Bloemhof Karoo

02/11/2026

A garden post!….some favourites looking glorious at the moment!

Pinks are the Easter Lily Cactus…blooms once a year, and only for 1-3 days.

Next are Birds of Paradise…so named as they appear like an exotic bird in flight.

Pomegranate are most probably my favourite on the farm, such abundance when they’re laden with fruit.

Silky Oak looking so beautiful against the homestead, and finally Sutherlandia, known as the cancer bush. Am so thrilled to have seen it this morning….medicinally so good for us!

Garden joy abounding at the moment

28/10/2026

28/10/2026

Enjoying an hour in the garden whilst waiting for Book festival guests…we’re going to be planting this shade cloth covered garden tomorrow.

Food security and being self-sustaining as far as possible is a high priority for us. Its also more challenging than one would imagine…nature is always at the ready!

These women are very special; actually so lovely working together.

13/09/2026

Sunday today….these incredible animals almost came to join for early morning coffee on the Stoep!!

Bison are actually quite sociable animals…often wander very close to homestead when we’re there.

They have very intricate and interesting hierarchies of dominance within both males and females, this being related back to their birth date.
Those born earlier will be larger, more dominant and more fertile.
Cows usually nurse their calves for 8 months or so, but if the cow doesnt fall pregnant, she could well continue nursing her calf until 18 months old.

We only have a couple of Bison now, due to time and nature…how we’d love to see the habits of larger herds.
But of course thankful to be able to see these incredible animals so close up.

11/09/2026

A great day in Graaff Reinet…perusing so many interesting little spots and wonderful endeavours of such creative people. All just felt so gently fulfilling and inspiring.
Staying at the Drostdy Hotel is always a wonderful experience….truly feels world class!
Amazing Staff…all just so fabulous…
even down to Tinkerbell’s La Crueset crockery!
Immense gratitude for this beautiful historic town on our doorstep

10/09/2026

Off to Graaff Reinet for chores, and a spoil of a stay at the Drostdy Hotel.
Dam on the outskirts absolutely full to the brim and overflowing.

Magnificent sight! This bodes so well for the water table and whole area 🙏🏻🙏🏻

Of course first stop always coffee at Maria’s, where beans are toasted…such a coffee fragrance as one enters

05/09/2026

Lien proudly checking on the 3 lives she’d just saved. So thankful for her calmness and courage 🙏🏻

05/09/2026

2nd little lamb born…amazing how clean first little one is 💜💜

05/09/2026

2nd lamb just born 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️❤️❤️