White asphodel

Asphodelus albus

Asphodel is an herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the genus Asphodelus and it is native to the Mediterranean area. In Ancient Greece it was associated with mourning and death.

Violet

Viola cazorlensis

Viola is a genus of flowering in the violet family Violaceae, with around 400–500 species distributed around the world. This plant is an endemic species in the SW of Albacete province.

Opuntia

Opuntia ficus-indica

Opuntia, also known as nopales or paddle cactus, is a genus in the cactus family, Cactaceae. Opuntia ficus-indica has been introduced to Europe, and flourishes in areas with a suitable climate, such as the southern Spain. The fruit of prickly pears, commonly called cactus fig or "chumbo fig" (higo chumbo) in Spanish, is edible, although it has to be peeled carefully to remove the small spines on the outer skin before consumption

Genista

Genista spartioides ssp. retamoides

Genista is a genus of legumes which includes many species of broom. Many of these brooms are notorious as noxious weeds. Many of the species have flowers that open explosively when alighted on by an insect, the style flying through the upper seam of the keel and striking the underside of the insect, followed by a shower of pollen that coats the insect. The Royal line of Plantagenet is derived from this genus, being a corruption of “planta genista”.

Century plant

Agave americana

This is an agave originally from Mexico but cultivated worldwide as an ornamental plant. It was introduced into Europe about the middle of the 16th century and it has since naturalised in many regions and grows wild in SE Iberian Peninsula. The name "century plant" refers to the long time the plant takes to flower. Tequila is made from certain species of agave.

Butterworts

Pinguicula mundi

Pinguicula is a genus of carnivorous plants that use sticky, glandular leaves to lure, trap, and digest insects in order to supplement the poor mineral nutrition they obtain from the environments. It grows on vertical and wet walls and it is an endemic species in the south of Albacete province.

Maltese fungus

Cynomorium coccineum

It is a parasitic perennial flowering plant in the Cynomoriaceae, a family consisting of only one (or perhaps two) species. A rare or local species, it grows in dry, rocky or sandy soils, often in salt marches or other saline habitats.

Polish Phrases - Daily Expressions

World Book Day 2012

WORLD BOOK DAY is a yearly event on 23 April, organized by UNESCO to promote reading, publishing and copyright. The Day was first celebrated in 1995 and in 2012 the UK World Book day was celebrated on March 1, 2012. 

 World Book Day was celebrated for the first time on April 23. The connection between 23 April and books was first made in 1923 by booksellers in Spain as a way to honour the author Miguel de Cervantes who died on that day. 

 In 1995, UNESCO decided that the World Book and Copyright Day would be celebrated on this date because of the Catalonian festival and because the date is also the anniversary of the birth and death of William Shakespeare, the death of Miguel de Cervantes, Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and Josep Pla, and the birth of Maurice Druon, Manuel Mejía Vallejo and Halldór Laxness.

Earth Day 2012

Earth Day is a day early each year on which events are held worldwide to increase awareness and appreciation of the Earth's natural environment. Earth Day is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and is celebrated in more than 175 countries every year. In 2009, the United Nations designated April 22 International Mother Earth Day. Earth Day is planned for April 22 in all years at least through 2015.

Moving

Esparto grass

Stipa tenacissima

Lygeum spartum

Stipa tenacissima is a perennial grass grown in northwest Africa and the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula employed for crafts (cords, baskets, espadrilles, etc. It is also used for fiber production for paper making.). Lygeum spartum, another species of grass, is also used in combination with true esparto, and is also sometimes called "esparto grass" or albardine. In the last century the manufacture of esparto was very important in Hellín.

Krakow (Poland)

Dobrich, Bulgaria

TORRIJAS (French toast)

French toast is a dish of bread soaked in eggs then fried. When French toast is served as a sweet dish, milk, sugar, or cinnamon are also commonly added before frying, and then it may be topped with sugar, butter, fruit, syrup, or other items.

In Spain, it is called "torrijas" and is typically made during Lent, out of thick slices of bread soaked in milk or wine, dipped in egg, fried and then drenched in spiced honey or cinnamon. In Portugal, it is called "fatias douradas", rabanadas or fatias de parida. In Romania, it is called "frigănele", sometimes pâine cu ou. In Turkey, it is called "yumurtalı ekmek", literally eggy bread. In Bulgaria, it is called "Пържени филийки (fried slices)". In France, it is called "pain perdu". 

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HOLI: Festival of Colours

Holi (Hindi: होली), is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known as Festival of Colours. It is primarily observed in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, and countries with large Indic diaspora populations following Hinduism, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United Kingdom, United States, Mauritius, and Fiji. It is also known as Dolajāta in Orissa and Dol Jatra (Bengali: দোলযাত্রা) or Basantotsav ("spring festival") (Bengali: বসন্তোৎসব) in West Bengal. The most celebrated Holi is in the Braj region, in locations connected to the Lord Krishna: Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandagaon, and Barsana. These places have become tourist destinations during the festive season of Holi. Large parts of South India, however, do not celebrate Holi with the same fervour as in other parts of the country.