The Valle de Tehuacán, in the Mexican state of Puebla, is not only home to the world’s greatest variety of cacti; it is also probably the birthplace of domestic corn. That corn became a staple for people throughout North America, including the civilizations that inhabited nearby Monte Albán. Those civilizations sowed the creative seeds for the Zapotecan culture that still thrives today. The region is famous for the indigenous artisans who use native plants to continue the artistic traditions of their ancestors.