nybg:
As I was scrolling through the “botanical garden” tag, I stopped about halfway down on this photograph to admire what I thought was the pattern in the fabric of what I imagined was a handmade cactus from a seller on Etsy. When I got to the bottom I was shocked to see that it was a real plant. Isn’t it beautiful?
This plant is Euphorbia obesa, a succulent from southern Africa, at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is a relatively new botanical garden, having opened in just 1995, and looks like an incredible place to visit. ~AR
The glass window bridge. This famous bridge links North Eleuthera to the mainland of Eleuthera. It is notable because on can see the dark Atlantic meeting the aquamarine Caribbean at the thinnest part of the island.
The Spotted Lakes of British Columbia
The lake appears to be a normal one during fall, winter, and a small portion of spring; but during the summer, most of the lake becomes evaporated. Dozens upon dozens of crater-like mineral deposits rest at the bottom of the lake and become visible during the warm weather. The mineral deposits span about 25 feet on average and contain many different concentrations of magnesium sulfate, and calcium/sodium phosphates, which gives them a distinct yellow, orange, green, or blue color.
Blades of grass are encased in ice, after a lawn sprinkler valve froze and broke in Salina, Kansas.
Photo credit: Tom Dorsey / Salina Journal via AP
Hydnellum peckii “Bleeding Tooth Fungus”
Wow. I think my dreams just came true.
From Summer Down Under, one of 31 photos. A white shelf cloud caps brownish dirt from a dust storm, or haboob, as it travels across the Indian Ocean near Onslow on the Western Australia coast in this handout image distributed by fishwrecked.com and taken January 9, 2013. (Reuters/Brett Martin/fishwrecked.com)
Frozen Bubbles Suspended Below Abraham Lake
Abraham Lake has become world famous, especially amongst photographers. The artificial lake, which lies in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, is home to a rare phenomenon where bubbles get frozen right underneath its surface. They’re often referred to as ice bubbles or frozen bubbles.
What causes this to happen? As photographer Fikret Onal explains, “The plants on the lake bed release methane gas and methane gets frozen once coming close enough to much colder lake surface and they keep stacking up below once the weather gets colder and colder during [the] winter season.”
Though a gorgeous sight, this incredible destination isn’t for the weak or the weary. “Even though I’ve walked on a frozen lake before, Abraham Lake made me feel completely uneasy since the lake was not covered with snow,” says Onal. “Even though the icy surface was around 8-9 inches thick, it still scared the hell out of me, not only because of the fact that I could see all the cracks…and the darkness of the lake bottom through the glassy surface, but also [because of] the deep boomy, cracking sounds coming from underneath the lake’s surface.”Click through for image sources.
A small fir tree (which has become a bonsai) growing at top of a dead log in the waters of Fairy Lake, Canada..
