Frangipani
We have missed you dear readers. We have been having trouble connecting to the net and have not been able to post. When we can’t connect we feel untethered from home. The blog is like a conversation with you and we were sorry for the interruption.
These are just a few of the plants we have seen here in South Africa. We are learning that Mediterranean climates are not all the same and their differences lie in slight variations in rainfall, soil type and average temperature. What grows here biologically and culturally shares some similarities with Sicily and Santa Barbara but many more differences.
Have you ever lived or visited in a Mediterranean climate? How cold did it get in the wintertime? How hot in the summertime? Were you near the ocean? Are these the plants you expected to see? Others?
Red Hot Poker
Poinsettia
Poinsettia
Camilla
Banana Tree
Banana Flower
Protea
Proteus
Canary creeper ‘Senecio tamoides’
Bougainvillea
MedFlies 
Your ‘mystery flower’ is Canary creeper ‘Senecio tamoides’ It grows very easily!
We have missed you on our walks.
Thank you Jayne. I have made the change. Dana’s hiking shoes have been returned to the manufacturer for repairs so we have not been hiking. Expect to have them back in a week or so and we will be hiking with the group again.
SA is in here, enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Pwe-pA6TaZk&feature=player_embedded
Dana and I haven’t tried dancing with people. Maybe that’s next.
But only dance with those who wear shoes when they dance. Feathers are optional. ehe
Great stuff!
Hi guys, good to hear from you again. We were a little worried. No need to buy a camera these photos are outstanding! The red hot poker got my attention, especially since I find that in my garden they look great for a couple of years but after that they reseed in the clump gets larger but the leaves get smaller. I transplanted them but could not get them to grow and bloom the same way again. Maybe the soil is just not rich enough here.
The plethora of photos of flora are phenomenal. Are you taking photos with an iPhone are do you have a fancy camera? They are good enough to enter into a National Geographic Magazine.
And, yes, when I lived in Spain we had hot summers where we cooled off in the Mediterrean. It got so cold the winter I was there, they even had a rare snowfall and most people did not have central heat. Living in the city I don’t remember seeing the plethora of plants (except on the Ramblas). I was more fascinated with the Gaudi architecture.
Glad to see that you are up and running again with your computer and your car(s).
Dana is taking all of the pictures on his phone. He wants to get a camera but I think these are wonderful. He really has an eye.