Amazing Nature Contest - February 2021 - #02
Slowly we are all recovering after some excessively sweltering hot days, Sunday must have been the most extreme this summer so far! Outing of the week now parks have been opened again so come with me and let us explore. A lifesaver low pressure system arrived on Monday to take the sting out of the scorching heat for a couple of days at least.
Lets go, left hand steadying dog on a leash, right hand with flailing camera, what did we get to see and capture?
First stop is under the Common Wild Fig trees standing tall and proud with big leaves that afford excellent shade to all who wish to enjoy steamy hot days outdoors. Late summer it will bear figs for birds, monkeys, insects, all that enjoy these small fruits, a place where wasps breed using the fruits, if you decide to make some delicious jam always a good idea to take a look inside before adding it to the pot.
Our route hugs the shade trees all along the way, when we get to patches where there is no shade, its a matter of hurrying the dogs along to beat our way back under the canopy at high speed.
Free flowing water of the Amanzimtoti River is currently throttled by Water Hyacinth, a variety of methods are being used to try eradicate this invasive plant in South Africa, we obviously not winning yet!
Water Hyacinth do have a very pretty flower, sadly the plant spreads so quickly the fish, birds and other wildlife suffer when life is squeezed out of rivers poor/bad management, leaving this plant to invade closing flowing rivers down completely, most likely most damaging invasive plant that landed here from Tropical America.
Quiet park bench to the side of the sports field where one can relax and watch bird life, or the sporting fanatics out in the hot sun having a game.
Under shade canopy along the river low hanging fruits which may be the Little Gem (Gem Squash) that has trailed up rather than along the ground. If only I had a spare hand I would have plucked one to bring home to investigate further, alas even the shaded walk was getting uncomfortable with humidity held under the leaves above.
I did have time to quickly take a snap of this beautiful Mimosa pudica with it's gentle sub-shrub size, leaves the close on touch, sorry I had no hands to touch it to show you just how shy this plant is.
Coming up from the lower river bank walk Woody and Sarge starting to show signs of getting hot with pink tongues hanging out, well boys we only half way round so keep going a drink only comes at the end of the walk....
A quick squizz over the shoulder showing how the Water Hyacinth has stopped the flow completely further down the river.
Variety of trees in the area all shaded over a Lourie bird sat loudly calling above, yes I saw the Cardinal woodpecker who watched me closely (I am sure he was smirking thinking you got me so close yet cannot do anything about it), again not enough opportunity to get a one handed photograph, dogs come first and birds fly fast...
During the shade tree walk the dogs do eventually slow down slightly heading into another section you will see the trunk of a Baobab laying down, this tree sadly fell down due to too much water, in the near future I will inspect more closely to see if any fungi finds a new home here.
Walks are never shorter than and hour, this took about and hour and a half due to even the dogs slowing down to catch their breath, at the end the promised drink of water, then homeward bound.
Going out is a noisy affair out of the window letting every dog in town know its time for an outing, going home pooped out just hoping the air swirls around them till the cold tiles of the house can cool them down quicker.
Fulfilling a promise to my late brother that I would look after his dog, here we are a couple of years later his wife managed to make the park bench shown, sadly cannot manage the longer walks. Dogs need to release pent up energy so we take to the trails, my son managing Woody while I walk Sarge.
A promise made, is a promise kept!
All photography my own using Canon Powershot SX730 HS camera. Any queries or requests please drop a comment below or make contact with me, have a wonderful day! Photography without tripod, go with the flow wherever life takes you.
Thought for Today: "Even two friendly dogs cannot share a single bone." - African Proverb
