Calodendrum capense, umemezi omhlophe The Midlands forests are splashed with pink at the moment as the tall Cape Chestnut trees bloom in the canopy. Often, it is hard to get up close to the actual flowers, but if you are fortunate enough to do so, they are delicately spectacular. Swallowtail butterfly species breed on this…
Nkosi Nursery
The first tree name Alex March learned when studying horticulture was Erythrina lysistemon. The second was Citharexylum quadrangulare (a.k.a Fiddlewood). Fortunately, the indigenous coral tree had more appeal, and in a short time Alex became, by his own admission, an ‘indigenous nut’. Part of the course requirements was to learn the names of 2000 plants….
Trashion Trumps Fast Fashion
Did you have any idea that globally about 100 million tonnes of textile waste is generated each year? Or that by 2050 scientists predict there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean? Or that about 6% of the total landfill in South Africa is textile waste? There is one ton of plastic for…
Stan Albertyn
Stan is the man sitting in the wheelchair in the bright and breezy Greendale House entrance area. This has been his favourite spot since he lost his leg a few years ago. “It is an interesting place to spend a few hours, I like the view and there are always nice people passing to chat…
Linda Crooks
“Playing cards is a bit like fishing. You never know what is going to come up.” Living in Howick at Elizabeth Gardens (instead of way out of town on a farm) means that Linda Crooks can indulge her love of card playing many times a week. She acknowledges that few people want to drive all…
Hilton Rail Trail
“This thing is contagious,” quips Dave Ballance while pouring cappuccino for the enthusiastic locals meeting at Station Stop Coffee Shop. The topic of conversation is the Hilton Rail Trail – a concept that has captured the imagination of Hilton (and Midlands) residents. Back in 2019, artist Jono Hornby got community energy on the rise with…
Red Hot Poker
The vleis and riverbanks of the Midlands are dotted with lovely orange wands at the moment, commonly called red hot pokers. Making the most of the abundant rain and watery wetlands. Two species of Kniphofia flower at this time of the year. In the midlands, K. linearifolia is common, whereas, in the Drakensberg, you will…
Louis Grussendorff
One would imagine the charming gentleman in the black hat mending the garden bench was a model student at school, right? Wrong. “I didn’t behave well, and my Matric pass was poor. My father, who had observed that I liked to fix things, sent me to do a trade with the South African Railways as…
The Cloisters Clan
It has been a great privilege to meet, interview and write stories about a few of the residents at The Cloisters, managed by HADCA. There are such interesting elder folk in our midst. Cynthia Oldfield Durban-born Cynthia has always loved embroidery (and a party). In standard one, she sewed a little yellow linen pouch decorated…
The Cedarville Shop and The Wheelbarrow Swap
A colourful patchwork of Midlanders – academics and artists, bakers, bibliophiles, yogis and farmers – gathered at La Popote Café in Hilton on Friday12 August 2022 to launch award-winning author Bridget Krone’s latest book published by Catalyst Press. Over 100 people listened to Kim Ward in conversation with Bridget about The Cedarville Shop and The…
Midlands Mosaic 