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
It doesn't look that hot, to be honest, but I believe it looks that way to me because of the cool shady trees and the river. But the faces and tongues of your dogs tell about the heat 🌡️
It was certainly a nice walk, despite the heat, and hopefully the parks will stay open longer this time.
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Ha ha it doesn't look hot because I took you through the shade.
Sunday was 36 Deg C, taking discomfort index into account up over the 40 deg C. Lots of rain this summer has pushed humidity to well into 80%+.
As awesome place to explore when there is a slight breeze, normally a great area for bird watching.
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!BEER
Yeah, of course, in such nice shady photos you can't see the actual temperature, but I think any temperature over 35 C would let me stay inside 😅
But I can imagine having much fun exploring the are in a slight breeze, like you say, or in lower temperatures ☺️
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Cheers and !BEER
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Winter is still best time, or getting to places like this at 6am in the morning, my crowd cannot make earlier which to me is a waste of time.
When a breeze trickles up the river under the trees you stop to enjoy those moments, they really do count...
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Early morning is the best time of the day. I love to get up as early as possible - if I don't have to go to work 😉
The best light is in the morning and all animals wake up, just as the insects ... everything and everyone wakes up, except your "crowd" and mine. My kids sometimes can sleep till almost sunset 🤣
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Yup, early bird catches the worm so the saying goes, early mornings is when the birds move down onto the rivers which I have missed of late!
All the men in my house sleep morning, noon and night which drives me crazy since there is so much one can do early in a day before the heat arrives. Totally outvoted!
!WINE
The German version of that saying exactly the same and it's completely right 🐦🐛
I'd only like to sleep longer if I have to go to work, but then I have to get up, of course 😂
One day, when I close my eyes for the last time, I can sleep long enough anyway, so why should I waste time by sleeping long till then?😉
Cheers with !BEER and !WINE
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BEER.With great pleasure I would sit under the wild fig tree, I can feel the cooling wind in its shadows
What beautiful flowers the hyacinths give us, here we call them camalote
What a beautiful view you get sitting on that bench, I would spend an entire afternoon watching the horizon
What a beauty of a place, you would spend hours walking its trails, your pets are happy to do soHello dear friend @joanstewart good afternoon
I appreciate that you let us know these beautiful photographs
have a splendid afternoon
Getting out of the house gives everyone a well earned break, my sister-in-law suffers with hip problems so a shorter walk does her the world of good.
Rest of us take a good walk along the cyclist trails which mostly run through under the trees only leave short distances in direct sunlight.
Thanks for visiting and kind words.
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ENGAGEtokens.Lovely, Joan!
Nice escape knowing trees will be a reprieve along the way, thanks for visiting Fiona.
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BEER.Ohh..what a cool refreshing walk that would have been through that lush forest i bet the dogs didn't want to go back home 😄
Very green at the moment after all the rain, few days now it's been hot with a promise of some rain over the weekend, possibly make a nice wet walk 😄
Green is beautiful but a wet walk is just as beautiful i hope you get to have that wet walk have a lovely weekend @joanstewart 😉
Wet walks on beach is normally wonderful, sand is firm and most don't venture down there @kohsamui99 greetings to a lovely day!
This is true and isn't wonderful when you look back and it's only you leaving them footprints behind 😉
And greetings to you @joanstewart have a lovely day 😉
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In the area where I live now it is dry season, a little trouble finding small insects to photograph :)
Wet season brings more insects out, however the dry season we have quite a few as well, different varieties coming and going all the time.
I loved your ride, friend @joanstewart
The places look beautiful; the dogs, adorable; your photography, of great quality; the writing, a poem.
You feel the tranquility, the light, the shadows, the greenery, the freshness, the water, the breeze, the colors, the sky, the firmament, the calm, the peace, the tranquility. Everything, everything, everything is beautiful.
I am very happy that you live in the middle of such an extraordinary landscape, with your beautiful family.
I invite my friend @faith65 to see this beautiful post. It will surely inspire her to create hers.
A big hug
Thanks so much for enjoying and finding a little sanity in a crazy world with me, yes the dogs day out is always entertaining although a little fast to start out 😃
Look forward to seeing your friend, have yourself a wonderful weekend and stay well @librepensadora
Thank you, my dear friend @joanstewart
Thank you, my dear friend @joanstewart
Hermosas fotografías, en lo personal me gusta contemplar la naturaleza y todo en cuanto nos ofrece, me llena de paz y me ayuda pensar con detenimiento las cosas, gracias por esas maravillosas foto.
Appreciate your visiting, yes I too find my balance in life through nature. This a bit faster than normal with the dogs, but great fun had by all.
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Thanks and appreciation @diyhub and to curator @hafizullah with your visit. Have a wonderful weekend.
Walking two highly energetic working class dogs while managing to take all of these incredible photos? You obviously have superpowers! ☪️
We are covered in a blanket of snow over ice in most areas of the USA. Seeing the lush greenery, hyacinth and mimosa flowers in your post was a welcome sight! @joanstewart🌿
Here I am looking for photography in snow to cool down @ninahaskin always enjoyed through our hot summers, allowing the imagination to flow....
Appreciate your lovely comments, walking attempting photography has come with some training, for both myself and the dogs. Dogs don't appreciate what I do 😌somehow we manage with the stop/start.
Oh boy and was it even hotter last Sunday night, we only have aircon in the bnb units, don't think we're going to live through another summer without it here in the house! What a lovely walk that was and that you're keeping that promise! Rain tomorrow they say? Hopefully a little cooler again!
Clouds are rolling in right now, not so sure much rain till tomorrow with more predicted for Tuesday.
Walked again this morning not quite as hot, and yes I could not live right down near the coast without the aircon even if it only sucks the humidity out.
Have a lovely week!
I'm so happy to see you getting out for a walk in the park again with your dogs. It is such a beautiful area and thank goodness for the shade! Heat is one thing I am just not accustom too - rarely goes above 30 Celsius here in the forest - hotter in the city. I imagine you must rely on air conditioning in your homes or do you have other methods of keeping cool.
The mimosa I have only seen as a house plant and the fig tree I have to bring indoors for winter to grow it - lovely to see them in the wild!
Thanks for sharing!
All depends on humidity here, when hot an humid I stay indoors under the aircon.
Being able to take dogs on walks once again is good for all of us, fortunately we have many large trees to protect you from the sun.
Appreciate your visiting and kind comments @porters have a wonderful day.
Enjoyed your walk with you Joan.
Thank you for writing and taking the pics to share.
Enjoy the rest of the week.
Only ever find some semblance of balance and order in nature.
Thanks for visiting @hope777 and trust you are all still keeping well.
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