The date-harvesting season is from June to the end of October. There are many different varieties of dates, with different types being harvested at different times.

In bygone years oasis tarmers depended on the ubiquitous date palm as much as the nomadic Bedouin depended on the camel. The date palm produces fruit that’s rich in calories and is easily preserved. It also produces timber. Virtually every part of the tree can be used: the trunks to make columns and ceilings for houses, and the fronds for roofs and walls, as well as bags, brooms, mats and tans. The seeds are used to feed livestock, and the wood is burned for fuel.

In the desert, many plants have developed interesting ways to survive the arid conditions. In some areas, dew is the only water that will reach ground level for most of the year and some plants make use of this source, often storing the water in succulent leaves.

Other plants produce seeds that are able to survive long periods of drought and germinate only after sufficient rain. Some protect their seeds with older plant material and release them only after rain. Subsequently, these plants develop quickly. Their life cycles last only a few weeks and during this time they’ll have to produce new seeds that will lie dormant until the next rain.

While researching this book on the plains below Jebel Rawdah, after January rains, the writer spotted a group of young nationals in two Land Rovers. They would get into their vehicles and drive a couple of kilometres, jump out, examine a bush and extract something which they ate.

It turned out that they were after a parasitic plant known as daghabis, shaped very much like asparagus spears. The edible portion is the thin tip on top, which has a sweet taste. It grows in the middle of the bush and is protected and shaded in this environment. The boys mentioned daghabis grows only after the rains and is very tasty and nutritious. They had learned about it from their grandfathers and other elders in their families. The bush it grows on is called kharman.

Khor Kalba Nature Reserve is located along the shores of the Gulf of Oman in the UAE just before the border with Oman. The reserve is connected to a suburb of the town of  Kaliba in the emirate of Sharjah by a  single bridge. It’s home to scores of rare birds, fishes and a great variety of plant life.

This charming and ecologically sensitive reserve is one of the largest mangrove-dominated landscapes in all the Emirates. More than 20 endangered bird species have been spotted here, with kingfisher being the most important.

Winter is the ideal time for photography in the desert, mountains and wadis of the Emirates. The sky is blue and the air is clear, resulting in crisp and bright images. Three things are vital to good landscape photography.

Composition: Vast expanses hold many small surprises. Remember to look at the details in things such as plants, the ripples in the sand and rock strata. Every colour is enhanced against a dull, barren landscape. If you look hard enough you’ll see a prefty pattern.