Ball Pythons

Recent found image / google image search obsession: Ball pythons.

According to wikipedia: 'Python regius is a nonvenomous python species found in Africa. This is the smallest of the African pythons and is popular in the pet trade, largely due to its typically docile temperament. It is also known as royal python or ball python.[3] The name "ball python" refers to the animal's tendency to curl into a ball when stressed or frightened.[4] The name "royal python" (from the Latin regius) is based in part on the story that Cleopatra supposedly wore the snake around her wrist.'

The following series of images have been extracted from this Ball Python breeder's website.

A variety of curiously fluid, squirming, dappled, repeated, dotted, geometric, flecked, mosaics / patterns of motley, patchy, pied, spotty, striped, amazing snake skins.

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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':

I'm Flexin'

Watch the video in 1080 here