It is less than two weeks to us leaving our home and garden and moving 1700 km (over 1000 miles) across the country to an entirely different environment and climate zone. Of the wild creatures that have visited our garden over the years, we will particularly miss the vervet monkeys.
Continue reading “On living harmoniously with vervet monkeys”
During a break in the recent rainy weather vervet monkeys gathered on the roof of our carport and garage to rest, huddle, groom and play. The new babies take pride of place.
Continue reading “As I look out my window: Vervet monkeys at rest and play on a cool summer morning“
In my go-with-the-flow-garden I hope to provide a space for myriad natural processes – only some of which I even notice. I have been thinking about some of the more obvious interactions that allow the garden to sustain itself and its network of visitors and residents.
Continue reading “Letting nature show and tell“
We went on an impromptu trip to the Western Cape two weeks ago. While we were away our old Ridgeback, Rory, injured his back so the first part of our trip was marked by us worrying about Rory.
Continue reading “A road trip, Rory the Ridgeback and his recovery“
As praying mantises are so fascinating, here is a roundup of the five species of praying mantises that I have been able to photograph in our garden.
Continue reading “Masters of disguise: Praying mantis roundup”
On mini walking safaris around our suburban garden here in KwaZulu-Natal I often take my camera with me as invariably I find something worth a second look. Here are some pics of a few of our visitors taken during the months of autumn into winter
Continue reading “Suburban wildlife in the autumn-winter garden”
Distinctive cabbage-trees have succulent stems and large compound leaves that characteristically crowd at the end of branches. Endemic to Africa, Yemen and the Comoro Islands, due to their strong architectural form some species are cultivated as garden plants.
Continue reading “Cabbage-trees – a virtual and literal feast in the garden”
Elephants are very dextrous when stripping bark and branches from trees, using trunk, tusks and their feet in the process – as shown in this series of photos and video.
Continue reading “African elephants, bark stripping, nutrition and trees”
Our dog Amy had a brush with cancer recently, but fortunately we got her to the vet in time for the tumour to be removed before the cancer spread. While waiting for her test results we were preparing to maybe lose her, but when she was returned to us we understood more fully her preciousness.
Continue reading “Pets and war: Ernesto’s Sanctuary for Cats in Syria”
letting nature back in 