The Citrus Swallowtail Butterfly

In recent weeks one of our tangerine trees has been infested with the most iffy caterpillars. They start out as a slightly offensive worm measuring about two or three centimetres...

...and grow to great squishy green monsters, seven to eight centimetres in length. So it was one Sunday morning when I was flicking yet more caterpillars off the leaves when I noticed a large butterfly flitting indecisively from leaf to leaf. It then perched awkwardly on one, pulled its abdomen towards the leaf and...laid an egg. 

This had me Googling in no time and there I found indeed, that the picture above is the squishy green monster metamorphosed. 

A Chilly Spring

The last few days of August were surprisingly warm when I arrived in Boksburg but no sooner did spring day arrive on the first day of September, than things took a turn for the chillier!

This didn't put a damper on the jasmine, which starts to bud even in the bitterest July cold. It's sweet perfume hangs over the garden like a scented veil.

The blossoming lavender attracts many bees, which in turn attracts Timmy the poodle who loves chasing them.

Lucy sulking about the weather, all fluffed up.

Tree Babies

I find few things more fascinating than planting a seed and watching it grow. Sometimes they let you down and nothing sprouts from the soil, sometimes they germinate with great enthusiasm and then wither away, and sometimes you are rewarded with a flourishing plant. In 2012 I planted a few lemon pips and now have three trees all wound about each other, standing over a metre high. 

Pictured here are wee apple seedlings - whether it was the pink or green apple pips that sprouted I can't say.

Looking back, you will find pictures of the custard apple that Ewa gave me. I planted the seeds back in March or April and was beginning to wonder if they would ever grow, and now in late August the first one has erupted through the soil, happily seeking the sunlight.

These last two tree babies sprouted from the lovely flat round seeds that pop out of the pods of these beautiful flowering trees that I have only seen in Zambia (so far). The blooms are white or purple, and as I was out on a walk one day I spotted a purple flowering tree with seed pods splitting open. Just what I was looking for! These germinated in just over a week. Hopefully one day they will both shade our wall with their pastel-hued blooms.

The Freaky Pea-Green Moth

One morning while inspecting my flourishing vegetable patches, I leaned over to adjust one of the pea plants that had come loose from the stick holding it upright. A small movement alerted me to the presence of this well-camouflaged character. 

"Have you ever seen a moth like this before? It's wings exactly match the colour and sheen of the pea plants themselves," I remarked to the hubby, as I showed him my photos. 

"Mmm, that's nice," he said. "It could be also be laying eggs all over your peas and before you know it, they'll be getting munched by some type of caterpillar."

Yikes. Who's the great biology fan now? I guess I was too caught up in the discovery. I nipped back, scooped Mr Pea Moth onto a twig and flicked him over the wall.

Lake Kashiba

Being a long weekend we had to have a little day trip thrown in. Why it took my husband three years to take me to the great sunken Lake Kashiba (formed when caves collapsed) I don't know - it's only about two and a quarter hour's drive from Kitwe.

Of course I was keen to do the nature walk around the lake where we spotted the usual tiny wildflowers...

...but there was also a huge chunk of mica and some smashed up pieces. It's amazing how mineral-rich this place is.

We picked a spot away from a crowd of school children, next to this charming little parasitic tree.

The water looks crystal clear but don't be fooled - it's not the cleanest. My hair felt sticky and my bikini smelled rather offish after leaping into the lake.

Two sweet little butterflies who happily posed for their photo, on the condition that their drinking break not be interrupted.

A Chilled Weekend at Home

So there we were, having finished off the most fabulous prawn braai on a Sunday afternoon when it hit me that the world always looks amazing in a glass of chenin blanc. 

Having feasted on little bits of prawn legs, Madison was calling it a day.

Gerald the beaded gecko, who Graeme bought in Cape Town, now lives on the patio dining table.

A red zinnia glows after being sprinkled.

The impatiens are still doing alright in their little shady garden.

Nasturtiums climbed on up the wall along with the loofah vine next to the vegetable patch.

Blue Fairy Moth and a Chewbacca Cocoon

I snapped this shy little spider back in March, building her web near the kitchen door with the buildup of one of the last storms of the season in the background. 

If Pinocchio's blue fairy were a moth, I think she would look like this specimen who was hanging out on the kitchen cupboard door the other night.

For the first time since I've been in Kitwe, a tall tree tucked away by the servants' quarters popped out some fiery blooms. I really had to zoom in on this as they are a good few metres above ground.

If I hadn't been bored and rearranging things on the patio, I would never have noticed this odd, hairy cocoon hidden behind a pot plant that was languishing for want of sunlight. What on earth is going to emerge from it?

  

Cape Town Trip

Our first day started with a bit of miserable weather but we set off undeterred to the V & A Waterfront. At least there were rainbows to cheer things up. 

We visited the aquarium at the Waterfront. This turtle quite enjoyed having his photo taken and circled back a few times just in case I hadn't gotten his good side.

A break in the weather prompted us to head for the Table Mountain cable car. It was bitterly cold at the top but the beautiful panoramas were worth it.

Later we had sundowners in Camps Bay and were treated to another rainbow.

The following day we were at Spier Wine Estate. This snap of Graeme with a lovely little black-shouldered kite (I just love the red eyes) was taken at the birds of prey sanctuary on the premises. All of the birds have been rescued from illegal animal traders and those that can be rehabilitated are released back into the wild.

We had a scrumptious Friday at the Constantia Food and Wine Festival - I thought this decor idea was quite original!

On Saturday we took a long scenic drive from Bloubergstrand to Simonstown, through Chapman's Peak to Hout Bay and then to Camps Bay.

Of course we stopped by Clifton beach and soaked up some sun. Some windsurfers braved the chilly  sun-sparkling waters.

Another fabulous sunset at Camps Bay.

We were early arrivals at the Spice Route Farm on Sunday morning and dozens of squirrels were scurrying about amidst the oak trees.

A last view of Table Mountain from Bloubergstrand.

Shrieking Frogs and My First Passionflower

It was at coffee one morning when two ladies were discussing the "shrieking" frogs that plagued their homes. Having been in Kitwe over two years and never having come across one, I wondered what they must look like and wished I might be so lucky as to have one visit. Well, I didn't have to wait long for my wish to be granted - a few days later Maverick came bounding into the house with a tiny squeaking object of prey in his mouth. 

"He's got a mouse!" I cried to Graeme (whose duty it is to dispose of rodenty vermin).

He caught the tubby cat and prised his jaws open and out popped...

"It's a frog!" Graeme announced, surprised. 

"Oh! One of the shrieking frogs!" I was simply delighted and so an anxious husband had to hold onto the terrified amphibian for a few moments so I could get a photo. They really are tiny! I'm quite convinced they travel in pairs for no sooner had Graeme lobbed my photo specimen over the hedge than one of the cats brought in his squeaking partner (who was similarly rescued and joined his mate on the other side of the hedge).

I was examining my loofahs this afternoon when I was amazed to see... my first passionflower! Honestly, this little vine was lovingly grown from granadilla pips of fruit that I ate nearly two years ago and I was beginning to think it might never flower. It struggled to grow and was prey to insect pests, but for the last few months it's been protected under the loofah vine and decided to finally blossom.

Their exotic blooms are certainly worth the wait.

And lo and behold I found a bud close by so now I can watch it unfurl!