• Tagged architecture, environment, holiday, Ireland, Irish, National Park, nature

We’ve looked at Ireland Now and Then (100 years ago), but to celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day, here’s a look the six national parks of the Republic of Ireland. Killarney National Park was first, and Ballycroy was the last to be established. The Burren National Park is the smallest and Wicklow Mountains National Park is the largest in Ireland. There are also Connemara and Glenveagh as well as landscapes with castles, karst, cliffs, waterfalls and green mossy forests. [38 Photos]

• Tagged fireworks, Fourth of July, Happy Birthday America, holiday, Independence Day, July Fourth

July Fourth, the day Americans celebrate their independence from that place across the pond. God bless America. Happy Independence Day! [21 Photos]

• Tagged boys, boys being boys, dads, Father's Day, holiday, quotes, why boys need dads

Boys will be boys and who understands that better than a grown boy, a dad? He was once a boy in mischief, full of daredevil energy for fun misadventures. Here are photographic examples of boys being boys to show reasons why boys might need their father. Of course we’re not discounting the value and power of what moms can do in these same situations, but having once been a boy, now a big boy, dad might understand this in a different way. Sprinkle in some quotes and here is lighthearted tribute to dads. Happy Father’s Day! [42 Photos]

• Tagged angel headstones, architecture, cemetery, graveyard, holiday, Memorial Day, tomb, tombs, tombstones

No matter your religious beliefs or cultural background, we all mourn our lost loved ones. When remembering the departed, we can all be ‘haunted’ by ghosts and specters of memories. Some people are so bereaved that they erect elaborate statues for tombstones. The details and symbolism on headstones are usually created by those still living, weeping and mourning; the monuments capture that sense of loss and pain to be remembered for all time. Graveyards are eerie enough, but other tombs are topped off with curiously spooky and complex reminders, making the cemetery seem like it was created to be a totally creepy and morbid place. Having lost a beloved grandmother and great-grandmother this year, we can feel the pain of loss and the love that went into these grieving angel statues. Angels monuments often offer comfort to those still living, but when they too have passed on and the graves are forgotten, time and weather may play havoc on the tombstones. For Memorial Day, here’s a trip through cemeteries that seem eternally eerie by being haunted by weeping angels and other ghoulish statues standing guard for an eternity. [45 Photos]

• Tagged animals, baby animals, holiday, mother and child, mother's day

You wouldn’t trade your mom cause there is nothing like a mother’s love . . . but do you remember some of the things she used to say as you were growing up? The type of things you swore that you’d never say to your kids? Moms are often overworked, under-appreciated, and at some point . . . finds herself saying things that her mother used to say. This seems to pass down from generation to generation, but despite the silly things that stressed out moms say, there is no one on Earth who will ever love you as unconditionally as your mother does. The number one thing all mothers say to their children is: I Love You! This is a tribute to moms for Mother’s Day! [53 Photos]

• Tagged historic photos, holiday, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, mountain, Mt. Rushmore, President's Day, sculpture, South Dakota

President’s Day is always celebrated on the third Monday of February and the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, a sculpture carved into the granite near Keystone, South Dakota, seemed most appropriate to celebrate it. Each of the 60 foot sculpted heads were carved into the granite, mostly by blasting with dynamite, to depict U.S. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Together, these Founding Fathers represent the first 130 years of American history. [34 Photos]

• Tagged flowers, holiday, meaning of rose colors, red roses, roses, Valentine's Day

Roses have been around for about 32 million years and it’s too true that “The rose speaks of love silently, in a language known only to the heart.” Roses are especially romantic, but if you ever give roses to someone, do you select the color based on that person’s favorite color, or yours? Or do you select roses based on the meaning and symbolism of the rose color? After hopping around on the web, it’s a bit confusing when you consider the diversity of meanings that rose colors can symbolize. Maybe if you can’t afford real roses, then you can send someone special this wide variety, a rainbow of colored virtual roses? [35 Photos]

• Tagged aerial of heart shapes, giant hearts, heart lakes, heart shapes, heart-shaped woods, hearts in nature, holiday, man-made hearts, Valentine's Day

In part one, 38 Great Hearts in Nature, we saw that there are heart shapes all around us if only we take the time to notice. There are also hundreds of giant hearts all over the Earth’s surface, but you must be looking down from above to see the heart shapes. This is a collection of giant heart-shaped nature-made and man-made lakes, woods, ponds as well as aerial and Bird’s eye map views hovering over the Earth’s hearts. [48 Photos]

• Tagged heart shapes, heart shapes created by nature, hearts in nature, holiday, Valentine's Day

Happy February! Valentine’s Day is in this short month and there are heart shapes all around you if only you take the time to notice. Some photographers hunt out heart-shaped nature to capture and share. Do you suppose it’s a reminder that nature loves you? Or do people in love seem to see hearts everywhere? Most of these heart shapes are easy to see without cocking your head to the side and squinting. Take the time to start finding nature sharing her heart with you. To: YOU — Love, Nature [38 Photos]

• Tagged animals, art, Christmas, Christmas dogs, dog reindeer, dogs, holiday, puppy

If you have a dog, then you know he or she is a loyal part of your family. When some folks deck the halls, they also deck their dogs in holiday accessories. Luckily, most of us have dogs that will do about anything for treats and possible Christmas gifts. Unlike the sometimes destructive cats vs. Christmas trees, most dog owners capture shots of their beloved pet being cute and sweet. These photographers share their descriptions and their cute doggies’ photos. [48 Photos]

• Tagged big cats, cats, cats in trees, Christmas tree, holiday, kitty

Cats seem to think we put up Christmas trees just especially for them. Some cats are satisfied under the tree, but some cats are sure you put that tree up for them to climb. That is the case for these photographers who will tell you about finding their cats in Christmas trees. [42 Photos]

• Tagged art, Christmas, holiday, Santa Claus, snow globes

As Charles Schulz, the American cartoonist for Peanuts, said, “Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.” So here are 40 fantastic Christmas-themed snowy scenes captured for an eternity in globes of water. If you are still wondering about a present for someone, perhaps you will be inspired by Oren Arnold who said, “Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.”