ULF & THE LITTLE PAINTED LADY

Last week I was extremely fortunate to go walking with two doyens of the travel
industry from opposite sides of the world. Ulf Hansen represents Hummingbird
Lifetysle Travel in Sweden an

d Nick Buckland is with
Into Africa in South Africa. Nick’s energetic son Dennis joined
us and we could not have wished for a better day on which to walk one of the greatest
routes in South Africa.

It’s that time of year again when we are spoiled by flowers. I am always amazed
at (and enthralled by) the delicate and exquisite Gladioli which grow in the
harshest locations, impervious to the howling wind or desiccating sun. Many of the
species in this genus have narrow sword-shaped leaves and this is the origin of the
name “gladiolus”, which is the Latin for a small sword. On this walk we were graced
by the appearance of the little painted ladies (Gladiolus debilis). No matter how
often I see these beauties – I always gasp at their loveliness. It would have been a
wonderful day without the painted ladies, but it was a special day with them.