School of South American Fish

Cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) and Pencil fish (Nannostomus beckfordi and Nannostomus bifasciatus) in the 45L tank.

3 shells

Mammillaria sp.

Euphorbia lactea 'cristata' (II)

Euphorbia lactea 'cristata'

Discrete blooming

Euphorbia sp.

Coral (II)

Big nautilus

Coral

Obsidiana and unknow

The black one is a piece of obsidiana (kind of vulcanic glass) collected at Lake Naivasha area, Kenya; the other (unknown) was found at a beach in southern Portugal.

Egg & bowl

The ostrich egg is from Angola, the alabaster bowl from Luxor (Egypt) and the shells were collected at Carcavelos beach.

Golden barrel

Echinocactus grusonii

(25cm diameter)

Canna flower and Yucca

Papyrus

First of all let me tell you I'm not very fond of this kind of artwork, but ... there was a similar painted papyrus hanging on the wall of my hotel bedroom in Cairo and one night I dreamt about it, so I thought it was some kind of sign from the Egyptian Gods and got this one... :-)

Spotted shells

Aloe sp.

Blooming again

A month and a half after the previous blooming (see the 2nd of August post), this echinopsis has got one more flower. It's the 3rd time this year...

Mother of pearl (II)

Ibis and Desert Rose

The ibis is made of soapstone.
Desert rose is the name given to rosette formations of gypsum (gesso) and barite, with sand inclusions.
Both brought from the Atlas chain, in Marocco.

Echeveria sp.

The big one

Ferocactus sp.

Canna Americanallis variegata

Rug

Mexican handicraft rug made of natural fibers dyed with vegetable inks. Bought at Oaxaca.

Mother of pearl

Acacia Seedpod

This 45cm long acacia seedpod was collected in Ivory Coast (Costa do Marfim).

Floyd

This is my sister's clever dog (he seems to be having contact lenses, but he's not...). He allways stays with me when the owner is travelling and I really enjoy that, cause he's a great pal!

Burmese shells

Collected at Ngapali Beach, Myanmar

Stetsonia sp.

Agate

Agate is the most common variety of chalcedony which is a form of quartz. It is, in fact, identical in composition and physical properties.