Combretum mossambicense on a festive day

Around the time when bare upper branchlets of Combretum mossambicense suddenly erupt in spring flowers, surrounding deciduous trees of the open woodland are also at it. They all send signals of activity related to the new season’s production commitments, each according to its nature. Not many surpass the combretums in new growth ostentation.

The insects recently hatched or metamorphosed in their midst, most of them seriously hungry, frolic in gay abandon. For there is a delicious plenitude on festivily garlanded trees and other floriferous plants.

All of this may, of course, be too good to be true. Bigger hungry ones often lie in wait to eat the tiny nectar diners. Responding in too exuberant fashion is dangerous, even in people world. But truth is of little consequence where eating is bigger than thinking. And forever may for some be only a day.