My Garden is Alive!

The closest identification we can find for the arachnid above, is the fishing spider. However we found this guy on the garage wall about 300 metres from my garden ponds.

I'm unable to identify the caterpillar pictured above, but I know it will change into a beautiful butterfly if left alone


If you click on the above photo to enlarge, you'll see a juvenile common fiscal previously called a fiscal shrike.It's also known Jackie Hangman: it hangs it's prey on thorns or barb wire fences

A few weeks ago we had a few millimetres of rain, then nothing more. Not a drop. Every morning dawns hot and still; getting hotter as the day progresses.

Here I need to explain: the Free State, a summer rainfall region, often experiences dry weather. Instead of the rains arriving at the beginning of the South African spring, (September), we can wait up to four months before the first decent showers give us relief.

This year, however, we have been greatly blessed. On 15th November, the first rains poured down and down and down. By the end of the weekend, hubby measured 50mm (approx 2 inches). I live in a farming town and the weather plays a very important role. Everywhere we went in town this week, were people with huge smiles on their faces. The co-operative has buzzed with farmers purchasing seed, and planting materials or just standing around chatting, totally relieved that the rains have begun at last.

As for me, my garden is thriving after the showers. The lawn has been mowed for the first time this season; the shrubs and trees have perked up their foliage. The best of all is the wildlife that is flourishing in my own paradise. All around me are signs of activity. My ponds are a visited by Karoo and Olive Thrushes, Cape White-eyes, Southern Masked-Weavers, Cape and African Pied Wagtails, Wattled starlings in their breeding status, Malachite Sunbirds, Cape Sparrows, a variety of Pigeons and Red Faced Mousebirds.

On the house' side of my garden the Cape Robins are stealing titbits from the dog’s bowl; (at least they're eating Megan's diet food, she refuses point blank!) the Hadeda Ibis are probing the soft grass for worms with their long curved beaks; the Black Collared Barbets are enjoying the fruit on my bird feeder.

Everywhere there is life. Everything is alive and rejuvenated after the refreshing conditions.

Very noticeable is the nest-building and courtships being conducted in the garden. The industrious male weavers are frantically building nest after nest to attract the best females; the quiet, unassuming Laughing Dove flies to and from her chosen branch high up in the karee (Rhus lancea) over my driveway , building a rather flimsy nest; the Black Collared Barbets are already feeding young in the sisal nest I erected a couple of years ago in the white stinkwood tree (Celtis Africana) while the brood parasite Diedericks Cuckoo, calls from a nearby thicket (I've yet to catch a glimpse of this elusive bird) awaiting its chance to lay an egg in a weaver or sparrow nest when the coast is clear.

The Laughing Dove sitting on eggs in her very flimsy nest

I don't kill anything in my garden; I leave every living thing alone to allow the food chain to run its natural course. No insecticide or any other poison is ever released in my garden space either. The snails, grasshoppers, beetles, ladybirds, frogs, snakes and all manner of flying insects are safe from human harm in my garden.

The only thing is that I am so sorry for my “slimy” friends who, after a shower of rain, come out onto my patio in their hundreds. (I kid you not). Before anyone is allowed to move their vehicles, I pick up as many snails as possible and carry them to the safety of the flower beds. Of course, this is a source of great mirth to my family and friends alike...

Early last Monday morning my husband was waiting

to go to the city on business.

I went with him, but not before I'd picked up all the snails

that could get squashed under the car's wheels!

One of the hundreds of snails (Thiba Pisana) on the patio

after the lovely rains last week