Skywatch Friday - Sky or aloes?

I thought these aloe striata did a nice job of enhancing the bit of sky that is visible. This scene was taken in the Karoo, at the base of the Grootwinterhoek Mountains.

Skywatch provides links to many great pictures from around the world. Pop in you will not be disappointed.

Mini vs Maxi Tour - The Eastern Cape has it all

When I was looking at the plans for the Mini vs Maxi tour I was again reminded that the Eastern Cape is a really amazing tourist destination, but that is not always recognised as such.

Sue and I recently joined Couch Surfers and have had some fantastic people come and stay with us, but it always seems that they are just passing through. When I ask them if they are planning a trip to the Addo Elephant Park, they look at me blankly and say, "No, we are going to Kruger. I am sure we will see elephants there."

"Yes you will, but we have the big seven here," I say.

They also don't seem to realise that our elephant cows are much prettier, because they do not have their delicate facial features spoilt by large tusks.

And then, can you see whales and dolphins and sharks in Kruger?



We have the Wild Coast, the Sunshine Coast and the Garden Route.
We have lush green forests with amazing yellow woods and the wide open spaces of the Karoo. There are mountains and valleys and rivers, lakes and dams.

We have the most amazing fynbos and aloes. In fact there is always something flowering in the Eastern Cape, no matter what time of the year.

You can ski in the snow in winter and on the lakes and rivers in summer.

We have everything in the Eastern Cape and next week the Mini and Maxi teams will be experiencing the "adventure" activities the province has to offer. There will be many updates on what the province has to offer next week.

What don't we have? Malaria..............so, who cares. There is no need to go further North or South.

Weekend in the Karoo

Spent a wonderful weekend at a farm in the Karoo. This photo sums up the beauty, peace and restfulness of the place.

Flowers of the Eastern Cape #10 - More aloes

I am not sure which variety of aloe this is, but you will find many different types flowering in the Eastern Cape at the moment.

The newly established aloe garden on the Donkin, with the historic Edward Hotel in the background.

Flowers of the Eastern Cape #7 - The colour orange

I cannot remember a time when I have not seen a flower in the Eastern Cape. What I am doing with this project is to publish at least one photograph of an indigenous plant that is in flower, every week.
When I realised that I did not have any photos for this week, I went for a stroll around the neighbourhood with my grandson and was not disappointed. We found two plants that are quite common in this area.

Red-hot poker from the garden of St Phillips Church.

Aloe arborescens ghowing on the cliff above Albany Road

Tuesdays Trees #22 - Aloe Speciosa

We have a wide variety of aloes in the Eastern Cape and they are not always easy to identify, especially where the habitat overlaps. After much research I concluded that these are the aloe speciosa, as opposed to the aloe pluridens. This is based on the assumption that they were not in flower - the aloe pluridens flowers at this time of the year, whereas the speciosa flowers in August/ September.

These are located just outside Alicedale.

Flowers of the Eastern Cape #6 - Aloes

The quest for flowering plants continues. The task is not difficult as there is always something flowering in the Eastern Cape and this time of the year the area comes alive with aloes.

This one was photographed at Nanaga near Port Elizabeth.

Tuesdays Trees #19 - Spiny partners

Todays trees are the Aloe Ferox and the Acacia Karoo taken near Craddock.

Aloes in profusion

It does not matter what time of the year it is, but there is always something flowering in the Eastern Cape. It is now aloe season and they are putting on a spectacular show of colour.


I took these pictures of what I think are the aloe ferox near Cookhouse earlier today.

I wonder

In the words of Sixto Rodriguez, "I wonder............"


Spotted on a bush outside Patensie, at the end of the Elands River Road.

The Road to Addo

This field of aloes on the Sundays River Valley, on the way to the Addo Elephant Park, resulted in an obligatory photo stop. We are never in a hurry to get anywhere when we travel, because there are too many interesting distractions on the way.


Aloes and thorn bushes creating an interesting contrast (click on the picture for a better view)