When spring arrives in the Western Cape

[nan]

no need to make promotions... I love it

[Lisbeth]

So do I

[Richprins]

[Pumbaa]

Love the orange colours and the beautiful flowers

Thanks okie

[okie]

In the Western Cape , August is still a month of many contrasts - It can rain a lot , but also have beautiful sunshine ....... glimpses of warmer times to come .
And the Aloes are still in full bloom , but fruit trees still very much dormant , as seen by the pear trees next to the aloes .




And empty fields , while others are awash with white daisies





While all over , in in ditches and stream next to road , wherever there are small ponds , you will find " waterblommetjies " in profusion .
These little waterflowers ( actually , the flower is up to about 10 centimeters across ) disappear during summer when the ponds dry up , and start growing again when the rains fill them from May onwards . Towards then end of the growing season ( August/September ) ,the flowers have developed a big bulb-like head , and these are harvested , and are cooked like a vegetable , in a lamb-stew . Very nice and much sought after, " waterblommetjie bredie " ( waterflower stew ) , is a an old traditional meal here in the Cape .
I will be picking some soon , and freeze a lot for later use .

]

[nan]

white carpet, both Daisy and Waterlily

[Lisbeth]

Waterflower stew That's a new one, but sounds interesting

The white daisies are lovely

[Flutterby]

Lovely pics okie!! I love the colours of the vineyards in autumn!

[okie]

Waterflower stew That's a new one, but sounds interesting

The white daisies are lovely

Lisbeth ; you will often find that restaurants at wine cellars offer this traditional fare , so next time you visit the Cape in winter ......... .

See link :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterblommetjiebredie

Get a table close to the fire , relax , get cosy , open a bottle of nice Cape desert wine to enjoy with the waterblommetjie and lamb bredie , and forget about the winter-storm blowing outside

[Lisbeth]

Stupid me, who thought that you would invite me to your farm and see where the water flowers come from In any case I would come in summer........but having them in the freezer..... on a cool December evening.......

P.S. You are safe, I don't care very much for lamb meat