Overcast Sunday Flower Walk

Winter seems to have come early! There was a drizzle in the morning, but we had a dry walk. Starting at the dam at the Experimental farm, this Nymphea nouchali is now right on the water's edge. Will the rain of the next week fill the dam in time? There are plenty of buds lying in the mud. Nymphea nouchali We have been struck by the number of butterflies this year (or are we just more observant?). They're not easy to photograph, but this one obliged: Butterfly We noticed this Restio with tangled, non-reed growth at the base. We weren't sure whether it was growing through another plant: Restio So I pulled up a small root. It is the same plant, but which? Restio The Stoebe spiralis was attracting bees. One can just make out one flying over this one, with very full pollen sacs. Stoebe spiralis This is the tall Lobelia which we haven't found a name for yet: Lobelia There is a splash of yellowy green in the flower Lobelia This large Metalasia is past its prime: Metalasia with spent flowers The white flowers are turning brown. We're not sure yet which species this is: Metalasia The spent flowers of the Lanaria lanata are setting seeds: Lanaria lanata We're still watching for seeds on the Agapanthus walshii, here is just one! Agapanthus walshii with seedpod We went out of our way to look for another single plant we knew had been flowering: Agapanthus walshii .... but in the pods were just white cells: Agapanthus walshii cose-up of seedpod It was so gloomy I needed flash to pick up the colour of this Liparia splendens: Liparia splendens This bush is completely covered in flowers, in stark contrast to many others we have found. Liparia splendens There are still plenty of Tritoniopsis dotted around, we think they are lata. We even found one with a completely un-opened comb of flowers, so they'll be around for a while longer. We noticed some growing in the base of holes dug previously by some animal, perhaps foraging for the bulbs. Tritoniopsis The Protea cynaroides are taking their time about opening! Protea cynaroides We always check on this single Erica when we're in that area. We're not sure if it's a vestita or longifolia, or even something else. One thing is certain, with that twisted stem, it's been there a long time! Erica Erica spp There are buds, full blown and spent flowers all at the same time. I'm reading an article in Veld & Flora about Erica verticillata, brought back into its original habitat from 'captivity', which explains that that species brings a whorl of flowers to the stage where the seeds are mature, before putting energy into the next. This ensures survival of at least some mature seeds in the event of a fire. These below are further advanced than the others: Erica spp This Saltera sarcocolla was worth going off the path for: Saltera sarcocolla Likewise, this Restio, certainly looking its best now! Restio As usual, the lower-growing, small-flower Ericas are in abundance although some are turning brown. We spotted this one a few weeks ago, now the flowers are more prominent: Erica spp The flowers themselves are tiny and the leaves short, fine, and against the stems: Erica spp Erica pulchella: Erica pulchella A white one with 'double' flowers like the coriifolia: Erica spp Could it be Erica lutea? It has a small range, but we're in it. Erica spp This one could be coriifolia, quite advanced now: Erica spp So, nothing earth-shaking. As usual there was a lot more! :-) A