February Sunset

If someone told me this morning that I would photograph one of the most breathtaking sunsets today, I would probably have laughed at them!   It was one of those hectic days, and  the lack of caffiene in my system made it even worse. 

Upon returning home, I decided to play with Stretch in the backyard. Soon we were both so tired that we fell down onto the grass.  That's when I noticed a large cloud being illumenated by the setting sun. I rushed indoors to get my camera and within seconds I forgot all about the hectic day I had.  Soon mist and smaller clouds started rolling in, and before my eyes the trees 'caught fire'.

I only sharpened and cropped the following photo - just to give an idea of what the sunset looked like (also have to mention that I used a polarized filter): 

The majority of the photos to follow were edited in Corel Painshop Photo Pro X3.  Editing photos is my least favourite part of photography, although I have to admit it makes a big difference....

The following result was achieved by changing the contrast and brightness settings.  It's one my favourite photographs to date.

Using the kaleidoscope effect:

Now this is what I call a perfect end to a VERY LONG DAY!!!

"The rising sun
blesses my mind
with joy.

The setting sun
blesses my heart
with peace."  

Sri Chinmoy

A cat and four dogs...

As I was driving into our complex this morning I noticed a cat taking a nap under the branches of a tree.  Needless to say, I grabbed my camera to take some photos. There was no time to swap lenses, but who cares!  I'm doing this for the fun of it...

“Some people say that cats are sneaky, evil, and cruel.  True, and they have many other fine qualities as well” Missy Dizick

This post will not be complete without some of photos of dogs, so here goes:

  

Last, but not least, a photo of my beloved son, Stretch.  He's very camera shy, so this was nothing but a fluke!

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”  Josh Billings

 

Hiding amongst the grass...

“She sat down in a weed patch, her elbows on her knees, and kept her eyes on the small mysterious world of the ground.  In the shade and sun of grass blade forests, small living things had their metropolis.”  Nancy Price

Robber Fly (possibly Pegesimallus pulchriventris)

Elegant Grasshopper (Zonocerus elegans)

Bagworm larva hanging from a strand of silk

Head of the larva protruding from its case 
made of silk and grass

Silver-Striped Hawk Moth (Hippotion sp.)

Silver-Striped Hawk Moth (Hippotion sp.)

For the last couple of days I have searched in vain for interesting insects and spiders to photograph.  So, imagine my suprise on Saturday when I came across this Hawk Moth in our garden seeking shelter from the sweltering heat.  

The wingspan of the moth was +/- 70mm.  Its hind wings had beautiful pink bases, whilst its abdomen was covered in silver flecks.

These moths are found all over Afria, and are known to migrate occasionally. 

Unfortunately this was the only photo I could get of the moth's coiled proboscis.

Whilst photographing the hawk moth, I spotted this recently hatched grasshopper nymph on one of the succulent plant's leaves.  Approximate size was about 13mm.

Sunday afternoon ended on a high note when I discovered an Elegant Grasshopper feeding on a grass blade.  I will try my best to upload those photos within the next few days.

Have a good week all!

A quick tour of our succulent garden

One of my favourite pastimes is to visit succulent nurseries.  I'm in awe of these plants, especially cacti - some of which only grow a few millimeters a year; whilst others seem to grow  taller by the day.  What's even more amazing is that some cacti are adapted to withstand the most extreme  temperatures on earth, such as the Ariocarpus fissuratus also known as the 'living rock'.

Years ago my aunt gave me a  beautiful  Mammillaria cactus days before I wrote my Standard 7 or 8 year-end exams.  Over the  past couple of  years my collection  of little cacti plants grew so rapidly that we had no other option but to create a succulent garden.

Gerhard from Garden Lovers in Port Elizabeth was very helpful in assisting with the design and his advice invaluable.  In one day hubby and I removed the grass, planted  railway sleepers and my beloved cacti plants (along with a few new additions - those being the taller cacti in the picture below), and filled the gaps with rocks!

It's now a year later, and I've been on holiday for almost three weeks. I haven't done much over the last couple of days except reading a couple of books.  However, yesterday I  woke  up fully energized and spent most of  my time removing grass between the rocks in the garden and pruning the plants. Today was spent looking for a ferocactus to replace the one that died a few weeks ago - what a mission! Last week we even travelled to a town in the heart of the Great Karoo to source one from a nursery and wholesaler, but due to poor service we returned to PE empty-handed! What a waste of my precious time it was!  

Luckily our friend at Garden Lovers in Port Elizabeth came to the rescue, and we are now the proud owners of another ferocactus (the one in the center of the pic)!  Thank You, Gerhard and family!!!!! Just finished planting the newest addition and couldn't resist taking a photo. 

Over the past year, most of the plants have produced very attractive flowers in a stunning array of colours.  Here are some pics:

Tridentia gemmiflora

Orbea schweinfurthii

Astrophytum myriostigma in bloom

Orbea variegata (syn. Stapelia variegata)

Stapelia grandiflora

Duvalia caespitosa

Lobivia caespitosa

This garden is my pride and joy, and I'm looking forward to adding more wonderful plants to my collection!  Maybe I should pay  a visit to the succulent nursery in Circular Drive tomorrow? What do you think? :)

To all my friends who visit my poorly written blog, thanks for visiting!! Hope you guys and girls have a fab week! 

Treasured Moments

"Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward in the same direction."     French writer, Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900 - 1944)

People are my least favourite subjects to photograph.  Point a camera in the direction of most people, and they become self-conscious. Not that I blame them - as a matter of fact I prefer to be behind the camera and not in front of it.

Anyway, back to the photograph.  This candid shot was taken on a recent outing to Schoenmakerskop.  For some unknown reason, I was drawn to this beautiful couple. They were so engrossed in conversation, that they failed to notice me taking photographs of them.  

I have so many questions when I look at this pic.  Are they newly married?  Where are they from? What are their hopes and dreams for the future, and for each other?  

But the moment seemed private, and I did not want to intrude.  So I guess my questions will remain unanswered...

Robber Fly (Family Asilidae)

Silhouette of Robber Fly

A few days ago I found this bearded fellow sitting on a skirting board in our dining room.  Its head was covered with stiff , white bristles. At first I did not know what type of insect it was, until Grantthegeek and I came across Thomas Shahan's website. Mystery solved: It was a Robber Fly (Also known as an Assassin Fly)!

Sitting on a perch waiting for its next victim

Like the praying mantis, robber flies also have 3 simple eyes (ocelli) located in the depression between the two compound eyes. Another interesting fact :  A male should be vigilant when courting a female or she will fly out, stab him with her proboscis and eat him!!!

 

These flies are famous for catching its prey in mid-air.  The mouthparts consist of a triangular proboscis which is stabbed into the prey.  Enzymes are injected into the insect to liquefy the insides, so that it can be sucked up by the robber fly.  Yummy!!!!

I just love the colour of the compound eyes and the white 'beard' on this insect!  I'm really so glad I took an interest in photography as I'm learning more each day about mother earth and its inhabitants....

Finally, I just have to mention that my brother gave me gift vouchers from Exclusive Books for Christmas.  Can't wait to visit the shop to purchase a book on South African insect and spiders.  Tx, my Ironman!   :D