Imagine standing beneath a cloudless blue sky, in the baking African sun, a harsh dry winter landscape meets the eye.
You’ve been hiking this single – shale ridden track for the last half an hour, climbing constantly higher. This is harder than you thought and annoyingly, you’re not as fit as you hoped. Finally you stop, out of breath, muscles aching. As you lift the water bottle to your parched mouth, you notice a reddish-orange splash in the dry grass off to your right.
Welcome to the world of the Aloe, a diverse succulent plant found all over South Africa.
Aloes have a rosette of fleshy lance shaped leaves which are spiked (for protection) and tubular flowers which are usually densely clustered at the top of a leafless stem. Plant size and flower colour varies from species to species. (as seen below)
They flower in winter and it’s always a refreshing surprise to see their bright flowers in the drab veld.
Here are some pics to cheer and warm you up:
8 Comments. Leave new
I’ve been on that dry path many times, and the wonderful splash of aloe colour is the essence of the African winter. And I’ll be back for more. Thanks, Ash, you’ve created a grand context.
Thanks Doug.
now this is cool, love the colours and time to move your lips and bring this alive on radio as well…….keep em coming
Ahem. Radio is a whole different ball park. Thanks for the comment Tim.
Thanks for the color Ash… winter blues? I’m preparing for mine in a few months time. All white, snowy and c-c-oooold in N.Y. by then.
That the seasons timing isn’t the same everywhere, still boggles my little brains. We’re heading into spring in a week or so. The Peaches are already in blossom, as well as the Jasmine. This is my time of year. 🙂
[…] of my loyal readers may remember a post I did a few years back on Aloes Well, it seems it’s a topic I get hooked on (punn intended) so here’s another… I’ve […]
[…] of my loyal readers may remember a post I did a few years back on Aloes Well, it seems it’s a topic I get hooked on (punn intended) so here’s another… I’ve […]