The fire season has come early this year. We have had two - on successive Friday nights starting at about ten pm. The first was a nasty one and was set by some viscious or insane arsonist in our back pasture. It got quite close to the waterberry forest and obviously our thatched house. Thanks to Taurai, firebreaks already in place, and to our neighbours we managed to put it out before any real damage was done. Last night they burnt the commonage or main paddock in the vlei but this was manageable. I sat in the landy, by myself and watched it burn itself out against the firebreaks and the main road and didn't get to bed until 2 am. I had to see it burn itself out out just in case the wind got up and it jumped the firebreaks. Gastly things bush fires, for all they are spectacular and beautiful (at a distance) at night. What sort of nutter is it that likes starting these things. Australia also has an annual problem and this year it has been disastrous for some poor folk.
The weather has been very cold this last month and there is a nasty flue bug around which I have escaped but which Jill and one Martha our housekeeper have both been aflicted by.
It is very dry and the garden at its winter bleakest although the aloes and kalenchoe have been in flower (not very special this year) and the "bogies"are spectacular.
The vervet monkeys continue to be a plague. Anyone out there with some bright ideas on how to control them?
About Me
- Jim and Jill Latham
- Jim Latham is the resident director managing the integrated programmes. He has a Ph. D in Applied Social Science (Social ecology) and a Master’s degree in Social Anthropology. He has spent his life in researching and facilitating rural development in Zimbabwe and the SADC region. He sees to the day to day running of the estate and implements garden design and landscaping following a plan developed by Liam Latham(The Garden Sage Ltd UK) with inputs from other members of the family. Jim is particularly versed in organic, natural farming methods and with the use of appropriate technology. He does consulting and facilitating as well as undertaking environmental management plans for corporate clients and individuals. Jill Latham is the curatrix of the sculpture garden in partnership with Tutani Mgabazi, a critically acclaimed sculptor with an international reputation. We concentrate on encouraging young, talented artists through their net work called Artists for Artists. Jill is a talented crafter in many different disciplines but favours designing stained glass windows and lampshades. She is an accomplished gardener with an artist’s eye for design and form.
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