Kirstenbosch: Riot of Colour

Date: 2 October 2010

Location: Kirstenbosch

Walker: Helen

For other walks in the garden have a look at the Kirstenbosch archive here.

We're well into springtime now and I was curious about how Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden was doing. Spring annuals in full bloom of course!





So much prettiness...





Even though it was an overcast day the gardens were spectacular and loads of people were walking around enjoying the colourful displays and picnicking on the grassy lawns in large groups.





I took a turn past the new pavilion housing 'Untamed', the exhibition by sculptor Dylan Lewis and others. I particularly liked the green living wall circling the space.




It's Clivia time now! Clumps of the beautiful bush lilies were found in several shady parts of the garden. And there was a Clivia show happening in the exhibition space where potted plants with flowers in orange, peach and a beautiful buttery yellow were on display.




Also flowering now: Lachenalia. Some beautiful and unusual varieties were adding colour to the beds below the tearoom.





White watsonias sprays towered above the smaller plants.



As I headed up into the garden I passed beds of bright daisies.




Higher up I reached the fynbos beds.



This was a new one for me: a pincushion protea with perfect silver leaves!




Plenty of other pincushions were still putting on a show.




I made a point of looking for more Serrurias (my new favourite fynbos plant). Several different ones can be seen in the garden, particularly in the beds for rare and endangered plants. I can't get over how peculiar they are!



Never seen a Lobelia like this before. What a beauty!



Some erica too... I think it flowers throughout the year. Not sure what the red flower is as all... very unusual shape.



Looking closely at flowers means encountering the bees, bugs, ants, flies and other insects that do the work of pollinating. I'd like to learn more about these beasties.




As much as I love colour, it was nice to walk on into the wooded east side of the garden as I completed my walk. I find the cool greens so restful.



It was pleasing to see the ginkgo tree in new leaf (it was just a few months since I saw it in autumn colours). The seasons change so fast.


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Side Note: New Map

I finally got around to replacing the map that was stolen from me a few months ago. I bought the new 2010 edition of Slingsby's Table Mountain map. These maps (there is a series of five covering the peninsula) are excellent: accurate and comprehensive. They include plenty of information too, including route descriptions, GPS coordinates and emergency numbers. This new one even has photos of common wild flowers.

You'll find this map for sale in most bookshops, outdoor stores and online.


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Oranjezicht up to Table Mountain

Date: 29 September 2010

Location: Oranjezicht

Walkers: Helen, Ian, John and the puppy

Previous walks in this area here, here and here.

We took the puppy the guys were looking after for a walk along the streets in Oranjezicht. Once we reached Molteno Road we began to climb. It's a really steep road. Do this every day and you'd get fit!



It was fun looking at all the houses. Look, the palace is for sale.



The views down to the city are great. I love this part of Cape Town.



After a while we reached the top of the road and then walked up onto the lower slopes of Table Mountain.



We let the pup off the leash so he could run around. Happy dog!


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YUM! Roast Vegetables

We spooned this mix of home-made roast vegetables, feta cheese and chopped parsley into whole-wheat rolls and added a slice of avo. This delicious lunch was eaten in the forest in Spes Bona Valley.
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Kalk Bay: Spes Bona Valley

Date: 26 September 2010

Location: Silvermine East, from Boyes Dr, above St James and Kalk Bay

Walkers: Delphi, Maralie, Dorothy, Michele & Helen

*** Route plotted here ***

Previous walk up into Spes Bona Valley here.



Starting off from Boyes Drive, we took the easy Old Mule Path up into the mountains above St James. On the way up we saw lots of flowers!




Polygala myrifolia.



Cyphia bulbosa.



Bolusafra bituminosa.



Struthiola ciliata.



This one comes with flowers from white, to yellow and pink.



Felicia aethiopica.



Pterygodium catholicum.



Adenandra uniflora.



Aristea africana.



Satyrium odorum.



Pelargonium lobatum.



Anaxeton laeve.



We followed the path signposted towards the Amphitheatre via Spes Bona Valley. It's a good steady climb up. But then it began to rain...




... so we hurried on into the yellow-wood forest.



The trees gave us some shelter so we decided to wait it out, and ate our picnic lunch right there on the path.



As soon as we left the forest the rain began to fall more heavily and I suggested we pack it in and head down again. Of course, after a while, the rain stopped and we saw some blue sky again!




Everything looked clean and sparkly!



We continued heading down though.



At Ou Kraal we detoured to the rocky outcrop and had a bit of an explore around the rocks. I know some vagrants had been sleeping here a while back, and, while it didn't look 'occupied' at the moment, there was quite a bit of litter and broken glass around. Not so nice.



Rather good views from on top though.




We could see the Old Mule Path very clearly, snaking along the hill.



And we hurried on down as more rain was on the way. We were lucky: shortly after we got down it bucketed down; if we were still up there we would have got completely drenched!


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Side Note: No, Not Again!

[A family of four] were robbed at knifepoint at the top of Table Mountain on Tuesday, raising concerns about security at one of the world’s premier tourist attractions.

Full news story here.

This makes me nervous to go out onto the mountain. A group of four (three men in the party) at Maclear's Beacon (usually a busy spot) in the middle of the day... and still not safe! It's maddening that the authorities can't put a stop to this sort of thing.
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