Tag Archives: Europe

Viburnum

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Viburnum

There are so many versions of viburnums!

  • Viburnums are evergreen or deciduous flowering shrubs or small trees and there are at least 150 different species.
  • Viburnums are from the family Adoxaceae, which is the family of moschatels and they were originally part of the honeysuckle family, the Caprifoliaceae family.
  • Viburnums are mostly native to the northern parts of the world, particularly those in mild climates.
  • Viburnums have small flowers with five petals, that are white, pink or cream in colour and grow in clusters.
  • In the past, long stems of some species of viburnum have been used as shafts for arrows, and they are still commonly used by archers.

Viburnum Tinus, Flowers, Clustered, White, Pink, Buds, Ten Random Facts, Australia, Ornamental plant

  • Viburnums have small, red, purple, blue or black round fruits, and depending on the species can be made into jam, although some species are toxic.
  • Viburnums grow from 1 to 6 metres (3 to 20 feet) in height and prefer to grow in sunlight, but can adapt to the shade.
  • Viburnums generally have appealing, green coloured foliage, and those species that lose their leaves in winter have attractive autumn coloured foliage.
  • Viburnums are popularly used as an ornamental plant since they do not attract many pests.
  • Viburnums flower during the spring months, and some species are quite fragrant.
Bibliography:
Twombly K, Viburnum are Versatile Plants, 2013, Fine Gardening, http://www.finegardening.com/plants/articles/viburnums-are-versatile-shrubs.aspx?id=81004
Viburnum, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viburnum

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Paris

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Paris

‘It is tossed by the waves, but does not sink’ – Paris’ motto.

  • Paris is the capital city of France, found in northern France, Europe on River Seine, and is among the leading cities in cuisine, fashion, education as well as other arts.
  • Paris is the largest city in France, and is among the largest in Europe, with over 2.2 million residing in the city in 2013, and over 12 million residents when including the wider Paris area.
  • Paris has one of the top Global Domestic Products (GDPs)  in the world, with a GDP of US$845 billion in 2011.
  • ‘Paris’ is also known as the ‘City of Love’, ‘Paname’, and the ‘La Ville-Lumière’ (City of Light’) and was historically known as ‘Lutetia Parisiorum’ during the Roman times in 0 to 400 AD.
  • The name ‘Paris’ was probably derived from the name of the Gaulish tribe, ‘Parisii’ that settled there.
Paris, Panorama, City, Lights, From Eiffel Tower, France, Ten Random Facts, FlickrPanorama of Paris
Image courtesy of MK B./Flickr
  • Paris has a metropolitan area of approximately 2,850 square kilometres (1,100 square miles).
  • Every year, Paris attracts approximately 28 million tourists who visit its gardens, cathedrals, festivals, arts, museums including the Louvre that houses many famous paintings including the Mona Lisa, and architecture including the Eiffel Tower.
  • Paris was the host of the 1889 World Fair, with the Eiffel Tower among the main attractions.
  • Paris is the home of the Métro, a subway system that is used by 9 million people per day.
  • Soccer (football) is a popular sport in Paris, and the city held the international soccer world cup, FIFA, in 1938 and 1998 as well as hosting the Olympic Games of 1900 and 1924.
Bibliography:
Paris, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris
Paris Facts & Figures, 2013, A View on Cities, http://www.aviewoncities.com/paris/parisfacts.htm

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Mustard

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Mustard

Pass the mustard, please!

  • Mustard is a type of spice and can be in the form of a paste, a sauce, a seed and a ground spice and is often added as a flavouring addition to poultry, wholemeal breads, meats, salads or other mixtures such as dressings.
  • Mustard comes from the seeds of  native European and Asian mustard plant’s from the Brassicaceae family, the family of mustards.
  • Mustard seeds can be coloured from white to yellow to black, and this gives mustard condiments their colour and also their heat, with white seeds being the mildest, and brown and black seeds being the hottest.
  • Mustard paste is made by grinding or cracking the seeds, adding a liquid and sometimes flavours.
  • Romans made a type of mustard by grinding the seeds and then adding grape juice or other liquids, and a recipe using the spice has been found in a Roman cookbook dating back to 300-400 AD .

Mustard, Yellow, Seeds, Mixture Powder, Yellow, Brown, Blobs, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • Mustard is very high in selenium, and significantly high in fibre, omega 3 and manganese, phosphorous, iron, calcium and magnesium and is good for the digestive system, although some people are allergic to mustard.
  • Romans probably brought mustard to Gaul in the 900s, which then became popular in Europe, and by the 1200s, Paris was making the mustard paste.
  • ‘Mustard’ is from the words ‘mostarde’ and ‘mustarde’, from Old-French and Anglo-Norman respectively, which is a combination of the Latin words ‘mustum ardens‘ which means ‘burning’ or ‘hot’ ‘must’ (as in wine grape juice).
  • The type of mustard sauce used on hot dogs is called ‘yellow’ or ‘American’, due to its vivid yellow colour and popularity in America, and it sometimes has honey added.
  • Mustard was originally used for medicinal purposes, which included the treatment of tooth aches and scorpion stings.
Bibliography:
Mustard (Condiment), 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustard_(condiment)>
Mustard Seeds, 2013, The World’s Healthiest Foods, <http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=106>

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Keukenhof

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Keukenhof

Keukenhof is breathtaking.

  • Keukenhof is also known as the ‘Garden of Europe’, and the word ‘Keukenhof’ can be translated to ‘kitchen garden’ in Dutch, in reference to the herbs that used to be gathered in the area for the castle kitchen.
  • Keukenhof is the largest flower garden on Earth, with approximately seven million bulbs covering an area of 32 hectares (79 acres).
  • Keukenhof is located in Lisse, in the Netherlands in an area known as ‘Duin- en Bollenstreek’ which translates to ‘Dune and Bulb Region’, known for its floral industry.
  • Keukenhof is only ever open to the public for  8 weeks in a year from mid-March to mid-May, with the flower-viewing peak in mid-April.
  • Keukenhof was originally a place for hunting in the 1400s, and the Mayor of Lisse organised the first Keukenhof exhibit in 1949.
Keukenhof, garden, flower, tulip, Holland, Ten Random Facts, Flickr
Keukenhof
Image courtesy of Bertknot/Flickr
  •  The Keukenhof gardens are directly opposite a building known as ‘Keukenhof Castle’, which was built in 1642.
  • Keukenhof was designed in the 1800s, by the landscaper Jan David Zocher and his son, for the Baron and Baroness van Pallandt the owners of the property and the castle at the time, all of which is now owned by a charitable foundation.
  • Keukenhof has competitions for the best flowers grown by exhibitors, with awards like tulip awards and rose awards.
  • Many visitors to Keukenhof search for large rows of a certain flower, which can be see in some of the surrounding areas, which they do not find in the garden, but instead find patterns and pictures created with flower bulbs.
  • The flowers and bulbs featured in Keukenhof can be bought, with much of the garden dug up and replanted yearly.
Bibliography:
Garrison L, Keukenhof Gardens – Dutch Spring Gardens near Amsterdam, 2013, About.com, <http://cruises.about.com/cs/europe/a/keukenhof.htm>
Keukenhof, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keukenhof>
History of Keukenhof, 2013, Keukenhof Holland, <http://www.keukenhof.nl/en/5/history-of-keukenhof.html>

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St Paul’s Cathedral

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St Paul’s Cathedral

Cathedral of St Paul.

  • St Paul’s Cathedral, an Anglican church, can be found on Ludgate Hill, the highest point in London City, United Kingdom, and is the home of the Bishop of London.
  • St Paul’s Cathedral was based on an English Baroque look and was designed by Sir Christopher Wren who was a well known English architect.
  • St Paul’s Cathedral was constructed between 1675 until 1711, with further work being carried out over the following years.
  • St Paul’s Cathedral at 111 metres (365 feet) in height was London’s tallest building, from 1710 to 1962, and has been popular in art and film, including Harry Potter, Star Trek, Sherlock Holmes and Mary Poppins.
  • St Paul’s Cathedral has held notable funerals, services and the marriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales, as well as Queen Victoria’s and Queen Elizabeth II’s Jubilee celebrations.

St Paul's Cathedral, White, Anglican, London, Ten Random Facts, Church, Free Digital Photos

St Paul’s Cathedral, London
Image courtesy of Vichaya Kiatying-Angsulee/Free Digital Photos

  • St Paul’s Cathedral is at least the fourth on the site after a number of blazes destroyed the previous cathedrals, the last being destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666.
  • The total cost of St Paul’s Cathedral was £1.1 million in 1716, and is worth AUD$238 million (£139 million) in 2013.
  • In World War II, St Paul’s Cathedral was the target of a number of German bombs and suffered some damage, although one of the bombs would have completely destroyed the church if it hadn’t have been quickly defused.
  • St Paul’s Cathedral has been the subject of one of the largest ever restorations in the United Kingdom, taking 15 years, from 1996 until 2011.
  • St Paul’s Cathedral is the home of many pieces of art including sculptures, mosaics, painting and a magnificent organ, as well as the tombs of some notable people.
Bibliography:
St. Paul’s Cathedral, 2013, A View on Cities, <http://www.aviewoncities.com/london/stpaulscathedral.htm>
St Paul’s Cathedral, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Paul’s_Cathedral>

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Saint Basil’s Cathedral

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Saint Basil’s Cathedral

Gazing… pretty.

  • Saint Basil’s Cathedral has many names, including, but not limited to, ‘Cathedral of Saint Vasily the Blessed’, ‘Protecting Veil of the Mother of God’, ‘Cathedral of the Intercession of the Virgin by the Moat’, ‘Church of Intercession of Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat’, ‘Cathedral of the Protection of Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat’ and ‘Pokrovsky Cathedral’.
  • Saint Basil’s Cathedral is found in the city square known as Red Square in Moscow, the capital of Russia.
  • Saint Basil’s Cathedral is a group of nine churches or chapels, that sit on one foundation, and were built from 1555 to 1561.
  • Saint Basil’s Cathedral was believed to be the work of Barma and Postnik Yakovlev, and was ordered to be built by Ivan the Terrible (Tsar Ivan IV) who was Tsar of All the Russias and Moscow’s prince and ruler at the time.
  • Saint Basil’s Cathedral was built to commemorate Ivan the Terrible’s conquest of Kazan in 1552, which happened during the Feast of the Intercession of the Virgin, hence one of its alternate names.

Day, Saint Basil Cathedral, Moscow, Russia, Church, Brightly Coloured, Front, Vivid, Ten Random Facts, Flickr

Saint Basil’s Cathedral
Image courtesy of Jose Calatayud/Flickr
  • Saint Basil’s Cathedral is part of the Kremlin and Red Square UNESCO World Heritage Site which was listed in 1990.
  • Saint Basil’s Cathedral has many brightly coloured onion shaped domes that have many traditional red, white and gold colours as well as many other colours of the rainbow.
  • Saint Basil’s Cathedral’s structure is made of a traditional white stone foundation, and red bricks walls that contain wooden framework.
  • Saint Basil’s Cathedral has seen much renovation and restoration over the centuries, which includes major restoration by Ivan Michurin after a fire damaged the building in 1737.
  • Saint Basil’s Cathedral contains much symbolism and is said to have represented the Jerusalem temple, although the centre of Saint Basil’s Cathedral is now a museum and is open to public.
Bibliography:
Kubilius, K 2013, Saint Basil’s Cathedral, About.com, <http://goeasteurope.about.com/od/moscowtravel/p/stbasils.htm>
Saint Basil’s Cathedral, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Basil’s_Cathedral>
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