South African Space Web site

South Africa's space program website describes a number of their satellites and their participation in GEO and SAEON--South African Environmental Observation Network, upper atmosphere physics, Antartic program and more. Their education link provides information about various planetariums and other school programs and provides information about applications for undergraduate work in Physics at a South African university.

Africa is on my mind since I just finished reading Wind Follower by Carole McDonnell. The story is a romantic fantasy that deals with religion and colonialism in a war torn country. Rich language and good imagination are a hallmark of her writing.

Kubota Gardens and Big Leaf Maples

This is part of a Big Leaf Maple, they grow 80' tall, and spread out a good 30-50' at top. That means a lot of leaves. In this case, Kubota Gardens has nicely pruned off excess branches to keep it fairly stable. The Big Leaf Maple has a deep root system that ensures it doesn't fall over easily in heavy winds, but the branches break. The root system is part of the reason it is difficult to garden underneath them. To read more about how to do so, this article has good links and practical experience.