The Signs of Nature: The Older Generation

Another elderly member of the clan we inherited when we arrived at Summmerhill was John Mbanjwa, eldest son of uNkomiyaphi. For many years he headed up our yearling prep unit, and it was the blooming of the agapanthus in December that signalled to John it was time to bring the yearlings in for their annual sales prep.

He would also tell us that when the cosmos appeared in March, the time was coming to leave for Johannesburg for the sales (in those days they took place at the end March), and when the trees turned in April, and assumed their autumn glory, we should start with the making-and-breaking of the next generation of racehorses.