After almost thirty years of living here on Sitamani, almost half of my life time, we are closing this chapter of our lives and moving on to a new one. I have been able immerse myself in the rhythms of nature, observing the cycle of the seasons and learning about the incredible diversity of natural life on this beautiful hillside. We have enjoyed the stunning views of the Southern Drakensberg to the west and in the east the valleys leading to Pietermaritzburg. A part of my heart will always remain in this space that we’ve been privileged to be custodians of for so many years.
Including this post Part 3, Flora, I’ll round off the Sitamani Country Diary with my favourite photographs taken over the last six years, in three parts. Part 1, Sense of place, Landscape; Part 2, Fauna and finally Part 3, Flora. Although I have recorded what I’ve seen for much longer than six years, I only started this diary on Word Press in July 2016.
Part 3
Flora
In no particular order, these are the treasured memories I’ll carry forward with me into the next chapter of my life, with gratitude. We have affectionately referred to this hillside as our Wildflower Nature Reserve, it kindled my passion for indigenous wildflowers, was my natural classroom for learning about them. This is a selection of my favourite photos, unlabelled, for sheer pleasure in their beauty.
After almost thirty years of living here on Sitamani, almost half of my life time, we are closing this chapter of our lives and moving on to a new one. I have been able immerse myself in the rhythms of nature, observing the cycle of the seasons and learning about the incredible diversity of natural life on this beautiful hillside. We have enjoyed the stunning views of the Southern Drakensberg to the west and in the east the valleys leading to Pietermaritzburg. A part of my heart will always remain in this space that we’ve been privileged to be custodians of for so many years.
Including this post Part 2, Fauna, I’ll round off the Sitamani Country Diary with my favourite photographs taken over the last six years, in three parts. Part 1, Sense of place, Landscape; Part 2, Fauna and finally Part 3, Flora. Although I have recorded what I’ve seen for much longer than six years, I only started this diary on Word Press in July 2016.
Part 2, Fauna
In no particular order, these are the treasured memories I’ll carry forward with me into the next chapter of my life, with gratitude. They are not all the animals, birds, snakes, lizards or insects I have seen, but are a selection of my favourites.
I haven’t labelled them, this is a pictorial remembering, and be warned there are many photos!
After almost thirty years of living here on Sitamani, almost half of my life time, we are closing this chapter of our lives and moving on to a new one. These years have been the best of times, we built our home here, raised our son, (he returned many times after he’d flown our ‘nest’, and on a very special occasion, to marry his wife on this hillside), and were in the fortunate position to embrace new and wonderful opportunities. Not least I have been able immerse myself in the rhythms of nature, observing the cycle of the seasons and learning about the incredible diversity of natural life on this beautiful hillside. We have enjoyed the stunning views of the Southern Drakensberg to the west and in the east the valleys leading to Pietermaritzburg. A part of my heart will always remain in this space that we’ve been privileged to be custodians of for so many years.
Including this post, I’ll round off the Sitamani Country Diary with my favourite photographs taken over the last six years, in three parts. Part 1, Sense of place, Landscape; Part 2, Fauna and finally Part 3, Flora. Although I have recorded what I’ve seen for much longer than six years, I only started this diary on Word Press in July 2016.
This June has been characteristically cool with mainly winter sunshine days. In contrast to the previous months with relatively high rainfall, only 8mm were recorded this month. The coldest night time temperature was 1 degree Celsius, the lowest day time temperature was 4 degrees and the warmest was 19 degrees Celsius.
Part 1
Sense of Place, Landscape
In no particular order, these are the treasured memories I’ll carry forward with me into the next chapter of my life, with gratitude.
The rainy days have eased off into more settled weather in May. The exception being when a cut-off low brought 102mm between the 20th and 22nd, bringing the total rainfall for May to 110mm.
The temperature dipped to 4 degrees overnight on the 30th , the coolest day at 11 degrees on the 30th and warmest day 22 degrees Celsius on the 25th. Mainly cool sunny early winter weather, a lovely time of year.
Sunday 1
Thursday 5
Friday 6
Saturday 7
Sunday 8
window to my world
mellow mist brightened
by sun stored in yellowing leaves
Tuesday 10
Wednesday 11
Pink beauty on the hillside under high cirrus prefrontal clouds
Thursday 12
Friday 13
Cool, bleached shades of early winter on my hillside walk
Saturday 14
Sunday 15
Monday 16
Clear skies during the early hours meant I could watch the Total Lunar Eclipse
Magical mystical moon
in the south
flung like a scorpion up ended
the Southern Cross poised
in flight from
the full moon gradually receding
beneath a red-brown veil
dulled globe glowing
red-gold sky cast
grows in the east
rising as the sun greets the faded moon
And she’s back…
Yellow moon on the rise
Tuesday 17
Monday 23
Thursday 26
Monday 30
There were only 8 days without rain in April. The coolest day in April was 10 degrees on the 8th and the warmest 23 degrees Celsius on the 29th , the coolest night time temperature 6,5 degrees Celsius on the 25th. Only slightly less rainfall was recorded, 183mm in April, than in March 196mm. We recorded 62mm on the 11th on the weekend when the KZN coastal areas were so badly affected by flooding and landslides, there in some places over 300mm was recorded in a single day. Autumn cool days are definitely here.
Friday 1
On a afternoon short walk I spotted a
Wednesday 12
My thoughts were with all those who had been affected by the devastation of the past few days on the KwaZulu-Natal coast.
Thursday 13
Friday 14
Monday 18
Tuesday 19
this morning I finally saw the moon
a glowing orb of white light
veiled in light mists
encircled by a translucent rainbow
Sunday 24
The Pin oak avenue is ablaze with colour
dressed in her finest
falling shimmering cascades
gilded leaves dancing
On a walk over the hillside I discovered
Then spent serene, timeless moments watching a Common Duiker foraging on the hillside
Wednesday 27
low above the eastern horizon
through a light veil of morning mist
a static comet with a crescent moon offset
planets in alignment
Jupiter Venus Mars Saturn
Friday 29
A misty, mild, damp March. The hottest day in March was 27 degrees Celsius, the coolest temperature was experienced on three nights, 11 degrees Celsius. More rainfall was recorded in March than in February, 196mm, February being 153mm. 60mm of rain was recorded on 4 March. Grasses have responded well to this season’s weather conditions, but many other plants have not grown to full potential.
Friday 4
Very quickly the sky clouded over with occasional showers during the morning
Thursday 10
Sunday 13
Wednesday 16
pink wisps rise
golden autumning
glistening droplets
Friday 18
early this morning she eluded me
soft clouds veiled her
bright glowing in front of her full face
Sunday 20
Autumn Equinox treats in mild sunshine
Wednesday 23
soft hues brighten at dawn
under a waning Autumn moon
Summer drawing to a close
time for reflection as the season changes
Thursday 24
Wednesday 30
Thursday 31
There were two days in February that reached 29 degrees Celsius, the 1st and 10th, the lowest temperature recorded was the 9th at 12 C. Again, though only half of what was recorded in January, we experienced many rainy days, recording 153mm. It has been very interesting to observe the effect on the plants of so many damp days without sun. Many plants have grown and flowered at different times to ‘normal’ growth, most not reaching their full potential, many flowering earlier than usual years.
Thursday 10
Wednesday 16
an apricot moon
balancing on banked clouds
slips slowly down
reflected silver fine-line
topping grey masses
an echo of the passage
Saturday 20
Wednesday 23
A short walk revealed these treasures
Thursday 24
After a damp night
