Almost all Blue Sunday Flower Walk

We've moved away from the yellows, and much of what we saw today was in various shades of blue, starting with the Roella ciliata:

They seem to be taller than the ones we remember from two years ago, before the big fire in this area. 

We always see Lobelias, those with the bright blue large flowers we think is L. tomentosa:

Although most are past their best, there are still Agapanthus walshii in flower:

This one below had us excited, was it the elusive white one? No, but a very pale blue:

It was pleasing to check that this one had been logged, finding my present position exactly the same as one marked 'AW Lower Rocky Ridge'. 

The deep blue of the Purple Powder Puff Pseudoselago serrata, after an impressive season, is nearly over.

There were even still a few flowers on occasional Psoralea pinnata:

Pinks, oranges and reds seemed to be the other colour of the day. Although many of these Watsonia schlechteri have gone to seed, there are still many in bud, so we'll be seeing them for a while yet.

Before the fire, we pinpointed what we thought were Erica obliqua. We have searched that location carefully since without success. About 100 metres away we have found a strong population, perhaps 20 plants so far, of what we hope is the same:

Welcome back!

Also pleasing to see in that vicinity, another old favourite (the Ericas seem to have recovered the slowest!) Erica pulchella:

We specially went back to look at a Protea-type which we've been watching for weeks now. Only one tiny flower opened in the middle of December, and we found it today, actually loose from the plant, but held in place by branches of new growth. We left it there, to mature fully and disperse seeds. 

There are about eight plants in a small area. The closest we get to identifying it from the books is Leucospermum bolusii, but if it is, it's way out of its area, supposed to be the slopes above Gordon's Bay. The tips of the new growth are pinkish:

What can it be?

It's nice to see the Brachylaena neriifolia in flower again! The shrubs have a lot of growing to do to reach the size of some of those which were burnt!

It's always nice to go home past the Prickly Pear Opuntia in the garden of the ruins of the Railway Foreman's house:

:-) Andy

Sea of Yellow Sunday Flower Walk

First, the Sundowners are almost Full Blossom! First to blossom, last to pick!

Yes, still a sea of yellow, mostly Daisies.

Up close!

But that wasn't the only yellow flower! A Pea with needle-like leaves which we haven't been able to track down:

The flower up close:

And the buds:

Last week I mentioned the Lobelias were out, these deep blue ones seem always to be in flower:

Then there's a lighter one:

... and the Lobelia jasionoides:

The Pelargoniums are still in full flower:

More pink from these little pea-types:

Teedias, but they're nearly over:

.... and a lovely Mesemb, just one flower at a time at the moment:

The whole plant, with red edges to the leaves:

Some white, from Helichrysums:

Pseudoselago spuria:

.... and Zantedeschia aethiopica!

A noisy coot on the dam next door, didn't like the dogs wallowing:

The most important part of the Walk was to log the positions, conditions and size of the various Agapanthus walshii plants we know about. In the week, forester Tommy Eckley passed on a mail from Karen Kirkman, MTO's Environmental Specialist. I tried to log the positions with my phone, but it wouldn't work, although I could see where we were on the map. We have anyway started describing where the plants are, in the old fashioned way, on paper! Once all (many of the) the plants are plotted, a plan of action will be formed, either to leave areas unplanted or more sparsely planted, with maybe some from the stronger populations moved, but gradually, into those areas.

On the way home, a Drosera:

.... and a Beetle Lily Baeometra:

:-) Andy

Roellas are back! Sunday Flower walk

So are we, after a long break, partly caused by the weather being either too hot or too wet, also by a bereavement in the family. Today we went out not expecting to see much, but as usual, once you look carefully, the gems are there!

After not finding Roellas last year at all, it seemed, now we are finding them again, and some of the flowers are huge!

Roella ciliata (?)

There are two types, the flowers as well as the leaves differ. Those with the black patches on the petals have stems with dense leaves We think this is R. ciliata.

View of the whole plant

The pale-flowered one has pointed petals and is possibly R. incurva.

Roella incurva or dregeana?

Or is it R. dregeana?

View from the top

But first, back to the beginning! The dam on the Experimental Farm has two kinds of Nymphaea growing and flowering at the same time. I can't remember this happening before.

Nymphaea indica:

Nymphaea indica

A whole patch far out in the water

And Nymphaea nouchali:

Nymphaea nouchali

There are less of them

Since the fire, now nearly a year ago, the deep blue Lobelia seem darker, with bigger flowers and certainly more of them!

Is this Lobelia coronopifolia?

Could they be L. coronopifolia?

The whole plant

We expected to find all the Agapanthus walshii over and hopefully full of seeds. Here was one still opening!

Agapanthus walshii still opening

There is a good crop of seeds on others:

Plenty of seeds!

We were surprised and very pleased to still find some Watsonia schlechteri in flower, although most have finished flowering:

Watsonia schlechteri

This looks like an Aristea:

An Aristea?

Close by, we found a Tritoniopsis lata, we think:

Tritoniopsis lata (?)

Flower detail

This one is almost swallowed up by an Othonna quinquedentata:

Another one

That is certainly something which has reacted well to the fire, here's another, completely covered by tiny flowers:

Huge Othonna quinquedentata

On the way home we had a look for flowers on the Buchu Agathosma crenulata. Not many, but the offspring growing all around it means that there are lots of seeds around!

Agathosma ciliata flower

In the road we found many of these little yellow flowers:

What is this?

Three petals plus one... another pea?

So, it was a very rewarding walk after all!

:-) A