I was up on Swartkransberg overlooking Walker Bay on the weekend and came across Protea speciosa in full flower. It has leaves with thickened margins that are 90-160 mm long and 10-60 mm wide. The flowerheads have closely packed brown … Continue reading
This late summer/autumn flowering Gladiolus (pypie) has relatively small (30-40mm) flowers and does not grow to a height of more than about 85 cm. On Grootbos and surrounding areas it has pink flowers, although elsewhere the flowers can vary in colour from cream to … Continue reading
I was fortunate enough to spend the last few days in the Cederberg Mountains, one of my favourite places to hike, swim, mountain bike, botanize and relax. We drove along the back route via Ceres and the Koue Bokkeveld and came across thousands of … Continue reading
Here are two autumn flowering beauties I came across while hiking in Kogelberg last week. Amazingly both had survived many decades under pine plantations! Following a fire and removal of the pines last year they are in full bloom for … Continue reading
I am always amazed to find such delicate flowers such as this Gladiolus vaginatus in full flower at the driest time of the year. The earth is powdery dry and we have barely had any rain for months. Gladiolus vaginatus is flowering at … Continue reading
Gladiolus brevifolius (March pypie, Autumn pipes) is a late summer/autumn flowering Gladiolus that grows on sandstone and shale slopes from Clanwilliam to Riviersonderend and Bredasdorp. It flowers in 8- to 12-flowered pink spikes with yellow markings. A solitary, sword-shaped leaf … Continue reading
When I first moved into the Uilkraals Valley I was amazed to find so many Amaryllis belladonna (March lily) flowering all over the valley. I had never seen this species flowering on Grootbos or in the Walker Bay region (which … Continue reading
In the fourth week following the fire Heiner took some great photos. The bright red flowers of Haemanthus and Brunsvigia were appearing all over the landscape. Many of these plants had been smothered by old, dense fynbos prior to the … Continue reading
Ok, so here is a bit of a cheaky one but I cant help but put this beauty up for all to enjoy. As a staunch Western Province rugby supporter the red disa has always been one of my favourite … Continue reading
Cyrtanthus leucanthus or the witbergpypie (white mountain pipe) is flowering at the moment in Walker Bay. This is an endangered species and local endemic that is restricted to the area between Betty’s Bay and Potberg and grows on limestone and … Continue reading
