acacia blossoms

acacia blossoms

Friday, November 4, 2011

start of summer




A month ago i thought winter here was my favourite time of year.  With cool dark nights and bright sun filled days under an impossibly blue dome of sky.  Since then the rains have started and immediately the ground lillies immerged from the softened earth.



Now the trees are all coming into leaf - putting on their fresh green dresses of spring.  The mopane trees are the most common here. Their new leaves emerge shiny and soft like drops of water. Now they are opening out and the bright sun pics out the colours like slices of amber and jade filling the view.



The other day we found a python. It was about 2m long and was hunting in the rocks.  the birds gave him away. A fork tailed drongo was performing avidly in the bushes marking his path. They are such brave birds.  Pythons are an unusual sight so we were thrilled to see this one. We watched him watching us for a while before he started moving off.  They are fascinating to watch as they move - it looks like there are a million little feet inside a huge sock.



The monkeys left us for a while.  We thought they were sulking because we bought a big wooden snake and put it on the stoep - close by the door they usually use for raiding parties into the kitchen.  But now they are back and some of the females have given birth - now carrying tiny pink and black newborns clasped to their tummies.







With all the green growth and wild flowers around everyone should thrive.  We are waiting now for the impala to drop their young. 


I am loving this start of summer.

11 comments:

Angela said...

oh what a beautiful scene, Val! Must be so lovely! The Mopane trees, the ground lilies, the monkeys with their newborn babies, and the birds. And that python looking like a large sock with lots of little feet inside, haha, what a picture! You are such a keen observer, and find such splendid images that stick in mind. I can always just say thank you, Val!! Keep us posted on any change. Love from an autumn-Germany.

mermaid gallery said...

I am always excited to see a new post from you and this one was worth waiting for..... spring looks absolutely amazing...baby animals are so special....the python is a treat, and bursts of flowers and greenery all so welcome as our weather turns white. Your life is very different but we all celebrate the same things....the beautiful world we live in..... enjoy, it is splendid!

Lori ann said...

did the fake snake put off the monkeys even a little? they are so clever it seems.
and wow! another python, is this the same one that was found on the fence? i would really love to watch one too, must be so facinating.
the mopane leaves look a bit like angel wings.
so glad you are enjoying your start to summer val!

Anonymous said...

I love your summer too, although Jozi's flora is also looking great now.

Python - a w e s o m e!

Baby monkeys and soon baby impalas - sigh I love all the seasons
xx

Kristin said...

What awesome images, both the pictures and the ones you weave with words. Thank you!

Charl said...

Surely a beautiful time of the year. I love the fresh new mopani leaves - mind you, I love everything else about the mopanis as well. Thanks for the memories.
Kind regards

Val said...

Geli - thanks. Pythons move quite differently to other snakes which sort of wriggle and swerve. pythons trundle along :)

Mermaid Gallery - thank heavens we can enjoy these natural wonders. You live in a beautiful world too. enjoy the snow!

Lori - yes it did. well they dont like it at all so it keeps them away from the door. No, not the same python as the one on the fence, but timing is similar. We thought our python was huge until i saw that photo!! Mopane leaves do look like angel wings - thanks for that lovely thought x

Janet - its a great time of year, all that rebirth and renewal, and festivity of flowers! enjoy the jozi version :)

Kristin - thanks!

Charl - we love the mopanes too - they are wonderful forests full of life.

thanks for visiting the Roof xxV

Amanda Summer said...

i can't imagine being able to be so close to these amazing creatures. and i love your description of how the python moves - like a million little feet in a sock - brought the image sharply into focus in my mind. beautiful shots, val, especially that one of the baby clinging to its mother.... fantastic..

Val said...

Amanda - its easy to see why pythons are the stuff of so much folklore! did you see in the last pic the umbilical chord is still attached to the baby monkey?

Val said...

Amanda - its easy to see why pythons are the stuff of so much folklore! did you see in the last pic the umbilical chord is still attached to the baby monkey?

Val said...

Amanda - its easy to see why pythons are the stuff of so much folklore! did you see in the last pic the umbilical chord is still attached to the baby monkey?