The Longest Day

Yesterday, the 22nd of December was the longest day in the Southern Hemisphere. Around this time of the year, the 21st or 22nd of December is known as the summer solstice. This is reversed in the Northern Hemisphere, hence the icy, often snowy conditions experienced there at this time of the year.

Back to our Summer Solstice. Yesterday morning I took my camera and walked around my garden taking photos. The dogs were thrilled that I was out there that early and gleefully bounded across the lawns and through the beds (I have a child, insect, bird, pet and human friendly garden - no watching where you walk - you just enjoy every part of it)

So please take a break from all the holiday and season's preparations and walk with me through my garden on this beautiful midsummer's day.

Starting off at the ponds, let's meander across the streams connecting them. Enjoy the bird sounds, can you hear the male Southern Masked Weavers and Orange River White Eyes swizzling? Oh, there's a juvenile Diederick Cuckoo in the peach tree. Hear him calling loudly for his adopted parents (three, yes, three exhausted White-Browed Sparrow Weavers) to come and feed him.

Along the soft lawn and just out of sight is a juvenile Cape Robin pecking in the grass.

The two white stinkwood (Celtis Africana)throw a welcome shadow over the ponds

Uh-oh, here come the dogs.. Angie comes bounding through my "dry" garden of Aloes, Bulbines, Obiculatas and Tecomarias

Whoo-hoo, Eddy sniffs the ground for possible frogs... A bit off the mark, Eddy; the ponds are behind us

Megan - just NOT visible - is waddling up the path to the right. (Megan needs a serious doggie diet, but she won't tow the line with me!)

Look up above: A lone Egret. I don't know which one, but we normally have flocks of Cattle Egrets flying overhead every morning. Do you think this one overslept?

Aha, Eddy turns; is she calling Angie?

The shadow of my house over my garden

Here is the butterfly bush (Gaura lindheimeri) This amazing [exotic] shrub dies down in winter and returns again in summer. And yes, it attracts butterflies.

Ah, mum, here's a visitor in our garden. And there's MEGAN in the middle of the flower bed

I'm the only person in town who does not stomp on snails or place snail bait (poison) down for them. I actually save snails from harm, much to the horror of many of my friends. (LOL)

As I said, I have an [everything] friendly garden

I hope you enjoyed the meander through my garden. You're welcome to visit anytime.