Caledon Wild Flower Gardens

With an hour to kill in Caledon and it being Spring, I popped in at the Caledon Wild Flower Gardens. A team of Theewaterskloof Municipality gardeners was busy outside the gates, and only the 'out' gate was open. Nobody was manning the gate, so I gingerly drove in, Botsoc card at the ready. I drove in further, still found nobody around so I left the car next to the Nursery which had a 'closed' sign and started walking. The time of year is right for a spectacle of colour!

Everywhere I went, I just had to point the camera and shoot!

I thought it was one of the Botsoc gardens, but from a website: The Caledon Wildflower Garden is currently managed by the Caledon Wildflower Society in partnership with the local municipality.

Here are some Proteas:

Mesembs:

These Daisies were in the path, in fact it was difficult in places not to tread on them in the pathways.

Albuca:

A legume or two:

A magnificent succulent, in flower:

Flower detail:

Are these leaves, on the same plant?

The rock formation behind looked precarious, I wonder how long the boulders have been jammed in like this?

In another direction there's an impressive cliff-face:

A Gazania?

What is this?

Flower detail:

Gladiolus?

The place was alive with birds!

I'm never quick enough to catch them. This Robin stayed still long enough!

These were coming up all over, even in pathways: 

The plaque at the pedestrian entrance credits Francis Alexander Charles Guthrie for the establishment and development of this Garden. He died in 1957.

An enormous amount of work has been done, laying out paths, building follies, bridges, steps:

I expect security and vandalism are problems, the unoccupied Tea Room outside the gate and a Visitors' Centre have broken windows:

I would have liked to contribute something towards upkeep, but there was nobody around. I'm sure the place would rather need assistance in kind. The area is big and must need a lot of maintenance! Thanks, anyway to all involved!

:-) Andy