Crinum paludosum at Sandhof

Crinum paludosum plants perform here in their thousands on the Sandhof farm in Namibia. The visitors celebrate and admire the achievements of a plant that many never see. The scale of human celebrations inevitably gravitate to interest levels, the import or rarity of what can be experienced. Media hype may confer unrealistic or untrue prominence to events, their impact or implications. In the absence of shared communication people also miss rare occurrences, or fail to appreciate them. Curiosity and interest ebbs and flows with huge individual differences as well.

There are seasons in nature, plant performance, but even more so in the related human habits and fancies that govern the frequency of viewings, pilgrimages and tourist activity. The message of natural heritage being increasingly appreciated in our time is, however, on the rise. Spring trips to Namaqualand are in South Africa at the top end of expressions of human interest and homage to natural beauty.

But do not underestimate the long-awaited blooming of the solitary container plant on the old age window sill. It highlights the year, or serves as fitting farewell to life.