No. 90 November 2008
This pictorial newsletter gives you the latest botanical news and views on the fynbos scene.
It also appears on our website www.fernkloof.com
WILD WEATHER TURNS INTO SPRING SUNSHINE AT THE 2008
WILDFLOWER FESTIVAL
Pickers on high mountains, workers and gardeners had to hold onto their hats and face the elements in preparation for this year’s Wildflower Festival. Even on the opening day the marquee reverberated ominously as the gales attacked and by mid-afternoon pouring rain had chased away every ardent visitor.
But tranquillity and sunshine returned! Tranquility reigned inside the Show Hall too, with a waterfall flowing down an Afromontane forest scene flanked by a wall of proteas. Saturday saw 1000 visitors sampling culinary, botanical and horticultural delights – a record gate,
which made the profit soar to about R90,000. Well done, everyone!
HERBS
CLIVIAS CATCH THE EYE AT THE FERNKLOOF NURSERY
Take a drive up to the Fernkloof Nursery to see botanical splendour of a different kind from our favourite fynbos flowers. A mass of clivias in shades of yellow, orange and red are flowering in the deep shade of trees and shadecloth.
Jack Bold and his team (l.to r.) Kathy Bold, Jack, Thulani Gobijoni (who also cares for the gardens), Isaac Nagwasa and Adelaide Hendriks are justly proud of this magnificent display. For more pictures and information click on Fernkloof Nursery on the Website home page.]
WHAT’S FLOWERING AFTER THE JANUARY BURN?
HOY’S KOPPIE
is a horticultural hotspot not to be missed! Vivid orange Watsonia stenosiphon (below left), a naturally occurring fire ephemeral, sheet the rocky slopes next to pink Watsonia borbonica (below right) which might have been planted in years gone by.
The blue heliophila (also imported?) has made way for equally blue Geissorhiza aspera growing between massed clumps of coral and cream oxalis (above left). Flanking Klipkop Cave is the sinister carrion flower Ferraria crispa, (above right) smelling of rotten meat!
KLIPSPRINGER has come alive with delicate offerings such as the deep maroon, almost black Moraea lurida (below left), which are sometimes gold or yellow-bordered. Otholobium thomii (above right), a rare pea flower bloomed just in time for a visit of CREW
(Custodians for Rare and Endangered Wild Flowers) from Kirstenbosch recently. Clumps of bronze-backed ox-eye daisies Dimorphotheca nudicaulis (below left) line the path together with blue aristeas, nemesias and miniature pelargoniums – and a tiny yellow peaflower Argyrolobium filiforme, seen only after a fire.
The tall yellow blooms of Bobartia longicyma (above middle) can be seen from the gravel road. Gold Wachendorfia paniculata (above right) flower in between.
New orchid for Fernkloof: Corycium orobanchoides (below left) was found growing off Mountain Drive, Northcliff. More about orchids in our next issue!
Flower alert: Pillansii templemannii (above right) are also flowering along Rotary Way Drive!
● This issue of Herbs has been sent in full colour to those members whose e-mail addresses we have. If you receive it by mail in black and white but do not have an e-mail address (or have a friend with one) PLEASE let us have it. This will enable us to save dramatically on costs and keep subscriptions to their present
Published by: Hermanus Botanical Society, PO Box 208, Hermanus, 7200
Newsletter delivered by e-mail
This issue of Herbs has been sent in full colour to those members whose e-mail addresses we have. If you receive it by post, in black and white, and would prefer to receive an e-copy then please let us have your e-mail address (or a friend’s if you do not have one). This enables us to save dramatically on costs and keep subscriptions at their present level.
BOTSOC BULLETIN
● Welcome to Elsabe Ketteringham who has been appointed to handle our administration on a
professional basis.
● We have a newly-installed computer at Fernkloof and are now contactable on e-mail. Our e-mail
address is botsochermanus@telkomsa.net
● A new addition to the library has been a copy of a DVD “Hidden Treasures of Gifberg and
Richtersveld” by Kobus Kritzinger. This gives a truly beautiful glimpse of the flowers of this
extremely interesting and varied region. It may be borrowed from our library, as may any of
our numerous books on botanical and general natural history topics.
● Please note that subscriptions are due on 1st November. We have not increased them this
year, hoping to save postage costs by using more e-mail.
TALK: Neil MacGregor on the “Flowers of the Glen Lyon Reserve” Don’t forget the talk by Neil MacGregor of Nieuwoudtville on November 21 in the Municipal Auditorium under the auspices of Hospice. It will start at 18.30 and consist of about 35 mins of lecture time plus 50 slides (about an hour altogether). Entrance is free but donations to Hospice will be welcome. MacGregor’s former home Glen Lyon
is now a State Reserve.
For more information:
fax: 028-3130617
e-mail: botsochermanus@telkomsa.net
www.fernkloof.com
Dates to diarise
Friday, 28 November 2008 6pm CHAIRMANS WALK
Bring a picnic supper
Friday, 16 January 2009 AGM
Tuesday, 10 – Friday, 13 February 2009 EXCURSION
Swartriet at Jacobbaai, near Saldanha
Friday, 27 February 2009 ANNUAL BOTSOC BRAAI
Thursday, 17 – Sunday, 20 September 2009 WILDFLOWER FESTIVAL
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THEMES:
