One of the first spring-flowerers, the wild Sagewood (Buddleja salviifolia) produces a profusion of nectar-laden blossoms. Their pungent yet strangely sweet scent attracts many insects. Continue reading “Sagewood: Spring flowers hosting many insects”
Flowers are often the focus when we think about gardens, and when we photograph them too. Leaves, seeds, grasses and bark, although beautiful, interesting and photogenic, are neglected by comparison. Continue reading “The beauty of leaves”
Here in KwaZulu-Natal the winters are dry. The wild grasslands are golden but are brightened by wild flowers, and the remnants of woodland and forest have their flowering trees too, some of which we are fortunate to have in our garden. Continue reading “Drab busters: Winter flowers bearing brightness”
Portraits of trees is another category of photography that I greatly admire. I love photographing trees, but find it too be much more challenging than I initially expected. Continue reading “Weekly Photo Find: Camel thorn tree of the arid regions”
I got down to grazing antelope eye level to take this photo of wild grasses in Mabuasehube Game Reserve in Botswana. The horizon behind the dry pan in the distance can scarcely be seen in the brightness of the early morning sunshine backlighting these grasses and their lovely plumes of seed. Continue reading “Weekly Photo Find: Wild grasses protecting desert sands”
Today is winter solstice, here down south. The day was warm and sunny, and brightened by the winter-flowering plants. Even though we don’t suffer from frigid temperatures I still appreciate that from tomorrow, the days will start lengthening, albeit imperceptibly at first. Continue reading “Southern Solstice: Celebrating with aloes”
Far away from suburbia, Mabuasehube Game Reserve in southern Botswana. Continue reading “Weekly Photo Find: Big sky landscape”
Yes we do love to be beside the seaside. Wild it can be, but for holiday purposes those of us who are relatively well-heeled prefer it to be domesticated, and so we import urban comforts and infrastructure, profoundly altering the nature of the coast. Continue reading “The suburban seaside”
This well-known South African plant probably needs little introduction as it is cultivated in many countries across the world. I was surprised to learn that it is the floral emblem of the city of Los Angeles. Continue reading “The iconic strelizia”
