Random Harvest Newsletter Archive

Dear Indigenous Enthusiast,

Can you believe it’s already the fifth month of the year? Time is seriously on fast-forward, and winter is just around the corner. These autumn mornings are so beautiful. 

We really miss a beautiful part of the day when we sit comfortably in our houses instead of going out into the majesty of nature. When I go to the office on these early mornings with the sun just rising, my heart is filled to overflowing with the beauty of the place. 

One morning, I found a cream-striped owl moth perched on a pile of papers at my desk. It sat there for hours, completely still. I am so fortunate to live surrounded by so much beauty. Take time to stop and breathe in the magic of autumn all around you. This is a beautiful world in which we live. 

Public Holidays

We’re open on Workers Day 1 May.

IN THE NURSERY 

I have been absolutely loving the rain over the past few weeks ,It’s also the perfect way to ease into autumn, giving the soil a good soak and helping the veld stay strong through the winter months. That said, it hasn’t all been peaceful puddles and pretty skies... the rain came with its fair share of chaos too! 

One of our Acacia caffras came crashing down and had to be chopped up, and another one got struck by lightning — talk about drama in the garden! 

The silver lining is that the one that got zapped was a jacaranda tree, which is an alien invasive species anyway, so nature may have just done a bit of selective landscaping for us! 

We had a downpour one day (60mm in a short space of time) and had to deal with a whole lot of soil that washed down into the furrows where we collect all of our runoff water. We collected all these bags of soil from the furrows no resource goes to waste around here.

Paul and Mercy have done an amazing job germinating a large number of various seeds. 

Their success has resulted in a surplus of healthy young plants, prompting us to build additional beds so we can transplant them into open ground. 

We had the pleasure of hosting a group of plant lovers from Zambia. It was an all-ladies group, and what a powerhouse they were! Jeffrey and I always use this opportunity to educate about the importance of planting indigenous plants. We explained that by choosing local flora, they’re not only creating beautiful, sustainable gardens for their future clients or employers—they’re also playing a crucial role in preserving their country’s natural biodiversity and supporting the environment. 

Bhowa’s been hard at work creating a new home for our bees. We decided to add a bit of shade to keep them cool in the heat and dry when the rain rolls in. The umbrella Bhowa made turned out so lovely that one of our customers actually thought we were setting up a new picnic area! Which got me thinking… maybe I should put one up down there for people to sit under, relax, and enjoy the birds.

The tank is finally up and running. We’ve put it right at the highest point on the farm, which means we only need to pump water once to fill it, and after that, gravity will create pressure and do the work for us when it’s time to water. No more pumping every time we need water, what a relief! It’s going to save us a good bit on electricity. 

FOOD PARCELS

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to St. Mike’s Church for their incredible support of our food parcel initiative. It was a true blessing to have them hold a service here on the farm, and even more so when they arrived with such a generous donation of food. Their kindness and compassion will go a long way in helping us support those in need—thank you for making such a meaningful difference.

Thanks to your generous donations, we’ve managed to get an oven for one of the ladies from the informal settlement who we’ve been training to bake. She’s incredibly excited and has already started her own small baking business! David and Jeffrey also spent a lot of time mentoring her on how to run a business, and with this support, she and her family are now on a path to long-term stability and success.

Thank you for being part of this meaningful effort! If you are able to continue assisting us in this work these are the banking details: 

Random Harvest Nursery, FNB 51441129818 Cheque account: code 25 07 41, Reference: Food Parcels

BIRD WALKS

Some of the aloes are now in full, glorious bloom, turning the gardens into a lively, buzzing hub of activity. The sunbirds are out in impressive numbers, zipping from plant to plant, drawn in by the irresistible nectar that the Aloe flowers provide. It’s truly something special—a vibrant, living display of nature at its best. Watching the sunbirds flit from flower to flower is nothing short of magical. Join us on our next bird walk: 

Date:     10 May with Chris Hines 
Time:     06h30 for 07h00
Date:     16 June with Lance Robinson 
Time:     07h00 for 07h30

Cost:    R195.00 per person, this includes a delicious breakfast buffet 
Booking is essential - please contact Ronald on [email protected] or Tel. No. 066-587-3077   

COFFEE MORNING 

Date:  Wednesday 7th of May at 10h30 
Topic: Creating a garden with useful plants

Random Harvest Nursery staff will share some great suggestions for creating a “kitchen” garden full of indigenous plants and herbs of culinary interest, including how to combine them in the garden with our more well-known herbs. An information packed morning from how to plan the garden to what to put in it and how to use the indigenous culinary plants.

Date:  Wednesday 4th of June at 10h30 
Topic: How to Plant a small Garden

Join us for a morning where Jeffrey will share his expert tips on how to make the most of limited garden space. Whether you have a tiny balcony, courtyard, or compact backyard, he will guide you through clever design ideas and practical solutions to transform even the smallest area into a lush, thriving garden. He’ll also introduce you to the best plant choices for small spaces—plants that bring beauty, colour, and interest without overwhelming the area. Perfect for anyone looking to create a big impact in a small garden! 
Please remember to bring along some non-perishable food for our food parcels.
Coffee Morning Cost: R25.00 per person towards our food parcel drive 

HOLISTIC WELLNESS RETREATS & WORKSHOPS

Book your spot on Jana’s nature-based coaching retreats starting on Saturday, 3 May 2025. The Self-Discovery Unleashed! A 7-Step Journey to Awakening Your Authentic Self takes place over 7 weeks on Saturday mornings. Group size is limited to 3 - 7 individuals seeking a path to authenticity. All sessions incorporate nature immersion activities to empower you to grow in synergy with the natural world.  Our popular Retreat into Nature Mini Wellness Experiences are happening on:
•    Sunday, 11 May 2025
•    Sunday, 25 May 2025

For more information or to make a booking, contact Jana directly at [email protected] or WhatsApp her at 076 329 8692. Alternatively, check her website www.journeytreehealing.com for more information. 

PRACTICAL GARDENER TRAINING

Friday May 16, 08h30 – 15h30

Celebrating its tenth year at Random Harvest Nursery, this hands-on program is perfect for gardeners of all experience levels across various sectors (estates, schools, and corporate). It covers a wide range of sustainable gardening techniques, from soil health and feeding programs to pruning, lawn care, propagation, tool maintenance, plant knowledge, and more. The day is packed with inspiration and practical tips, and each participant will receive a beautiful certificate upon completion.

Give your gardener the gift of expertise by enrolling them today! For more information or to reserve a spot, email [email protected] or WhatsApp Lindsay at 0824499237.

3-day Garden Design Masterclass:  Tues, 13 – Thurs, 15 May

Join Lindsay at Random Harvest Nursery for a transformative masterclass. Over the course of three days, we’ll cover the key steps in garden design, discover inspiring plant selections, learn how to create wildlife-friendly habitats, and master the art of drawing precise plans (essential for accurate quantification). The final day will focus on hands-on horticultural skills. This course is perfect for homeowners and anyone interested in a career in the green industry. For more details, email [email protected] or WhatsApp Lindsay at 0824499237. 

TEA GARDEN

I owe you a little apology, as mentioned in our last newsletter, we had planned to start serving crepes, but after a few more tasting sessions, we realised the recipe needed a bit more love. 

My mother has been working closely with Yolum and Frans to perfect every detail, and they’re nearly there! We promise that the next time you visit, the crepes will be ready and absolutely worth the wait. We can’t wait to share them with you!

Mother’s Day Weekend 10 & 11 May 

We’re celebrating Mother’s Day all weekend long on Saturday, May 10th, and Sunday, May 11th! This is our chance to honour all the hardworking, dedicated mothers who continue to support Random Harvest … we truly appreciate you.

As a small token of our gratitude, every mother who visits us will receive a special gift when visiting Random Harvest on those days. We will be offering a scrumptious High Tea, available by reservation only and this time, we’ll be taking a restricted number of bookings to ensure a relaxed and memorable experience for all. Cost: High tea R225.00 per person. 

Booking is essential - please contact Ronald on [email protected] or Tel. No.066-587-3077   
We look forward to celebrating with you!

COTTAGES

Recently, we had the pleasure of hosting Judy from JP Landscaping, who held her course in our meeting venue. Some of her students, who travelled from all over Africa, stayed in our cottages and couldn’t stop raving about how perfect the experience was. 

Surrounded by peace and tranquillity, they found inspiration in every corner of our lush gardens. Many of them took long walks to the grassland and back, enjoying the fresh air and natural beauty along the way. 

Afterward, they would lay down on the lawn to read books and catch up on their homework, truly embracing the serenity of the surroundings. If you’re looking for a peaceful place to unwind and find inspiration, we are the perfect spot for you. Our cottages offer a tranquil retreat that you won’t want to leave. 

For bookings  - please contact Ronald on [email protected] or Tel. No. 066-587-3077   

RETAIL

We’ve brought a stunning selection of 100L trees into the retail nursery, and now is the perfect time to plant them. I was honestly gobsmacked seeing them standing tall on their own—each one is a showstopper! One that truly stood out for me was the Moepel (Mimusops zeyheri). The striking contrast in its leaves will add beautiful colour to the garden, and to top it off, the fruits are edible - and absolutely delicious. It is the perfect tree for a big garden as it is a big tree.

The small edible plants display garden that the retail team created turned out beautifully. We’ve even harvested some of the plants to use in the kitchen! I have to say, I’m really impressed with how they utilized the space—it came together so beautifully. 

Edzisani did an outstanding job revamping the bed where we planted our Asparagus densiflorus subsp. Myersii mother plants, and the results speak for themselves—it’s looking fantastic. The plants are thriving in their refreshed space, and both Paul and Mercy were thrilled to see the progress, especially since these are the key mother plants that produce a large portion of our seeds. 

He also planted a lovely pot combining Anthericum saundersiae and Gerbera jamesonii, and it looks gorgeous. The soft, graceful foliage of the Anthericum pairs perfectly with the bright, cheerful blooms of the Gerbera, making it a striking and well-balanced combination. It’s a wonderful example of how mixing textures and colours can bring a pot to life.

We’ve also been hard at work maintaining our Aloe section - it’s that time of year again when they start to flower and a sure sign that winter is just around the corner.

If you’re looking to add a splash of colour to your garden and attract bees and other beneficial insects, we’ve put together a beautiful display of flowering plants just for you. These blooms are not only vibrant and eye-catching, but also perfect for creating a pollinator-friendly space that supports local biodiversity.

Talk about determination! One Sunday afternoon, I watched one of our customers load up his car like a pro gardener on a mission. The boot was packed to the brim with plants, each one clearly chosen with care and just when we thought there was no way he’d fit anything else in, he hoisted bags of compost and stacked them neatly on top like it was the final piece in a puzzle. It was all secured like precious cargo, not a bag out of place. There was something oddly inspiring about that moment. 

Wholesale

We would like to invite our wholesale customers to attend a talk on the topic of frost. As winter is approaching it is important to understand this factor and be able to manage, prepare and select suitable plants to cope with frosty situations. Come and spend a morning with us to explore this very relevant topic and enjoy tea and snacks afterwards. 

Booking is essential: Contact Jonathan on [email protected] or 076 830 5242 /082 553 0598. 

Join us on May 3rd at the Gauteng Plant Expo & Market at Gallagher Convention Centre!

Explore a vibrant marketplace packed with premium plant accessories, get expert growing advice, and connect with fellow plant lovers. Whether you're a seasoned green thumb or just starting your plant journey, this is the perfect place to find inspiration, knowledge, and botanical treasures. Don't miss out—see you there! 

SHOP

The South African Indigenous Plants book launch was a wonderful success, and we’re so grateful to everyone who braved the rain to join us. It was a heartwarming afternoon filled with lovely conversation, laughter, and a true celebration of Elsa, Andrew and Geoff’s work. If you missed it, don’t worry—we still have copies of this amazing new book available in our little shop, along with some of Elsa Pooley’s earlier titles.

Robert has been generous enough to share some of his delicious recipes with us, and we’re thrilled to have them in our shop. He made a lovely Peri-Peri sauce full of flavour with just the right amount of heat. I’m not usually a fan of hot food, but even I enjoyed this one! Jonathan has also created a variety of beautifully flavoured vinegars, each with its own unique taste, and they’re all available for sale in our shop.

South African Indigenous Garden Plants R850.00 
Pooley’s Trees of Eastern South Africa R528.00 
Mountain Flowers R468
A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu Natal R425
Homemade Peri-Peri Sauce R55.00
Homemade Flavoured Vinegar R55.00 

PLANTS LOOKING GOOD

Crassula sarcocaulis - Bonsai Crassula
A hardy, evergreen, erect, succulent shrublet with a number of varieties. It has small, dark- to bright-green, narrow, very succulent leaves. The creamy-white flowers are carried in a round inflorescence almost all year round and attract a whole host of tiny insects which are the staple diet of lizards and frogs.It is beautiful planted in amongst rocks or in a container and also makes a great, easy-to-grow bonsai subject. It grows in sun or semi-shade. Size: 60 cm

Galpinia transvaalica- Wild Pride of India
A hardy, decorative, thickset, small to medium sized, sometimes multi-stemmed, evergreen tree. It has waxy, glossy, wavy-edged leaves that flush red in spring. Showy white flowers are borne from December to April which attract insects to the garden. It is also a butterfly host tree. A quick growing small to medium sized tree that makes a good container plant. It can also be pruned into an attractive, formal hedge in sun or semi-shade. Size 3 to 10 m 

Aloe vogtsii - Vogts' Spotted Aloe
Aloe vogtsii is a medium sized aloe that can grow up to 0.7m. It is usually stemless or has a short stem with a rosette of dark green leaves that are striped or spotted with white. From Feb. to April, the red or dark pink flowers are borne on slender branches that tend to grow at an angle or horizontal. It is an ideal specimen for a rockery or mixed succulent garden bed that need some watering during summer and prefers to not stand in harsh afternoon sun. Aloe foliage contrasts beautifully with small leaved groundcovers, such as Lampranthus species and some Crassula species with similar water and sun requirements. Size: flowering stem to 70cm

Searsia [=Rhus] dentata - Nana-berry
Very hardy, deciduous, scrambling shrub or small tree that is very drought resistant.  The grey-brown bark is either smooth or rough.  The wedge-shaped, deeply-toothed trifoliate leaves are bronze when they first appear, turning a dull olive-green and then turn bright orange-red in autumn - making this an attractive foliage plant. The inconspicuous flowers are borne from Sept. to Nov.  Male and female flowers are on separate plants, therefore only female plants bear fruit.  When ripe, the small fruits are red, edible and much sought after by birds.  This tough small tree forms an attractive formal or informal hedge. It is great as part of a bird-attracting bush clump, with other fruit bearing shrubs or small trees. Plant in full sun or semi-shade. Size: 1 to 5m

 
Ehretia amoena - Sandpaper-bush
Fairly hardy, deciduous, small tree or shrub with gracefully arching branches which make great nesting sites.  It has dark green, rounded leaves that are paler below and have a sandpapery feel. The bark on the stem is white to pale brown and smooth turning grey with shallow cracks while the branches have ash white bark. Showy and fragrant white or pale mauve flowers are borne just before or with new leaves in spring and attract insects.  These are followed by masses of fleshy, yellow seeds that are relished by birds.  These features make this little tree a worthwhile addition to a small garden. Size 3m

Silene bellidioides - Wild tobacco
A very hardy, evergreen, perennial plant with tall, erect, sticky stems and rosettes of leaves at the base. From October to April, the plant produces one or more flowering stems that have a few branches with flowers positioned at the tips of each branch. The flower petals are white or pale pink and deeply divided. The long, tubular flower calyx is pale green, striped with dark-red veins. The beautiful, scented flowers open in the evening, and shine like neon lights at night, attracting moths to pollinate them. It is an excellent addition to a sunny grassland garden. Best combined with other grassland flowering plants and a few grasses. Also good where darker leaved planting behind them shows up their almost luminescent white in the evening light. Plant in full sun or semi-shade in well-drained soil. Size: up to 30cm 

PLANTS ON SPECIAL – LESS 15%

Aloe suprafoliata – Book Aloe
A hardy, solitary, stemless Aloe with a slightly spiraled twist. It is easily confused with A. pretoriensis when not in flower as it has similar bluish-green, red tipped leaves. The young leaves are two-ranked (hence the common name) and only form rosettes when mature. Unbranched flowering stalks bear pinkish red, cylindrical flowers from May to July.  This beautiful species needs to be planted in full sun, in well-drained soil.  Whether as a container plant or in open ground, lush, bright green smalled leaved succulents such as Lampranthus lydenbergense or Crassula fragilis subsp. fragilis compliment the beautiful blue-grey leaves to stunning effect.    Size: 50 to 60cm 

Leonotis leonurus - Wild Dagga
A very hardy, drought and frost resistant, evergreen perennial shrub. This well-loved, decorative shrub has masses of showy, compact clusters of orange or white, velvety flowers repeated in circles up the length of every long stalk from February to July. An important food and nectar plant for sunbirds, bees and butterflies during autumn and winter. Plant in sun or semi-shade and cut back severely after flowering for best results and mass flowering the next season. Wild Dagga is gorgeous planted in a grassland, or in a tall flowering bed, alongside Hypoestes aristata and Coleus livingstonei or Plectranthus hereroensis, which all flower around the same time. If you like magenta pink and orange as a colour combination, Try Syncholostemon densiflorus planted behind it ... what a riot of colour! Size Up to 2m   

Tulbaghia violacea - wild garlic
A very hardy, evergreen, tuft forming bulbous plant, with semi-succulent, strap-like, grey-green leaves that are garlic scented when bruised. Long stalks carrying umbels of delicate lilac to pink flowers are borne mainly from January to April. It will however bloom on and off almost all year in cultivation. The flowers are sweetly scented at night and make excellent cut flowers. Use in the garden as a companion plant, particularly to deter aphids. When sitting outside whack some of the leaves on your table or chair and this will deter flies and mosquitoes. It can also be used as a garlic substitute in salads, soups and stews. The flowers are a decorative addition to a salad.  An excellent groundcover for difficult areas as it can thrive in very poor soils and with very little watering. Adding compost to the soil and watering regularly will, however, boost this bulb's flowering, and its growth will be far more lush. Plant in sun or semi-shade.  Size up to 25cm

Euryops pectinatus - Golden Daisy Bush
A very hardy, attractive, fast growing, evergreen, free flowering shrub that has soft grey-green foliage. It bears bright yellow daisies all year round but in profusion in spring.It grows best in well-drained, well-composted soil in the full sun and flowers most of the year if deadheaded regularly. Water well in winter as this is its main growing season.The flowers attract butterflies and insects to the garden.It makes a particularly beautiful, informal hedge. Combine with the blue form of Plumbago auriculata or as a backdrop to a bed of Felicia amelloides (blue will be more spectacular than white). Size 1m x 1m 

Croton gratissimus - Lavender Fever Berry
A hardy, deciduous, small to medium sized, drought resistant tree with lovely pale grey bark. It has beautiful silvery-green leaves that glint in the sun and have red spots on the undersides. A few bright orange leaves adorn the crown at most times of the year. The autumn colours are dark yellow. With its beautiful foliage alone, this is easily one of the most beautiful and worthwhile trees to plant in the garden. The leaves are fragrant when crushed. The buds are like drooping strings of beads that open into masses of tiny star-like, yellow flowers which peak from July to September, although there are some flowers throughout summer. The seedpods explode to disperse the seeds, which in turn attract many different birds. Size 2 to 10m 

Chondropetalum tectorum- Thatch Reed (20L ONLY)
A very hardy, evergreen, clump forming, grass-like restio with thin dark green stems. The new stems rise up in the centre of the plant and are very attractive with their nearly black sheaths. The brown flowers are borne in March and April (Male and female on separate plants therefore only the females bear seed). Planted in full sun it makes an excellent form plant and garden subject. It enjoys plenty of water and will grow well with “wet feet”. Never cut the plant back but prune and clear the old, dead stems around the outside of the plant. Lovely planted amongst rocks and other sedges or moisture loving, tufted grasses. Contrasts beautifully with silvery grey green foliage too, so Gomphostigma virgatum is ideal to plant with the Thatch Reed. Size .75 to 1.2m

Gymnosporia buxifolia- Common Spike thorn (20L ONLY)
Gymnosporia buxifolia is a very hardy, drought resistant, semi-deciduous, small tree or large shrub. It is armed with formidable long, straight spines. Blooms profusely with white flowers that cover the branches from August to March. The fruit and flowers attract birds and a myriad of insects to the garden. A good addition to an ‘eco-friendly’ security fence. Plant in full sun or semi shade in an informal hedge or in bush clumps. If pruned up it makes a beautiful, decorative small tree. It is widely used as a medicinal plant and the wood is used for household utensils.  Size 2 to 6m

GARDENING TIP

It always amazes me how a garden that is thoughtfully put together with intentional plant choices and combinations just seems to flow and pull together no matter where you look at it from. Even the wildest and apparently “ungardened” gardens can have exquisite harmony because of how plants are put together. Balancing quantities, colours, textures, shapes and sizes all work towards a space that one feels drawn to and doesn’t want to leave. 

Combining indigenous plants with this in mind is very rewarding, as not only we benefit from the final picture, but the creatures that call our gardens home benefit too. This is especially so when we combine plants that grow together in nature. They will look their best as they have similar growing conditions and water requirements. Here are some of my favourite combinations, with a bit of a description of each.

Blue and yellow flowering plants – The three most important considerations when choosing plant combinations by colour are light and water requirements and coinciding flowering times. 

Blue Felicia amelloides can be coupled with yellow flowering Bulbine abyssinica for a low growing combination that likes well drained soil in a sunny spot. Both have a long flowering season, with the Felicia flowering pretty much all year round. It makes a good container planting as well. Prune the dead flowers of the Felicia off so that it keeps flowering for longer.

For a large, riotous celebration of blue and yellow, Plumbago auriculata Blue can be combined with Bauhinia tomentosa. A shorter layer of brilliant sunshine yellow in front of the blue Plumbago can be introduced by using Euryops virgineus or Euryops pectinatus. 

A tree combination for late winter to very early spring that I just love is an avenue of Coral Trees (Erythrina lysistemon) alternately planted with Dombeya rotundifolia. The White and brilliant Orange-red takes one’s breath away, and at least half a day can slip by unnoticed when watching the birds and insects enjoying the bounty of nectar on offer. The tree stems too, provide lovely contrast, as the Dombeya bark is blackish brown and rough, while the Erythrina is a light, mottled grey-brown, often decorated with large patches of multicoloured lichens.

Textural plantings are interesting – through contrast of bold and fine or feathery foliage, balance and harmony are also created. I love using bold-leaved plants such as Eucomis autumnalis, or medium to large leaved Aloe species, interspersed with fine feathery grasses (Pogonarthria squarrosa, Andropogon eucomis, Aristida junciformis etc.). Another lovely grass you can use is Melinis repens or M. nerviglumis, as when they are in flower their beautiful rosy pink, fluffy inflorescences make a luminescent spectacle in the slanted early morning and late afternoon light. 

Helichrysum species such as H. petiolare or Agathosma ovata or one of the Selago species give a gorgeous contrast of softness under taller Aloes such as A. marlothii and A. ferox. They tend to drown out stemless Aloes with their rampent growth and are a bit tall to surround low growing Aloes.

The bold Scadoxus puniceus (large Natal form) or Scadoxus multiformis subsp. katharinae and grass-like Anthericum saundersiae or Stipa dregeana are a beautiful alternative for textural contrast in the shade.

Chunky taller plants such as Euphorbia ingens and Aloe barberae also make beautiful planting combinations with finer foliaged small trees and tall shrubs around them (for example Euclea crispa, Diospyros lycioides,). Interestingly, when some of the delicate foliaged plants are pruned up to expose crooked stems and branches, the combination has a depth to the textures that is really lovely. 

ON THE FARM

I can’t begin to tell you how delighted I am with how full to the brim the dam is at the moment! It’s a beautiful sight, and it brings me so much joy to sit on the golf cart, taking it all in. I only wish I could keep it looking like this throughout the year, but of course, that would be far too costly. We’d have to pump in a great deal of water, and that’s simply not practical.

The waterlilies are looking lovely, they’re flourishing with all this water and to my absolute delight, we’ve spotted a few water birds that we haven’t seen in quite some time. A Purple Heron paid us a visit, and we even saw a Red knobbed coot! It’s been such ages since we’ve had those kinds of sightings that it truly warmed my heart.

And would you believe it, the bug weed on the little island in the dam that has been bothering me for weeks has wilted! We haven’t been able to get in there to weed it out, but the rising water seems to be doing the job for us. What a blessing in disguise.

The grassland looks magical in the early morning when I take Abby for her run—covered in mist, with a million diamond-like dew drops clinging to every blade of grass. 

The soft light and shimmering moisture make it feel like a dreamscape. Abby loves bounding through it all, and I always end up having to towel her off after her joyful dash. 

 
Every time Jeff and I drive down into the grassland, it’s like stepping into a world full of little surprises, Just the other day, we came across a wildflower we’d never seen before, and we think it might be Berkheya onopordifolia. What a striking plant — its spiky leaves make it look almost prehistoric, yet it’s quite beautiful in its own rugged way. Jeff and I were thrilled by the find!

Speaking of thrills, we were over the moon when we spotted three Habenaria in bloom. That alone felt like a little victory — until we kept spotting even more! It felt like they were popping up everywhere. Honestly, the grassland is starting to look like an orchid nursery, and I couldn't be happier. I still remember the very first Habenaria we discovered a few years ago. Jeff and I would check on it every single day, like proud parents, just to make sure it was doing alright. And now? They’re flourishing across the veld. Moments like these remind me why I love the grassland so much.

But to truly appreciate it all, you have to slow down and really pay attention to your surroundings. There’s always something happening if you look closely, Just the other day, we spotted the tiniest little Oxalis species flower pushing up through the grass. It’s so small you could easily miss it, but it’s exquisite — delicate and perfectly formed, a real gem hiding in plain sight. 

And on the ground you'll often find ant hills scattered around, which I love stopping next to, just to watch the ants at work. They carry food back to their nests in a never-ending stream of activity. It’s fascinating to see how busy they are, each one with a clear purpose, working together like a tiny army. But you really have to be careful where you walk. These little ant hills can blend into the surroundings so easily. It's all too easy to miss them, and before you know it, you could step right on top of one!

There’s also constant activity with all sorts of little creatures. We’ve seen caterpillars munching away at the grass like it’s an all-you-can-eat buffet. 

And Ronald, with his eagle eyes, spotted a tiny cluster of eggs attached to a blade of grass — so small I have no idea how he even saw them, let alone managed to get a photo! We’re still not quite sure what they are, but it’s fascinating to think of all the life that’s quietly unfolding all around us.

It’s been lovely to see the Cattle Egret arriving in flocks after we cut the grass in one of our paddocks. They’re likely after the insects that have been stirred up or made easier to spot now that the grass is shorter.

I couldn’t resist sharing this stunning photo of a rainbow that Jeff captured, it’s such a beautiful shot! I especially love how the grass leans in the wind, adding that extra touch of magic to the scene.

Enjoy this fantastic time of year and may your gardens be indigenous.

Sincerely

Linda