Like this vervet monkey mom, all parents strive to protect and nurture their babies, and work to sustain their healthy growth. And this vervet mom, like so many parents, knows that the world can be a hostile place, even for babies. As this new year begins, hostility does not seem to be in retreat. Continue reading “Growth in these times”
At the end of each year, many people comment on how fast the year went by: “where did the time go?” So a sluggish start has much to recommend it. Early one cool and damp morning, two African banana slugs in a large fern outside the bedroom window showed me the way. Continue reading “A sluggish start to the New Year”
As this is the season of goodwill these photos feature close animal relationships, be they breeding pairs, mother and baby, or animals that simply hang out together. And as this is holiday season, I decided to make a break and feature photos taken on our last bush holiday, a change from my usual practice of focusing on nature in our suburban garden. Continue reading “Something completely different – homage to holidays”
Last evening I was thinking about what to post as a ‘favourite’ photo when the phone rang. It brought the news that a close friend had died that afternoon. Continue reading “Shine on”
A Natal Green Snake ascends the grapevine, keeping an eye on me as I photograph it through the window. Continue reading “I saw it on the grapevine”
Nest building in the fever trees in our garden has been feverish. After what seemed like some practice runs building nests next to the palm tree used for nesting material, the Village Weavers (Ploceus cucullatus) abandoned these first efforts. They then congregated noisily each day to build nests and engage in flamboyant displays high up in the branches of the fever trees. Continue reading “Village Weavers: Summertime when the living is busy”
The invitation in the Weekly Photo Challenge is to show us something cheeky … “go find a little irreverence in your world”. Continue reading “But is it art?”
I spotted this mantis on an Arum lily plant only by chance. I had been photographing small beetles that were pollinating the flower when I glanced down and saw this interesting little creature. Usually, we only see the green African Mantis around, so it was special to see this small mantis, commonly called a leaf mantis or a ghost mantis (Phyllocrania paradoxa). Continue reading “Getting acquainted with a leaf mantis”
Cats do seem able to achieve a Zen-like calm when sitting and practicing their version of awareness meditation. Continue reading “Nina Meditating”
