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letting nature back in

at home and further afield

Author

naturebackin

Sharing insights and celebrating the creatures and plants that enrich suburban spaces, with images from my previous KZN garden and current Western Cape garden in South Africa, and from wild places further afield.

Aloes and gardens, Samangos and forests

Flowering aloes attract many birds and insects, and in the case of the Ashburton Aloe Festival, many visitors too are attracted to this annual event held by the Lower Mpushini Valley Conservancy. Continue reading “Aloes and gardens, Samangos and forests”

Arboreal Bridge

Even Tree Lizards needs bridges. What better than a horizontal branch bridging a gap? Continue reading “Arboreal Bridge”

Aloe from the other side

This is my first post from outside our garden. We ventured forth to the annual Ashburton Aloe Festival that takes place in a nature conservancy on the other side of town. Continue reading “Aloe from the other side”

Transitions we rely on

Change is often associated with something unwelcome or even threatening, but the change of seasons that cycle through time is an ongoing process that we and the natural world rely on. Continue reading “Transitions we rely on”

Connecting with our bread-making heritage: An easy and quick bread recipe

For me, part of letting nature back in, is acknowledging that many of us urban dwellers have become dependent on others, even for trivial things. Our grandparents or great-grandparents were likely to have been a lot more self-sufficient and handy than many of us urbanites are today.  Continue reading “Connecting with our bread-making heritage: An easy and quick bread recipe”

A fuchsia to depend on: A feast for the eyes and the birds

Known as the Tree fuchsia, because of the shape and colour of its flowers, this plant is adaptable, and can be a multi-stemmed shrub or a huge evergreen tree, depending on its growing conditions. Continue reading “A fuchsia to depend on: A feast for the eyes and the birds”

Transient life of a drifter on the wing

 

The threadbare wings of this butterfly are evidence of the transient nature of its life.   Continue reading “Transient life of a drifter on the wing”

Focus

As I focus on this Red Tail moth, it appears to be focusing in turn on my camera lens. Continue reading “Focus”

The understorey: The tale of the White Starred Robin

Once upon a time, not long ago and not far away, a White Starred Robin visited our garden pond. If I had the powers to understand the language of robins, what might I learn? Continue reading “The understorey: The tale of the White Starred Robin”

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