Friday, 22 February, 2019

Mosaiculture

Posted on Tuesday, 30 September, 2014Sunday, 20 August, 2017 by Zheluo Cai

Mosaiculture should be distinguished from topiary, which features mostly shrubs pruned to create different shapes. Mosaiculture is a horticultural art that involves creating and mounting colourful two- and three-dimensional designs, sculptures and reliefs made primarily from plants with colourful foliage that consists generally of annuals, and occasionally perennials.

Mosaïcultures Internationales, a triennial competition, is an exhibition of horticultural art and a chance for the representatives from parks, gardens and green spaces around the world to exchange ideas. All works presented must represent something of the participant’s culture while responding to a predefined theme and complying with the principles of sustainable development. A few of the exhibits from the 2013 competition at the Montreal Botanical Garden are shown here.

Watch - Lassa Fever in Nigeria Thursday, 7 February, 2019
Nigerian health officials have declared an outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria. Travelers to Nigeria should avoid contact with rats, especially rat urine and feces, and keep their accommodations or campsites clean.
Alert - Yellow Fever in Nigeria Monday, 28 January, 2019
A large, ongoing outbreak of yellow fever in Nigeria began in September 2017. The outbreak is now spread throughout the country. Travelers going to Nigeria should receive vaccination against yellow fever at least 10 days before travel and should take steps to prevent mosquito bites while there.

ASTRONOMY PICTURE OF THE DAY: vdB 9. Image Credit & Copyright: Guenter Kerschhuber. vdB 9 is the 9th object in Sidney van den Bergh’s 1966 catalogue of reflection nebulae, with stars and dark, obscuring dust clouds in the northerly constellation Cassiopeia. Cosmic dust is preferentially reflecting blue starlight from embedded, hot star SU Cassiopeiae, giving vdB 9 the characteristic bluish tint associated with a classical reflection nebula. SU Cas is a Cepheid variable star, though even at its brightest it is just too faint to be seen with the unaided eye. At the star’s well-known distance of 1,540 light-years, this cosmic canvas would be about 24 light-years across.

NASA-Funded Research Creates DNA-like Molecule to Aid Search for Alien Life Thursday, 21 February, 2019
In a research breakthrough funded by NASA, scientists have synthesized a molecular system that, like DNA, can store and transmit information. This unprecedented feat suggests there could be an alternative to DNA-based life, as we know it on Earth – a genetic system for life that may be possible on other worlds.
NASA to Provide Coverage of SpaceX Commercial Crew Flight Test Wednesday, 20 February, 2019
NASA will provide coverage of the upcoming prelaunch and launch activities for the SpaceX Demo-1 flight test to the International Space Station for the agency’s Commercial Crew Program, which is working with the U.S. aerospace industry to launch astronauts on American rockets and spacecraft from American soil for the first time since 2011.

IMAGO DEI: The Ndebele tribe or amaNdebele, one of the smaller ones of the Nguni speaking tribes that migrated to South Africa, were the first Nguni speaking people to move into the interior of the country instead of the coastal areas. The Nguni tribes represent nearly two thirds of South Africa’s Black population and can be divided into four distinct groups; the Central Nguni (the Zulu-speaking peoples), the Southern Nguni (the Xhosa-speaking peoples), the Swazi people from Swaziland and adjacent areas and the Ndebele people of the Northern Province and Mpumalanga.

Saudi Arabia - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution Thursday, 21 February, 2019
Exercise increased caution in Saudi Arabia due to terrorism and the threat of missile and drone attacks on civilian targets. Do not travel to: Within 50 miles of the border with Yemen due to terrorism and armed conflict. Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Saudi Arabia. Terrorists may attack with little or no […]
Senegal - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution Wednesday, 20 February, 2019
Exercise increased caution in Senegal due to elections, crime, and landmines. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Presidential elections in Senegal are scheduled for February 24, 2019. If no candidate wins a majority during the initial balloting, a second round will be held, either on March 10, March 17, or March 24, with March 17 the […]

THE FLAG OF PARAGUAY: The flag of Paraguay was first adopted in 1842. Its design, a red–white–blue triband, was inspired by the colours of the Dutch flag, believed to signify independence and liberty. The emblem on the obverse side is the national coat of arms of Paraguay: a yellow five-pointed star surrounded by a green wreath of palm and olive leaves tied with ribbons of the colour of the stripes, and capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY. The emblem on the reverse side is the seal of the treasury: a yellow lion below a red Phrygian cap on the top of a pole (symbolising courage) and the words Paz y Justicia (“Peace and Justice”).

Venezuela Thursday, 21 February, 2019
Latest update: Safety and security section (Political situation and Air travel) and summary - addition of information and advice following the closure of the borders with Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao by Venezuelan authorities; updated information and advice about potential travel disruption during and ahead of demonstrations in Venezuela
GOV.UK
Moldova Thursday, 21 February, 2019
Latest update: Safety and security section (Road travel) - removal of information from earlier update about International Driving Permits
GOV.UK

WORK OF ART: Studies of the Foetus in the Womb are two-coloured annotated sketches by Leonardo da Vinci made in around 1511. Da Vinci studied human embryology with the help of anatomist Marcantonio della Torre and saw the foetus within a cadaver. The studies were initially bequeathed to Francesco Melzi. In c. 1582–90 they were bought from his heirs by Pompeo Leoni, and by 1630 they belonged to Thomas Howard, 2nd Earl of Arundel. Since 1690 the studies have been housed in the Royal Collection, United Kingdom.