Post Xterra Sunday Flower Walk

We just wanted to check that there was no damage to our little area from the bikes, nothing to worry about! A week before cue, in the garden, Amaryllis belladonna (March Lily): Amaryllis belladonna On the Experimental Farm dam, we were rewarded by a Spoonbill, first flying around and then settling on the other side, along with Yellow-billed ducks: There are splashes of pale yellow, coming from these: The Helichrysums are looking a bit tired now: ... but there's new growth on this type: Ericas once again are all over, varied in colour, and close up their flowers differ soooo much! This one has a flower within a flower, Erica coriifolia? Erica coriifolia We were attracted to a splash of orange in the distance. We've been watching the Liparia splendens (Mountain Dahlia) develop buds slowly, but now they're out! Liparia splendens Bud above, and flower below: Liparia splendens If all the buds open on this one together, it'll be an impressive sight! Nearby, a small Carpobrotus edulis (Sour Fig) was growing near an Oftia with berries. Or is it a Teedia? Carpobrotus edulis Each berry seems to house many tiny black seeds: Near that, a Lobelia, very different from our 'normal' tomentosa (or is it coronopifolia?). This one has needle-like leaves right up to the flower: Is this Lobelia pinifolia? The flower is different also: For our world, this is a BIG bush! But what is it? Could it be a Morella serrata?  It looks different from what we think might be a Brabejum stellatifolium (Wild Almond, as in van Riebeeck's hedge) growing nearby. Or are they the same? A spent flower beehind: Here's a nice example of what we think might be a Euryops abrotanifolius or Ursinia paleacea: We're checking the progress on the seeds on the Agapanthus walshii flowers. Near one, there are several smaller plants which have come up. It seems there must be a natural predator, because the ground was dug up near this one and the corm has been neatly eaten off and the remainder left: Agapanthus remains after predator feast Near the ground, next to a rocky outcrop we found this growing close to the ground. Tiny flowers with petals arranged in a semi-circle: Lobelia jasionoides New flowers out beyond the spent ones. Any ideas? Lobelia jasionoides Here's a Saltera sarcocolla in flower: Saltera sarcocolla The flower is exquisite! Saltera sarcocolla Before, we have suggested that this might be Erica plukenetii, now we're not sure: It now has a lot of new growth beyond the flowers. Can this be the subspecies penicellata? There aren't many flowers on the Pelargoniums at the moment, but they are beautiful where they are out! Pelargonium Here's one of the last Pseudoselago serratas (Purple powderpuff) in our area, as usual with the obligatory beetles: Pseudoselago serrata There was lots more..... having spent the morning cutting the grass at home, I wondered why we bother to garden, with all this just a couple of kilometres from our back door! :-) A

Sunday Morning Flower Walk

The forecast said 28 degrees in the morning (it was when we left) and 32 for the afternoon (it is!), so we set off before lunch for a change, in case the welcome breeze subsided (it has!). In Steen's garden at the bottom of the farm he has a pink Mandevilla. We have a white one (M. laxa) growing in between a Hanepoot grape-vine, a Grenadilla and a plumbago, all fighting for sunlight! The white one has a beautiful scent. Mandevilla splendens I did myself an injury getting this picture of a huge Nymphea nouchali, complete with bee: Nymphea nouchali There's some confusion about what this Daisy is, so here is a photo of the (plain yellow) flower and the leaves which look like a type of seaweed. They are coming up all over: Euryops abrotanifolius/Ursinia paleacea We found fresh tortoise tracks very near where we saw one on 4th January, but we couldn't spot it on either side of the road! We want to take more detailed photos particularly of its mouth for identification. There are berries on the Oftia africana: Oftia africana with berries And on the stumps of the mature pines cut down several years ago, in many places fungi are growing: I'm not sure I'd eat this one! The Ericas are stunning at the moment! Is that five different types?  This one looks like Erica pulchella: Erica pulchella This picture shows how few of the Agapanthus walshii seed pods survive! They must still dry up. Agapanthus walshi with seed pods This Protea cynaroides is taking its time! Protea cynaroides We are now fairly certain that these are Erica coccinea, now that we can see the flowers hanging: Erica coccinea - red ..... but sounding like a contradiction in terms, here is a greeny yellow one. Apparently this is normal: Erica coccinea - yellow flowers There are plenty of the red ones out now: Erica coccinea I was being watched! This Restio has just exposed its seeds: Restio full of seeds This Brunia's last year's flowers are now brown; this year's are forming at the tips. I followed a whole bakkie-load of them being driven away in the week: Brunia family This one is different, but again, two years of flowers: Brunia family The Mimetes cucullatus is still in flower: Mimetes cucullatus And there are some still in bud: Mimetes cucullatus in bud We were pleased to see the single example we have found of Muraltia heisteria again. It's growing amongst a Lobelia: Muraltia heisteria On that subject, they are very much in evidence: Lobelia tomentosa This looks like the spent flower of a Lanaria lanata, noticed now for the fiirst time. They seem to die away unnoticed: Lanaria lanata - spent flower We're still working on this one: And this! .... and this: (Any suggestions?) We were disappointed to see this Leucadendron apparently dying. Looking at the stem, it's been there a long time! Leucadendron dying Here comes the breeze again, I can go out again! :-) Andy