The reason, by the way, that we're all wearing winter coats and scarves isn't that these are old pictures. It's that yesterday in Berlin it was freezing cold. There was even sleet at one point!
neato. i'm thinking of leaving chicago soon.. cactus in berlin it might as well be, right? don't know german, but I can read helvetica as well as the next design kid. check out my journal sometime? we all need friends, for games..
I've had the privelege of having spent the past three weeks in Swaziland and South Africa, and among other things, had the pleasure of seeing much outlandish plant life during my travels:
The colossal baobab trees found near the borders of Zimbabwe and Botswana are centuries-old, yet are of such soft fiber that when they die, no trace remains of them after two years' time. I would love to come back in 500 years to see the capitol cities of southern Africa lining their main thoroughfares with these massive trees.
The Cape of Good Hope Peninsula is a world treasure in that this small region entirely comprises one of the earth's six plant kingdoms. In fact, there are more species of plants living there (8,700) than the entire British Isles, nearly three-quarters of which are unique to the region. Many of these low-lying flowering plants (fynbos) upon close inspection seem to be woven, not grown, and many species require fire to release their seeds and the resulting smoke to carry their pollen. Even the lichens are of vibrant hues, being a medley of cool grays, pale greens, coral reds and rusty oranges. The protea flowers are a dazzling site as well, the dramatic light and geography of the place providing an appropriately powerful backdrop for plants of such strong presence.
Cape Town's Kirstenbosch botanical gardens, nestled at the foot of Table Mountain, are a true marvel, where mongoose play among dimly lit groves of ancient cycads, and gaudy sunbirds flit among the fynbos flowers like living gems. The conservatory of Kalahari desert succulents on these grounds are beyond description, being of every conceivable form, some species of which have existed for over 100 million years:
(I'll write soon about the museums of Capetown, which are virtually curatorial time capsules.)
W
PS: Whilst on the subject: less than a half-hour's drive from my door is another botanist's dream: the cedar bogs in my part of the state hold an array of rare carnivorous plants; in particular, the spectacular pitcher plant, which is shaped much like an art nouveau green porcelain vase with shocks of plum veins. But I have already said too much.
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The reason, by the way, that we're all wearing winter coats and scarves isn't that these are old pictures. It's that yesterday in Berlin it was freezing cold. There was even sleet at one point!
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amazing
hurrah for bloomings and leafery and prickerishsorts!
the way your eye appreciates the berlin botany pleases me.
><
Re: ><
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The colossal baobab trees found near the borders of Zimbabwe and Botswana are centuries-old, yet are of such soft fiber that when they die, no trace remains of them after two years' time. I would love to come back in 500 years to see the capitol cities of southern Africa lining their main thoroughfares with these massive trees.
The Cape of Good Hope Peninsula is a world treasure in that this small region entirely comprises one of the earth's six plant kingdoms. In fact, there are more species of plants living there (8,700) than the entire British Isles, nearly three-quarters of which are unique to the region. Many of these low-lying flowering plants (fynbos) upon close inspection seem to be woven, not grown, and many species require fire to release their seeds and the resulting smoke to carry their pollen. Even the lichens are of vibrant hues, being a medley of cool grays, pale greens, coral reds and rusty oranges. The protea flowers are a dazzling site as well, the dramatic light and geography of the place providing an appropriately powerful backdrop for plants of such strong presence.
Cape Town's Kirstenbosch botanical gardens, nestled at the foot of Table Mountain, are a true marvel, where mongoose play among dimly lit groves of ancient cycads, and gaudy sunbirds flit among the fynbos flowers like living gems. The conservatory of Kalahari desert succulents on these grounds are beyond description, being of every conceivable form, some species of which have existed for over 100 million years:
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens (http://www.nbi.ac.za/frames/kirstfram.htm)
(I'll write soon about the museums of Capetown, which are virtually curatorial time capsules.)
W
PS: Whilst on the subject: less than a half-hour's drive from my door is another botanist's dream: the cedar bogs in my part of the state hold an array of rare carnivorous plants; in particular, the spectacular pitcher plant, which is shaped much like an art nouveau green porcelain vase with shocks of plum veins. But I have already said too much.
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