Flame Trees in Cape Town
The flame trees in Cape Town – also called ‘coral trees’ or here an Erithrina caffra I photographed in Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens – are literally exploding and a real inspiration of spring.
Of course, the Greeks were there with the word ερυθρóς (erythros), meaning “red,”and red indeed they are, at least here in South Africa. I planted a flame tree in my garden about 10 years ago and I’m still waiting for it to ‘flame’… meanwhile the ivy is wrapping itself around the grey, bumpy bark and a frustrating insect is forcing its way through the inside of the branches. Perhaps next year . . .
Flame Trees in Cape Town
I actually reserved this picture of a flame tree in Cape Town for the next person on the Semiomantics Expert Team to come up with their professional material for Website Publishing, but good things take time and besides… believe it or not: we had snow this night in De Doorns and all may take a little longer :)
Words by Nelson Mandela
Talking of flames and inspiration, I came across these wise words by South African legend Nelson Mandela again – light beams in our tumultuous times… enjoy and let it sink in deep:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frighten us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone.
And, as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Who will be the next to receive and carry the Semiomantics Flame. . . ?
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