Beech trees and wild anemones, Jutland, Denmark
© Nick Brundle Photography/Getty Image
Beneath a ray of light. Beech trees and anemone wildflowers, Jutland, Denmark
Today's homepage takes us to Jutland, Denmark, where the arrival of spring showcases the green hues of the European beech, a national symbol of this northern land. The young leaves of these budding trees are significant to the Danish people, as they are harvested from April to May and used in cooking—particularly in salads. In the past, Europeans would often use the smooth bark of beech trees for writings texts. In fact, in the modern Dutch language, the term for 'book' directly translates as 'beech tree.' As the sun shines through the forest canopy, wild anemones brighten up the woodland with their white petals. These blooms, representing delicate beauty and sincerity, have even starred in masterpieces by artists such as Monet and Vincent van Gogh.
A musical note in the garden of Anne Hathaway's Cottage, Stratford-upon-Avon
A red maple leaf in Mont-Saint-Bruno Conservation Park, Quebec, Canada
Lake Dobson in Mount Field National Park of Tasmania, Australia
The village of Aguerd Oudad and the larger town of Tafraout in Morocco
Park City, Utah, for the Sundance Film Festival, which begins today
Grapes on the vine in Mendoza, Argentina, for the National Grape Harvest Festival
Vinicunca Mountain in the Cusco Region of Peru
Honeycomb weathering in Koolama Bay, Western Australia
