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Dear Readers and faithful friends,

After a number of years of wonderful blogging, this blog has effectively become dormant - except for occasional updates regarding my book, MAXDOG. I have left this blog as a legacy to my dog and a place of sanctuary where we can reflect upon his life. Take your time, peruse the pages spanning Max's 18 months in cyberspace. Feel refreshed and uplifted because his story is an amazing one of..."LIVING LIFE TO THE MAX!"
My activities have now moved on to my new blog entitled "LIVING LIFE TO THE MAX". Please join me there where you can read about my family and canine companions. I also invite you to visit MAXDOG's FANPAGE on FACEBOOK. You can follow the specific links by clicking below:

* 'LIVING LIFE TO THE MAX: click HERE
*MAXDOG'S FACEBOOK FAN PAGE: click HERE
* MAXDOG, the book: click HERE

If you would like to follow me on a deeper, spiritual level, then I invite you to visit my more personal blog:

May God bless you and thank you for following me!
MAXMOM IN SOUTH AFRICA

MAXDOG's CHRISTMAS TRIBUTE

Monday, October 12, 2009

OUR FOREST

mmmWOOF
GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!
MAXDOG here...

Today I would like to tell you something very interesting about our city of

JOHANNESBURG, in SOUTH AFRICA...

Did you know that Johannesburg is considered a FOREST??

Yes, its official – there are over six million trees in Johannesburg!

On satellite pictures, our city looks like a rain forest, albeit man-made.

These are some of the trees just outside our house...
We are going into summer now, so our city is a blanket of green at the moment.

Some trees are burdened with all sorts of creepers.
It's really beautiful!



Mom and I tried to get 'elevated' pictures for you, but it's almost impossible.
(We would have to ask our birdie friends for that..perhaps give them a camera..mmm!)

This is one of the landmarks in our city - Northcliff hill.
Willow trees line our streams too.
(I sometimes visit this park)


This is a little road near our house (where I often walk). It's almost covered in a canopy at the moment.




...and this is our park...
(NO! correction -MAX's park)
The sad thing is that mom doesn't like me walking here, since it can be quite dangerous
and the river is VERY unwell!

Anyway, this time of the year brings the dreaded EXAM TIME for all our students in the city.
There is a saying here which I must share with you. It says:
"If you haven't started studying by the time the JACARANDA blossoms emerge, its too late to pass the year!"

Although the Jaranda's aren't yet in full bloom, this is what our city looks like when they are...!

...and there is a purple carpet everywhere!

So that's MY forest and I love it!
Lots of licks
MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA

33 comments:

Andrea said...

Max...thank you for the tour of "your" park!

Blessings, andrea

PS: Great pictures....Great journey!

Angel Tucker, Daisy and Leo said...

Hi Max

Thanks for your forest tour. It looks very different from our trees, but so pretty. You have great places to walk.

Tucker and Daisy

Ina in Alaska said...

The Jacarandas are spectacular!! Hugs from the Pack in Alaska!! xoxo

Heather and Kelly said...

I love the pictures of the Jarandas!!!
Those are gorgeous, Max. I had no idea that Johannesburg was a forest.

Yas said...

Hi Max! Thanks for the tour, sure was educational and fun! We learned so much about your town through your blog! Cant wait to tell our friends all about your beautiful place! Have a great day!

Cheers,
Maxx & Mommy

KB said...

Max,

Those Jaranda trees are unbelievable - so colorful and gorgeous. They must smell good too, eh?

Why is your park 'dangerous' and how is the water 'unwell'? This naive reader is curious.

the magic sleigh said...

Woooos Max! Really nice pictures of your park, and Mom loves the Jacaranda trees, we have them here too, but usually not this far north in florida, but about an hour or so south of us. Mom thinks they are beawootiful trees.
Thank you for showing us your neighborhood!
-Kira The BeaWootiful

Nika + PARKER said...

Wow that purple sure is vibrant!
Thanks for sharing your wonderful city.

Deborah said...

Hi,
I showed my mother your blog last night and she loved it! The ear rub is too darn cute! What are the purple flowers? They are so beautiful. How hot does it get in So Africa? The pictures are breathtaking! Thank you for snapping away! Max must be very patient while your taking photo's!!
Thanks!

Cloud the Wonder Dog said...

Oh wow Max, those Jaranda's are beautiful!!!
Yay fur trees, I love it when a city has lots of trees! Good fur shade and good fur pee-mail. :-)

Luv,
Cloud

Dexter said...

Oh the purples! Magical!

Slobbers,
Mango

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Since I am all about THE PURPLES, woo know I'm going WOW!

Tank woo fur sharing these khool pikhs and khool info as well!

Maybe Jake and Just Harry khan let woo have their Heron Kham!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Golden Samantha said...

Wow Max - what a green city! I had no idea! And those Jarandas are spectacular!!! Hope those kids get cracking on the books heheh!
Thanks for sharing your green!
Hugs xo
Sammie

The Army of Four said...

Wowzers, Max! What cool pix! I've never heard of Jarandas - they're really pretty!
You've sure got lots of cool trees in J-burg! I'd have to try to mark all 6 million of them. Ha roo roo roo!
Dave and I discovered a cool tree on our walk and blogged about it! Stop by and see!
Play bows,
Zim

Dog By Nature said...

Thanks for the tour Max (you have a huge park!:) Your city looks lovely.

Hamish Westie said...

Hi Max
What impresses me is that you still manage walks of several kilometers when there are SO MANY TREES TO SNIFF. Six million trees indeed. Lets see, say 2 minutes per tree to sniff, that's twelve million minutes of tree sniffing. So by my calculations that's over twenty years of sniffing to get round to each tree, assuming to breaks for sleep and food and no time travelling between the trees.
Should keep you busy.
Cheers! H.
Ps Gail is still swooning over the jacaranda photos. For once Max, your handsome self has been outclassed!

Anonymous said...

OH wow cool pics, and thanks for all the great info!

Emma Rose said...

Lovely pictures, Max. Your trees are so beautiful. Our summer is over now - you lucky guy!

Kisses,
Emma Rose

Hero said...

Your city is so beautiful, Max! There are a lot of trees on my island, but they're almost all in nature reserves. The city that I'm named after, Angra do Heroismo, barely has any trees, because all the buildings are built so close together and the streets are so tiny. Those Jacaranda trees are beautiful. I can't recall ever seeing one of my island, but my mom tells me that there are quite a few in Lisbon.

Two French Bulldogs said...

Max
Thank you for sharing information about your beautiful city. Mom wants to visit there one day.
Benny & Lily

Clive said...

We love those purple colours Max, great photos - great tour!

take care
Clive

Elizabeth Bergesen said...

Wow! Look at those amazing pictures :) They are all so beautiful- thanks for sharing!

Elizabeth & Luna

Sally Ann and Andy said...

What a lovely park. YOUR park is very nice.
Mack

Golden Daily Scoop said...

Hi Max, I've missed you!!!! Love all the pics today, what beautiful colors!!! Thx for sharing!!!

lotsa licks,
Miley

Lorenza said...

Hi, Max!
I love it too!
The Jacarandas are beautiful!
Sure is pawesome to walk on a purple carpet!
Thanks for sharing it!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

BRUTUS said...

What a beautiful & fascinating place you live in Max! Those purple flowers are just lovely! I have a whole new picture of South Africa in my mind after getting to know you!

Enlightened Snorts-
Brutus the Frenchie

Cocorue said...

oh Max, your country is beautiful, just soooooo beautiful when seen through your eyes......TQ TQ TQ for sharing and we looooove the purple....awwwwwwwwww

chikisses and licks from your small shorty friend who WILL probably knock you over with ONE lick as you will swoon bol.....
coco
pee ess - yes you are one of my funny friends

D.K. Wall said...

Thanks so much for sharing. Our hu-dad was supposed to be in Johannesburg once about 7 years ago for work, but he ended up not going and always regretted not getting to see it. But we want him to stay home with us.

Augie and Ti's mom said...

Wow, what pretty purple trees! A beautiful place to live!

Pam said...

You're right, we do have a beautifully foliaged city and I do so love Jacaranda time. Lovely pictures. Thanks for showing them to us Max. (And thanks for telling your friends about my new recipe blog!)

Chelsea + Shiloh said...

The town next to us has the Jacaranda festival and the colour is gorgeous.. dont think they have as many as you guys though...

Kryna said...

Great to see the pics of the Jacaranda's! Ann was telling me about them the last time we were in AU. They look soo pretty!

ocmist said...

MMM.. I wonder if that's the kind of tree in Mimi's back yard. It leaves a purple carpet too, but is much smaller than those. Your city is absolutely gorgeous! AND GREEN!!!!! Mom LOVES green, but it's only that way (if we are lucky) for a month or so around here! We are in a desert, so it's mostly dirt and sagebrush.

Your place is just beautiful, you lucky dog! OC