Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Are you a member of the National Geographic Society?


My parents subscribe to the National Geographic magazine as a gift for my husband. Every time I see a new issue in our mailbox I hear Jimmy Stewart in It’s a Wonderful Life…“A new magazine! (I never saw it before) Of course you never. Only us explorers can get it. I've been nominated for membership in the National Geographic Society.”

I wonder exactly how many people still subscribe to this magazine? Probably not many.

The current issue has a story on Socotra Island which is 220 miles from mainland Yemen. There are fabulous pictures of the Dracaena cinnabari (Dragon Tree or Dragon Blood Tree)…
(photo source)

And Adenium obesum (Desert Rose)…
(photo source)

Both of which were detailed in The Timber Press Guide to Succulent Plants of the World. The article as it appears in National Geographic is interesting reading..."Research around the turn of the 20th century proved that this tropical island, despite its size of only 83 by 27 miles, ranks among the world’s most important centers of biodiversity, combining elements of Africa, Asia, and Europe in ways that still puzzle biologists. The number of endemic plant species (those found nowhere else) per square mile on Socotra and three small outlying islands is the fourth highest of any island group on Earth" read it here. The fabulous photos from the article are available here. And if you’re still curious about the island and it's flora there is more to read here and here.

(and I hereby nominate you for membership in the National Geographic Society)

20 comments:

  1. I'm a member and I've had a subscription for at least the past 20 years.

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    1. You don't look old enough for that lengthy of a subscription!

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  2. very interesting indeed. Dragon trees are of the coolest plants ever!!!!

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    1. Can you imagine having a few in your garden? Okay...maybe just one...

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  3. Outstanding! We subscribe to National Geographic Kids but not the regular edition. But I do believe I know somebody who does so I should be able to get my hands on this issue. Thanks for the tip!

    I saw a slide presentation on Socotra Island last fall at the Sacramento Cactus & Succulent Society and have been wanting to go ever since. But with Somalian pirates roaming that part of the Indian Ocean, I'm not sure I ever will, even if I had the money.

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    1. Good point! Pirates and cool plants don't mix.

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  4. That's so funny--as soon as I saw the title of your post I remembered the lines from It's a Wonderful Life. It always makes the magazine feel special and exclusive to me. My Dad still gets it every few years or so and he passes them off to me. It's wonderful as ever.

    I stayed at The Ace Hotel in Seattle a few weeks ago and in my room there was a stack of National Geographics proudly displayed in our room's little reading nook (as well as a Farmer's almanac in the snack tray). I guess it's still cool--at least I think so!

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    1. Ah...good to know the Ace thinks the NG is hip! I was surprised (and happy) to find that they shared the entire article online...seems so rare these days.

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  5. That desert rose is a weird looking plant. I know I must be pretty strange, thinking it looks like a squat little person running along waving its spindly arms in the air.

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  6. Probably many people subscribe for the photography, which is always superb (as your examples show). Those Adeniums are stunning fatties.

    Socotra is one place I would love to visit, but as Gerhard said, the Somali pirates and general instability in the region make it an iffy destination.

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    1. The photography is certainly top notch, and probably why so many people hang on to their back issues.

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  7. Two interesting things here. First, we are going to a dinner theater fundraiser, the murder mystery kind, everything is top secret until the event. I am an American reporter for National Geographic at an event in Egypt.....number two, our local library gives older issues to the children.

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    1. Wow...American reporter for National Geographic at an event in Egypt! How glamorous!

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  8. Great photo of the Dracaena! The photography is consistently wonderful and the articles well written.

    Not a member of the Society but I am legal counsel for the local publisher of the NatGeo Explorer mag so I can fortunately get copies of that. My wife purchases the regular magazine depending on the features but purchases back issues on a more regular basis.

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    1. Legal counsel huh? I wanted to use the photos from the article in my post but also didn't want them coming after me for doing so. I figured they've probably got a pretty large stable of lawyers on their side.

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  9. ahhhhhhhh I need to go buy that issue NOW!!!!!!!!!!

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  10. AnonymousJune 07, 2012

    I have subscribed for 50+ years and my parents before that. Love the magazine and photos.

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  11. How could you possibly hear Jimmy Stewart say that? The line was delivered by the child actor who portrayed George Bailey when he was 12.

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    1. How could you possibly presume to know what I hear in my head?

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