It is believed to be around 18,000 different species of birds. By contrast, only 110 different species of lily have been identified.

9 May marks the day in 1950 when France and Germany, laid down control of their war industries as a first step towards making war unthinkable.

What is most extraordinary is when a whole colony of individuals clusters to resemble a flower, and thus deceive birds.

The Bible says  God used a thorny bush which burned without being burnt up to manifest himself to Moses, as no human being could look at the Almighty directly.

May this crisis make you ponder life and death, and what is truly valuable.

Many commentators believe this to be the flower that Solomon referred to as “the lily of the valley” in the Song of Songs.