Jonathan Cohen's photos

The International Archives holds many of the most sacred items within the Baha’i Faith, but most importantly is built for the viewing of the paintings and drawings of Bahá'u'lláh and the Báb – the founders of the Faith – along with a single photograph of Bahá'u'lláh. Although some of these items are available on the internet today, most Baha’is prefer to see these items only in a reverent atmosphere, during the pilgrimage. Shoghi Effendi chose the Parthenon as the basis for the design, possibly due to the apparent enduring beauty even after thousands of years. The capitals of the fifty columns were Ionic rather than the Doric Order.

The Yellow Bird of Paradise – Strelitzia reginae "Mandela’s Gold" – is a rare, yellow form of the famous orange Bird of Paradise. This spectacular cultivar has flaring, yellow sepals and blue petals reminiscent of a crested tropical bird. Related to Heliconias and Bananas, the Yellow Bird of Paradise looks similar to the orange form, but it slightly smaller, growing to 4 feet tall. This South African native eventually multiplies into a large colony of plants several feet across. It blooms throughout the year in mild climates. The tall flower stalks rise above the foliage, with a beak-like spathe growing outward, about 6 inches in length. The bright yellow sepals spread out to invite birds to perch on the blue petals, which contain nectar. The blooms make very long lasting cut flowers. "Mandela’s Gold" was named in honor of South African statesman, Nelson Mandela.