I have been admiring photos of late-summer flowers and harvests on blogs from the northern hemisphere, a far cry from our abnormally hot and dry spring. As respite from our drought here in South Africa, I dug out some old family photographs of country living in English villages in the first half of the 20th century. Continue reading “Another century, another country”
This Brownhooded Kingfisher is patiently waiting and watching for potential prey. Continue reading “Waiting and watching”
Brightening the drab floor of our mini woodland in our dry winters, this member of the Amaryllidaceae family flowers freely. Continue reading “White Paint Brush: A winter-flowering woodland favourite”
The visible structure of bracket fungus growing on dead wood in our garden; the whorls and striations are complex and striking. Continue reading “Wonderful whorls”
Birds sunbathe too – not all species, but many do. Continue reading “Birds do it – sunbathe that is”
Nougat the cat got cornered when doing some high-altitude exploring. Here he is apparently stuck on the corner at the top of the grocery cupboard in a corner of the kitchen. Continue reading “Cornered!”
I have always regarded this plant as a mountain dweller, as I first fell in love with it in the Drakensberg mountains in KwaZulu-Natal. Continue reading “From mountains to gardens: Scarlet flowers that brighten winter drabness”
Named for their soft ‘swee swee’ call, the small and colourful Swee waxbills are guaranteed to distract me from my work on their occasional visits to our garden. Continue reading “Diverting and delightful Swee Waxbills”
It is always a pleasure to watch wild creatures going confidently about their business without fear.
Continue reading “The dancing dove”
