Here are a few photographs from my travels in South Africa:
Cango Caves, OudtshoornWaterfall at Tsitsikamma National ParkSunset at Madikwe National ParkJohannesburg street lined with jacaranda treesField of flowersOne of my Save the Planet cakes depicting a fish with a face mask wrapped around its tail and choking on a plastic glove
Wow, your photography of areas around South Africa is so beautiful, Robbie! I am very partial to Jacaranda trees because we had them in San Diego and I loved seeing them when they bloomed there in June. But your cake says it all with the gloves and mask–that really makes a statement and is a sad testament to all the garbage we carelessly toss. I always cut the six-pack plastic rings up so they don’t end up around some aquatic being’s neck. Gorgeous poem about the dried flowers. At least they’re compostable!
HI Terri, the plastic in the oceans and its impact on aquatic life (and on people too) is so tragic. My son got a bacteria infection from playing in the ocean. He had a mosquito bite which became infected and he was very ill. The doctor told me the ocean is full of harmful bacteria now. It is true that dried flowers are biodegradable and much better than plastic ones.
I love those jacaranda trees in bloom! I feel the way your poem describes dying cut flowers, but not when it comes to wildflowers. I thought the fish cake was a real fish!
HI Liz, thank you, that cake came out well. It is one of my environmental series of cakes. I wrote this poem about the flowers in the picture. Proteas are so beautiful and colourful when they are alive and fade to grey when dried.
Hi JoAnna, I’m glad you enjoyed this post and poem. These particular dried flowers made me a little sad as they were alive and vibrant a few weeks ago.
I do like to have vases of flowers in the house, but it is not the same as seeing them in their natural growing state.
Your cake makes a very strong statement. (K)
HI Kerfe, thank you. That cake is one of my environmental series of cakes. I have a few that I designed to make strong statements. I also prefer flowers in the garden but they can be very pretty in a vase too, especially roses.
Hi Wayne, I made this particular cake some time ago. During covid when I saw how all the masks and gloves were going into the see. My current artwork is actually very cheerful and bright. My poetry has been rather bleak, that is true. It is my venting mechanism and helps me stay positive in ‘real life’. There is no time to dwell on negatives when you have children to keep uplifted and happy.
I am creating a leopard in a tree picture, Wayne, and it is making me very happy. It will be in charcoal but I think its going to be lovely when its done.
Robbie, you have wonderful photos of our beautiful earth, and a fondant fish to remind us to take care of our earth. The bonus is your lovely poetry. Let’s take care of our earth.
Hi Audrey, the fish cake was intended to send a strong message about plastic waste in the see and I wanted it to look as real as possible. I am creating a Chinese cupcake dragon now for a children’s book festival. I love the jacaranda trees.
I’ve been on a few cave tours and they’re alway amazing. Thanks for sharing your photos with us. Plastics are a huge concern, but we seem reluctant to replace them with anything.
Robbie, all the photos are intriguing and beautiful but the fish cake stopped me in my tracks. I have been reading a lot this week about how plastic is affecting our environment including our bodies. Scary!
Your fish cake is very unsettling, Robbie. It gets the message across. Your poem about dried flowers is sad too. I admire the way you use art to share your important messages.
Such an interesting post – such variety. Love seeing pics of the Jacaranda trees – I’ve heard much about them from friends who’ve lived in Africa. Dried flowers are a big no-no for anyone suffering from dust allergies! Cake looks sad though yummy. Is that possible?
Beautiful rock formations, Robbie and your beautifully sculpted fish(cake) is a reminder to us all of just what carelessly discarding waste does to marine life 🙂 x
Beautiful pictures of S. Africa, Roberta.
Your poem is lovely. I like dried flowers, even if they are former princesses.
The fish cake is the truth.
I’ve been saving plastic mesh bags since the pandemic happened.
I began ordering groceries for delivery then.
Some of the produce comes in plastic mesh bags.
I can’t toss them. They end up in landfill, and the birds that eat there get their beaks caught in the mesh, and starve to death.
They are not recyclable.
I intend to make an Art Gown out of them.
HI Resa, our on-line shopping also comes in plastic bags for some strange reason. The bags are not mesh but regular plastic bags. Some of the local people make bowls and other utensils out of the plastic bags so I save them. I must actually post a picture of their work. It is very pretty and made solely from recycled plastic bags. I save empty 2l Coke bottles for the ‘grow herbs in a bottle’ campaign. I made a few environmental cakes that were intended to make a strong point. This is one of them. I actually don’t mind dried flowers, they are much better than plastic flowers which I would never buy. These ones just made me a little sad and this poem came to me.
Those caves remind me of the caves I saw in Margaret River, Western Australia. There are countless caves there but three of them are famous. Out of those, I really loved the Lake Cave. It has this incredible formation that is floating above the lake.
roberta-writes.com 
Nice stalactite formation in the Congo cave. Lovely photos.
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Thanks, Timothy. The Cango Caves is amazing.
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If you ever make it over here, you’ll need to put Carlsbad Caverns on your list of things to do.
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I remember your posts about those caves and I have made a note of it. I love caves.
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Wow, your photography of areas around South Africa is so beautiful, Robbie! I am very partial to Jacaranda trees because we had them in San Diego and I loved seeing them when they bloomed there in June. But your cake says it all with the gloves and mask–that really makes a statement and is a sad testament to all the garbage we carelessly toss. I always cut the six-pack plastic rings up so they don’t end up around some aquatic being’s neck. Gorgeous poem about the dried flowers. At least they’re compostable!
LikeLiked by 2 people
HI Terri, the plastic in the oceans and its impact on aquatic life (and on people too) is so tragic. My son got a bacteria infection from playing in the ocean. He had a mosquito bite which became infected and he was very ill. The doctor told me the ocean is full of harmful bacteria now. It is true that dried flowers are biodegradable and much better than plastic ones.
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Oh! Robbie lovely photos and I love the poem 🌹🌹
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HI Willow, thank you, I pleased to know that.
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Fabulous pictures! We have jacaranda trees here too. I just love them.
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HI DArlene, they really beautify the city for the few weeks they are in bloom in October. A wonderful celebration of spring.
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I love those jacaranda trees in bloom! I feel the way your poem describes dying cut flowers, but not when it comes to wildflowers. I thought the fish cake was a real fish!
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HI Liz, thank you, that cake came out well. It is one of my environmental series of cakes. I wrote this poem about the flowers in the picture. Proteas are so beautiful and colourful when they are alive and fade to grey when dried.
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You’re welcome, Robbie.
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GREAT photos of nature and the natural world, Robbie! Another excellent poem, too. I enjoy your posts containing varied elements.
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HI DAve, I am pleased to know you like the variety. I found those dried flowers which were live flowers a few weeks ago, rather sad.
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another beautiful & thought provoking post
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Thank you, da-AL, so much beauty in nature.
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Gorgeous photos of the sunset and waterfall. The cave is fascinating. Dried flowers give hints of their former lives, I like their softness.
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Hi JoAnna, I’m glad you enjoyed this post and poem. These particular dried flowers made me a little sad as they were alive and vibrant a few weeks ago.
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I do like to have vases of flowers in the house, but it is not the same as seeing them in their natural growing state.
Your cake makes a very strong statement. (K)
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HI Kerfe, thank you. That cake is one of my environmental series of cakes. I have a few that I designed to make strong statements. I also prefer flowers in the garden but they can be very pretty in a vase too, especially roses.
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And they are easier to paint that way!
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As an artist, would you say you are in your “Blue” period Robbie?
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Hi Wayne, I made this particular cake some time ago. During covid when I saw how all the masks and gloves were going into the see. My current artwork is actually very cheerful and bright. My poetry has been rather bleak, that is true. It is my venting mechanism and helps me stay positive in ‘real life’. There is no time to dwell on negatives when you have children to keep uplifted and happy.
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I am creating a leopard in a tree picture, Wayne, and it is making me very happy. It will be in charcoal but I think its going to be lovely when its done.
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excellent ,looking forward to it Robbie!
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Wow, such amazing photos, Robbie. That cake sends a message for sure.
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Hi Carla, I created a few environmental cakes which I designed to send strong messages. I’m glad you like the pictures.
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Robbie, you have wonderful photos of our beautiful earth, and a fondant fish to remind us to take care of our earth. The bonus is your lovely poetry. Let’s take care of our earth.
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Hi Jennie, I couldn’t agree more.
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🙂
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The flowering jacarandas look magical! We have pink-flowering street trees here, but not blue. The fish cake is so realistic!
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Hi Audrey, the fish cake was intended to send a strong message about plastic waste in the see and I wanted it to look as real as possible. I am creating a Chinese cupcake dragon now for a children’s book festival. I love the jacaranda trees.
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I’ve been on a few cave tours and they’re alway amazing. Thanks for sharing your photos with us. Plastics are a huge concern, but we seem reluctant to replace them with anything.
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Robbie, all the photos are intriguing and beautiful but the fish cake stopped me in my tracks. I have been reading a lot this week about how plastic is affecting our environment including our bodies. Scary!
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Your fish cake is very unsettling, Robbie. It gets the message across. Your poem about dried flowers is sad too. I admire the way you use art to share your important messages.
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Fascinating pictures, Robbie, and a touching poem. 🙂 ❤
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A lovely poem, and those jacaranda trees are beautiful!
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Such an interesting post – such variety. Love seeing pics of the Jacaranda trees – I’ve heard much about them from friends who’ve lived in Africa. Dried flowers are a big no-no for anyone suffering from dust allergies! Cake looks sad though yummy. Is that possible?
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Beautiful rock formations, Robbie and your beautifully sculpted fish(cake) is a reminder to us all of just what carelessly discarding waste does to marine life 🙂 x
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Reblogged this on Ed;s Site..
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Lovely photos and I really love the last line of your poem, princesses past ❤️
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Thank you, Brigette
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Beautiful pictures of S. Africa, Roberta.
Your poem is lovely. I like dried flowers, even if they are former princesses.
The fish cake is the truth.
I’ve been saving plastic mesh bags since the pandemic happened.
I began ordering groceries for delivery then.
Some of the produce comes in plastic mesh bags.
I can’t toss them. They end up in landfill, and the birds that eat there get their beaks caught in the mesh, and starve to death.
They are not recyclable.
I intend to make an Art Gown out of them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
HI Resa, our on-line shopping also comes in plastic bags for some strange reason. The bags are not mesh but regular plastic bags. Some of the local people make bowls and other utensils out of the plastic bags so I save them. I must actually post a picture of their work. It is very pretty and made solely from recycled plastic bags. I save empty 2l Coke bottles for the ‘grow herbs in a bottle’ campaign. I made a few environmental cakes that were intended to make a strong point. This is one of them. I actually don’t mind dried flowers, they are much better than plastic flowers which I would never buy. These ones just made me a little sad and this poem came to me.
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I adore your poems.
I’d love to see what the locals make out of recycled plastic!!!
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I will take a picture of our bowl to post.
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👍
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Those are great photos…the cave is awesome. Love the color of the Jacaronda tree.
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Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed these pictures.
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Those caves remind me of the caves I saw in Margaret River, Western Australia. There are countless caves there but three of them are famous. Out of those, I really loved the Lake Cave. It has this incredible formation that is floating above the lake.
Do check it out on google if you get the chance.
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Thanks, I will. I’ve been to the Waitomo Caves in New Zealand but haven’t yet visited Australia.
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