Tag Archives: photography

Satynblom

27 Wednesday Aug 2014

Posted by in Bulbs, Colours, Flowers, South African Endemic

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The Satynblom is a stemless geophyte occuring in the Hantam Karoo
The lovely large glossy red flowers (hence the common namesatynblom), have black markings on the inside and anther filaments that are fused into a column.

The Monkey Beetle (Clania glenlyonensis) ” is a main pollinator of Romulea monadelpha and within the Hantam National Botanical Garden. It also visits a range of other flowers, and because of its rapid and busy flight, high loads of pollen carried on its hairy body, and large numbers, it is considered a keystone pollinator.

Satyn Flower Romulea monadelpha

Satyn Flower
Romulea monadelpha

Malachite Sunbird

25 Monday Aug 2014

Posted by in Birds, Colours, ecology, Garden Creatures

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The malachite sunbird (Nectarinia famosa) is a small nectivorous bird.
The breeding male malachite sunbird, which has very long central tail feathers, is 25 cm long, and the shorter-tailed female 15 cm. The adult male is metallic green when breeding, with blackish-green wings with small yellow pectoral patches.

Most sunbird species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed most of the time. As a fairly large sunbird, the malachite sunbird is no exception. They have long thin down-curved bills and brush-tipped tubular tongues, both adaptations to nectar feeding. Some plant species from which malachite sunbirds feed include many Aloe species, such as Aloe broomii, Aloe ferox and Aloe arborescens, and Protea species, such as Protea roupelliae as well as various other bird-pollinated plants such as Leonotis and Strelitzia.

The call is a loud tseep-tseep, and the male malachite sunbird has a twittering song

Breeding Malachite Sunbird

Breeding Malachite Sunbird

Mr and Mrs Malachite Sunbird

Mr and Mrs Malachite Sunbird. This species is monogamous

Papkuilsfontein

22 Friday Aug 2014

Posted by in Bulbs, Colours, Eco Tourism, ecology, Photography, South African Endemic

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Papkuilsfontein

Soak up the peace and tranquility of this beautiful farm. Stay in the old, beautifully restored stone cottages,in your own private Fynbos setting.View the awesome canyon and its 100m waterfall. In spring, enjoy the world-renowned flowers in this Serengeti of the floral kingdom (This area is known as ”the Bulb Capital of the World” because it has the highest speciation of indigenous bulbous flowers on Earth). Experience the rich bird life, fauna, and San rock art. Swim in the cool waters of a natural rock pool, or in the pool at the cottages, built to be reminiscent of a farm dam. Hike the trails through sandstone rock formations and don’t forget to bring your mountain bike or your 4×4.

Fynbos flowers

Fynbos flowers

Guest accommodation

Cat’s tails as far as the eye can see

Old Ox Wagon

Windmill

Windmill

Rivers of flowers

Rivers of flowers

Cat's tails

Cat’s tails

Ruins in a field of flowers

Ruins in a field of flowers

Babiana

Babiana

Blue Aster

Blue Aster

water loving plants on cliff face

water loving plants on cliff face

Spectacular waterfall

Spectacular waterfall

Cape girdled Lizard

Cape girdled Lizard

Sewefontein – 1878

21 Thursday Aug 2014

Posted by in compost, Eco Tourism, Flowers, Gardens, South African Endemic

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Sewefontein (1878) is a tranquil Old World farm accommodation located in the heart of Namaqualand.

The farm offers seven fresh water fountains, natural swimming pools in the river, hiking trails, waterfall and canyon, Rock Art, wild flowers, rich animal and bird life.
http://www.nieuwoudtville.com/sewefontein/

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