Pondoland C.R.E.W. Blog: Beacon Hill - Umtumvunae 16 September 2021

It's a sodden day. We all want to stay at home, the weather is not coaxing one out of one's warm and dry homes but we do so. We embrace the day with its elements and are prepared. We meet in gumboots and Anne who normally wears airy shoes does not wear these today so that's a true sign of how gloomy the weather is, however she does wear shorts. Brave.

Hypericum aethiopicum subsp. sonderi - Small Hypericum

Anne

Beacon Hill

Jewels of raindrops freshly fallen.

Lasiosiphon kraussianus var. kraussinus - Lesser Yellow-head
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Lasiosiphon kraussianus var. kraussinus

Gerrardina foliosa

Raincoats and umbrella's, clouds filled with buckets of rain. Apps watched and seeing that the clouds are pouring their purity down into the ocean's we march forward. Hot drinks are poured and then "Let's go!" The elements are not on our side.

Clouds rising from the valley below

Maggie and Tracy

Yvie botanising

Yvie and Anne

Burchellia bubalina

Pseudopegolettia tenella

It's our beloved Alf's birthday. One could easily scrape off twenty years. He doesn't show his age.

Alf taking all the beautiful wild flowers.

Birthday candles are accumulated each year and it is a tribute to growing older gracefully and living with purpose. This is group of "youngsters" who live life fully and passionately. How wonderful it is to be in a tribe like this and the only squawking is of invasives. They are dealt with swiftly and with sure and steady hands are removed where possible.

Gladiolus longicollis - Alf first flower he gazed upon on his birthday

Alf capturing the beauty of the flowers.

Helichrysum ecklonis - Alf's birthday candles.

Rain that had poured down, left their drops like jewels on grasses and wild flowers. For some botanists the raindrops when photographing flowers were shaken off. How lovely it was to walk in chillness and with the freshness revitalized one.

Berkeya speciosa jewelled in rain drops.

After the burn are the flowers and with rain one walks into a realm of flowers. As the clouds lifted the insects came out to busily buzzy. Praying mantis don't like to be photographed. With praying hands folded and all the beliefs that come with them one is drawn to them but then meanders on so that they can be left in peace to pray.

A Praying Mantis

Y.B.K. (Yellow billed kite).

For some it's not easy to remember the names of plants as it can be overwhelming if one's brain isn't connected on one's right or left hemisphere of the brain but it’s the passion that follows through and it's the teachers who gently and patiently teach. The fear is in losing these giants like ancient trees with their knowledge. Learn from your elders. Have respect.

Gail admiring the magnificence of the Merwilla's

Dorothy and Maggie approaching the Merwilla's and Gladiolus

Dorothy enjoying the Merwilla's

Alf and Maggie

C.R.E.W.

To also observe the noisiness of excitement like clan's united not seeing them after a period when in nature after a time the stillness transcends and we become one with nature. If only more people could connect, we would create a more harmonious world. It's tough being an animal or a plant out there in this global need of monetary value and one can only hope that in "Lock-downs" people begin to see the value of their environment and preserve it. It' truly all we have. Fight it and protect it for its diminishing.

A field of Helichrysum ecklonis all closed up like candles on a cold rainy day
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Merwilla plumbea

Gladiolus longicollis

Hadada Ibis - Bostrychia hagedash drying themselves on the edge of the cliff.

One can easily from week to week miss the flowers that flower in their time. So, keep looking. Get out there and observe. We have life on this earth now so embrace it. Forget the media, put down your phones. Breath in the fresh air and let go. How incredible is this life, each flower is unique. Everything is balanced; everything buzzes without complications. Everything respects its own environment. Humans are complicated. May we learn from this earth if only we can connect and see...

Rothmannia globosa

Porcupine quills

One breath’s more naturally in nature. No man, just nature. The Scilla's were breathtaking. One would want to place a blanket down and simply gaze up at the flowers. The colours are amazing. We need to see that we not one, but we unique. We just different species and we can live harmoniously. There's terrain. Live like flowers!

Merwilla plumbea - A sea of blue

Merwilla plumbea

A white Merwilla plumbea

And in closure having past fields of Watsonia's and Merwilla's living compatible together we listen...

Merwilla plumbea and Gladiolus longicollis

Watsonia bachmannii

Watsonia bachmannii - Vulnerable

A tribute to our Alf. Quiet and never bad word spoken about another. He come's peacefully. He's like a Masai warrior, going on his own and keeping a watchful eye out for others. There's something to be learnt from our friend in his gentle way.