After the recent fires much of the landscape is still barren and bleak. A little rain has coaxed some grasses and resprouters into sparse patches of green, but on the low-lying sandy flats thousands of candelabra lilies (Brunsvigia orientalis) have, almost literally, burst into bloom in an explosion of crimson colour. The sight is even more impressive as little else is flowering.
Continue reading “Candelabra lilies blazing crimson flowers after the fires”
The blue crane is South Africa’s national bird. It is a strikingly beautiful and statuesque bird, standing at up to 1.2 m (4 ft) in height. We are lucky enough to see them flying over our house from time to time, their distinctive calls drawing our attention. But it was only when driving through freshly harvested wheat fields that I had an opportunity to photograph blue cranes as they congregated in large groups.
Continue reading “South Africa’s blue cranes in the croplands of the Overberg”
Fynbos shrubland is characteristic of much of the Western Cape’s natural vegetation, but in some patches that are not subjected to high fire danger, remnants of woodland and forests do exist. In the Walker Bay region of the Overberg, between Gansbaai and Hermanus, the Swartkransberg complex of lowland forest patches survive despite historical and ongoing threats to their survival.
Continue reading “Exploring Platbos – Africa’s southernmost forest”
Spring in our winter-rainfall area is rich with a huge diversity of wild flowers. We recently revisited the coastal area around the small Danger Point peninsula near Gansbaai in the Overberg, mostly to see the spring flowers that grow along the roadsides and down to the seashore.
Continue reading “Reframing flowers in the Fynbos Biome”
It’s a little over a year since we moved to the Overberg region of the Western Cape. To celebrate this anniversary, here is a random round-up of some the photographs taken when we were out and about during the course of the year.
Continue reading “Over in the Overberg”
It is somewhat trite to say that change is a constant – be it good or bad or even when we try to be indifferent. Moving house, especially when moving further afield, certainly foregrounds change. And even when the change is chosen, adapting can be demanding and nostalgia can become one’s go-to space.
Continue reading “Ch-ch-ch-changes”
Well, I had hoped to post during February after our move, but here we are half-way through March! All is well, and I am pleased to report we are settling in.
Continue reading “Settling in and some incidental bird watching”
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“
At Wild Rescue Wildlife Sanctuary and Nature Reserve, we had the pleasure of staying in a beautiful stone-walled thatched cottage built in the Cape style. We had the opportunity to walk along narrow trails through intriguing vegetation in the reserve, which is classified as a Critical Biodiversity Area. Because of its variety of contrasting soil types, all the major plant communities of the Agulhas coastal plain can be found in close proximity in the 165-hectare nature reserve. Continue reading “Wild Rescue Nature Reserve: Step out in a peaceful floral kingdom of wonders”
