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VOX POP

Although spring gave us the cold shoulder on Spring Day (1 September) it has since arrived in full bloom.

This new season has put a new spring in our step and inspired us to clean, sort, declutter, reorganise and plant.

SPRING

Roll out the floral carpet for

We asked several of our NWU colleagues how spring has inspired and energised them, and how they are preparing for summer.

Connie Legodi

Senior stakeholder relations officer, Mahikeng Campus

I am currently washing my curtains after the dusty winds we have experienced.

I have also been planting summer flowers since the beginning of August, watering them every two days to ensure their survival.

Not only that; I am having a small vegetable garden to help me reduce my trips to the shops.

Hlompo Maruping

School of Economic Sciences, Mahikeng Campus

After all the gloom of the pandemic, I am looking forward to enjoying some colour in the garden.

This is especially true as we are now on level one of the lockdown, and I will be able to do a lot of entertaining, or simply laze around outdoors with the family.

During the winter I noticed that growing plants in the full sun can be challenging – the wind can be harsh, especially if rainfall is unreliable. But summer allows one to do a little planning beforehand.

Edwina Fransman

Office of the deputy vice-chancellor for teaching and learning, Potchefstroom Campus

I always start by spring-cleaning – getting rid of dust and heavy curtains. I don’t really work in the garden, but I love pot plants in the house and am now replenishing them.

Louis Jacobs

Director for corporate communication, Potchefstroom Campus

I have a passion for gardening and my garden is my pride and joy.

It is now the time of year that one can start spending more time outside and preparing for that. I have started a huge cleaning process. The swimming pool received its shock treatment to prepare the water for the summer months, and I have been digging in compost in the garden and planting annual plants in pots – I love splashes of colour everywhere in the garden. It lightens one’s mood to see the new life and encourages one to appreciate nature once again.

One of my hobbies is to breed exotic ducks. A highlight at the beginning of spring is to see them with their breeding plumage and how their dull feathers change into a colourful display. They also start nesting and laying eggs. I can’t wait to see what will hatch during the new season.

After this long lockdown and cold winter, there is nothing more enjoyable and satisfying than seeing spring’s new life everywhere.

Jacques de Jongh

School of Economic Sciences, Vaal Triangle Campus

This time of year is very special to me, as I have a deep love of all things nature.

As the trees and flowers reveal the first blush of spring and the birds and bees return, I dedicate a lot of my free time to preparing the garden for summer.

For myself and my fiancée, this involves various activities such as pruning roses and trees, removing frost cloths, and ensuring a continuous flow of water in the garden's water features. It also allows us to engage with our community and friends, including conversations at our local nursery over the best fertilizer or a quick chat with our neighbours when watering the outdoor plants.

At this time of year, our home is due for a thorough spring clean, removing all the dust the August winds have brought with them and giving the vacuum a proper workout. It usually means replacing jeans and shoes for shorts and flip flops, while gas heaters and blankets are replaced with fresh-cut flowers that lend their fragrances to the various rooms in our home.

During September and October I find myself in awe of nature. The sounds and smells provide a sense of calm, while planting new seedlings fosters much-needed feelings of peace and hope – something we all need, given all that is going on in the world.