen Palm in blossom, Syagrus romanzoffiana - C. Rainha, Portugal

    The Queen Palm in blossom, mid October - Caldas da Rainha, Portugal.

    [Portuguese post on April 10th, 2008]

    Category: THE TREE

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    Feb. 2009: Image down to 20% of ORIGINAL SIZE (click to see). Comments closed.

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