Africa

Africa

Articles & Photos

There are over one hundred species of weaver birds, known for their gorgeous nests of grasses & textiles. 
Related Topics: Ideas | Africa | asia | nest | sculpture | textiles | weaver bird
Frankincense, a tree-derived aromatic resin, is particularly redolent during the holidays. Last year, scientists warned that Boswellia, the frankincense tree, could be facing extinction. In the holiday tradition, however, there is hope. This year, botanists may have discovered the trick to sustainable harvesting, and increasing the tree's numbers. Meanwhile, an Arizona-based Boswellia horticulturalist is offering starter trees in an online shop!  
Near Cape Town, a farmstead hotel restores gardens and spirits. 
Katherine Anderson, our flower columnist, visited Morocco for her 40th birthday and shares with us her beautiful photographs of the colors and landscape that she saw on her trip, as well as three flower arrangements that she created using Morocco as inspiration.
In South Africa's coastal grasslands, to explore a forest is to walk along its canopy—indeed, it's the only way to observe an extraordinary group of so-called underground trees, where only the uppermost leaves and branches are visible. Tucked away and protected from so many environmental threats, they underground forests are considered all but immortal, with estimated ages of 13,000 years or more. 
In South Africa's Cape Town, a spectacular botanical garden with rare and indigenous plants blooms against the backdrop of Table Mountain.