During December we had 192mm of rain, to late to make a real difference to the natural vegetation, but very welcome. It’s interesting that the ‘normal’ summer weather pattern is not in place, most of the rain and thunderstorm activity is the result of abnormal cold fronts reaching way north. Our well water has risen again yoyo fashion! The hottest temperature was 31C and the lowest 7.5C
The hillsides have turned a verdant summer green, though seeding grasses gild the slopes. There have been several mornings when the valley below is filled with a sea of rising mist.
One of our joys is the resident group of Common Reedbuck that we see on a daily basis as they move around the property.
I saw this beautiful male Common Reedbuck settling down for his daytime nap just as the sun rose one morning.
Often they graze below the orchard near the driveway.
One evening three came right up near the house to graze.
Evidence of a very large Bushpig, which we have seen a couple of times, is clear where he uprooted a beautiful clump of Grassland Arums, Zantedeschia albomaculata and cleaned up all the fallen plums under the tree near the house.
A very striking Bladder Grasshopper, Pneumora inanis, with a very loud call, perched on bare branches near the kitchen door.
A Chafer beetle of the Family Scarabaeidae was spotted munching the florets of a Berkheya setifera flower.
The pollen of a Papaver aculeatum attracted an unusual brown fly.
The vibrant orange of the summer form of the Gaudy Commodore, Junonia octavia, shone brilliant in a sea of purple Vernonia.
I almost missed this dainty little grasshopper, a Lentula species. They don’t have wings in their adult form.
On several occasions I saw Koppie Foam Grasshoppers, Dictyophorus spumans, in two colour variations. One was deliberately hiding itself from me under the grass.
The Lunate Ladybird, Cheilomenes lunata, is one of my favourites, usually I see the exotic Ladybirds.
This stylish Net-winged Beetle, Family Lycidae, was settled on Helichrysum buds.
Pill millipedes fascinate me and I was delighted to have an opportunity to see it’s friendly face, often tightly hidden when they roll themselves into a pill ball.
A very cryptic Robberfly blended into the rock.
At the beginning of December I saw many Tri-coloured Tiger, Rhodogastria amasis, moth caterpillars,
and then the other day I saw a moth.
A very neatly constructed Bagworm, Family Psychidae of moths, jutted from a Vernonia flower.
There is lots of spider activity,
from the egg sac of a False button spider, Theridion, young emerged.
A delightful tiny spider sat sunning on a leaf.
Webs of all kinds festoon branches and corners.
One morning after a windy storm this small broken egg lay beneath a tree, not sure which bird.
An African Stonechat,
Fork-tailed Drongo
and a juvenile Fiscal use the fence to spot prey.
Speckled Mousebirds foraged for fallen plums in the mist.
A first sighting this month on our property was a Secretary Bird!
Two orchids were in flower;
Orthochilus foliosus
and for only the second time in 25 years I have watched a single Pterygodium magnum plant grow and develop an inflorescence which has just started opening.
Some of the other flowers seen and photographed are: 
Agapanthus campanulatus;
Ajuga ophrydis;
Ascelepias albens;
Berkheya setifera;
Craterocapsa tarsodes which I usually associate with higher parts of the Drakensberg;
Dipcadi viride fruit;
Gerbera piloselloides;
Hibiscus aethiopicus;
Hypericum aethiopicum;
Monopsis decipiens;
Otholobium polystictum;
Papaver aculeatum;
Pearsonia sessilifolia;
Polygala hottentotta;
Polygala refracta;
the last of the Watsonia socium;
Zaluzianskya microsiphon
and Grassland Arums, Zantedeschia albomaculata, this is the clump that the Bushpig feasted on!
With the rain, fungi have appeared;
Amanita rubescens;
this dark solid fungi;
a beautiful mushroom, possibly of the Termitomyces species
and possibly a Paxillus involutus.
We experienced mainly hot dry spells with a few overcast days and some thunderstorms during November.
We measured only 53.5mm of rain, almost half of October’s rainfall. The Maximum temperature during the month was 30 C and the coldest a Minimum of 5 C during the early hours of 1 November. Our well water has dropped way down again!
Growth has slowed down, flowers are not as prolific as usual and there are still open patches of soil in between the grass.
The highlight was finding a
Common or Rhombic night adder
on a morning walk. It didn’t move off, merely flattened it’s body and allowed me to take a series of photos. It was very camouflaged amongst the grass.
Some insects caught my eye,
this metallic coloured Blow fly sp. Family Calliphoridae;
a delightful small Hairy caterpillar;
a vibrantly striped caterpillar
and a small butterfly,
Wichgraf’s Brown, Stygionympha wichgrafi.
A female Common Duiker observed me from beyond the fence
and a most exciting find was fresh Eland droppings, probably the old, one horned male that is seen from time to time along the ridge.
Some of the flowers seen and photographed are:
Alepidea natalensis;
Aristea woodii;
Aspidonepsis diploglossa;
Berkheya macrocephala, such shining yellow, happy flowers;
Chlorophytum cooperi;
Cyanotis speciosa;
Cyperus rupestris;
Cyphia elata;
Delosperma hirtum;
Dipcadi viride;
Eriosema kraussianum;
Haemanthus humilis;
Harpochloa falx, Caterpillar Grass;
Indigofera hilaris;
Indigofera veluntina;
Kniphofia brachystachya flowers at the beginning of November
and fruits at the end of the month;
Kohautia amatymbica, Tremble Tops;
Leobordia (=Lotononis) corymbosa;
Schizocarphus (=Merwilla & =Scilla) nervosa;
only two Orchids,
Eulophia hians var hians;
Orthochilus foliosus;
at the beginning of the month the Pachycarpus natalensis buds had formed
and by the end of November they were in full bloom;
Pentanisia prunelloides;
Peucedanum caffrum, Wild Parsley fruits;
Raphionacme hirsuta;
Scabiosa columbaria;
Searsia (=Rhus) discolor has minute little flowers;
Stachys aethiopica;
Striga bilabiata
looks very similar to Stachys aethiopica of the Lamiaceae – Sage/Mint Family, but is of the Scrophulariaceae – Snapdragon Family and is a parasitic herb on grasses;
Thesium pallidum fruit, flowered in October;
Vernonia natalensis;
Vernonia sp.;
Wahlenbergia cuspidata;
Watsonia socium carpeted the hillside and
Xysmalobium parviflorum.
The Red-winged Starlings try to come into the kitchen to roost on top of the pantry cupboard on misty days, and are very indignant when chased out!
It was an unexpected treat to wander the hillsides at Impendle Nature Reserve with three fellow flower enthusiasts, Christa Gadd, Sharron Berruti and Ansell Matcher. Philip had arranged a day hike and very kindly suggested that the four of us break into a separate flower group, meeting up with the hikers at lunchtime.
With the recent rain the hillsides were gardens of free growing indigenous flowers, literally carpeting the slopes. Time slowed as our pace slowed, every few steps there was another floral delight to inspect, enthuse over, photograph and identify. We were in heaven.
Below is a selection of a few of the hundreds of species we saw. I was particularly interested to notice how many species of the Milkweed family were flowering.
The following is from the online Encyclopedia Britannica https://www.britannica.com/plant/Asclepiadoideae
“Asclepiadoideae, formerly Asclepiadaceae, the milkweed subfamily of the flowering-plant family Apocynaceae (order Gentianales), including more than 214 genera and about 2,400 species of tropical herbs or shrubby climbers, rarely shrubs or trees. It was formerly treated as its own family (Asclepiadaceae). However, molecular evidence suggests that the group is evolutionarily derived from Apocynaceae, and thus it has been recategorized as a subfamily by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group III (APG III) botanical classification system.
Most members of Asclepiadoideae have milky juice, flowers with five united petals, podlike fruits, and, usually, tufted seeds. Male and female parts of each flower are united in a single structure, and the pollen is characteristically massed in bundles called pollinia, pairs of which are linked by a yokelike bar of tissue contributed by the stigma of the pistil. Parts of the pollinia stick to visiting insect pollinators, which then carry them to other flowers to facilitate cross-pollination. The silky-haired seeds are drawn out of their pods by the wind and are carried off. In some species the fertility is low, and many-flowered plants often produce few fruits. Many milkweed butterflies, including monarch butterflies, rely exclusively on Asclepiadoideae plants as a food source for their larva.”
Ansell was the first to spot an Asclepias concinna plant in flower. First found here by Isabel Johnson when we were together with a CREW (Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers) group on 20 October 2007, but in a different part of the reserve. We had been following the UKZN University Herbarium notes for possible locations. Asclepias concinna, Family: Apocynaceae, Status: Endangered, Habitat: Stream bank, forest margin, Flowering time: Oct, Nov, Known localities: Impendle NR and Nkonzo forest.
Asclepias concinna
Asclepias concinna
Asclepias concinna
Asclepias concinna
The population we found this time was on an open grassy slope, so quite unexpected! Altogether we saw ±15 flowering plants and there were quite possibly more. Really an exciting find!
Some of the other Milkweeds seen were:
Asclepias fulva (=dregeana)
Asclepias fulva (=dregeana)
Asclepias fulva (=dregeana);
Aspidoglossum glanduliferum
Pachycarpus concolor
Pachycarpus concolor;
Pachycarpus dealbatus
Pachycarpus dealbatus;
Schizoglossum flavum
Schizoglossum flavum;
Schizoglossum stenoglossum subsp. flavum, mainly green flowers,
Schizoglossum stenoglossum subsp. flavum, mainly green flowers,
Schizoglossum stenoglossum subsp. flavum, one plant had brighter yellow colouring;
Xysmalobium involucratum
Xysmalobium involucratum
Xysmalobium involucratum;
Xysmalobium parviflorum
Xysmalobium parviflorum.
Another exciting find was a flowering 
Brachystema barberae
Brachystema barberae, gorgeous maroon velvet with cream ‘lace’, as described it has a very pungent odour!
We also found a Brachystema barberae with buds about to open.
In amongst the myrid of flowers on the slopes were:
Adhatoda andromeda;
Ajuga ophrydis;
Barleria monticola;
Berkheya setifera;
Convolvulus natalensis;
Dychoriste setigera (thank you Sharron for the ID);
Hibiscus aethiopicus;
Merwilla nervosa
Merwilla nervosa
Merwilla nervosa
Satyrium parviflorum
Satyrium parviflorum,
the only other orchid seen on that morning was Eulophia hians var. hians.
As we walked we also spotted a pair of Dung Beetles dragging a dead Millepede into a hole, we guess in the absence of dung this would be suitable material to lay eggs in.
A simply magical morning in great company!
Beautiful rain with hot dry spells in between, during October. We measured 102.5mm of rain, the Maximum temperature during the month was 30 C and the coldest a Minimum of 3.5 C during the early hours of 4 October when
snow fell on the Southern Drakensberg. Our well water is starting to rise slowly again!
Due to the moisture and warmer temperatures grass is growing and flowering, wildflowers appearing and a feeling that Summer is on its way.
The delicate fern Mohria vestita has popped up in shady places near rocks.
I felt uneasy about identifying Anemone fanninii for the August 2018 Diary, it didn’t feel correct, and when I spotted
Anemone fanninii flowering this month
Anemone fanninii (2017/08/24)
I was certain that in August it was actually
Anemone caffra
Anemone caffra flowering,
which means a new ID for Sitamani, and that both species are found here on the same hillside. The flower forms are definitely different, the A caffra have shorter rounded sepals and A fanninii longer, more ragged sepals. In both cases the leaves are not present or only starting to appear when they flower. (I have corrected the August 2018 Diary).
Other flowers seen and photographed are:
Aspidonepsis diplogossa;
Aster bakerianus;
Clutia cordata;
Clutia cordata;
Cyrtanthus tuckii;
two Dieramas,
Dierama cooperi
Dierama cooperi
Dierama latifolium;
Eriosema salignum;
Gebera ambigua;
Gebera ambigua;
on a cooler morning as the mist rose
Gladiolus longicollis;
Gladiolus longicollis;
Graderia scabra;
masses of
Hebenstretia dura
Hebenstretia dura on the top of the hill;
Hypoxis argentea;
the delightful Ledebouria cooperi;
Ledebouria cooperi;
Moraea graminicola;
Sisyranthus trichostomus, Hairy Grass Flower, as the tube entry on each floret is thickly hairy;
minute flowers only ±2mm each on Thesium pallidum;
Tulbaghia leucantha
Tulbaghia leucantha, Wild Garlic, the leaves are very tasty in salad;
and a flowering grass caught my eye, possibly an Eragrostis species, if anyone knows the ID please let me know!
Sadly the weather this spring season has not been good for Orchids, and I haven’t seen any flowering yet.
A shiny Common Metallic Longhorn beetle, Promeces longipes, glistened on an Aster bakerianus flower.
Some interesting moths have appeared,
and it took lying down on my stomach to photograph the tiny
Orange Plume Moth, Crombrugghia wahlbergi.
Fossicking on the hilltop early one morning I spotted a
Cape Longclaw, Macronyx capensis.
It was about 17 years ago that I last saw one here. Once the pine trees had grown up on the neighbouring Mondi plantation, they seemed to have disappeared, so it was an absolute delight to discover there is at least a pair on our grassy hill!
The Common Grey Duiker are regular visitors to the garden, and the Common Reedbuck are loving the new grass near the well, we often see them when driving home at dusk. The Black-backed Jackals call frequently in early evenings and mornings.
September has seen temperatures of over 30 C with hot dry berg winds and
dipping to -2 C when we had a snowfall on the 9 September. Although the grass has responded to the moisture and the hillsides have greened up, not many wildflowers have bloomed yet. Our well, our water supply, has virtually dried up, so hoping rains will come soon.
On the 28 September there was a particularly beautiful sunset.
I haven’t had much time to roam around our hillsides but have noticed that the orchid that showed signs of flowering,
Eulophia parviflora (short-spurred form) last month has had all the flowering stalks neatly nipped off, so we won’t see them this year;
after the snowfall the grasses were blanketed in a light cover of snow;
the minute, dainty Helichrysum caespititium was covered in blossom;
bright purple Raphionacme hirsuta glowed against the reddish soil and
delicately elegant Tritonia lineata fluttered in the breeze.
One morning I discovered a miniscule
Soft-winged flower beetle of the Family Melyridae on the edge of a cup.
A large moth,
a Fulvous Hawk Moth, Coelonia fulvinotata, rested on the backdoor mat.
While walking on the hillside I found a weathered snail shell, which I think is a
Many-ridged shuffler Tropidophora plurilirata.
The Common Grey Duiker are regular visitors to the garden, and the Common Reedbuck are loving the new grass on the hillsides.
On the 25 September I heard the Piet-my-vrou, Red-chested Cuckoo, calling for the first time this spring. The Spotted Eagle-Owls have been calling at dawn and dusk, I hadn’t heard them for some time.
This August we have experienced contrasting weather, hot dry berg winds and very cold, misty and wet cold fronts passing through.
Snow fell on the berg and foothills on the night of 9th and morning of the 10th, then again on the 17th / 18th August. Although very cold, and a few fat, wet flakes fell on the morning of the 18th snow didn’t settle here, instead much needed light rain. We had the first proper frost of winter on the 4th of August and again on the 16th and 27th , these conditions have delayed the Spring flowers here compared with the last few years. However a general greening of the grass and a few flowers are starting to appear.
The hazy conditions after the warm berg winds
and then crystal clear air after the cold fronts passed through created beautiful light at sunset!
One of my favourite Spring flowers always makes an early appearance, though only just started flowering, so their petals are not yet ragged flags, on further invesigation I have edited to Anemone caffra, see the October 2018 Sitamani Country Diary;
Anemone caffra;
Apodolirion buchananii sparkle;
Cyrtanthus tuckii are bright red flames in new green grass growth;
only one orchid shows signs of flowering, Eulophia parviflora (short-spurred form);
Gazania krebsiana flowers create spots of cheerful yellow;
the stunning, delicate purple Ledebouria ovatifolia are prolific this year;
the occasional Nemesia caerulea is in bloom;
masses of Ouhout, Leucosidea sericea, blossom cover the small trees;
a very unassuming Senecio sp was almost overlooked;
then this season there are many small clumps of the tiny, stunning Urginea capitata
and the clumps of Ursinia tenuiloba have expanded creating mini insect hot-spots!
The birdsong at dawn is beautifully varied, birds in general are very active at the moment, busy courting and no doubt starting nest building.
A few of the insects I have spotted are:
Bees busy foraging in the available flowers;
a Ladybird beetle on the kitchen sink, I haven’t seen the usual large hibernation groups in sheltered corners this year
and a wonderful Milkweed Bug, Spilostethus sp..
Two Vervet Monkeys range over the rocky hillside regularly in search of food, they also raid the unripe Granadillas from the veggie garden, several times there have been ‘calling card, territory markers’ on the verandah.
Most evenings Common Reedbuck have been seen grazing on the new grass on the hillside, on one evening they were there together with the Grey Duiker and the Vervet Monkeys.
I also came across a group of three on the hillside late one afternoon.
The Grey Duiker was feeding close to the house during the day, when the weather cleared after the last cold front passed through.
The total moon eclipse on the 27 July was a highlight, for once the skies were clear, littered with myriads of stars, and I watched entranced.
The following morning as dawn crept in the orb was a faint pink glow through the smoky air. There were only two mornings when there was a real chill of winter, the 4 and 16 July. A quiet, dry, hibernating month, but still nature persists and there were some magic moments.
The first was the delightful
African Humming Bird Moth, Macroglossum trochilus ssp. trochilus
African Humming Bird Moth, Macroglossum trochilus ssp. trochilus
flitting over and amongst the Rosemary flowers. It moved really quickly, a quick sip here and there, so felt happy to capture these images.
Towards the end of July I came across this
Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui, sunning on Buddleja salviifolia.
In a burnt firebreak I found a beautiful Spider web.
Then one evening as I was going to bed I saw what I thought were tiny specks of dust about 2mm long, near the bedside lamp. On closer inspection I realised they were
newly hatched Spiderlings! Already they had constructed fine lines of spider web from the lamp to the bedstead and were moving busily up and down.
Also in a burnt area
an Ants nest was revealed,
as was what I think is a Wasp nest.
Black-headed Orioles are back visiting the verandah as they do every July.
Cape White-eyes flit frenetically in bare branches.
Many birds love using the small birdbath on the verandah including the
Dark-capped Bulbul
Dark-capped Bulbuls.
About a meter from the ground, well concealed in the thick foliage of a Tree Fuschia, Halleria lucida, I found a nest, which I think was made and used by Southern Boubous.
On the really chilly morning of 4 July I found a dead Yellow-fronted Canary lying on the ground.
On an early evening walk I spotted a young male Common Reedbuck, lying very still, watching me, very camouflaged in the dry grass.
In early predawn light a Grey Duiker stood quietly surveying the stillness.
July is a month when there are very few flowers out, however
Buddleja salviifolia have finally started to blossom, a heady sweet scent fills the air and they are a magnet for many insects. We have two colour varieties,
a cream Buddleja salviifolia and
a lilac Buddleja salviifolia.
Euryops laxus sparkle in cool sunshine.
Gazania krebsiana have also started to appear.
What I think are Pachycarpus natalensis seeds have burst from seedpods and drift over the dry landscape.
There were a few clumps of the delicate Ursinia tenuiloba.
