Beautiful Bulawayo

Beautiful Bulawayo has indeed blossomed with this unexpected early start to the rainy season. The ditches and road verges are resplendent with wildflowers.
The Lion's Ear - brilliant orange sometimes called the Minaret flowers, the brilliant red Tumbleweed stands proudly in the veld, our national flower - the Flame lily hides shyly in the dense grass after the prolific rains, and the Wild Hibiscus is bountiful but often goes unnoticed. Even Storm Lillies abound, seldom seen in the dryer seasons, and the Wild Iris is very evident, we also saw a field of tubular Rain Lilies, a real treat during this glorious and unusual wet season.

HeeHoo and I took a Sunday foray to the Hillside Dams and were thrilled with the care and attention the dams have been afforded by the Hillside Dams Conservancy. My childhood involved almost weekly visits to walk around the dams and often listen to the BSAP Band playing on the verdant lawns. The Lower Dam struggles to fill but the Upper Dam was half full and beautiful. One of the most fabulous sections at the Hillside Dams is the Aloe Garden, I believe there are over 40 species of Aloes in Zimbabwe and many of them are tastefully featured at the Dams, amidst the beautiful rock formations. There is ample and clever drainage and nicely constructed paths meandering through the Aloes with strategically placed shady benches and tables for visitors to sit and commune with the peace and nature. One of the paths leads enticingly to the top of one of the massive granite extrusions where a magnificent view of the canopy is offered. The array of indigenous trees is fascinating, all of them revelling in the bounteous rains we have been having.

At the top of the Upper Dam is the Waterfront, a fun filled children's escape with kayaking, trampolines and zip lining. The Waterfront is also a popular venue for picnics, weddings and parties - so green and verdant with stunning views. After a very pleasant breakfast at the restaurant, (with excellent coffee too) we decided to take a peek into Lyn's garden and exciting Christmas Cottage

The Bromeliads were in flower and were breathtaking, the entire garden was an unexpected paradise and her 'Christmas Cottage' was filled with exquisite Christmas decor as only Lyn knows how.

From the heart of Beautiful Bulawayo we wish you a wonderful Christmas and we pray the New Year will be kind to all our wonderful citizens and to all our special people scattered all over the World.