Don’t get exotic goldfish for your pond, get indigenous Banded Tilapia, was the advice. And so we did. Continue reading “The tale of our Banded Tilapia: Freshwater fish in our garden pond”
What could be sweeter than nectar, and this female Amethyst Sunbird seeking sweetness from the flowers of a Krantz Aloe? Continue reading “Sweet sunbird, sweet aloe”
Bird parents are much more proactive than we might think. I have been told by wildlife rehabilitators that fledglings that fall from their nests a tad prematurely stand a far better chance being left where they are, than being scooped up by humans thinking to rescue them; the reason being that bird parents are proactive and continue to raise fledglings that have left the nest. Continue reading “Bird parents to the rescue: The day the baby sparrow fell from the nest”
The Cape White-eye is another of my favourite garden birds that is no less special for being a familiar presence in suburban gardens. Cape White-eyes forage busily in small groups and they are enthusiastic visitors to the bird baths where, after drinking, they bathe with much exuberance. Continue reading “Small and gregarious charmers: Cape White-eyes”
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”
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 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”
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”
A persistent and insistent tseep-tseep-tseep outside the bedroom window attracted my attention. Looking out I saw a fledgling perching on top the fence to the cat’s garden, calling repeatedly, reminding its parent to feed it. Continue reading “A hungry baby flycatcher and its hardworking mother”
This strange fungus blooms occasionally on old wood on a small tree in our garden. For a few days only, it is thick and jelly-like before rapidly shriveling and drying. Continue reading “Ear today, gone tomorrow”
letting nature back in 