Stunning Sapphire Tower Plant

Many beautiful things prove exceptionally worth waiting for. Among these, particularly among nature's slow-moving wonders, is the Sapphire Tower plant. This large plant is native to the footlands of Chilean mountain regions, thriving in the cool, mountainous Andes region. The plant grows in elevations of up to 2,200 meters (about 7,218 feet). 

The Sapphire Tower plant is scientifically known as “Puya alpestris”, a species among the bromeliad family of plants. It generally takes up to a decade to bloom in nature. It is a very slow-growing plant, so witnessing its spectacular blooms is exciting and rare. The favorable environments provide the perfect backdrop for its growth, characterized by well-drained soils and moderate rainfall. Understanding its natural habitat is crucial for mimicking these conditions in your garden or home. 

The tough, stiffly protruding, parallel-veined leaves run into a sharp point, and have a length of over 1 meter and a width of 2 to 2.5 centimeters.  The leaf margin is reinforced with hooked, curved, spines that are approximately 0.5 cm long. The underside of the leaf is dense white scales. The tips of the partial inflorescences are germ-free. The flower stalk is about 7 mm long. The hermaphrodite flower is threefold. The three greenish sepals are about 2.3 cm long and hairy or bald. The three teal petals with blunt tips are about 4.5 cm long and spiral in as they fade. The six stamens have bright orange anthers. The flowers produce high amounts of nectar. During the flowering period, hummingbirds and other birds pollinate the flowers. The plant blooms between October and December in habitat.

Physically, the Sapphire Tower Plant is a sight to behold. The flowers themselves are a vibrant blue-green, giving the plant its common name. These blooms attract various pollinators, adding to the plant's ecological value. This plant has been featured in various botanical collections and admired by plant enthusiasts worldwide. 

Spring and early summer are ideal for planting, giving the plant time to establish before the cooler months. The Sapphire Tower plant is a stunning and exotic plant that captivates with its brilliant blue-green flowers and unique structure. It's a marvel in any garden or indoor plant collection, offering a touch of the extraordinary to plant enthusiasts and casual gardeners alike. The Sapphire Tower Plant is a magnificent addition to any plant lover's collection, offering unique beauty and numerous benefits. By understanding its needs and providing proper care, you can enjoy this stunning plant for years to come. 

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10th-century silver Viking Bracelet Discovered in Orupgård, On the Falster Island, Denmark

This 10th-century AD, silver Viking bracelet was discovered in Orupgård, located on the island of Falster in Denmark. This bracelet is a testament to the exquisite craftsmanship of the Norsemen and provides valuable insights into their culture and lifestyle. The bracelet is now housed at the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen, where it is displayed for public viewing. The intricate design and the material used—silver, in this case—highlight the Vikings’ metalworking skills and access to precious metals. Source

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Acropolis is an iconic ancient Greek monument

Acropolis is an iconic ancient Greek monument that was constructed in 5th Century BC, atop a rocky outcrop overlooking the city of Athens. Pericles, the influential Athenian statesman, initiated its construction during the Golden Age of Athens.

Parthenon, the most famous building on the Acropolis, was built under the supervision of the architects Ictinus and Callicrates, while the sculptor Phidias oversaw its decorative elements. Acropolis housed various temples dedicated to gods and goddesses, including Athena, the city’s patron deity. Acropolis comprises several notable structures, including the Erechtheion, dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon, and the Propylaea, an impressive gateway. Parthenon, a Doric temple dedicated to Athena Parthenos, is still a prime example of classical Greek architecture, adorned with intricate sculptures and friezes depicting mythological narratives.  

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Muzaffar Shams Balkhi (1320-1381)

Muzaffar Shams Balkhi was born to a family from Balkh in Afghanistan, the date of his birth is unknown but may have been in the decade of the 720s/1320s. After an education in Delhi, he joined his father in Bihar Sharif. His intellectual disposition led him to become a disciple of Sharaf al-Din Ahmad Maneri (d. 783/1381) instead of Ahmad Carmpush, his father's poetically inclined but less well-educated guide. Muzaffar was sent back to Delhi again for further studies, and then the Tughlukid Sultan Firuz Shah appointed him a lecturer in the royal madrasa.

After a conversion experience, he returned to Bihar, where Sharaf al-Din Maneri continued his spiritual formation. He reached the stage when he felt liberated from all worldly attachments, except his wife, but exclaimed to his guide that he would divorce her. Approving of the sentiment, but not of the idea, Sharaf al-Din announced that his training was complete.

Muzaffar Shams Balkhi was incapable of staying in one place. He journeyed far and wide, spending time in Mecca and eventually dying at Aden in 803/1400. He received more than 200 letters from his spiritual guide Sharaf al-Din, of which only 28 are extant. There is an extant, though unpublished collection of Muzaffar's letters (Khuda Bakhsh Library, Patna, Pers. no. 2619, and Acc. no. 1859/2 (181 letters in each ms.); a third ms. in the private library of Balkhi Sahib, Patna) and a small diwan (ed. Patna, 1959). His compendious commentary on Radi al-Din Sanghani's Masharik al-anwar has not come to light.

Although he was the chief successor to Sharaf al-Din Maneri, he is more remembered as an intellectual than as a spiritual guide. He was succeeded in this latter role by his nephew Husayn. 

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