The Trouble of Oak

Yes it is spring in Joburg. Birds are mating, flowers blossoming and the sun is shining. Everywhere there is evidence of this beautiful fresh season full of sweet smells and vibrant colours replacing the bleakness of winter. At our little spot on the map though, we have shifted back from winter rather than forward. We are the not so fortunate receivers of an autumn décor to rest our spring eyes on. The magnificent oak trees in our garden have determined to cover the newly greening lawn with a blanket of their winter death. Every morning, we wake to layers of brown dry leaves spread across every nook and cranny of our garden – 7 refuse bags worth daily. And then there are the spring rains…. It is not the turning of these discarded leaves into mulch that worries us; rather it’s the return of the Parktown Prawn. This red terrorist awakes from hibernation to reclaim his reign of King of the outdoor creepies. It is their nature to lurch aggressively from cover at unsuspecting open-air activists sending them fearingly back inside. In a normal spring season one could see them coming and make an escape before their attack, however, in the autumn of our little landscape, they have the perfect cover. Now we watch as leaves rustle across the invisible lawn and wonder in horror from behind the safety of windows whether there is a spring breeze blowing or if the crusaders of dread are out at play.

The flora as at the start of day ... by day end, the leaves are the only visibile foliage!