New stamps on Year of Horse

 

Serbian Post has issued a set of  two stamps  to commemorate the Lunar Chinese Horoscope. 2014 is the Year of the Horse.

An additional astrological factor that isn’t as universally recognized is the element put together with each year: either metal, wood, water, fire or earth. These distinguish the year even further, with 2014 known as the year of the wooden horse, or the green wooden horse, as wood is associated with greenery and nature.

The Chinese animal signs are a significant part of the new year, with this year ushering in the horse, an animal signifying unexpected adventure and surprising romance, according to astrologer Susan Levitt. These characteristics are the most pertinent to those born in the year of the horse: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014.

Goodbye, year of the water snake, and hello, year of the wooden horse.

 

Stamps on Owls from Lithuania

On April 5th  a set of two stamps were issued on OWLS in Lithuania. The two stamps  feature Barn Owl and the Eurasian Pygmy Owl. A FDC and two Maxicards were also issued together with a booklet in limited edition of 5 000 pieces(booklet).

- Wolfgang Beyer,Vice Chairman of the German Philatelic Collector Group ARGE ZOOLOGIE and Mr.Berhnahrd Fels, Chairman of the German Philatelic Collector Group ARGE LITHUANIA.

New  stamps on Orchids

Dater of Issue : 14 January 2014

Australia Post issued  a set of four stamps featuring  Orchids. Known for their exquisite flowers, orchids are the largest family of flowering plants in the world, with more than 30,000 species identified. Distributed in most countries, they are prolific in tropical regions. Australia has around 1,300 orchid species, with 95 per cent of these not found anywhere else in the world.

Orchids are either terrestrial, having an underground root system, or epiphytic, where they grow on host trees for support. A subset of epiphytic orchids is the lithophytic orchid, which grows on exposed rocks.

Golden Rock Orchid Dockrillia striolata ssp. Chrysantha
Also called the Streaked Rock Orchid, this lithophytic species is found in south-eastern Australia. The subspecies chrysantha is endemic to Tasmania, and has fragrant, creamy yellow flowers. Tasmania has about 210 species of native orchids.

Bee Orchid Caladenia discoidea
This terrestrial orchid, also called the Dancing Spider Orchid, is endemic to Western Australia. The name means “club-bearing” and refers to the broad, flat, deeply fringed labellum

Orange Blossom Orchid Sarcochilus falcatus
The scent and shape of this orchid’s flowers are similar to orange blossoms. It is distributed throughout eastern Australia up to Cape York Peninsula.

Shirt Orchid Thelymitra campanulata
Also called the Bell Sun Orchid, this orchid is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. Two distinctive features have contributed to its common names: the small flowers often have a bell-shaped appearance, and the fine striping on petals and sepals.

-Dr Nikhil SU, Bangalore