Friends, Mountains, and Stars

Recently we've had some friends come visit for a weekend - it was lovely seeing them again and we had a fun time showing them around the farm. In between the 'kuier', 'braai' (not barbecue) and eating, we went on some long walks, and because of the (wonderful) warm weather even had a surprise first-of-the-season swim!!

There was an incredible amount of flowers in the veld, but all different from what I documented in September. 

Smile! 

Break time. 

Proof for the first-of-the-season swim. 

I asked them to wave, but the result was better.  

Spring in the 'Veld'

Last week's post was about the blossom explosion in the fruit orchards, this week will feature smaller and easier to miss wonders - the flowers of the 'veld'. Blue, purple, yellow, white, orange, and pink - they're often tiny and easy to miss, but each is a work of art in their own right.

Some have single large flowers, such as the gazania and daisies.... 

Wild gazanias.

Cape rain daisies and mesembryanthemum ('vygies').

I found one Chicory (Cichorium intybus Asteraceae), a beautiful flower with forking petals.

I like to call these butterfly flowers (Polygala). 

 Others have many smaller flowers...

Spring Amidst the Orchards

Spring has arrived in the Kammanassie valley, and we have been awed and inspired by the loveliness of this season. Because we are living among the orchards, we've had the enormous privilege to watch the fruit trees' stunning blossoms emerge and I've taken many pictures. This post includes mainly snow white plum blossoms, light pink apricot orchards and pink peach trees. So turn your face towards the sky, take a breath, and smile. Here follows some flowers to celebrate the beauty of a new beginning.

First comes the buds.... 

Apricot buds.

Plum buds. 

Then the blossoms explode.

 Apricot orchards... 

Plum orchards...

Peach orchards...