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May 2, 2022

Life Wonderings of a Nature Lover: April 2022 Sitamani Country Diary

There were only 8 days without rain in April. The coolest day in April was 10 degrees on the 8^th and the warmest 23 degrees Celsius on the 29^th , the coolest night time temperature 6,5 degrees Celsius on the 25^th. Only slightly less rainfall was recorded, 183mm in April, than in March 196mm. We recorded 62mm on the 11^th 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

Gaudy Commodore (winter form), *Precis octavia sesamus*

And a long proboscid fly, *Philoliche sp.*

Wednesday 12

Finally the sky started to clear after days of rain, the moody sunset glowed over the distant mountains.

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

View to the cloudy mountains, sunlit slopes below

Friday 14

Monday 18

A *Pachycarpus natalensis* seedpod opening

Yellowing leaves of *Pachycarpus natalensis*

Beautiful autumn hues in the *Clutia cordata* leaves

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

Bush Tick-berry, *Chrysanthemoides monilifera* flower

and distinctive Bush Tick-berry, *Chrysanthemoides monilifera* berries

A lovely delicate shrub, would be grateful if anyone knew the name!

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

April 1, 2022

Life Wonderings of a Nature Lover: March 2022 Sitamani Country Diary

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

Dawn was ethereally beautiful, an orange glow with the rising sun in the east

Blue and orange with a light shower in the west, creating a rainbow!
Very quickly the sky clouded over with occasional showers during the morning

Thursday 10

Near the kitchen door I spotted a False Earth Star, *Astraeus* sp.

And on the step a delightful very small caterpillar

Sunday 13

Crested Coral Fungus, *Clavulina cristata*

Bush or Forest Beauty, *Paralethe dendrophilus*

White Bramble, *Rubus rigidus* berries glowing red

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

A loud hiss alerted me to the nearby presence of a Common or Rhombic night adder

*Habenaria lithophila* an autumn flowering ground orchid

I know autumn has arrived when the *Sutera floribunda* flower

This 2017 photo highlights the difference of how this season’s weather has affected plant growth and flowering of *Plectranthus calycina*

Ants are finding something very appealing to eat on the stems of *Plectranthus calycina*

Rainforest Brown, *Cassionympha cassius*

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

March 1, 2022

Life Wonderings of a Nature Lover: February 2022 Sitamani Country Diary

There were two days in February that reached 29 degrees Celsius, the 1^st and 10^th, the lowest temperature recorded was the 9^th 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.

Towards the end of February there was already an autumnal feel in the landscape

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

Beautiful dusk light during the thunderstorms

Saturday 20

Wednesday 23

A short walk revealed these treasures

*Helichrysum aureonitens*, impepho, burned to communicate with the ancestors

Some Silver Bramble, *Rubus ludwigii* leaves are already turning colour

The silvery underside of the Silver Bramble, *Rubus ludwigii* leaves displayed by the wind

Thursday 24

After a damp night

A beautiful dewdrop decorated spiderweb revealed in the branches

Although on some plants the leaves are already turning, on others there is a bounty of berries on the Silver Bramble, *Rubus ludwigii*

*Habenaria pseudociliosa* a grassland orchid

Tiny flowers of the *Habenaria pseudociliosa*

This beauty, a Blue Pansy butterfly, *Junonia oenone oenone*, paused to brighten my day!

Bush tick-berry, *Chrysanthemoides monilifera*

*Searsia* (=Rhus) *discolor* have fruited prolifically

A very attractive grass, Dallis Grass, *Paspallum dilatatum*

A wild cucumber, *Coccina sp.* with attendant pollinator, probably a small wasp

*Alectra sessiliflora*, parasitic on grass

Shades of Autumn, seedheads including *Berkheya setifera*

Saturday 26

quiet moments of reverie on the hillside

light winds dance through yellowing grasses

their gentle song companionable

basking on a nearby rock a dragonfly

wings spread in repose

a female Two-striped Skimmer, *Orthetrum caffrum*

Sunday 27

February 3, 2022

Life Wonderings of a Nature Lover: January 2022 Sitamani Country Diary

I recorded an unbelievable 341,5mm of rain in January, definitely the wettest it’s been for many years. Many afternoon thunderstorms, days of light rain and mist. The lowest nighttime temperature recorded was 10,5 degrees Celsius on 22 Jan, the highest daytime temperature 27 degrees Celsius on the 30 Jan.

A glorious summer afternoon overlooking the valley below

Saturday 1

I discovered a new bee hive in a burnt, hollowed tree

Sunday 2

Monday 3

It was very exciting to find a new species on Sitamani, perhaps because of the fire in July last year, in an area that hadn’t been burnt off for at least 25 years, *Schizoglossum hamatum*

Thursday 6

the space between is what sustains me

observing leaves dance and skip across the grass

a dragonfly skimming over the still pool of my mind

the intricate, delicate beauty of the flower within

clouds breathing tracery over the sky

the call of birds in companionship

my spirit calms, drifts, focuses on the present

sustenance of life

Monday 10

A wander over the hillside with our son and his friend revealed some

*Killickia pilosa = Satureja pilosa*, I call the leaves Bushmen sweets as they have a delightful, fresh minty burst of flavour!

and an absolute delight for me, we saw two *Pamphagidae Transvaaliana*, a curious insect which vaguely resembles a very fat grasshopper. I was told many years ago that they are quite rare and the last time I saw one here was in December 2014

Friday 14

My absolute favourite flowering plants on Sitamani started opening, *Brunsvigia undulata*

A Wooly Bear, Tri-coloured Tiger, *Rhodogastria amasis*, moth caterpillar

As I was walking, I spotted a Spider hunting wasp (Pompilidae), digging a hole to bury a paralyzed prey, food for the lava once the eggs deposited in it hatch

Saturday 15

Seen on brief fossick

A delicate, minute legume flower, possibly a *Tephrosia* species

Very exciting to find several *Disa patula* var. *patula* in flower

Sunday 16

Very smelly, but strikingly vibrant Star Stinkhorn, *Aseroe rubra*

Spotted-leaved Arum, *Zantedeschia albomaculata*

Blushing Bride orchid, *Satyrium longicauda*

A real treat, a Common Slug Eater snake, that didn’t wait long before slithering into the grass

Then in the evening, sudden movement revealed very camouflaged Dad and juvenile Southern Boubou in dead branches. A few days earlier the juvenile had inadvertently been locked in the workshop overnight. A fluttering from inside the window and repeated calling from the female outside alerted me and soon they were reunited!

Monday 17

Wednesday 26

A new dawn, a new day, new beginnings

This beautiful predawn colour in the sky was probably a result of:
“A plume of volcanic aerosols and sulphur dioxide ejected into the stratosphere by the eruption of the Hunga volcanoe near Tonga on 14/15 January, has reached the east coast of Africa… Similar displays may be seen at dawn and dusk for another 2-3 days as the plume passes.”

Thursday 27

And it did…

Endless possibilities in another atmospheric predawn sky

January 1, 2022

Life Wonderings of a Nature Lover: December 2021 Sitamani Country Diary

This December has been the wettest for many years, we recorded 222,5mm of rain, many afternoon thunderstorms, days of light rain and mist. The last day in December literally went out with a bang, thunder rolled around the whole day. The lowest night time temperature recorded was 8 degrees and on the same day, the 18^th, the lowest daytime temperature 13 degrees Celsius and the highest daytime temperature 28.5 degrees Celsius on the 2^nd, one degree lower than the highest recorded in November. The veggie garden is suffering from a lack of sunshine….

Thursday 02

A vibrant glowing sunrise through the clouds

Friday 03

The following morning a cooler moody sky

Sunday 05

A fossicking wander over the hillside was filled with summery life

Giant Forest Cicada, *Pyncna semiclara*, dry nymphal skin

A gorgeously patterned hairy caterpillar, sadly the bright red ‘capsule’ on it’s back means it has had an egg laid in it, probably by a parasitic wasp

A Levaillant’s Cisticola kept a safe distance away as I walked

Grass colour is turning as it seeds, but still many flowering forbes within it

A delightful small beetle on a *Hypoxis* flower

A brightly patterned Crab Spider, *Thomisus sp*.

Sprawled over a large area this *Coccina sp*. was covered in flowers

*Watsonia socium* still covering the hillside

This iridescent little beetle is probably a *Colasposoma sp*.

A dramatically stunning Hawkmoth caterpillar *Basiothia schenki* or maybe *charis*

*Lilioceris sp*. of leaf beetle (Chrysomelidae) possibly *cheni* on *Cyanotis speciosa*

Monday 06

Tuesday 07

Wednesday 08

After a stormy afternoon, sunlight streamed under the clouds, a complete double rainbow in the east

Thursday 09

The following morning a rainbow to the west

Friday 10

zebra stripes and ochre

fan above a beady eye

an African Hoopoe

Saturday 11

Tuesday 21

The Summer Solstice here in the Southern Hemisphere, the clouds parted for a glowing dawn

A Painted Lady, *Vanessa cardui* on *Berkheya setifera*

A male Pin-tailed Whydah perched up high, it’s been years since we’ve had a pair in residence

I spotted this delicately flowering shrublet, possibly a *Clutia sp.*

Thursday 23

Saturday 25

An ephemeral rainbow graced the early morning sky

A Lunate Blister Beetle, *Decapotoma lunata*

*Agapanthus campanulatus* are starting to bloom

*Orthochilus foliosus*, the only orchid in flower this month, very unusual, even in the driest Decembers there are several varieties flowering

Although I didn’t manage to take a photograph, I saw a pair of Southern Black Tits foraging, a first sighting here for me.

Wednesday 29

Guess who fell asleep in the bath plug hole?

A Woodland Dormouse must have found a tasty treat in the bath and couldn’t get out again… I had a suspicion that a pair had a nest in a kitchen drawer. So have safely relocated them both far away from the house. They are adorable, but very destructive, the large hole in our carpet is one example of where they had found a source of excellent nesting material. I hope they find a new safe spot to rebuild their nest, I did leave them with their gathered materials!

Thursday 30

I love clouds

shape shifters

dream makers

mysterious

puffs floating

skeins tossed

graceful gauze

towering ramparts

gilded rippling scales

draped softly

forever changing

December 2, 2021

Life Wonderings of a Nature Lover: November 2021 Sitamani Country Diary

During November we have recorded 124mm of rain, many days of light rain and mist and two heavy rainfalls recorded, 25mm on the 11th and 56.5mm between the 20th and 27th. The lowest night time temperature recorded was 7 degrees Celsius and the highest daytime temperature 29.5 degrees Celsius. The grassland and flowering plants have grown quickly and grasses already seeding.

Most mornings and evenings were clouded over, but on the 17^th we had a stunning sunset.

Monday 1

I spotted this large fungi in the grass, it was about 10cm in diameter

Thursday 4

A brief walk near the house yielded these delights

Wednesday 10

Saturday 13

dark eyes wondering

soft morning light enfolds

snacking before rest

Tuesday 16

The moment is now, live in the moment

Feel the zephyr of air gently caressing the skin

Watch the light move across the sky

A fossick over the hillside a bit later in the morning revealed these beauties

Monday 29

At first light I heard a Common Reedbuck whistle, and there he stood on the hill above the house, long horns gilded, watching me below. This is the first time in several months that I have seen or heard Reedbuck.

*Heliophia rigidiuscula* with attendant bee

An unusual fungi, resembling a velvet, deflated ball

Grasses seeding bring a ruby tinge to the landscape

A bagworm and spotted beetle feasting on *Albuca setosa*

A vibrant clump of glowing *Senecio latifolius*

A well camouflaged Guttural Toad, *Bufo gutturalis* in the grass, gold rimmed eyes watchful

Tuesday 30

November 1, 2021

Life Wonderings of a Nature Lover: October 2021 Sitamani Country Diary

Many days in October were cloudy, with light rain, a total of 93,5mm. When there were sunny days you could almost see the plants growing. Generally the daytime temperatures were much warmer, the highest recorded on the 14^th, 31 Celsius and the lowest night time temperature 5 Celsius on the 3^rd October.

Sunday 3

One of my favourite flowers was nodding in the breeze, however by the time the rain had cleared I couldn’t find one to photograph, so my watercolour painting from last year

Tuesday 5

This is the last photo I managed to take of the Common Fiscal sitting on the nest before they abandoned it. I’m not sure of the reason, but perhaps the eggs were stolen.

Wednesday 6

Every year I wait for the *Gladiolus longicauda* to flower! As they are night flowering I have to take a photo early in the morning before they close for the day. They are pollinated by Hawk moths. There has been a prolific blooming this year, nodding pale heads in the evening and early mornings.

A patch of mulch became food for this delicate mould.

Although the light was poor, it is the first time I’ve been able to capture these delightful tiny, busy Swee Waxbills.

Saturday 9

cheerful notes sing out
Piet-my-vrou home for summer
warmer days ahead

A very interesting spotted winged fly settled on the table

Sunday 10

Later a Cape Turtle Dove sunned on a rock in the evening.

Monday 11

Tuesday 12

A few days of sunshine had flowers popping up in multitudes over our hillside.

An *Anemone fanninii* with insect foragers

Wednesday 20

an apricot moon
slips behind mauve silhouette
hills in early light

An absolute delight, where fire had cleansed, for the first time I spotted a Pygmy Sand Apple, amongst the dolerite rocks. The scent of the tiny flowers is heavenly!

There has been a reclassification; Bridsonia chamaedendrum var. *chamaedendrum* (=*Pygmaeothamnus chamaedendrum* var. chamaedendrum) Pygmy Sand Apple

Thursday 21

Friday 22

Cool blue sunset

Wednesday 27

Red-collared Widowbirds, the males still changing into their breeding colours, are pairing off.

Another walk over the hillside revealed a host of newly flowering plants

*Eulophia hians* var. *hians*, the only orchid seen this month

Cherry Spot caterpillar, *Diaphone eumela*

some younger ones that have reduced a *Scilla* to a network of veins…

One very happy little insect on a pollen collecting trip amongst a field of florets!

*Sisyranthus trichostomus*, Hairy Grass Flower

*Sisyranthus trichostomus*, Hairy Grass Flower, a magnet for insects including this tiny wasp

Thursday 28

October 5, 2021

Life Wonderings of a Nature Lover: September 2021 Sitamani Country Diary

Very varied weather this September, snow on the Drakensberg on the 7^th, our lowest temperature 5C and lowest ‘high’ temperature 7C recorded on the same day. On two days 18^th and 19^th our highest daytime temperature 28C was recorded. Many misty damp days, with a total rainfall of 79mm for the month.

Wednesday 8

A snowy Drakensberg revealed in the morning

Regular flights into the Halleria lucida near the living room window by a Common Fiscal revealed a nest taking shape, using soft Helichrysum stems for the frame work. It is well concealed in the foliage, so difficult to take good photos, but will be exciting to observe.

Friday 10

Further diligent work has place on the Common Fiscal nest.

Monday 13

We’d been away so the verandah birdbath had dried out, a large flock of Cape White-eyes quickly came to enjoy the water once we filled it.

Wednesday 15

The Common Fiscal nest looks as if it is nearing completion.

Friday 17

A walk on a sunshine morning was a joy of Spring flowers and new growth appearing.

This gorgeous Mooi River Opal, *Chrysoritis lycegenes,* flitted over warm stones.

Tuesday 21

On the evening of Full Moon there was a sea of clouds to the east, but a lovely sunset to the west.

Wednesday 22

Marked the day of our Spring Equinox, now the days will gradually lengthen and warm.

Monday 27

In a patch of watery sunshine a Four-striped Grass Mouse basked, keeping a careful watch for predators.

Tuesday 28

A misty morning walk to see if some of the usual September flowers were flowering. Orchids haven’t enjoyed the July fire, extreme cold of August and now very damp September.

A stunning display of *Tulbaghia leucantha* between the dolerite rocks

*Cyrtanthus tuckii,* Green-tipped Fire Lily

Common Fiscal is now sitting on the nest, hopefully in time there will be young ones! (Please excuse the poor photo.)

September 5, 2021

Life Wonderings of a Nature Lover: August 2021 Sitamani Country Diary

Two snowfalls on the Drakensberg during August, and the first time in many years it fell and settled here at Sitamani.

August has been generally mild, although two cold fronts passed over, one between the 12-15 August and then 27-29 August. Sadly I wasn’t here for the second one, so haven’t been able to record the very cold temperatures experienced that burst some water pipes in the early hours of the morning on the 29 August.

Total Rainfall, including the snowfall, 42,5mm

Wednesday 4

This is the best photograph I managed to take of an African Hoopoe foraging on the hillside

Saturday 7

misty morning sensual greeting

damp ash sharp blue-grey metal tang

warm brown coffee aroma

Monday 9

Stunning glow of colour in the predawn sky

Tuesday 10

The juvenile Grey Duiker having a midday snack in the garden

Wednesday 11

silver crescent hangs
suspended beneath a star
in days after glow

*Hirpicium armeriodes*, Mountain Gerbera

Bright splashes of colour in the greening slopes

*Halleria lucida*, Tree Fuchsia, fruit amongst the flowers

New season growth of Bracken, *Pteridium aquilinum*

A bee laden with pollen on a Gazania krebsiana

Flowers on *Leucosidea sericea*, Ouhout that escaped the fire

Friday 13

light drip and drizzle
filled the rain tanks overnight
blessings of winter chill

Sunday 15

Clouds finally lifted enough to reveal a watery sun and winter snow

This Vlei Rat, *Otomys* *irroratus*, has taken up residence in our compost bin, a constant source of food when the surrounding grassland has been burnt off, hopefully she will relocate once the new season growth returns!

Thursday 26

Friday 27

New leaves appearing including *Gerbera ambigua*

Sunday 29

While I was away Philip awoke to a winter wonderland, these are his photos! Thank you for allowing me to share them Philip.

August 1, 2021

Life Wonderings of a Nature Lover: July 2021 Sitamani Country Diary

In this July we have experienced fire and ice. Two cold fronts swept through with cold temperatures, but only 0,5mm of rain for the whole month, very dry conditions. On the 12 July looting and arson were widespread in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces of South Africa. Our property was engulfed in flames in the early evening, fortunately our home and outbuildings were saved and the resilience of nature is already being seen in new grass emerging, despite the dry conditions.

The maximum temperature 23 C on 8 July

The minimum temperature -2 C on 23 July

Rainfall 0.5mm

Sunday 4

Glowing mist rolled in during the early evening

Tuesday 6

brown leaves run like
small animals over the grass
before the chill wind

Wednesday 7

a lone golden leaf
tapping a mournful rhythm
releases to fall

In the evening this elegantly beautiful wasp settled near my bedside lamp, a parasitoid wasp, Ichneumondia, Netelia sp. (Tryphoninae)

Sunday 11

A fleeting, magical encounter with this delightful male Common Duiker, just before dawn.

Monday 12

By evening our property was engulfed in fire set by arsonists in the adjacent Mondi pine plantation. Fortunately, with the assistance of local farmers, our home and outbuildings were spared, apart from the outdoor ‘longdrop’ toilet. These are photos Philip took while we were containing the fire.