Inflorescence: obesa nursery

Images from the Obesa nursery located in Graaff-Reinet, South Africa. Despite the dizzying 36+ degree heat I had a very happy day wandering about this amazing cacti garden. Founded by C.J. Bouwer the collection is over 35 years old and houses some 7000 species of plants. Particularly captivating was this Encaphalartos altensteinii apparently, a young female plant about 13 or-so years old grown from seeds, with its enormous bright orange cone or 'inflorescence':

A kind of 'Kitsch rococo' Balmain Spring Summer 2012 details

'Rococo wallpaper and bedspread patterns of glitzy Las Vegas hotel rooms'* - One inspiration cited as the source for the elaborate and aureate pattern play seen in this collection by the new Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing.




*Rebecca Voight review on vogue.it

The Hajj and Eid al-Adha 2011

All images from The Atlantic: The Hajj and Eid al-Adha 2011 'Starting last Friday and continuing through Wednesday, some 3 million Muslims from around the globe are participating in several rituals'