Number 17: April/May 2006
ISSN 1810-5580
Full-size PDF of cover (112K)
A village garden
When we moved into our new house in Stanford two years ago, we knew we preffered indigenous plants to those from foreign shores. The only concession was some roses and lavender at the front door. Since then we have planted 39 indigenous trees (plus one from South America, a leopard tree, that was sold to us as a local).
The rewards have been gratifying.We have identified over seventy bird species in our immediate surroundings. Yesterday, Annalize photographed fourteen different kinds of birds within an hour. There are sugarbirds every day, attracted by the indigenous flowering shrubs. Over thirty waxbills join the four kinds of doves and other birds at the feeders, which I replenish at least twice a day. They even come onto the stoep while we are sitting there.
As the plants grow, more birds are making this their home. A pair of robin chats have apparently bred in the honeysuckle at the fence, and we now see the parents with their chick hopping about. Before that, fiscal flycatchers hatched a chick and we still watch the three of them catching insects. Bullbulls, drongos, three types of sparrows, hoopoos, brown-hooded kingfishers, paradise flycatchers… And then there are the butterflies as well!
Cover portrait
Prof George van der Spuy is a memorable man in all respects. From his childhood in Uniondale he followed his muse to eventually earn the highest respect in the world of music. Annalize Mouton, who studied with him for five years and also obtained her licenciate in singing under Prof, revisits her beloved tutor – page 10. Photo: Maré Mouton
Contents
4 Agulhas lighthouse saved from the bulldozers
By Maré Mouton
This historic landmark attracts thousands of visitors, but its light was almost dimmed for ever
10 Prof George van der Spuy –
Music maestro from Uniondale
By Annalise Mouton
Meet this amazing man who still teaches singing at age 87
16 Robertson, then and now
By Anita de Kock
The town’s past and present history is preserved in the Robertson Museum, housed at Druid’s Lodge
19 A special offer for our readers from Jonathan Ball Publishers:
Buy a travel guide at a reduced price and get a free touring atlas
20 Every track tells him a story
Pokkie Benade of the Karoo National Park uses his tracking skills not for hunting, but for conservation
22 His art flows freely
By Helena Marincowitz
Well-known artist Hekkie Moos draws all the time, on anything
24 After ashes, beauty
New and familiar plants appear in the blackened earth after the recent fires in the Overberg
28 Zuurbraak – a bit of paradise
We follow in the footsteps of Molly D’Arcy Thompson to this historic mission village, another forgotten corner of the Cape
34 Nuy – where a farm was bartered for a whip
This well-known wine-producing area started out as livestock country where some land wasn’t worth much
38 New biological agent curtails Rooikrans
By Judy Moore
A tiny midge is the latest biological agent that helps to control the spread of this alien weed (read article as PDF)
40 Talons of death
Nico Myburgh introduces, in words and stunning pictures, the fearsome Crowned Eagle (read full text)
44 Country Table
Try this nourishing beef casserole
46 Salad fresh from the sea
Louie Lemmer continues her series on edible seaweeds
48 Tail piece
A rather fishy story from the Karoo: What are the goldfish doing in the plastic bags? |
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