Cactus Trichocereus

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm

“The cactus thrives in the desert while the fern thrives in the wetland.

The fool will try to plant them in the same flower box.

The florist will sigh and add a wall divider and proper soil to both sides.

The grandparent will move the flower box halfway out of the sun.

The child will turn it around properly so that the fern is in the shade, and not the cactus.

The moral of the story?

Kids are smart.”
― Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration

Young Aloe ferox

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

My experience is that this aloe (A. ferox) spreads easily from seed – from my original three plants, I now have over ten. They have sprung up all over the garden, obviously from seeds dispersed by the wind and birds. The only problem is that some of them are in unwanted locations and now I have the job of moving them to more suitable spots. But a chore I’m going to enjoy!

Aloe ferox (also known as the Cape Aloe, Bitter Aloe, Red Aloe and Tap Aloe), is a species of arborescent aloe indigenous to Southern Africa.

Bulbine frutescens

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

Bulbine is effective in preventing skin infection, healing and soothing cuts, rashes, insect bites, burns, cold sores, pimples and other skin problems. Its clear and soothing gel forms an invisible ‘seal’ over the wound, protecting against bacteria and providing ongoing relief and healing throughout the day.

It is a very attractive succulent indigenous to South Africa which needs little attention, and thrives in most soil types and in most weather conditions. The juice from the leaves is used in creams, and can also be applied to eczema, burns, rashes, fever blisters and stings etc. I often use it on cuts and scrapes I might pick up while working in the garden.

This native of South Africa occurs naturally in the Orange Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and parts of all the Cape Provinces.

Afrikaans: balsemkopieva, copaiba, geelkatstert, katstert

Cactus Cereus jamacaru (SOLD)

Ink sketch and watercolour wash on Bockingford 300gsm 

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Cereus jamacaru (Queen of the Night, Nagblom)
Classification: Cactaceae
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Incorrectly referred to as Cereus peruvianus in South Africa.
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The Peruvian Apple Cactus, Cereus repandus, is a large, erect, thorny columnar cactus found in South America as well as the nearby ABC Islands of the Dutch Caribbean. It is also known as Giant Club Cactus, Hedge Cactus, cadushi and kayush. With an often tree-like appearance, the Peruvian Apple Cactus’ cylindrical grey-green to blue stems can reach 10 meters (33 ft) in height and 10-20 cm in diameter. The nocturnal flowers remain open for only one night. Unfortunately this plant has been declared an unwanted “invader” in South Africa due to it’s fast-spreading habit.

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Die Kaktus Cereus peruvianus (of Een-nag blom) is ’n boomagtige kaktus, partymaal tot 10m hoog, wat vir net een nag van die jaar asemrowende wit blomme voort bring. Ongelukkig is hierdie kaktus as ’n ongewensde indringerplant verklaar in Suid Afrika as gevolg van hul gewoonte om uiters vinnig te versprei. Daar is groot verwarring oor die eintlike naam van hierdie kaktus, aangesien Cereus vir heelwat kaktussoorte gebruik word. Die spesienaam, peruvianus, dui aan dat dit endemies is aan Peru, maar dit is ’n botaniese fout. Hierdie plant is eintlik endemies aan Brasilië, Uruguay en Argentinië.
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Hierdie een groei langs Solly se kaia op ons plot (Tarlton, Gauteng, Suid Afrika) en hy was verskriklik ontsteld toe ek voorstel ons moet dit verwyder. Nou is hy die dood voor die oë gesweer as ek sou sien dat dit enigsins versprei!

Bunny Ears Cactus (Opuntia microdasys)

For the Cactus-lover - W&N watercolour on Aqua 300gsm watercolour paper 

I'm an avid succulent and cactus collector and buy anything I can lay my hands on that's not in my collection yet and I was absolutely thrilled when I came upon this Bunny Ears cactus!

These cacti originated in the wild (North and Central Mexico) and are popular garden and house plants here in South Africa. I bought my Bunny Ears last summer and after a nice rest this past winter, is now showing lots of new ‘ears’. I’m just wondering if I will have any flowers while it is in a pot…
Opuntia microdasys forms a dense shrub 40–60 cm tall, occasionally more, composed of pad-like stems 6–15 cm long and 4–12 cm broad.

Opuntia microdasys has no spines, but instead has numerous white or yellow glochids 2–3 mm long in dense clusters; these detach very easily on being touched, and can cause considerable skin irritation, so the plants must be treated with caution. Despite this, it is a very popular cactus in cultivation.

Trees are the Earth's Endless Effort

W&N watercolour on DalerRowney 220gsm (135lb) Smooth heavy-weight sketching paper, no preliminary sketching 

Trees are the Earth’s Endless Effort
To Speak with the Listening Heaven.
- Rabindranath Tagore, ‘FireFlies’

Trees are living, breathing creatures. The fact that trees are, in many ways, like intelligent beings may come as somewhat of a surprise to you. This can be explained as follows:

1. 1. A tree eats. Its tiny hair like roots beneath the earth’s surface are always on the hunt for such elements in the soil as nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium.

1. 2. A tree drinks. A generous supply of water is required for carrying nutrients from the soil through the “digestive system” of the tree.

1. 3. A tree digests its food. A tree has a digestive tract. Like a plumbing system, it functions as elements from the soil flow through microscopic ducts in the sapwood from the tiniest of root hairs to the most distant of leaves where tree food is formed on contact with sunlight and C02. The food is then carried through the tree to build up layers of cells in the cambium (the inner skin or growing tissue). Tree growth and root development result.

1. 4. A tree breathes. Like all living matter, a tree requires air. A hard, packed soil at the base of the tree will cut off the tree’s breathing. Supplies of oxygen and carbon dioxide vital to the manufacture of food are absorbed through the soil by the roots, as well as from the atmosphere by the leaves.

1. 5. A tree reproduces. The tree is capable of rearing its own family. Many seeds have wings that, with an assist by winds, carry them to points away from the parent tree. There, soil and sunlight sufficiently permit new, fast growth.

1. 6. A tree “talks.” Listen to trees the next time the leaves rustle in the wind. Thomas Hardy confirmed this when he wrote, “At the passing of a breeze the fir trees sob and moan, the ash hisses the beech rustles.”

1. 7. A tree sleeps. In the winter months, when deciduous trees lose their leaves and the growing processes of evergreens slow down, a tree is getting its rest.

1. 8. A tree has healing powers. A scar, if properly treated, will always heal as long as the tree is alive and growing.

Interesting, right?

Sunrise over a winter landscape

 

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

Winter here in Tarlton (Gauteng, South Africa) means a late sunrise, often accompanied by clouds, which usually clear up as the day progresses.

“Nature is painting for us,
day after day,
pictures of infinite beauty
if only we have the eyes to see them.”
— John Ruskin

Bend in the road

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

A typical gravel road in the South African bushveld.

When you come to a bend in the road, aren’t you just a little bit curious as to what lies just around the corner…?