Tygerberg Nature Reserve

Only heard about Tygerberg Nature Reserve for the first time about a month ago, and when Karen and I tried going there on her birthday 4th October, before we went to Barnyard Theatre, the whole mountain was covered in dense mist and one couldn't see more than a couple of meters ahead. So we endeavoured to get there early this time. Couldn't have been a better day, but we didn't factor in that it would take 2 hours in the morning traffic to get from Brackenfell to the nature reserve not very far away. So instead of being there at 7:30 when the gates opened, we only arrived about 9am, by which time it was already hot and in full sun. But there were clear skies and it was a great day to be out. Very steep hike up a tar road to the first lookout point. They said it was 200m, but in the heat, and walking up such a steep hill it felt like at least 400m for my unfit legs and lungs. But the view towards Table Mountain was wonderful. 

Another couple of hundred meters took us to the summit with 360 degree views. Absolutely spectacular but unfortunately not particularly photogenic in every direction due to all the microwave and cellphone towers with dishes, in all directions, and of course massive supporting cables intersecting the skyline. So it meant careful positioning to avoid cables and towers in the photos.

Interesting information about a lovely old canon - I never knew there had been canons installed at frequent intervals to act as a communication system. Fascinating to learn a bit more about the history of the country I have called home since 1972 when I left my homeland, Rhodesia.







 

And then a walk down one of the dirt trails took us to a couple of tunnels under major roads that cuts through the nature reserve. The second tunnel was so wet and muddy that unfortunately we didn't walk through it. We only learned on our return that there was a dam on the other side, so I'm sure I would have enjoyed that. Anyway, I'd love to visit here again, and then I definitely will go through that tunnel despite the mud.

 

Arum Lilies in my garden

Loving all the arums I've had lately. Remind me so much of my granny. She had arum lilies as well as a whole garden full of other wonderful flowers. She used to let me cut flowers to make arrangements in the house when we went to stay with her for school holidays. One day I made an arrangement of arum lilies. We got visitors and they were shocked to see the big flower arrangement. That's when I learned that some people consider them to be funeral flowers. But granny never let anything like that faze her. I decided to try some abstracts using depth of field to capture the wonderful curves on the flower. I'm not totally happy with what I've achieved so far, so will try and improve tomorrow morning if there is no wind. After a day of gardening today, there is too much wind this afternoon for any photography!

Felicia Daisy - White

Well, I've had this blog for years now just sitting here forgotten about, so now I decided I should start using it to record my photographic journey. Hopefully I'll be able to look back and see some improvement over time ... As my blog is called Lazy Daisy it seems appropriate to fill my first posts with pictures of daisies. I've seen this pretty, tiny little flower catching my eye at my holiday flat (AtlanticSunsets), and never known what it was, so I picked some and took it to the local nursery to identify. It is a Felicia Daisy. I have mostly seen pretty purple ones, but this white one looked particularly pretty and dainty to me.