African Desert Orchid and Dragon

Africa is, according to the genetecists, everybody’s motherland. The people in this part of South Africa consider themselves custodians of the Cradle of Humankind, a World Heritage Site. We were visiting one of the world’s oldest trees, appropriately called Big Tree, a baobab that is 5,000 years old. Baobabs are actually succulents that appear to have been planted upside down – according to legend it’s because that they got God mad! After a long nap cradled in its branches and dreaming ancient dreams, I was drawn to tiny bits of September spring color in the desert around the tree.

Yellow dragons, about an inch long, grew in small cascades on a 20-foot tall tree that looked tiny next to Big Tree. The delicate flowers contrasted with last year's odd-looking bean pods.

On the ground were fierce-looking vines adorned with pink ¼” blossoms. The children who help caretake the tree thought I was pretty funny, lying on the ground to get this shot! They loved seeing themselves in the digital window!

The passion I see in these blossoms strikes me as a response to their challenging environment and brief growing time; I find them inspiring to living fiercely and not being whiny about my own challenges!