It appears to be a tree, but is in fact a giant herb. Like humans, it has a head, eyes, hands and fingers. It's a sex symbol, a star of slapstick comedy and a sign of madness. It's one of the most delicious tropical fruits, nutritious and easy to eat. It could provide you, if you needed, with shelter and a basic raft. What on earth could this be but the beautiful banana?

It is perhaps an exaggeration to say that baobabs are beautiful. Indeed, many people's first reaction is to giggle at their strange shapes and proportions. With their massive trunks, crooked branches and furry fruit, baobabs have learned how to adapt to a dry and hostile environment - a capacity we may come to envy as the planet starts to heat up.

Leaving behind the rigid lines of cities, let's branch out into the restful patterns of the natural world. Taking time to look closely at trees and leaves, rocks and rivers, we can find both satisfaction and inspiration in swirls and curves, whorls and ripples.