This is one of the easiest plants to propagate ( all it takes is to literally cut off a branch, let the sap dry a bit and then plant it, Voila!) It offers an amazing source of pollen when in flower, so I love it because this plant feeds the bees and the Sunbirds absolutely love them.  There is a whole forest of this stuff right outside the office window.  So all day long we hear the tseep tseep tseep of the Malachite Sunbirds.

I got a lovely pic of one just having a quick sun bath. They are not exactly known to sit still for long these guys, so I felt quite lucky to get this shot.   I do enjoy the Sun and the Sugarbirds on the farm, they are a very territorial bunch, nothing beats watching a big male Sunbird going after a Fiscal shrike twice its size and with sheer guts, trying to turn the shrike away from the nest.  I have mentioned before about the sunbird chicks in the nest.  And this is where the ferocious father Sunbird will fight tooth and claw to protect his brood.  It’s a pretty amazing spectacle.  Pop round in September, which is usually when they start nesting and laying their eggs.  Back to the Aloe, and the benefits apart from the attraction they have for the birds and the bees.

The medicinal benefits of the Aloe families are enormous;  one product you may have seen is Tim Jan who use Aloe Ferox, and make a stunningly bitter but amazing tonic which I use often.   I liked this bit especially: “the aloe is a bright hope in the battle of many illnesses- and certainly in strengthening the immune system.”

Helping with HIV, IBS, ulcers, arthritis, any burn wound, cures stomach ache,  sick chickens, childbirth, protection from storms, was used after Hiroshima for radiation burns, it contains vitamins C, E, A and B12, along with minerals like magnesium, zinc, copper, chrome, calcium, natrium, calium and iron, twenty amino acids and various carbohydrates.  It also contains enzymes, plant steroids and anti-inflammatory agents.   I think we might be feeding the Shiraz some of this stuff for good measure!

And please have a look through the best resource online for Fynbos : PlantzAfrica and the amazing Tim Jan se wondersap.   I can tell you a little secret, the Tim Jan is the second best thing for a babelas.  Trust me!