Latest news with #coastlines
Times
2 days ago
- Climate
- Times
English Heritage and the National Trust are on the brink — this is why
With the UK struggling on so many fronts right now I'm sure I'm not alone in seeking solace in the beauties of our countryside and the wonders of our historic built environment. If all else fails we still have inspiring landscapes, magnificent coastlines and an array of architectural masterpieces to rival any other nation's. We can surely be confident, can't we, that this heritage of natural and man-made glories will always be available for us and future generations to enjoy? Well, I hate to be the bearer of yet more bad news, but the answer to that assertion is either 'not necessarily' or a blunt 'no', depending on how pessimistic you want me to be. And after the announcements of the past few weeks I'm veering down the unremittingly gloomy route.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Rue Agthonis Maps A Mediterranean Journey Through Two Seasons
Rue Agthonis Maps A Mediterranean Journey Through Two Seasons. Pictured: look from the brand's AW25 collection Courtesy of Rue Agthonis For its two seasonal collections in 2025, luxury house Rue Agthonis has painted a complete portrait of the Mediterranean soul — from the sun-drenched spring to the contemplative winter — in a variety of dramatic and vibrant hues. Known for injecting a dose of modernity into premium tweed, the label marries craftsmanship and natural inspiration again for both SS and AWE25 by showcasing untamed beauty of the Mediterranean landscape. In a unique interpretation of ancient Olympian aesthetics, the house's SS25 collection 'Embracing the Essence' transported audiences to the Apollo's Muse Room with visions of turbulent ocean waves and verdant olive groves. Rue Agthonis' founder and creative director, Syl, has crafted a range of looks with a specific color palette in mind — one that emanates a resort feel that's languorous yet sophisticated, complete with striking authenticity and a unique energy that reminds one of the scenes of White Lotus 2. Adopting warm sunlit tones fused with deep oceanic blues and vibrant greens, Syl describes the collection as 'a visual journey through the Mediterranean landscape.' The designer, whose background spans theatre academy in Shanghai and fashion design in New York, says the region's charm always spoke to her. Look from Rue Agthonis' SS25 collection Courtesy of Rue Agthonis 'Its contrasts of rugged coastlines against serene waters mirror the duality we embrace at Rue Agthonis,' says Syl, referring to Rue Agthonis' spring presentation. 'With 'Embracing the Essence,' I wanted to capture that natural tension between structure and fluidity, between resilience and grace.' This Mediterranean meditation continued into fall, but with dramatically different visuals and silhouettes. 'The Glimpse of Radiance,' unveiled at London's historic Raffles Hotel, dials down on the vibrancy of spring and summer, and explores the same coastal landscape through the lens of twilight and memory. Where this year's first collection celebrates the brilliant clarity of day, autumn embraces the mystery of shadows — think deep shades of black, navy, and charcoal punctuated by glimmers of metallic tinsel. The evolution is in line with Syl's preferred approach to seasonal storytelling. Both collections feature the house's signature materials — luxurious tweeds, shimmering sequins, and flowing silks — with their application reflecting the changing light of the Mediterranean year. Spring's sequins captured the playful dance of sunlight on water; autumn's sequins 'shimmer delicately across structured forms, catching the light with every movement like fragments of a dream.' Looks from Rue Agthonis' SS25 collection Courtesy of Rue Agthonis Look from Rue Agthonis' AW25 collection Courtesy of Rue Agthonis Opting out of its usual runway show and instead staging a presentation, Rue Agthonis follows a trend in luxury names shifting their focus away from the crowded fashion week schedules, and instead creating an immersive experience that's more meaningful to press, buyers, and customers. This decision, Syl notes, reflects the brand's commitment to authenticity. 'These pieces demand to be experienced up close — the interplay of light on our sequins, the depth of our tweeds, the movement of our silks. I've always believed that true luxury reveals itself in the details, in those moments of discovery that can't be rushed.' Rue Agthonis's ethos of striking a delicate balance between resilience and grace — a duality that has become something of a signature for the brand — has allowed the brand to carve out a distinct position in the luxury landscape, one that prioritizes attention to finer details and storytelling that resonates. The Mediterranean thread connecting both collections speaks to something deeper than seasonal inspiration, and notes on the region's enduring feminine vitality and energy. Spring's 'stylishly glamorous yet tastefully coquettish' pieces celebrates vitality and energy, while autumn's 'knee-grazing column gowns rise like modern-day monoliths, embodying a serene authority and strength.'
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Travel + Leisure
7 days ago
- Travel + Leisure
This 4-stop Journey Along the Mediterranean Has Beaches, Castles, and Archaeological Ruins All in One Trip
Some of the most rewarding journeys don't involve crossing continents; they unfold along coastlines. The neighboring countries of Greece and Albania present a prime example. A trip to beach towns on the Ionian Sea, bookended by the country's respective capitals, Athens and Tiranë, offers a simple, perfectly-paced experience packed with history, gastronomy, and seaside relaxation. During the spring and early fall, travelers can enjoy mild temperatures, calm seas, and fewer crowds. Through decades of planning Mediterranean trips, I've found that this four-stop itinerary is the ultimate blend of coastal charm and cultural discovery. Here's how to do it. The entrance to A77 Suites in Athens. Start your journey in Athens, where the famed, millennia-old Acropolis offers a window into ancient Greece. See the Parthenon, visit the Acropolis Museum, and enjoy sweeping city views. Then, head into Psyri, a buzzy, creative neighborhood known for bold street art, independent shops, and bohemian cafés. If you have extra time, visit the Museum of Cycladic Art for a glimpse into the ancient Cyclades, one of the oldest cultures of the Aegean Sea. Where to Stay: The Dolli, a luxurious neoclassical property, or A77 Suites, a boutique hotel tucked into the heart of Plaka, Athens' oldest neighborhood. Where to Eat: The Zillers Rooftop Gastronomy for a sunset meal with Acropolis views, or CTC Urban Gastronomy to enjoy a contemporary Greek tasting menu on the terrace. For classic flavors in a more traditional setting, try Psarras Tavern or Kuzina. The Venetian Well bistro. Next, fly to Corfu, a lush Greek island in the Ionian Sea, unique for its Venetian, British, and French influences. Explore the Old Town, an UNESCO World Heritage site, where pastel tones, quaint shops, and hidden gardens paint a storybook picture, and spend a day cruising along the coast to swim in coves only accessible by boat. For lovers of art, architecture, and history, don't miss the Achilleion, a palace-turned-museum that was once the private refuge of the beloved Empress Elisabeth of Austria. Where to Stay: Domes Miramare, a stylish resort hideaway by the sea featuring private pools and contemporary Greek fine dining. Where to Eat: The Venetian Well for a romantic dinner, or Klimataria for authentic Corfiot cooking in a relaxed courtyard setting. Downtown Gjirokaster, Albania. Take the hour-long ferry from Corfu to Sarandë, Albania, where clear Ionian waters meet rugged cliffs and hills dotted with olive groves. There, travelers can find the 16th-century Lëkurësi Castle; the Blue Eye, a striking 50-meter-deep natural spring; and, just outside the city, Butrint, an archaeological site layered with Green, Roman, and Byzantine history. For a magical day trip, visit Gjirokastër, nicknamed the "City of Stone" due to its distinct local architecture featuring stone roofs, and navigate picturesque cobblestone alleys to the historic Old Bazaar. Where to Stay : LaFe Boutique Hotel for stunning balcony views and a prime location just steps from the beach. Where to Eat : In Sarandë, enjoy fresh mussels, grilled seafood, and seaside seating at family-run Haxhi or cozy La Petite. In Gjirokastër, try Taverna Kuka for rich lamb stews, flaky byrek , and honeyed desserts. Tirana, the capital of Albanian. Wrap up in Tiranë, Albania's energetic capital. Spend an afternoon gallery hopping in the hip Blloku neighborhood, climb the Ottoman-era Clock Tower, and visit the National Historical Museum by the central Skanderbeg Square. To dive into Albanian history, head to Bunk'Art 1, a five-floor, Cold-War-era underground bunker that is now an art and history museum, and for sweeping views over the city, take the Dajti Ekspres cable car to the top of Dajti Mountain. As you wander the streets of Tiranë, keep an eye out for murals and public art installations—and make sure to try some classic Albanian street food, like crunchy byrek and sweet, syrupy Tulumba . Where to Stay: Xheko Imperial Luxury Hotel & Spa, an ornate, glamorous stay with a rooftop terrace and convenient proximity to the beautiful Grand Park. Where to Eat: Padam Boutique Hotel & Restaurant, where Italy-trained Chef Fundim Gjepali combines local ingredients with modern style, offering both à la carte options and a tasting menu. Mina Agnos is a member of Travel + Leisure's A-List and specializes in Greece and Eastern Mediterranean trips. You can create a tailor-made itinerary with Agnos at [email protected] .
Irish Times
21-06-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Poppies symbolise the fleeting, bittersweet beauty of summer gardens
If ever there was a flower that symbolises the fleeting, bittersweet beauty of the garden in summer, then it's surely the poppy, with its gossamer-thin petals and delicate, slender stems. But do you know your short-lived, sun-loving annual poppy species, including many that are suitable for poorer, free-draining soils, from longer-lived biennial, perennial and shrubby kinds, including some that will only flourish in cool, damp, humus-rich, woodland conditions? If you're lucky, you may have come across the very rare, yellow-horned poppy, Glaucium flavum (a particular favourite of the late British artist and gardener Derek Jarman), a wild biennial or short-lived perennial species sometimes found growing in shingly beaches along sheltered Irish coastlines. Much more common is the annual wild field poppy or corn poppy, Papaver rhoeas, whose vermilion blooms light up road verges and waste ground at this time of year. Each ephemeral flower lasts just three to four days, but then another quickly takes its place, resulting in a long-lasting display over several months. READ MORE For those who dislike red, consider the cultivated forms of this sun-loving, hardy annual, commonly known as the Shirley poppy, which are also available to gardeners, with both double and single flowers in soft shades of pink, apricot, white, peach and sooty purple. An enduring favourite is Papaver rhoeas 'Amazing Grey', famed for its silver-purple blooms. To enjoy it as a cut-flower indoors, simply sear the end of each stem with a lighter or candle or plunge the tips into boiling water for 7-10 seconds before quickly placing them in cold water. [ Slow Flower power is all about the local and the seasonal Opens in new window ] Easily raised from seed in autumn or early spring, the conventional advice is to direct-sow these into the ground where you want the plants to flower. But I've had much greater success with module-raised seedlings transplanted into the garden in very late spring and early summer. Just make sure to do this while they're still small. The annual/short-lived perennial poppy species commonly known as the Californian poppy, Eschscholzia californica, similarly loves a warm, sunny spot. But it usefully combines this with a remarkable ability to thrive in the poorest and stoniest of soils, making it a great choice for drought-prone gardens where it will also often self-seed. Typically known for its flame-orange flowers which appear throughout summer, many new varieties with blooms in shades of peach, pink, coral, cream, buttercup and apricot have been introduced in recent years and are easily raised from seed. Examples include the 'Thai Silk' series, especially 'Thai Silk Apricot Chiffon' with its luminously beautiful, deep apricot flowers. The Californian poppy, Eschscholzia californica, loves a warm, sunny spot By comparison, growing the outlandishly beautiful but famously capricious Icelandic poppy is a challenge for even seasoned gardeners. Best known as Papaver nudicaule, but recently renamed as Oreomecon nudicaulis, this late spring/early summer-flowering species loathes intense heat, preferring cool, bright conditions. Technically a perennial, it's best treated as a biennial raised from seed sowed in late spring and then planted out in autumn to flower the following year. Getting its tiny seeds to successfully germinate and then preventing them from damping-off can be fiendishly difficult, a challenge made more aggravating by the fact that seed of the most desirable strain – the Colibri poppy, originally bred for the cut-flower trade – is also mind-wateringly expensive. Icelandic poppy: Outlandishly beautiful but famously capricious But for those who succeed, the reward is giant poppy flowers in shades of peach, watermelon-pink, gold and brilliant orange, which emerge like tropical butterflies out of giant sculptural flower pods. Equally famous for its disdain of anything other than ideal growing conditions, the exquisite Himalayan poppy (Meconopsis baileyi; M 'Lingholm'; M 'Slieve Donard') is also that rarest of things in nature, which is blue-flowering. To grow it well – indeed, to grow it at all – you must give this summer-flowering perennial a cool, damp but free-draining, humus rich, neutral to slightly acid soil and edge-of-woodland growing conditions where its delicate blooms are protected from harsh winds and strong sunlight. For this reason, it's generally only found growing in parts of the country where rainfall levels are high and summers rarely get too hot. Himalayan blue poppy Only when it's entirely happy will it then self-seed, the caveat here being that you must grow a non-sterile variety for it to do so. Yet such is the glorious sight of it flowering en masse that many gardeners still go to extraordinary lengths to encourage this aristocratic poppy to establish. But nothing could be further from the case when it comes to the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, a hardy, sun-loving annual species so promiscuous that once introduced, it's likely to self-seed itself about the place with happy abandon. It can even arrive unannounced, its tiny seeds hitching a lift in the soil of a potted plant or brought on the soles of muddy gardening boots. In my own garden, an unnamed variety with shocking-pink, double flowers did just this a few years ago, producing tall, large, violently colourful blooms so entirely out of place that it's as if a flock of noisy flamingos had descended without warning into the cool, damp green of an Irish landscape. Somehow, I just don't have the heart to pull the numerous seedlings out, excusing them on account of the large, long-lasting, ornamental seed-heads that eventually follow. But my favourite will always be the altogether subtler, plum-coloured Papaver 'Lauren's Grape'. Pink opium poppies Other abundantly self-seeding members of the poppy family eminently suitable for an Irish garden include the shade-loving Welsh poppy, Meconopsis cambricum, a late spring to early autumn flowering perennial species with an endearing way of insinuating itself into shady cracks in paving, steps and stone walls. A woodland plant at home in cool, damp, moderately rich but free-draining soils, the pretty flowers come in shades of orange, soft coral and bright yellow. Among the loveliest is the pale apricot-coloured Meconopsis cambricum var. aurantiacum. Also making the list is the oriental poppy, Papaver orientale, a herbaceous perennial species whose large, flouncy flowers are the stuff of cottage garden dreams. Its great failing, however, is the ugly gap left behind after this sun-loving border plant finishes flowering in early summer, a flaw best managed by cutting it back hard and then quickly following with a liquid feed. [ Natural liquid nettle feed is superb for keeping your plants healthy – it just smells terrible Opens in new window ] Last, but not least, is the Californian tree poppy, one of the few shrub-like members of the poppy family, with silver-grey foliage and giant, golden-eyed white flowers that appear on long, lax stems in late summer. This showstopper also has strong Irish connections, with its genus and species names celebrating two Irishmen, the botanist Thomas Coulter and the astronomer Thomas Romney Robinson. Flower of a California tree poppy, Romneya coulteri, whose genus and species names celebrate Irishmen Thomas Coulter and Thomas Romney Robinson Introduced into cultivation in the late 19th century, it first flowered in the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin in 1877. Typically requiring a sunny, sheltered spot and famously difficult to establish, it can unfortunately become too much of a good thing when it finally does, often sending out suckers that appear metres away from the parent plant. Still, such is its undeniable charm in full bloom that few gardeners can resist it. This week in the garden Deadhead, deadhead, deadhead … Heavy rain and hail showers in recent weeks have damaged the flowers of many plants. To encourage them to recover and start producing new blooms, use a sharp secateurs or snippers to cut them away, making sure not to accidentally remove any newly emerging flower buds. Mulch around the base of newly planted shrubs and trees to lock in moisture while soils are still wet after heavy rainfall. Suitable materials include fresh grass clippings, home-made compost, well-rotted garden manure and seaweed. Dates for dour diary Tullynally Castle & Gardens Plant Fair – Castlepollard, Co Westmeath. Saturday, June 21st. With stalls by many of the country's leading nurseries. Fruitlawn Garden Open Day – Abbeyleix, Co Laois. Sunday, June 22nd. With plant sales and refreshments. Delgany and District Horticultural Society Rose Show – St Patrick's National School, Greystones, Co Wicklow, Saturday, June 28th. All entries welcome, email by Thursday, June 25th.
New York Times
20-06-2025
- Climate
- New York Times
This Hurricane Season Is One of the Slowest to Start in 20 Years
The first day of the Atlantic hurricane season came and went on June 1 without a named storm. And then the first week. And the second. Now we are in the third week, and the National Hurricane Center says it does not expect any activity in the next few days. That is both unusual, and not. The 'slow' start is unremarkable if you look at what meteorologists currently call 'normal': a 30-year average from 1991 to 2020. Over that span, on average, the first storm didn't form until June 20. But for many of the most recent years — 18 times since 2005 — storms developed before this point in the year. For the people who make their homes in the Caribbean or along the United States coastlines and watch the rhythms of a hurricane season closely, this has been an unusual dry spell. Other notable statistics over the last 20 years: In 10 years, the first named storm formed before June 1. In only two years — now three, including this year — the first named storm arrived after June 20. The latest first storm formed on Aug. 11, 2009. When does a storm get a name? When a tropical cyclone develops but its sustained wind speeds are 38 miles per hour or less, it's called a tropical depression. When they reach 39 m.p.h., it becomes a tropical storm and is given a name. It keeps that name if it becomes a hurricane (sustained winds at 74 m.p.h. or greater) or if it dissipates. Some storms form and get a name but never approach land before weakening. Others become so destructive at landfall that their names are retired afterward. Does it matter when the first storm forms? Not necessarily. A lack of activity in May and June doesn't mean it won't end up a busy season. Many experts don't expect significant storms until mid-August. Strong early storms, like Hurricane Beryl last year, are rare. Most of the storms that cause significant damage in the United States occur during August, September and October. Were the forecasts for an above-average year wrong? No. Well, maybe. This spring, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast an above-average season. If nothing forms between now and August, the experts are likely to revise — and reduce — the number of storms they expect to see this June remains quiet, but then July isn't, forecasters will probably continue to expect an above-average year, despite the slow start. The Pacific, meanwhile, has been active. The Eastern Pacific, where hurricane season began on May 15, has been off to a busy start. Storms that form off the west coast of North America typically get started before their counterparts in the Atlantic, and there have been five already this year: Alvin, Barbara, Cosme, Dalila and Erick. Seasons in both oceans run through Nov. 30.
