Power of fire...

Summers are  hot and may be very dry. the danger of fire is high. The smallest spark, be it from nature through lightening or other, man made causes, may start a disasterous fire. It is a time to be alert. I always get a bit anxious when I smell smoke, or the valley is obscured by smoke. Fortunately our area here had only once a fire threat in all the years we have lived here. I remember some houses had to be evacuated, people left with their pets and a suitcase. There was some damage but all houses were safe, as the fire brigade and its volunteers were  fast and did a lot of hard work extinguishing the flames. It was scary, the air was hot  and thick with smoke.

This is in our garden, but it was  a controlled burning after rain, to get rid of dry grass, branches and twigs fallen from the trees.

We  like the soft flame of a candle; sit around an open fire also love an open fire to cook.

 Fire,  is part of  us since our beginning

Fire a chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products.

The flame is the visible portion of the fire. Depending on the substances, impurities outside, the colour of the flame and the fire's intensity will be different.

 Fire is an important process that affects ecological systems around the globe. The positive effects of fire include stimulating growth and maintaining various ecological systems. Fire has been used by humans for cooking, generating heat, light, signaling, and propulsion purposes. The negative effects of fire include damage to life and property, atmospheric pollution, and water contamination. If fire removes protective vegetation, heavy rainfall may lead to an increase in soil erosion by water. When vegetation is burned, its nitrogen  is released into the atmosphere. Potassium and phosphorus  remain in the ash and are quickly recycled into the soil. Loss of nitrogen caused by a fire produces a long-term reduction in the fertility of the soil, which only slowly recovers as nitrogen is "fixed" from the atmosphere by lightning and by leguminous plants.

Photos/Text Ts

Saturday; a walk along the driveway/butterfly garden.

It is very dry, still some plants and flowers do not give up easily.

Dry leaves from the trees, luckily they can be blown into the side garden as mulch.

Huge lilies; Crinum asiaticum.

Agapanthus flowers may look vulnerable but the plant is as tough as old boots.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

The marvellous Spider Daylilies.

Never give up.

Dreams and Hope go hand in hand...Ts

The toughest of the lot, Bromeliads.

Wishes are generally not granted over night. You must gather your strength like a flower in a drought, to achieve what you wish for. 

Photos my garden/Text Ts

Tuesday; early yesterday morning...

Dancing Ladies Orchid.

Oncidium,  contains about 330 species of orchids of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). Distributed across South America, Central America, Mexico and the West Indies.Common names for plants in this genus include dancing-lady orchid or golden shower orchid.

 I love the scents and sounds in the early morning garden. It feels like I am the only human around, there is just a breath of soft air and the fleeting call of a bird trying to wake its friends. Gardenia flowers are open and exude their  heavy perfume. In the morning everything looks so simple and innocent. Everything  in the garden looks untouched, yet.  Hope, laughter and sideways glances are still hiding in the still sleepy morning. Ts

To me, morning is the best time of the day. 

© Photos/ my garden/text Ts.