On Sunday we took a drive into the forest reserve, just a few kilometres behind our home. We were seeking the elusive and gorgeous wild Flame Lilies, which flower around New Year.
Happily, it wasn't very long before we spotted the first flash of orange in the dense greenery...
... and awarded ourselves both an ice cold beer from the cooler box (traditional prize for first lily sighting!)
Here it is:
Gloriosa Superba, in all its present and past glory, against a stormy sky.
The Flame Lilies are actually creepers, and this one had flowered right on top of the host shrub. (I have taken the liberty of stealing this particular photo from Tiennie, who took some beautifully detailed lily shots -
have a look on his blog over here).
Even the fire-engine hued
"Blink Stefaans" can almost hide himself away in the forest reserve at this time of year...
Here one can simply get lost in an alternative world of peace and solitude. No tourists, no other vehicles, only the sound of the teak leaves rustling in the breeze, the quiet hum of insects, birdcalls, and of course the occasional
snap of a branch, giving away the presence of our amazingly silent elephant neighbours.
Here is the first glimpse of one. ( I really hope my pictures are enlarging themselves as they should be!)
He appeared next to the track - me inside the vehicle looking on. (you may need a magnifying glass here).
Browsing peacefully, this elephant is not worried about us, and vice versa.
The teak tree blossoms are also outrageously gorgeous, and it's great to find low growing ones which can be easily photographed without needing a ladder or a mega zoom lens!
Another slight colour variation of the Flame Lily here.
Those stormy blue/grey clouds suddenly unleashed a typical ferocious, over-in-fifteen minutes African afternoon thunderstorm, which leaves you steaming in the humidity afterwards...
Nature's restorative powers are my saving grace on this planet, no doubt about it!
Wishing all a wonderful weekend from the southern hemisphere ...
21 comments:
Gorgeous 'back garden' you've got there. What a lush and lovely place.
Beautiful flowers and foliage: I love the vivid colours you've captured so well for us, Karen. Having lived on the edge of a designated AONB wilderness myself, I agree with you about nature & its restorative powers.
Nature's restorative powers are my saving grace on this planet, no doubt about it!
EXACTLY!!
I feel so much better from this blog - thank you
x
Great photos - and they enlarge too. If they didn't that elephant would have stayed hidden!
we found a yellow one yesterday - the first so far this year. have you ever tried to transplant them? they are so exotic and beautiful; and the teak trees in flower - gorgeous - there's always something going on hey? lovely flame lily coloured truck too :-)
xxx
Absolutely gorgeous, I'm crazy about flame lilies and jacarandas! These pictures are just amazing!
Your world is simply amazing. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Karen, I always look so forward to your posts and pictures. It never ceases to amaze me the absolute beauty and perfection of nature. It has healing powers when we are in its presence. For me, nature's great outdoors is the greatest cathedral on the planet. It is a dream of mine to witness an elephant in its natural habitat. I can't thank you enough for sharing Karen. Hugs from the northern hemisphere.
What a lovely outing. Just for a moment I was in that truck looking at the elephant and not sitting here in the melting snow.
Hey Ho
xx
So, so beautiful Karen. And exotic! A teak tree! Lilies! Elephants! Wow. Whereas we STILL have nothing but snow and crows.
But I`m sending you my photos now. The ones of MY movie, haha. When do you take yours?
That first shot of first sighting of the Ellie sends shivers down my spine - awesome! What a wonderful world you inhabit, thanks for sharing the magic.
Gorgeous! Thanks for coloring my day.
Great photos!
Sometimes I think you live in the Garden of Eden! Beautiful lilies and a handsome elephant.
what a great post Karen. Oh that lily in the sun with the storm in the background, really beautiful. i am with you and janet, nature is my religion for sure.
hello ellies!!
Love the elephant and the lush greenery. You live in a wonderous place. Thanks for sharing and happy 2010.
I find it incredible that you can get so close to elephants just up the road from where you live! Beautiful flowers and what an amazing place.
How can anything so huge be so silent. I stood on a platform at Flatdogs camp in June while three huge ones walked by, swear they made no sound. Perhaps my heart was beating so loud it drowned out their passing. Thanks for this, did not know there was a forest preserve there.
Here one can simply get lost in an alternative world of peace and solitude
I am craving peace and solitude today.
Love your pictures.
Hello Karen
I am sure your flame lily climber is something we have in the rainforest - an epiphytic climber. The teak flowering is wonderful. And the elephants xmazing to see beside the road .
Thanks for this refreshing post of your world. I love to see how silat the flora is and how dissimilar the fauna is.
Happy days
Great Job ! Congratulations.
Keep up the good fight, wise, compassionate folks, History and animals in the wild will surely appreciate your efforts.
If you care to check out my blog named "Tales from The Amazon" you are welcome to do so.
The address is: http://stilllmind-thoughts.blogspot.com
Best,
René Volpi
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