Midweek Bonus flowers!

When I took the photos of the Mimetes Cucullatus on the way out from Rozy's farm on Friday, there was a stunning plant full of yellow flowers which I didn't recognise: Aulax umbella female Aulax umbella What I didn't realise was that I had come across a male and female form of the Aulax umbellata. The top picture shows the female, the lower, the male with the female behind. Today, on Houw Hoek Pass from the top, all the way down to Bot River and beyond, the veld is bright yellow mostly with examples of the males: Aulax umbella male flower In many places there's new vegetative growth beyond the flowers: But all over the Pass, we've been seeing pincushions for months now, so I stopped to get up close to some of the late blooms: Leucospermum The three-pointed leaves which we've been told are typical of the Leucospermums can be seen here. This was close to the summit of the pass, and as usual, there's plenty more to see, just off the road! It was actually the pink of these Ericas which caused me to stop and back up: Erica We're not familiar with yellow Helichrysums this side. A colourful Leucadendron: Leucadendron And more Ericas! I was actually on the way to Hemel en Aarde and the best way is through Karweyderskraal for flowers. There was much more Aulax, here is the female (left) and male in one frame, with a cucullatus for good measure! Aulax umbella - male and female There were lots of the latter, looking stunning at the moment! Mimetes culcullatus Who's being observant? Those three pointed leaves again, this time on a Mimetes! Mimetes calcullatus Next to the tar road, just before the land-fill facility, these bright pink flowers were in a small area near where a gang was fixing the road. Orphium frutescens Any ideas? Orphium frutescens Beyond, next to the dirt road, this Daisy begged to be photographed! And an Iris, possibly dietes, complete with grasshopper: Dietes bicolor In the garden of the farm I visited, I spotted the deepest blue Agapanthus I think I've ever seen. I don't know what they're feeding it on! Until next time! A

Sunday flowers, Cucullatus out!

On the way out from Rozy's farm on Friday, I noticed Mimetes cucullatus in flower in her 'garden', including a yellow one, which might go red later: So, on our Sunday walk, we knew where to find one: We followed the path of the South-easter away from this (pretty rare) Agapanthus walshii, looking for seedlings: In the background the whole block has now been cleared of sparsely-growing pines. The trees have been left to rot, which makes a mat as we can see here in the foreground. So, walking with the wind behind us and eyes peeled: They're coming up! As well as several well-established plants. Let's hope they'll flower next year, now they're in full sun! Also in the same north-west / south-east line, but in the next valley, I was pleased to find another which we remembered from last year, in flower, but with a much shorter stem than the others: We were well rewarded in our steep climb by finding this: An Erica but which one? There were several more in that immediate area: What a pleasure to see an Optimist on the water at the Club! A kind of moss? A very different one! It won't be long before these Protea cynaroides (Kings) will be fully open! There are still lots of Watsonia schlechteri in full flower! 'Our' Leucospermum oleifolium is growing like mad! The growing instructions for home gardens say: do as little as possible to them. Well, nothing's being done to this one and it's thriving! All that growth beyond the flower, which last year was at the tip! Pseudo Selago serrata or purple powder-puff, in the open ground: And in a crack in a rock: Roella ciliata, showing the spent flowers: Again, lots of Ericas! This may be pulchella; Another kind: Lots more! A single tiny flower on the Lanaria lanata. It can be seen that the fluff is on the back of the petals: As predicted the centres of these Helichrysums have gradually changed from pink to brown to now black (or are they still dark brown?): A big cycle race had recently been past 'our' Cyrtanthus ventricosus. It certainly looks as if it's going to miss flowering this year, but I moved a rock from the other side of the path to protect it!  That's it for the week! :-) A

Sunday on Sunday again!

Coot Club on the Experimental Farm dam: The Nymphea nouchali a little more advanced: Nymphea nouchali A Raptor which was too far away for us to identify, definitely not Jackal Buzzard, too pale underneath: The sparsely-growing pines are being felled and left, so I followed my patteran to where we saw the Gladiolus several weeks ago, to make sure it hadn't been trodden on; it was fine: I was being watched! Perfect colour scheme for our sandstone Last year there were Roella all along this road, now there seems to be only one area with several plants: The Helichrysums aren't all the same (244 species in South Africa!); this one has a much bigger flower centre (can't find the right name!) than those behind: Normally those in our area have a light green fleshy leaf. Later on we found one with completely different leaves, looking like Rosemary: We'll have to look that one up! Once again, the Watsonia schlechteri are very noticeable, particularly on the rocky slopes: We're looking out carefully at the moment for Agapanthus walshii, which should be in flower. It will be interesting to see if plants like this will react to being now exposed to sunlight, and flower next year: We were rewarded by finding several in flower, besides the pair on the plant we have been watching for years now: The height and thickness of the flower stem, compared with the puny leaves is interesting, especially comparing them with the 'normal' africanus of which this is now a sub-species: There are still Therianthus around, still not sure if they're spicatus or bracteolatus! Therianthus On 20th January last year this Cyrtanthus ventricosus on the cycle path in the forest was in full bloom: Cyrtanthus ventricosus We've been watching it ever since, packing stones on each side of it and widening the cycle path away from it on the other side. Full of hope, today I diverted to look at it: Either it's having an off year, or it's late! I mentioned Lobelia last week. Here's an example of the splashes of blue they add to the landscape! Up close: We were pleased to see many buds on the Protea cynaroidies Two for one! I was wondering how this Daisy could possibly survive and thrive in a crack in the rock. Look carefully below it and see the root going down into the soil! Before now I've mentioned 'hectares' of helichrysums. This picture gives an idea of what I mean! Here's a pink one: Erica are to be seen all over, mostly pink and mauve: This tall Erica plukenetii (?) is an exception to the low-growing pink and mauve ones: This one looks like an Erica pulchella: But this is different again! That's far from all we saw today, but it should keep us going for a week! :-) A