TREE WATCH: The ever-changing trees of Kulafumbi

Acacia Tortilis - Top Road - Close Up

The acacia tortilis, the iconic "umbrella tree" of Africa comes into leaf 5 weeks before the rains - as sure a sign as any long range weather forecast. The Tortilis is the only acacia tree with both straight and hooked thorns. This one is on our property, just off the 'top road'.

Small Acacia Tortilis - Top Road

A smaller acacia tortilis, on the other side of the 'top road' from the tree photographed above.

Small Garden Baobab 1

One of the small garden Baobabs, transplanted from further inland in early October 2007.

Front Door Baobab

This small Baobab, transplanted in late September 2007, just days before our wedding, stands by the ramp leading up to our front door. By the amount of foliage it has already, you can see it is thriving - as is the grass which has self-seeded beneath it, and is enjoying the water which we give to the tree every second day. 22 October 2007

Small Garden Baobab 3

One of the small garden Baobabs, transplanted from further inland in early October 2007.

Small Garden Baobab 4 - sprouting leaves

One of the small garden Baobabs, transplanted from further inland in early October 2007.

Small Chunky Garden Baobab

This is another of our small transplanted Baobabs - this one has been planted at the top of the drive. I love it for its 'attitude' - somehow like a bulldog - chunky and precocious, already sending out new leaf shoots from its top, where it had been squashed down by kids climbing up and perching on top of it. No more of that now that it is safely installed in our garden!

Small Chunky Garden Baobab - Close Up of Leaf Shoots

Close up of new leaf shoots at the top of our chunky Baobab.

Small Euphorbia in Garden

This small euphorbia has been planted next to our chunky baobab. There are hundreds of different euphorbia species in Africa - real dry-country specialists. This one should grow tall in time, given enough water.

Chunky Baobab & Euphorbia

The chunky little Baobab and the Euphorbia - transplants growing up together...

Small Garden Baobab 6

Small transplanted Baobab to left of driveway as leaving house.

Baobab Leaf Shoot - Close Up

One of our young transplanted Baobabs sending out new leaf shoots.

Large Baobab in Leaf - Top Road - Oct 29 2007

A large Baobab in leaf (as seen from the 'top road'), photographed on October 29 2007.

Baobab across Mtito River

This is the large Baobab across the Mtito River from the house, photographed on 22 October 2007.

Commiphora coming into Leaf - 29 October 2007

With the advent of the first rain, the Commiphora (a predominant tree in the acacia-commiphora bushland of this area) wastes no time in coming into leaf, its tight green buds creating endless interesting photo opportunities.

Commiphora coming into Leaf - 29 October 2007(a)

With the advent of the first rain, the Commiphora trees waste no time in coming into leaf, their tight green buds creating endless interesting photo opportunities.

Commiphora coming into Leaf - 29 October 2007(b)

With the advent of the first rain, the Commiphora trees waste no time in coming into leaf, their tight green buds creating endless interesting photo opportunities.

Doum Palm - Mtito/Athi Confluence

The Doum Palm is one of my all-time favourite trees. I love the shape of them, and their fan-like leaves, and the endless russle of the wind through their spiky tops. This large tree grows just to the right of our house, where the Mtito River flows into the Athi (when the Mtito flows at all, that is - which is only at the height of the rainy season.)

Doum Palm Fronds - CU

Close-up of Doum Palm fronds.

Doum Palm Fronds - BCU

Big close-up of Doum Palm fronds.

Sterculia by Hippo Lawn

A translanted Sterculia - now located near our Hippo Lawn, amongst the Commiphora thicket behind the house.

Sterculia with Superb Starlings

This sterculia tree has been planted on the right hand side of the driveway (as you leave the house), amongst the commiphora and bauhinia thicket, which the birds love - here are a couple of Superb Starlings foraging for insects and fruit.

Garden Terminalia - by driveway

Terminalia will grow from off-cuts, providing some of the root system remains...so even the 'logs' we have placed in amongst the other trees should eventually send up shoots. Once they are established and start flowering and seeding, they should be stunning with their large, round red seeds. We've got a couple of Terminalia in our roof garden too.

Garden Terminalia - by Hippo Lawn

Terminalia will grow from off-cuts, providing some of the root system remains...so even the 'logs' we have placed in amongst the other trees should eventually send up shoots. This one has been planted on the edge of the Hippo Lawn, near the Sterculia, amongst the Commiphora thicket behind the house.

Garden Terminalia - by driveway - from a 'log'

Terminalia will grow from off-cuts, providing some of the root system remains...so even the 'logs' we have placed in amongst the other trees should eventually send up shoots.

Garden Terminalia - by driveway - from a 'log' (a)

Terminalia will grow from off-cuts, providing some of the root system remains...so even the 'logs' we have placed in amongst the other trees should eventually send up shoots.

Garden Terminalia with Squirrel in BG

A Ground Squirrel feeds amongst the transplanted Terminalia trees in the 'garden' by our driveway.

Terminalia Leaf Shoots

After the first rain, our transplanted Terminalia Trees started to sprout tiny new leaves.

Terminalia Leaf Shoots - Close Up

After the first rain, our transplanted Terminalia Trees started to sprout tiny new leaves, here seen in close-up.

Fig Tree Seedlings 01

Gathered from the riverbed where they were growing in the sandy banks (and waiting to be washed away by the next high water), and awaiting planting out in the bank below our house. These seedlings are being kept on the balcony, to save them from marauding, voracious dik-diks. 22 October 2007

Fig Tree Seedlings 02

More fig tree seedlings...22 October 2007

Fig Tree Protected from Dik-Diks

We've enclosed this thriving little Fig Tree (in our garden, just behind the kitchen) in wire, to protect it from Dik-Diks who would demolish the lush green leaves in one sitting. Photographed 22 October 2007.

Delonix Elata Trees by "Little Serengeti"

Ian calls this area, cleared for tents during our wedding, the "Little Serengeti". We're hoping that the rain will enable this area to grass over to attract the grazing species, which have a tough time in this bushland environment. Two large delonix elata trees stand to one side, leafless at the moment. 22 October 2007

Baobab New Shoot from Trunk (23 October 2007)

I thought it was interesting how this young Baobab (one of our garden transplants) is sending out new leaf shoots directly from its main trunk. Eventually, I suppose, this will become a branch in its own right. Read more news from October 23rd 2007...

Hippo Lawn Commiphora (24 Oct 07)

The commiphora africana tree on the Hippo Lawn, much favoured by birds when in fruit. News from this day...

TREE WATCH: The ever-changing trees of Kulafumbi

Acacia Tortilis - Top Road - Close Up

Small Acacia Tortilis - Top Road

Small Garden Baobab 1

Front Door Baobab

Small Garden Baobab 3

Small Garden Baobab 4 - sprouting leaves

Small Chunky Garden Baobab

Small Chunky Garden Baobab - Close Up of Leaf Shoots

Small Euphorbia in Garden

Chunky Baobab & Euphorbia

Small Garden Baobab 6

Baobab Leaf Shoot - Close Up

Large Baobab in Leaf - Top Road - Oct 29 2007

Baobab across Mtito River

Commiphora coming into Leaf - 29 October 2007

Commiphora coming into Leaf - 29 October 2007(a)

Commiphora coming into Leaf - 29 October 2007(b)

Doum Palm - Mtito/Athi Confluence

Doum Palm Fronds - CU

Doum Palm Fronds - BCU

Sterculia by Hippo Lawn

Sterculia with Superb Starlings

Garden Terminalia - by driveway

Garden Terminalia - by Hippo Lawn

Garden Terminalia - by driveway - from a 'log'

Garden Terminalia - by driveway - from a 'log' (a)

Garden Terminalia with Squirrel in BG

Terminalia Leaf Shoots

Terminalia Leaf Shoots - Close Up

Fig Tree Seedlings 01

Fig Tree Seedlings 02

Fig Tree Protected from Dik-Diks

Delonix Elata Trees by "Little Serengeti"

Baobab New Shoot from Trunk (23 October 2007)

Hippo Lawn Commiphora (24 Oct 07)

Close-up commiphora africana bark, spikes & leaves (24 Oct 07)

Close-up commiphora africana fruit (24 Oct 07)

Close-up commiphora africana leaves and resin (24 Oct 07)

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