Apples
Haiku 98
Sour green apples
Nice to look at not to eat
My gnarly old tree
.
I don’t know why my ancient apple tree produces an odd clump of apples, but it does so every year. Mostly the apples are fairly evenly spread around the whole tree, but for this one group. And for some reason, these apples are redder than usual.
However the old tree makes its fruit, I’m just happy that it’s still hanging in there.
See also Little Green Apples and More Little Green Apples.
Sparky 1
I see you!
Sparky 2
Sparky the squirrel is getting very cheeky these days, scampering around my stoep, drinking out of the water bowls and having a little snack while hiding in the safety of the pot plants, next to Mr Bunny!
Swallows 1
Look who’s back, sitting on my telephone wires:
The European Swallow or Barn Swallow.
Swallows 2
I seem to remember they picked a cloudy day last time to perch here; mostly our skies our clear blue at this time of year.
I wonder if they are making a long distance telephone call to reserve their accommodation for their return migration?
.
You can see many more photos of European Swallows in these posts –
.
Honeysuckle 1
Haiku 96
Honeysuckle gold
Soaking up the warm sunshine
Reflecting it back
.
These are the Honeysuckle bushes we planted several months ago to brighten up a new wall.
They have flourished!
Honeysuckle 2
Producing flowers already, they are even ahead of the older bushes around the corner.
They range from yellow, gold and orange, to red at the end, though those flowers are not out yet.
Honeysuckle 4
They certainly brighten up my day, when I open the curtains in the morning to be greeted by their colourful smiles.
And the Sunbirds have found them again, adding a little more sunshine to the day.
Honeysuckle 3
post script: Sunny photos as requested by Blosslyn, who is “In the “Bleak Mid-winter” – and for all of you in the North, who are fed up of winter.
White Duck 1
We came across this lovely duck, resident at one of the many vineyards around here.
He’s white as snow; not that he’d know that, living in Cape Town where it never snows!
White Duck 2
Contentedly rooting around near our pathway, he seemed quite happy to have his photo taken.
White Duck 3
Besides this solitary brave soul, we spotted many other white ducks behind him in the undergrowth.
White Ducks 4
Even though there was a very large pond for them to swim in, they had all gathered in the vegetation under the trees.
How many can you count?
post script: ‘Ducky’ is a British form of address, meaning, ‘Dear’.
I count 13 or 14 ducks.
White Lily 1
Haiku 95
Lily my Lovely
Open your petals and stretch
Comforting perfume
.
White Lily 2
Flowers given to you are always a little more special.
Black Eagle 1
Haiku 94
Heard long before seen
Scanning blue skies for a glimpse
As you scan for food
.
I was out walking in the Green Belt with my daughter one morning, when we heard the unmistakable cry of a large bird of prey.
Craning our necks back we searched the skies, finally catching a brief glimpse of a tiny speck high up in a wisp of cloud.
Black Eagle 2
I took four photos; three of which I found out later were just plain sky!
The fourth is the photo above, enlarged many times to blurriness, but still showing the classic shape and colouring of a Black Eagle.
Magic!
post script: The Black Eagle of Southern Africa is also known as Verreaux’s Eagle, Aquila Verreauxii.
