Another windpomp and a dam

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

A ‘windpomp’ (windmill) in Magaliesburg. They are such a part of our countryside here in South Africa and they play a specially important part in dry areas like the Karoo where both humans and animals are very dependent on them for water. 

These windmills extract the life blood of the earth and it is usually poured into a cement dam close-by the windpomp. Many farm children swim in these cement dams on sweltering days and I have seen flocks of Egyptian Geese taking a quick, cool dip on their way to somewhere.

Autumn song

 

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

Know’st thou not at the fall of the leaf

How the heart feels a languid grief

Laid on it for a covering,

And how sleep seems a goodly thing

In Autumn at the fall of the leaf?

Keep wandering

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

Keep wandering, it doesn’t matter when you get there…

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It was still winter

W & N Watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm – no preliminary sketching 

It was still winter – freezing in Tarlton (South Africa) and it had actually just started drizzling. At first I thought it was sleet, but at closer inspection found it was a solid drizzle, and everything was going to be set for a very cold and frosty night! The winter of 2011 seemed to be the coldest we’ve experienced for some years, but you know what they say about a long winter,

’Sunshine’s smile does come my friends,
and a cruel callous winter makes for a balmier summer!’

Enjoying summer

 W&N watercolour on Bockingfo9rd 300gsm 

At this time of year I really enjoy the silhouettes of the trees and hedges against the summer sky.

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The colour of Winter is in the imagination

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

A winter scene in South Africa.

Clear blue skies and trees scorched by veld fires is a familiar sight here in South Africa in winter. With just a few more weeks of cold, we’re looking forward to the August winds which will quickly blow in Spring, bringing everything to life again.

The colour of springtime is in the flowers, the colour of winter is in the imagination.
~Terri Guillemets

Geranium or Pelargonium?

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

Geraniums originated from South Africa, as well as Reunion, Madagascar, Egypt and Morocco and were introduced to European countries such as Italy, Spain and France in the 17th century.

Actually, the plants that gardeners have grown under the geranium name for several hundred years is not a geranium, but a pelargonium. Both plants, as well as a few others, are all members of the geraniaceae family. The problem arose when the plants were first brought from their native home of South Africa into Europe. All the early imports were labeled “geraniums” and continued under that blanket name for many years. When some observant botanists finally started a closer examination of these lovely new plants, they discovered many differences and then decided that the imports were not all the same plant type, but there were differences so were then moved into different named classifications.

One group of plants was given the original name of geraniums. A second group was classified as pelargoniums, then there were erodiums and sarcocaulons/monsonias. The plant we label “geranium” was put into the pelargonium category, however, it had become a well loved plant of gardeners in Europe under the old “geranium” label so although the botanists told them that the lovely pot or bedding plant they grew in such numbers was a pelargonium, they persisted in using the old name.

I’m now more confused than ever!

Beautiful Geraniums (SOLD)

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 
Geraniums on my patio

My Geraniums are looking decidedly worse for the wear this winter – will add some fresh potting soil and hope for some beautiful flowers this summer, maybe I’ll add something blue to the pot…?

And the tree asks, "Why am I here?"

Winsor&Newton watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

Every branch shaking, shifting, and falling in the icy wind,
A tiny leaf at the very end holds strong,
Why am I here, questioning wondering waiting, for that final pulse that will blow him down?
But in that tree was a force, a force of life, a force of strength, a force unmatched by the icy wind.
That tree was a young tree, a tree that never crossed roots with wild bushes,
Bore fruits desired by many, tasted by few and discarded by the very planter,
Questioning why am I here, questioning is this the only way,
Now the broken branch begins to fall, now this tree was not very tall,
No other tree was like this tree, this tree was special,
This tree was bearing the strain of an icy wind,
Just as the branch had hit the ground there was silence all around a calm in the drifting storm
Now this was rare, a tree this young, a tree this strange, a neglected tree, a tree with shallow roots, a tree with hollow bark had survived the storm.
Questioning why me?
This tree was a lonely tree,
this tree knew he would grow strong,
weak body strong thoughts kept the tree unmoved on broken paths.
^{Extract from “A tree” – Emmanuel Mohanlall}

Bluegum view

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

The Tarlton landscape (Gauteng, South Africa) is dominated by eucalyptus trees, which were originally brought here from Australia for the mining industry. A third of our smallholding is covered in an old blue gum plantation and provided me with an endless supply of sketching matter. This is the view from just outside our property fence.

A blank page (SOLD)

W&N watercolour on Amedeo 200gsm 

a blank page . a new journal . what shall I do
dream / sing / write / wait / think / pause / garden / chat / paint
decided to paint

Forest path

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm

A path leading through the Blue gum forest on our smallholding (Tarlton, Gauteng, South Africa). Walking this trail, I often discover little treasures like rabbits, hedgehogs, tortoises, lots of insects, little wild flowers and the odd snake. We’ve had many enquiries from people wanting to cut the bush down for the wood, but have always declined as many birds call this blue gum bush their home, a little sanctuary as the area gets more and more built up.

Dorper sheep

 

Watercolour in Moleskine Watercolour Sketch-book 

My neighbour’s sheep – a while ago some ewes had lambs and it was the first time for MANY, MANY years that I actually held a little lamb in my arms again – oh my word! I’d forgotten how precious that can be! I wanted to take it home…!

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Graptoveria "Fred Ives"

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm

A succulent given to me by a friend a couple of months ago growing in a pot in my garden 

Category: Succulent
Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrops)
Origin: Mexico (North America)

x Graptoveria ‘Fred Ives’ – A beautiful and durable succulent plant that produces large clumps of rosettes to 8 inches tall by nearly 1 foot wide with broad bronze and pink succulent leaves atop short stems with 1’-2’ long branched inflorescences bearing red-orange centered pale yellow flowers in summer. Plant in full to part sun in a well-drained soil. Little irrigation required.

Aloe peglerae

Each flower is a soul opening out to nature. 

- Gerard De Nerval

Parker fountain pen, black ink and W&N watercolours on Bockingford 300gsm watercolour paper 

This is Aloe peglerae, which I saw in the veld on the way to Magaliesburg, endemic to South Africa occurring only in Gauteng and one other province (North-West province). It is listed in the Red Data list of South Africa as an endangered species on the extinction queue if not protected or grown for ex-situ conservation.

Yucca

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm – 8″ × 12″

Done from an image kindly supplied by Ann Warrenton. Thank you Ann! I enjoyed doing this difficult subject!

The yucca plant is native to the high deserts of the southwestern United States and Mexico. The yucca has at least 40 species, including Yucca filamentosa, the most common type. Yucca plants are tree-like succulents of the lily family (Liliaceae) with stemless stiff, pointed leaves that end in a sharp needle. The yucca flower is a series of whiteblossoms on a long stalk.

Yuccas have a very specialized, mutualistic pollination system, being pollinated by yucca moths (family Prodoxidae); the insect purposefully transfers the pollen from the stamens of one plant to the stigma of another, and at the same time lays an egg in the flower; the moth larva then feeds on some of the developing seeds, always leaving enough seed to perpetuate the species.

I had quite a few Yucca’s in my previous garden (Tarlton, Gauteng, South Africa), and I have never seen this “yucca” moth, but seeing as my Yucca’s used to flower profusely, there must have been something pollinating them.

Aloe ferox 1 & 2

Aloe ferox 2 - W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm

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. It is one of several Aloe species used to make bitter aloes, a purgative medication and also yields a non-bitter gel that can be used in cosmetics.

Die Bitteraalwyn (Aloe ferox), inheems aan Suid-Afrika, is ’n struik wat deel is van die aalwynfamilie. Die plant blom vanaf Mei tot September. Die struik is ’n stadige groeier met ’n enkelstam en dik, doringrige, vlesige blare en buisvormige, oranje-rooi blomme. Dit is ’n uitstekende struik ir die rotstuin en verkies vol son en matige water. Die sap van die blare word vir medisyne en skoonheidsprodukte gebruik.

Aloe ferox 1 - W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

A painting of an Aloe ferox in my garden. Each winter my aloes put up the most spectacular show of orange, brightening up the dull winter landscape. I can feel the season is turning already, gets lighter much later in the mornings and soon (well, roundabouts June/July) I’ll be blessed with their beauty again.

Autumn colours (SOLD)

Autumn is in the air  - W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

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Fisherman's cottage

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

Singing sweet songs...

 

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm  (The back-ground of this painting is actually White, don't know why Blogger is making it grey!)

‘Rise up this morning,

smile with the rising sun,

three little birds 

sit by my doorstep,

singing sweet songs

of melodies pure and true, 

singing,

this is my message to you.’

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Sweet Geranium

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

‘Observe yon sweet geranium flower.
How straight upon its stalk it stands,
And tempts our violating hands,
Whilst the soft bud, as yet outspread,
Hangs down its pale declining head.
Yet soon as it is ripe to blow,
the stems shall rise, the head shall glow.’
_{Extract from ‘The Geranium’ by  RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN}

The Poppy

 W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm  

High on a bright and sunny bed
A scarlet poppy grew
And up it held its staring head,
And thrust it full in view.
Yet no attention did it win,
By all these efforts made,
And less unwelcome had it been
In some retired shade.
Although within its scarlet breast
No sweet perfume was found,
It seemed to think itself the best
Of all the flowers round,
From this I may a hint obtain
And take great care indeed,
Lest I appear as pert and vain
As does this gaudy weed.
~ By Jane Taylor

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Solly's chickens - 84 Vlakplaas

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

A couple of Solly's chickens having a snack near his house on our smallholding.

Short-cut through Spring Farm

Small W&N watercolour in Moleskine 200gsm sketch-book 

 
Often, when I go to Magaliesburg (Gauteng, South Africa), I take this short-cut through Spring Farm past the little dam. It’s a gravel road, forcing one to travel slower and take in the scenery and I often have tortoises, hedgehogs, guinea fowl and small buck crossing my path. I much prefer it to the quicker route along the main tar road.

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Winter is coming!

 

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 

The first signs of winter are already showing amongst the bluegum trees on our smallholding (Tarlton, Gauteng, South Africa). Yellow grass, fallen leaves and longer shadows accompany me as I take my (now cold) early morning walks. The lizards and snakes have all but disappeared or only come out much later in the day as it warms up. Even the birds seem to be more quiet, preferring to sit in the top branches of some dead trees, basking in the early morning sun and warming up before taking on the day.

The dark forest

W&N watercolour in a small sketch-book with Bockingford 300gsm watercolour paper - original not for sale but available on various products on RedBubble

A different depiction of the blue gum bush on our smallholding (Tarlton, Gauteng, South Africa)

Woods creaked, the sounds of the forest was heard
A hoot and whispers in the darkness
Eyes lurking, bushes moving
Hunting beasts wandering,
crouching,
waiting in the shadows…

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Daisy serenity

W&N watercolour on Bockingford 300gsm 
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There’s serenity here… The one place where I can finally hear my thoughts.

The forest - beautiful and great

W&N watercolour on Arches 300gsm

“All life is figured by them as a Tree. Igdrasil, the Ash-tree of existence, has its roots deep-down in the kingdoms of Death: its trunk reaches up heaven-high, spreads its boughs over the whole Universe: it is the Tree of Existence. At the foot of it, in the Death-Kingdom, sit the three Fates – the Past, Present and Future; watering its roots from the Sacred Well. It’s “bough,” with their buddings and disleafings, – events, things suffered, things done, catastrophes – stretch through all lands and times. Is not every leaf of it a biography, every fiber there an act or word? Its boughs are the Histories of Nations. The rustle of it is the noise of Human Existence, onwards from of old. I find no similitude so true as this of a Tree. Beautiful; altogether beautiful and great."
- Thomas Carlyle