- Maya Angelou
Well, it's July (2011) and we've had our first veld fires here in Tarlton (Gauteng, South Africa), much later than last year, when the fires had already started in April. This fire had come over the hills and was burning along-side the road as we passed on our way to Magaliesburg, thick smoke slowing traffic to a crawl. My heart always sinks, thinking of all the helpless little animals in the path of these, sometimes roaring, monsters.
South Africa is well-known for it's veld fires (wild fires) during Winter and, although destructive in many ways, especially for our wildlife, it is a necessary part of nature to ensure a healthy balance in our eco-system.
Watercolour in my Moleskine Nature Journal
here in Canada the wild fires are raging,, the hot season brings the lightening,,, it is a necessary part of the circle of life but a very scary one.You captured it beautifully!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this lovely painting--and the information. I know that wildfires are part of the ecosystem managing itself but it always seems so scary and so unpredictable as well as destructive. Nature isn't always kind...you have done a wonderful job showing us this piece that you have done!
ReplyDeleteWell done, Maree...and thank you for reminding us that destruction is also part of nature.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Laurie and yes, I agree on both counts!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Mary! Although they are necessary to the ecology, the only problem with some of the fires is that they're not natural, being caused by man's carelessness and that's when the biggest destruction occurs.
ReplyDeleteYes, it certainly is Kate, some of our wild flowers won't flower unless they've been activated by burning and it's a weird sight seeing the black, charred landscape with all these beautiful red aloes in full flower!
ReplyDelete