Chinese New Year 2012 rings in Year of the Dragon.

At midnight on January 23, 2012, Chinese people around the world welcomed the new year, ushering in the Year of the Dragon.

Gong Xi Fa Ca! That’s the traditional Chinese New Year greeting that means “wishing you prosperity” in Mandarin. The first day of the Chinese New Year – which begins at midnight on January 23, 2012 – is the most important of Chinese holidays, celebrated by billions in China, and by millions of ethnic Chinese around the world. It’s a celebration that lasts for 15 days, culminating with the Lantern Festival. Each year is associated with one of twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac. For 2012, it’s the Year of the Dragon.

There are several variations on the mythology behind Chinese New Year celebrations. Most are based on a ugly bloodthirsty monster named Nian that would emerge on the last night of each year to destroy villages and eat people. A wise elder advised villagers to scare the monster away with loud noises. That night, they set fire to bamboo, lit fireworks, and banged their drums. The monster, afraid of the loud noises and lights, ran away to hide in its cave. In another version of the myth, an old man persuaded Nian to turn its wrath on other monsters, not the villagers. Before he was seen riding away on Nian, the old man, actually a god, advised the people to hang red paper decorations in their homes and set off firecrackers on the last night of the year to keep Nian away. On the first day of the new year, the villagers celebrated, greeting each other with the words “Guo Nian” which means “survive the Nian”, a tradition that has continued to this day to mean “celebrate the new year.”

In China, the familiar Gregorian calendar is used for day-to-day life. But Chinese calendar dates continue to be used to mark traditional holidays such as the new year and the fall moon festival. It’s also used astrologically to select favorable dates for weddings and other special events.

The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, in other words, a combination of solar and lunar calendars. It has a long history spanning several Chinese dynastic rules from as far back as the Shang Dynasty around fourteenth century B.C.. There are several different symbolic cycles within the calendar, used in Chinese astrology, that make it an intricate and complex measure of time.

A month in the Chinese calendar spans a single lunar cycle. The first day of the month begins during the new moon, when no sunlight falls on the lunar hemisphere that faces the Earth. A lunar cycle, on average, lasts 29.5 days, so a lunar month can last 29 or 30 days. Usually, there are 12 lunar months in a Chinese calendar year. In order to catch up with the solar calendar, which averages 365.25 days in a year, an extra month is added to the Chinese calendar every two or three years. As a result, Chinese New Year falls on different dates each year (in the Gregorian calendar) between January 21 and February 21.

Each year of the Chinese lunar calendar is represented by one of twelve animal symbols of the Chinese zodiac: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar. For 2012, it’s the dragon’s turn. According to Chinese astrology, people born on the year of the dragon are said to be strong, self-assured, eccentric, intellectual, and passionate, among other things.

Chinese New Year celebrations traditionally lasts 15 days, from the first day (during a new moon) to the 15th day (a full moon). Each day holds a special significance that varies according to local traditions. But first, before the arrival of the new year, homes are thoroughly cleaned to sweep away ill fortune, and to welcome good luck. On new year’s eve, there are family gatherings to celebrate and enjoy sumptuous traditional feasts, and to greet the new year with fireworks at midnight.

In the days that follow, festive dance parades are held featuring colorful dragons or lions, ceremonies are held to pay homage to deities and ancestors, children receive money in red envelopes, gifts are exchanged, extended family members visit each other, and there’s more traditional feasting.

Chinese New Year red envelopes, used for giving money to children, at Dihua Market, Taipei, Taiwan. Image credit: BCody80 via Wikimedia Commons.

The celebration culminates on the 15th day with the Lantern festival; on this night of the full moon, families mingle in the streets carrying lighted lanterns, often creating a beautiful light display.

Lantern Festival night in front of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei

The Chinese New Year for 2012 will be celebrated on 23 January. It’s the most important of Chinese holidays, celebrated by billions of people across the world. Festivities traditionally last for 15 days to culminate with the Lantern Festival. This calendar is based on a complex lunisolar calendar system that uses both lunar and solar cycles to mark time. As a result, Chinese New Year falls on different dates each year, between January 21 and February 21 of the conventional Gregorian calendar. Each Chinese lunar year is associated with one of twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac. For 2012, it’s the Year of the Dragon.

 

New Year at Kedar Country Hotel & Conference Centre, a time of birth and new beginnings.

 

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In the Northern Hemisphere Christmas takes place in the dead of winter and is a festival of rebirth and resurrection, a reminder that summer will one day return. In South Africa however we are blessed in that the festive season takes place when nature is full of bounty and life in abundance. We are in the height of summer at Kedar at present, and with good, late rains life is everywhere to be seen.

Starting with the Gardens and Landscaped areas throughout the Hotel, when you enter the main gate, please look to your left where you will be treated to a mass flowering display of the indigenous waterlily, Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea. This African plant was considered a sacred symbol of creation by the ancient Egyptians and is believed by many to have mystical properties to this day. It contains mildly psychoactive chemicals in its blooms and is also possibly the only carnivorous flower known, as it appears to prey on pollinating insects to promote its fruit formation.

The many trees planted along the road and in the pygmy hippo camp have really grown in the last year, with my personal favourites, the Fever Trees (Acacia xanthophloe) really shooting for the sky in the swamp sections of the hippo camp to your left when driving to the Hotel. This indigenous tree is becoming somewhat overplanted now days but its sulphur yellow bark truly has no equal amongst landscape trees!

Within the Hotels Gardens the landscape renovations necessitated by the flood have really come into their own with startling bursts of colour wherever you look, Agapanthus in blue and white, Dietes (wild iris) in white and yellow, Bougainvilleas in every shade imaginable, the Hesperantha (also known as Schizostylis, a wild water iris type plant) is shockingly red in the pond next to the new wedding chapel and many more of the odder collectors plants introduced into the landscape the last few months are starting to colour. Look out for oddities next to the Kruger Restaurant around the bird garden such as Brilliantasia subugularica (giant tropical sage) with its huge leaves and lipped blue flowers, or the myriad varieties of Plectranthus, shade loving relatives of rosemary, also with different shaped, often marked and scented leaves.

It is the calving season on the game farm section of the Estate, with young Zebra, Eland, Red Hartebeest, Blesbok, Wildebeest, Kudu, Impala and Springbok foals all very much in evidence. With the births timed for the rains there is an abundance of fresh new nutritious grazing for the mothers and their youngsters.

Unfortunately, with the rains come ticks which can carry disease; however, the treatment used on our animals is eco-friendly and does not affect the Ox-Peckers, who do a sterling job of getting the ticks we missed!

Speaking of birds, Kedar often plays host to visits of the local Bird Spotters Society (known as “Twitchers”, I’m more interested in plants so I’m not sure why…) They have kindly compiled a list of bird species seen at Kedar, where I am pleased to say that the policy of planting a majority of indigenous plants in the Gardens, and these of a great variety, is seriously paying off, with bird life in profuse and obvious abundance in the Gardens. This list is available on request for anyone who wishes to do some scouting of their own.

Kedar truly is a many splendored experience at this very special time of year. Please let us know what you think as we at the Recreation Africa Group are very proud of this little piece of bushveld heaven.

These are the birds at Kedar Country Hotel and Conference Centre

Kedar Bird List 2011

 

Recreation Africa welcomes Mr. Peter van Raaij. General Manager to Misty Hills Conference Centre and Spa

The Directors and staff of the Recreation Africa group are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Peter van Raaij to the position of General Manager at Misty Hills Country Hotel, Conference Centre and Spa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peter has had 25 years of extensive service within the the Hospitality Industry, both locally and internationally. He is a seasoned hotelier with experience gained from the Hilton Group (United Kingdom), Gloria Resorts (China), Grand Leisure Group (United Kingdom) and in Africa with Protea Hotels, the Three Cities Group, Thornberry Africa and Sun International. Peter’s expertise includes Banqueting and Events Management, Front and Back of House Management, Rooms Division Management and Director of Operations.

We would also like to take the time to thank Mr. Gilbert Hickman for his services to the Recreation Africa group as General Manager and wish him all the best in his future plans.

 

Heavyweight boxer, Joe Frazier loses battle to cancer. (January 12, 1944 – November 7, 2011)

Joe Frazier, former heavyweight boxer, with Mr. Robert Forsyth, Executive Chairman of the Recreation Africa Group of Companies at the Carnivore Restaurant, “Africa’s Greatest Eating Experience”.

Frazier emerged as the top contender in the late 1960s, defeating the likes of Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena, Buster Mathis, Eddie Machen, Doug Jones, George Chuvalo and Jimmy Ellis en route to becoming undisputed heavyweight champion in 1970, and followed up by defeating Muhammad Ali on points in the highly-anticipated “Fight of the Century” in 1971. Two years later, Frazier lost his title when he was knocked out by George Foreman. He fought on, beating Joe Bugner, losing a rematch to Ali, and beating Quarry and Ellis again.

The world-renowned Carnivore restaurant was one of the former heavyweight’s favourite restaurants to eat at. Accompanying him on this occasion was, Leon Spinks, who had an overall record of 26 wins, 17 losses and 3 draws as a professional, with 14 knockout wins, and was the former World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association heavyweight champion of the world.

 

Spring flowers at Misty Hills and Kedar, a spring delight

Visitors to our sister hotels, Misty Hills and Spa in the Counry and Kedar Country retreat are in for a treat this month as we are in the height of Clivia season!

Most Clivias in our gardens are Clivia miniata and hybrids of same; this is the showiest member of the genus and is one of the best foliage and flower plants available for those difficult to garden in areas under trees.

The genus Clivia is restricted in distribution to Southern Africa and at last count consists of five species, they have a worldwide following of fanciers who are forever improving on the wild types through selective breeding and hybridization.

The plants are in flower for at least six weeks in September and October and come in a myriad different colors and forms, below a few pictures of some of the highlights to be seen at Misty Hills:

 

 

 

 

 

First up is the fairly uncommon and delightful yellow form of Clivia miniata, its formal varietal name is “citrina” as in Clivia miniata var. citrina which occurs as a mutation in normal orange flowered populations. Hand pollination by Clivia fanciers has made this colour form available to the gardening public.

Next to be delighted in are the Belgian hybrid clivias, these are characterized by broader leaves than the pure species and more tulip shaped flowers in shades varying from orange through to deep red.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not to be outdone, the pure, good old fashioned wild type Clivia miniata, please note the more spidery orange blooms.

Misty Hills has literally thousands of Clivias throughout our lovely wooded garden areas, but don’t be shocked to see the collection growing at Kedar where we have just planted the rare Clivia robusta, the giant swamp Clivia from Pondoland in wetland areas near the Spa, as well as the showier C. miniata and its cultivars throughout the landscaped areas.

Off the subject for the moment, visitors to Kedar in the last week or so should have noticed our very showy and unusual burning bush or flame creeper, Combretum microphyllum which is in full bloom at present.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The petals on the flowers are extremely tiny, what gives the show are the long, bright orange and red stamens which give a shimmering, almost fluffy affect to the plants display.

This is an indigenous creeper but a bit sensitive to frost, it occurs in bushveld areas in Southern Africa and grows to be rather large if happy in its position.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My personal favorite at the moment, although sadly near the end of its display, is the very uncommon white/pink color mutation of the common red Coral Tree, Erythrina lysistemon. Ordinarily the flowers are radiant red but a one in a million mutation causes certain individuals to show odd and paler shades.

Luckily this tree is easy to propagate from cuttings so we will have many more of this natural wonder to plant in our gardens in future!

Until next time, please enjoy the spring flowers at our resorts; please be assured that I have only written about a small fraction of the variety on show at the moment!

 

Unveiling a monument dedicated to those who fought in the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902)

On 24^th September, 2011 (Heritage Day), the Recreation Africa group will be unveiling a monument that they have commissioned, dedicated to those who fought in the Anglo-Boer War.    Dignitaries from the major countries that participated in the war, such as Great Britain, Ireland, India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, the United States and Germany, have been invited to join with locals in unveiling the monument at Kedar Country Hotel, “Boekenhoutfontein” (the historic farm of President Paul Kruger), outside Rustenburg on the Sun City Road.

The monument, which has been designed by architect Nico Wessels, features four figures sculpted in bronze by renowned sculptor, Adam Madebe, representing a British soldier, an Indian soldier, a Boer fighter and a black African combatant.

 Robert Forsyth, Executive Chairman of the group, said that remembering the Anglo-Boer War matters because the stories we tell about what happened in the war will colour the history our descendants receive and pass along.

 The Anglo-Boer War had participants from all over the world – some 10 foreign and 7 colonial countries – and it brought about a metamorphosis from one type of warfare to another.  Out of it came guerilla warfare, trench warfare, concentration camps, barbed wire – and the end of the use of lances.

 Memorials play a part in shaping public memories.  They help to bring the tales of heroism and tragedy to the public that has moved on.   Memorials help breach the challenge to get the stories out there, so that future generations get to hear them and remember how we got here.

“People who lose their history lose their soul”

 

Aloes in the Kedar Succulent Garden.

Visitors to Kedar Country Hotel should have noticed the blaze of colors and the myriad sunbirds caused (and attracted) by the Aloe specimens in the succulent garden located next to the parking areas near Reception.

In response to our Guests questions I have decided to write a short blog entry regarding our Aloes, their importance in an ecologically minded garden and how they can be grown by anyone with an interest in these amazing plants.

Aloes are, oddly enough, somewhat related to lilies, and, according to some classification schemes are grouped in their own family, Asphodelaceae with their close relatives, Gasteria, Haworthia, Bulbine and Kniphofia (the red hot pokers) amongst a few others.

The Taxonomy of the group aside, the traits that make the genus Aloe exiting for the gardener are their relative ease of growth and maintenance, the huge variety in the genus from miniatures only a couple of centimeters high to giant tree forms, and the amazing flowers in every colour and shade except blue and purple.

Most Aloes available for the gardener in South Africa flower in winter and early spring, making them an invaluable addition to an ecological garden as they function as food reserves for birds and insects at a time of year when they have very little else to tide them over. Even birds that do not usually feed on nectar, such as bulbuls will be seen sipping nectar from flowering specimens.

Most Aloe species are easy in a garden, they require well composted soil that drains quickly, sufficient water during the growing season and full sun for at least 6-8 hours a day. Aloes do suffer from some pests and diseases but these are easily treated and putting a little Karbadust in the crown every now and then prevents most.

Aloes currently in flower in the Aloe Garden at Kedar belong to the following species:

Aloe parvibracteata

  

Aloe parvibracteata

A fast growing and almost indestructible “maculate” (bearing spots on its leaves) this aloe does not form stems but suckers in profusion. A useful groundcover in troublesome areas bears orange flowers anytime between July and September (sometimes earlier).

 

Aloe marlothii

 Aloe marlothii

This tall growing species occurs over a huge range in Southern Africa, and will often be found in massive colonies. Many colour forms occur but the most commonly found are variations of yellow-orange. As can be seen from the photographs inflorescences are usually borne horizontally which gives nectar feeding birds a perfect “landing-strip”. This Aloe species is often somewhat more susceptible to pests than other species in the genus but is a massive and desirable specimen plant.

Aloe ferox and A. chabaudii

Aloe ferox and A. chabaudii

Aloe ferox is an arborescent form somewhat similar in habit to A. marlothii and also occurs all over South Africa with many different colour forms. Shown in the foreground of the picture is a young orange flowered plants inflorescence. As you can see, the plant bears its inflorescences in a large candelabrum-like shape and is exceptionally showy when in flower, even when young.

The smaller plant in the picture is Aloe chabaudii, a plant that can be found growing as far north as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Most forms of the species are smallish plants which bear lovely branched inflorescences with flower colors ranging between orange and red.

Aloe lutescens

Aloe lutescens

A stem less species, Aloe lutescens stands out in a crowd due to its suckering habit, with a clump of plants producing a profusion of attractive, bicolor red to yellow flowers. Particularly attractive to sunbirds!

Of course, I am only mentioning the species in flower right now, the collection in the Aloe garden is large and increasing, and we hope to have Aloe specimens in flower almost throughout the year soon!

 

Update on Game at Kedar

 

17 Mountain Reedbuck, 1 ram, 15 ewes & 1 sub-adult ewe, were released on Kedar on Thursday the 1^st of September. As their name implies, they inhabit hills, koppies & mountains where there is very little competition from other antilope. They are related to the Common Reedbuck which inhabits wetlands & vleis. Their capture is done with a helicopter & a fine net which they can not easily see, the net being layed out on the ground for a few 100 metres. They are then chased by helicopter into this net & a ground crew follow-up by catching those that are caught in the net. The reedbuck are then immediately sedated using long acting tranquillisers and loaded into game crates & transported to a holding boma where they remain until translocated. If this happens within 3 days of capture it is not necessary to sedate them again. On arrival at Kedar, their behaviour clearly indicated that the tranquilliser was still in their blood & consequently they were calm & without any fuss walked/ran into the hill. No animals were lost in the release.

 Mountain reedbuck live in family units of between 3-10 individuals, rarely 15, with a ram and his ewes of varying ages. They are grazers consuming mostly grass and more specifically the leaves of grass plants. They need to drink water daily & due to their shy nature will come off a mountain at night to find water sources & then return again before day-break. They have an alarm call that sounds like a whistling sound which they make when disturbed & more often than not one has to literally walk into them to find them as they blend extremely well into their environment & often lie down in hope that the danger will pass-by without them being found. Their natural enemies are jackal, caracal, leopard, python, Martial & Black eagle. Their meat is delicious and are popular with hunters as they pose quite a challenge due to their terrain & the hunt being walk & stalk. Not an easy animal to bow hunt as they have good eyesight & sense of smell, so rather difficult to get close.

 

Wedding Gazebo Complete

Oh my, what every bride dreams of – an African gazebo with crystal chandelier set in tranquil gardens specifically coutoured to compliment the wedding gazebo which backs onto the Hotel’s Spa dam with breathtaking background of the “Kruger Saddle Hill”.
This is the hill where the Boers hid some 1,000 horses and number of soldiers when the British column was marching from Mafikeng to Pretoria.
The gazebo has been tiled in stone pink and will be fitted with rails to allow for all types of wedding drapery as desired by the bride of the day.
The wedding area will easily accommodate a 100 + guests with the gazebo being flanked on one side with white floribunda roses and on the other a delicate created water source surrounded with water lilies, white and pink perennials and annuals.
A delightful venue fit for any marrying princess and her knight in shining armour –
All we need is the Cinderella landau and white pony . . .

 

Anglo American Chairman’s Fund visited Kedar

Visit to Kedar Country Hotel

Mr. Clem Sunter, well known motivational speaker and former Chairman and CEO of Anglo American Corporation Limited’s Gold and Uranium Division and until recently Chairman of the Anglo American Chairman’s Fund visited Kedar Country Hotel, Conference Centre & Spa on Thursday 21^st July 2011 as guest and motivation speaker for the Garden Pavilion conference. Since 1987, he has authored 14 books some of which have been bestsellers. Mr. Robert Forsyth, Executive Chairman of the Recreation Africa Group of Companies spent some time with Clem and his wife Margaret, during which they briefly discussed the current economic platform, the history of Boekenhoutfontein and ecological matters – botany & zoology. Both Clem and Margaret are keen wildlife and ecological supporters. Wish we had – had more time to learn so much from two interesting and knowledgeable men who are incidentally supported by two successful wives in their own rights.