The spring storms and drizzles have started falling on parched lands countrywide, and the ensuing annual spectacle of blossoms and new growth is slowly but surely brightening our world.
In most of the country the green flush is peeping through, and in some areas, a kaleidoscope of brilliant colour already carpets the landscape.
Like a cosmic gift to soothe the soul after a torrid winter of anxiety and hardship, nature blessed the western parts of South Africa with the best wildflower season in 30 years.
From early August onwards, the sheer variety and blaze of colours, shapes and patterns have created an ever-changing visual smorgasbord for the wandering traveller.
Every week the colours change, the fields deepen, and the rainbow of blossoms render visitors speechless for superlatives.
As far as nature is concerned, this year has been an opus. The show’s not yet over either, and for those who are able to hit the road, a few weeks of floral extravaganza remain, thanks to late rains along the western coast.
And it’s not just about the daisies, vygies and vivid lumo-yellow canola fields – the Cape Floral Region is a World Heritage Site with numerous pockets of protected areas from fynbos to rhenosterveld to the knersvlakte.
Succulents, too, are having their moment of glory right now.
It is impossible to proceed one metre in places without encountering yet another display of botanical bounty.
Truly, there is something for everyone. Not to be outdone, there are countless treasures to be found closer to Zululand, too.
The slower you walk or drive, the more catches your eye. Some of these beauties are smaller than a pinkie nail, but get down close and you will see just how incredibly intricate the petals are.
There is a world of wonder in the ‘weeds’ and grasses that add a whole other dimension to a game drive.
Lately the iSimangaliso grasslands have offered random bursts of orange scadoxus puniceus (paintbrush lilies), interspersed with tiny lilac and purple flowerheads among the sunshine yellow of flowering helichrysum.
In the weeks to come, the crinum lilies will unfold their streaky pink petals in a glorious display across the otherwise rugged, thorny bushveld. (Here’s a tip: the road towards Mpila camp in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is usually a hot spot in October/November).
In St Lucia’s coastal forest, September is the time for the Rothmannia globosa, aptly named ‘September Bells’, to cover the nondescript green trees in a splurge of delicate white blossoms for a few weeks.
Even on the beaches pops of colour regularly emerge, from vibrant yellow dune daisies to hot pink Natal sour fig flowers.
A growing movement worldwide is to stop taming gardens, verges, and public spaces and to instead allow the rampant growth of self-seeded flora – not only for the loveliness, but also to encourage pollinators and biodiversity.
For almost every blossom is visited by a multitude of bees, bugs, butterflies and other tiny creatures furiously going about their business in a constant buzz of activity.
Spring’s wild and wonderful indigenous display is a breathtaking reminder of the countless gifts of nature, of renewal and beauty and hope for a return of life. And don’t we all need a bit of that?
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