Irises

A co-worker got married last weekend and asked me to take some pictures of the wedding party in a nearby park. Naturally I went early and browsed around to see what pictures I could get for my blog and the variety of Irises caught my eye.
With hundreds of varieties in several different colors and combinations, Irises are popular and easy to grow perennial. The most common larger varieties are great at the back of the flower bed or as a cutting. For flower growers, there is a place in your garden for one, or several groups. But, be careful, as they spread quickly and can overcome other flowers.

Irises are grown from both seed and root separation. The roots, or Rhizomes, are easily separated and replanted. The Rhizome looks like a long, thin potato with roots underneath. When transplanting, separate the Rhizome. Make sure to have some root and a leaf or two in each section. Plant the Rhizomes near the surface with the roots below. Space them a foot or so apart . They will fill in the spaces quickly.

If you want a low maintenance, easy to grow flower, you have come to the right plant. Irises like full sun, but tolerate partial shade well. Their only demand is well draining soil to avoid root rot. The soil does not need to be the richest in your yard. Nor, does it demand heavy fertilizer feeding. Once established, you will need to water them only in the driest part of the year. Fertilize occasionally. Do not apply heavy doses of Nitrogen.

Being a hardy plant, Irises are not often bothered by insects. They can suffer from occasional root borers.

Irises seldom are affected by disease. The most common problem is root rot, which is caused by poorly draining soils. In preparing beds, make sure soil is light and well draining. Raise the soil level if need be. Also add sand, and compost if you have clay soil.

Kruger National Park - The other side - Part 6

More birds - Blacksmith Plover - their call is like a hammer on an anvil, hence the name and when they are not making that awful sound, they are screeching- I don't know which are more noisy, them or the Egyptian Geese!!

Little Bee-eater - flock together at night and often seen siting on telephone wires

Threebanded Plover - a small bird and very common where there is water

Redbilled Hornbill - the female is closed up in a hole in the tree where she will moult and the feathers are used to line the nest. The male feeds her through a narrow slit left in the mud he used to seal the nest (the slit is just to the right of the leaves in picture)

Helmeted Guineafowl - they can fly very well and are about the size of a chicken

Dark Chanting Goshawk - can catch prey in midflight but usually eat lizards, birds and small mammals

Yellowbilled Hornbill - (slightly larger than the Redbilled) 3-4 eggs are laid and incubate in about 24 days

Some birds build communul nest like these in a tree safe from predators, especially snakesThese in front are single nests belonging to the Lesser Masked Weaver...

while behind are the entrances to the Buffulo Weavers homes

Close-up of an Emerald Fruit Chafer (Rhabdotis aulica) Scarabaeidae

This specimen was only about half an inch in length but they do grow a bit bigger than that. I was outside having my coffee when he flew onto my shoulder. I guess he wanted me to take pictures of him too and was not shy about letting me know.

He very obliginly fell over so I could take a picture of his underside too. How kind of him.
The adults feed on flowers and fruits.

Larvae develope in goat and cattle manure. (Yuck!!) :)

Close-up of a Carpenter Bee

I found this carpenter bee which had a damaged wing and could not fly so I took it home to get photos of it to show you.
Carpenter Bees get their name because of their annoying (to humans) habit of excavating living galleries in all kind of wood to create a nest. Although they do bore into wood, carpenter bees generally do not cause structural damage.

Although carpenter bees are good for pollinating plants, they can also be a nuisance to humans who live and work around them. They are noisy and will dive-bomb and fly erratically around humans who walk nearby. The male bees are extremely territorial, and may fly aggressively.

They do have some resemblance to the bumble bee, but they do not have any yellow hairs on their sleek, black abdomens, nor do they have the pollen baskets on the hind legs sported by bumble bees. Also, carpenter bees nest in wood, not in the ground.

They do not have stingers, however, so the male bees are completely harmless and the female bees are docile and only sting if they are handled. Yes, that is my finger it is on. LOL!!

Kruger National Park - The other side - Part 5

By now I know you are impatiently asking yourself "When is this darn woman going to post some pictures of lions?" Well here they are at last. LOL!!

One morning there seemed to be lions everywhere I looked. During the night I had heard a lion roaring just outside the camp gate for what seemed like hours. I made sure I was first in line to get into the park and found him not 10 yeards away but at 4:30am, with heavy clouds around it was still to dark to take pictures so I sat and watched him in the cars lights.

About 5 miles down the road, I found the next lot. I have left these as originals instead of making them lighter to give you the feel of how I actually saw them. I like the first 2 images as they have an unearthly, ghostly feel about them.

Please click on the images to see a bigger photograph.

I sat there for a long time watching them and the sky began to lighten. There was a male, female and young (about 2 1/2 years old) male. As you can see, he is just starting to get his mane.

The sleepy male kept on yawning and they call him "king" of the jungle?? :)

At times I felt like they were sizing me up for dinner.

By now it is much lighter and you can see them properly.

On the other side of the road, this one looked at me with a most quizzical expression. LOL!! I think it was an older, full grown cub of this pair above.

Later on, I met up with this lioness who was heavily pregnant. I left the window frame in so you can see how close she was.

Females leave the pride to give birth and I think she was heading for a small mountain which you can see in the background, looking for a safe place to have them.

Born Free

Before I get to today's post I wanted to share with you a picture of some beautiful roses I was given. Aren't they wonderful? I especially love the dark red one and they smell heavenly too.

As all my regular visitors will know, every now and then I like to throw a spanner in the works by doing something completely different.

Do you have a song with is very special or one you live by? Maybe one which epitomizes your life? Perhaps there is one which spells out your dreams? I am going to share with you today the one which has been special to me since the first time I heard it. It is who I am and what I always wanted to be. It speaks to my heart. Which is your song or passage from one?

Born Free

Sung by: Matt MunroWords by Don Black and Music by John BarryOscar-winning title song from the 1966 film, Barry also won for soundtrackCharted in 1966 at # 7 by Roger Williams and # 35 by Matt MonroSoul version by the Hesitations hit #38 in 1968

Born free, as free as the wind blows

As free as the grass grows

Born free to follow your heart

Live free and beauty surrounds you

The world still astounds you

Each time you look at a star

Stay free, where no walls divide you

You're free as the roaring tide

So there's no need to hide

Born free, and life is worth living

But only worth living'cause you're born free

Birds of Pilansberg - Part 3

The moon was still showing over the low hills.....
...and the rhino peacefully catching 40 winks. This bright spark decided to try to catch this Egyptian Goose coming in to land without much success. LOL!!

I did manage to get a fairy decent shot of this tiny little Blue Waxbill. They are as small as finches.

The Black-collard Barbet gave me the eye and wanted me to scram so he could find more worms.

This beady-eyed Arrowmarked Babbler looks kind of evil, so I got out of there fast. :)

Cars in the Park - Part 4