Blessed Litha! Sacred fire! Magical sunrise stirs a desire Queen of Heaven and of Earth We celebrate your bright rebirth We see your first blessed rays In these magical solstice days Ascending cycle to fulfill Dancing on the silver hill.
Lilies burn with your desire Intoxicating spirit fire As oak and myrrh and mugwort burn Elder, chamomile, and fern The sacred serpent eats the Spring Then brings Autumn on the wing Burning wreaths of sweet vervain The Goddess will return again.
Considering that giraffes can grow to about 18 feet in height, it’s not surprising that humans have documented the existence of giraffes for as long as we’ve had writing systems. The earliest human-made records of giraffes date back to Ancient Egyptian tomb paintings. The Ancient Egyptians valued giraffe tail hair for weaving belts and jewelry. Over the years, giraffes began appearing in the writings of travelers worldwide, from Greece to China. Giraffes were treated as valuable royal pets, symbolizing the status of their owner. Giraffes were also hunted, often for fashion-related or medical purposes.
The hunting and trade of giraffes led to a sharp decline in the global population by the 19th and 20th centuries. Currently, there exist several different kinds of distinct subspecies of giraffes. The genus is divided into the northern giraffe, the southern giraffe, the Masai giraffe, and the reticulated giraffe. The decline steadily continued over the next few decades. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has announced that the giraffe’s Red List status had changed from ‘least concern’ to ‘vulnerable’ in 2016.
The major causes of the giraffe population’s decline range from the destruction of their natural habitats to illegal poaching for traditional medicine, meat, skin, and tails. Today, foundations like the Giraffe Conservation Foundation are working tirelessly to conserve the giraffe population and ensure that the world’s biodiversity does not dwindle further.
National Seashell Day was founded by the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau on the first day of summer in 2016. This day was created as a marketing gimmick to attract tourists to celebrate the seashells found on the beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel in Southwest Florida. National Seashell Day was first celebrated on Captiva Island with the morning TV news show called “Good Morning, America.”
Did you know Sanibel Island has earned the title of the Seashell Capital of the World, owing to its abundance of seashells? Every year, people flock to Captiva and Sanibel Islands to search for over 400 species of shells. The calm waves and location make these islands the top pick for people to look for beautiful seashells.
However, while shelling is allowed, it is illegal to collect live shells, which is any shell that still has an inhabitant. The shell serves as their home and it is cruel to disrupt their environment. This day is also celebrated to alleviate the issue of the illegal shell trade. In fact, shellers are also encouraged to keep their empty shell collection to a minimum.
Formerly part of the Territory of New Mexico, Arizona was originally carved from Spanish and Mexican territories. It was later ceded to the United States in the war between Mexico and America. Consequently, a part of the territory broke off and became the Territory of Arizona as established and named by the Confederate States of America. Due to the various secessions it witnessed, an act to have the territory of Arizona organized was signed. This new territory was merged with parts from the earlier New Mexico Territory to form the U.S. Arizona Territory. Arizona was granted statehood on February 14, 1912, which made it the 48th state admitted by the United States and the 6th largest state in the United States.
With the state’s central location and resources, Arizona developed a fast-growing economy and saw its most vital economic boom with the mining industry in the 17th century. This took a drastic turn during the Great Depression. Famous for The Grand Canyon, a long list of parks and monuments, the drastic turn the economy took was uplifted as major road networks opened up the state to tourists and explorers. Tourism quickly became the center of Arizona’s booming economy.
Even though its most famous tourist attraction is its landmark shaped by nature, the country has a unique and exciting blend of history and culture that is derived from the influences of the Mexican and Native American populations. National Arizona Day is dedicated to celebrating and preserving the state’s natural, cultural, and historical resources.
I found this lovely plant at a creek, over a decade ago. Back then Cannabis was still illegal in the US. I didn’t touch it, but shot photos of the plant, and then mind my own business.
Tanja's Little Corner of The World 