We are missing out on one of the highlights of the year, the widespread blooming of aloes that brighten the otherwise drab landscape of late autumn and during the winter months. I had a legitimate reason to drive out of town last week for the first time since the Covid-19 lockdown began and noted many aloes blooming along the road towards Port Alfred, their flame-coloured blossoms lifting my spirits enormously. Fortunately, as their flowering season is fairly long I am hoping that the restrictions on our movements will be relaxed further before it ends. In the meanwhile, I am confined to observing the aloes in our garden.
Some have progressed from showing tightly closed cone-like buds like this:
To fully opened blossoms like this one:
The aloes attract birds, such as the Greater Double-collared Sunbird above as well as a variety of insects:
I am interested to see the damage done by ants at the base of some of the tubular flowers:
There haven’t been many bees around yet – perhaps they need the flowers to open a little more. I will be keeping an eye out for them.
More fascinating flora. I really like the Sunbird picture
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Thank you, Derrick – a little out of focus as they flit about SO rapidly from one flower to the next!
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No matter
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The aloes at our beaches are just starting to bloom and we are also holdings thumbs that the lockdown will not prevent us from seeing the flowers this year.
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I have a feeling that all will be well before long. I look forward to the blooming of aloes every year.
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I pray you are right Anne
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Dit is pragtig.
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Ek hou baie van aalwyne.
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Ek ook, Anne, het nou hier in my woonstel ook. Nou die dag brand ek my hand, sny punt van blaar af, druk my vinger sommer so in die sap en weg is die seer.
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Jy is reg: die sap is goed vir brande en bye steke.
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Bysteke ook? Ek gaan vir my dogter moet vertel. Dankie, Anne!
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Great that you have aloes in the garden to appreciate. They are so rewarding when flowering as your photos show.
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They are – I am hoping we will be able to see more of them further afield before too long.
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Indeed yes, but its best to remain cautious in these times …
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‘Greater Double-collared Sunbird’ : sometimes I think the people just make up these names for birds. Is there really a lesser double collared sunbird? Or even a medium single collared sunbird?
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Over twenty varieties of sunbirds live in this part of the world – not one is medium- or single-collared. However, what used to be called the Lesser Double-collared sunbird is now known as the Southern Double-collared sunbird – ornithologists like to keep mere bird loving mortals on the hop.
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What a delight to see aloes growing outdoors. Ours are confined to our coffee table. 😏
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At least you can enjoy it there. One day I will feature hillsides swathed in aloe blooms – the beauty of such scenes is breathtaking.
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😊
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We have a single Aloe, species suprafoliata (Boekaalwyn in Afrikaans) in our little garden and sadly it’s down to its last remaining blossom.But while in its prime the regular visits by the White-bellied Sunbirds was beautiful to watch.
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It is good to hear from you again! I have just checked out your Boekaalwyn – what an interesting configuration of leaves it has. I don’t think I have seen one of these before. I am fortunate to have a number of aloes in our garden – the problem is that it is not as sunny as it used to be because the trees have matured since we first planted the aloes.
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I’m catching up slowly but surely, Anne
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