So Vivh was right – I have been hiding under a duvet for the last few weeks. And then I was working on a really big project, and then I was struck down with a horrible cold and sore throat, and am only emerging now from a fug of tissues, Vitamin C supplements, chicken soup and endless cups of rooibos with lemon and honey. And some kick-ass antibiotics, of course. (I’m the Number 1 proponent of chicken soup as a cure all for everything from broken hearts to broken legs, but there does come a point where you’re too far gone and need to call on modern medicine.) But I’m back now, with a vengeance, and lots to tell you about. Beans, bulbs, bloggy things – all these are grist to my mill today.
First off, a round-up of the winter. It’s been cold. And weirdly enough, a bit wet too, which is very unlike Joburg winters. Not that I’m complaining. It’s done wonders for the garden – the broad beans are now well over waist-high, and covered in flowers and bumble bees. Tell me, people who know about broad beans, are bumble bees particularly fond of these beans? It’s a lovely sight, to see these fuzzy, dumpy creatures burrowing around the flowers. Either way, somebody is doing their job because I’ve noticed a couple of tiny little pods peeping out from under the leaves. They’ve been staked, and well-fed with vermicompost, so fingers crossed…Some of the bulbs I planted last season and was too lazy to dig up and move have come up too – a couple of tiny grape hyacinths have come up in a pot and some wee narcissi have popped up under the orange tree. Of course, the beloved namaqualand daisies are still blooming their little heads off, they’re the most reliable standby in the garden, and they’re right up against the broad beans, so their lovely orange and yellow petals look just gorgeous next to the silver-green bean leaves.
But all in all, it’s still pretty grim here. Today a freezing wind is blustering around, and while the sky is blue and clear, nobody in their right mind is leaving the house. Which is why this morning, when I stumbled into the kitchen for my current favourite breakfast (English Breakfast tea and avo on rye toast) it was such a delight to see these ranunculus:
They’re so bright and friendly and kind of unpretentious. They’re not fancy, delicate bulbs. They’re tough, and a little bit rough and ready, and unashamedly colorful, and I like that. And before you start thinking that I’m some sort of bulb-genius, let me tell you that I did not grow these. In fact, I bought them on the cheap from a local flowershop, who were selling 5 bunches for R40, which is a bargain. I’m always amazed by colour in flowers. I know that may sound a bit lame, but really, when these colours are copied by man, in fabric or paint they so often look gaudy and tacky, but somehow, in a flower, it just looks lovely.
When my younger sister was a child, her nickname was “ranunculus”, shortened to “nuncle”. I have no idea how it came about, although it’s a nicely onomatopoeic word for kids. Anyway, now she’s a grown up, and living in Japan, and I’m busy crocheting a blanket for her, in similar colours to these blooms. But I don’t think I’ll ever be able to buy even the best wool in the world in colours like these:
Would you ever guess, from these pictures, that there was a howling, freezing wind buffeting the house? I thought not.
In other news, I wanted to let you know about a really fun project I’ve been working on in the last few weeks (to the neglect of this blog, I know, I know and I’m sorry). It’s a blog project called The Unexpected run by The Economist here in Johannesburg in the run-up to 2010. They’ve asked various people from different parts of the city, and with different interestes and passions to talk about what it is they they love about Joburg. Very kindly, they have referrerd to me as an ecologist, which I have never considered myself to be, but they’ve given me free reign to talk about the things I love most in this city, which is really exciting. So click over, bloggy ones. Watch the video of me in a park (do I sound like you’d imagine I would sound? Didn’t think so…) and have a look at my other posts, and those of the other city bloggers. And let me know what you think…
It really does feel very good to be back….
Yay Rambling Bones Yay.
And yay for bats.
10 points to you, Mr Rocketer, for guessing the tunes. As a suitably Brixton prize, I will buy you a quart of Black Label the next time I see you.
Done deal. And I’ll water my houseplants extra-lovingly tonight.
You’re so right about the ranunculus! No other flower (zinnias? – I’m Libran) do colour like they do. (No not zinnias: they’re muted rich high summer colours. It’s that very thing of ‘would you say it’s icy outside?’ that makes them tops. And N daisies second.) (Ever seen Namaqualand in bloom?)
Go Joh’burg! (Although I’m pleased 10 years ago I stopped commuting.)