After returning from my trip to Singapore for volunteering with the Swedish ship Götheborg’s stopover there, I went back to work the next day, and started working immediately on the next project: the 300th anniversary of Mr Flower Power, Carl Linnaeus.
Carl Linnaeus, painting by J.H.Scheffel, 1739
Carl Linnaeus, father of taxonomy, the classification of plants, is possibly the most celebrated Swedish scientist of all time. The more I study about him, the more I find him fascinating. Tantus amor florum – such a love of flowers. I guess Linnaeus was obsessed by the beauty of nature. Travel was also his method, and later he sent his students around the world to collect plants. Some of them travelled with the Swedish East India Company’s ships. The ‘nostalgic’ voyage of the replica of the East Indiaman Götheborg from Sweden to China and back 2005-2007 has also scientists onboard the ship, in the spirit of Linnaeus. I think, since now I also started to become obsessed about everything Linnaeus, maybe the keywords: nature, beauty, love, flowers, plants, science, creativity, curiosity, travel…will dominate my journal. It’s just amazing that when I had those keywords in my head while walking home from work yesterday, suddenly there were plenty of beautiful little things that caught my eyes along the way. Luckily I armed myself with my camera and I instantly thought to give the hunt for nature’s little beauties a start. In the spirit of Linnaeus.
My first pick of pics
The Götheborg on arrival in Singapore on 31 December. Now she's already in her next stop in Chennai, India, until 10 February. Isn't she beautiful?
About Carl Linnaeus and the 300th anniversary celebrations : www.linnaeus2007.se and www.linnaeus300.com
About the trip in Singapore? .......I'm still trying to make a summary from my journal ;-) Not as easy as I thought...hehehe.
Well said.
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