Early Sunday Flower Walk

I was busy all weekend stone-milling at Compagnes Drift as part of Bot River Spring Weekend, but we were keen to see if the Satyr Orchid had opened, so we went up early on Sunday morning. It's not open yet, but it is still impressive! Or are those lower flowers fully open?

Satyr Orchid

Flower detail:

Flower up close

There are ever more Wachendorfias open, but still only those with the sickle-shaped leaves growing on the ground.

Wachendorfia in full flower

There's still no sign of buds on the upright-growing ones.

Wachendorfia, no buds yet

We were pleased to see the return of the insect-feeding Drosera in the stony ground of the road.

Drosera

Finally we have open flowers on the Othonna heterophylla!

Othonna heterophylla

Flower detail:

Othonna heterophylla flower

A bud (with bugs ready to move in?):

Othonna heterophylla bud

We found another, a short distance away, with slightly different flowers. Maybe the petals will still curl back?

Othonna heterophylla flower on another plant

Here is a Baroe, Cyphia volubilis, with nothing to twine on to!

Baroe, Cyphia volubilis flowers

...... so it's continuing to grow in the hope of finding something!

Baroe, with long stalk

At last, the Lanaria lanata, after being one of the very first plants to re-grow, have buds on!

Lanaria lanata bud

Here is one which seems to have been deformed (by the fire?), the stems are siamesed.

Lanaria lanata with siamesed flower stalks

We almost forgot the plant with the strange long striped bud we found last week, so we back-tracked. It took some finding, but we have now marked its position.

Unknown plant

Some flowers seem to have opened and are spent. What could it be?

Flower detail

The Brunias are at their very best!

Brunia in full bloom

In the early morning the dam at the Experimental Farm made a pretty picture, reminding us that the area we are monitoring should be covered with Ericas!

Erica at the Experimental farm dam

:-) A