Autumn flowers in the Cape mountains in March

by Diana Studer

- gardening for biodiversity

in Cape Town, South Africa

Hiking among wildflowers

in the mountains

around Cape Town

Up Nursery Buttress and down Nursery Ravine. Blue Disa. Protea cynaroides King protea overlooking Kirstenbosch, where he saw the dam is gratefully full!

Blue disa and king protea above Kirstenbosch

We walked almost down to Smitswinkel Bay bordering Cape Point Nature Reserve. Gnidia oppositifolia a central golden crown. Hibiscus aethiopicus low to the ground. Linum africanum delicate orange lines on yellow petals. Monopsis lutea scattered flowers. Gleichenia coral fern. Erica ericoides dangling dark anthers. Erica parvifolia clusters of pink. Erica hirtiflora two tones of pink. Drimia elata ghostly silver flowers Struthiola ciliata a central eight pointed star. Plecostachys serpyllifolia has pink hearts. Amaryllis belladonna March lily.

Smitswinkel flowers in March

In search of Brunsvigia orientalis and they were spread across the firebreak. Berzelia lanuginosa pink pompoms. Erica cerinthoides fire heath. Tritoniopsis antholyza. Searsia laevigata fruit. Interesting place to live - access is either a steep walk down and up again, or via a boat to the beach. House painted in sage grey to echo the Metalasia muricata. Fynbos shrubs are cloud pruned in meticulous layers by the salt sea breeze. Olea capensis almost circular leaves and attractive clusters of flowers are not what I expect for an olive tree. Kiggelaria africana fruit, in our garden for Acraea caterpillars to feed Cape robins. Osyris compressa tiniest yellow flowers. Leucadendron macowanii endemic here. Leucadendron coniferum

Smitswinkel flowers in March

Right Face Traverse to India Venster (= window) on Table Mountain with the City hidden below him in the clouds.

Right Face Traverse Table Mountain

Erica mammosa green toned ivory dominated this fynbos ramble at Slangkop above Kommetjie (back to November flowers) In March - Metalasia cephalotes tiny pink furry stars. Erica ericoides. Erica pulchella terminal clusters. Erica corifolia. Phylica ericoides white buds to burgundy seeds. Pelargonium myrrifolium. Protea cynaroides amazes when we see it simply growing on the mountainside.

Slangkop flowers in March

Salvia lanceolata dusky pink (want!) Leucadendron salignum red leaves on male plant. Serruria villosa golden. Brunsvigia orientalis in a more photogenic setting. Haemanthus sanguineus April Fool. Tylecodon grandiflorus vivid orange flowers (Tylecodon paniculatus in my garden) Tritoniopsis dodii dense spike of slender curled petals. Gnidia juniperifolia

Slangkop flowers in March

Traverse of the Gods across the cliffs above Camps Bay and below the cable station. With a view of Lion's Head that I will never see!

Lion's Head down to Camps Bay

He swam the gap (dassie traverse). There is just room to squeeze thru, swimming with your elbows, and passing your backpack forward to the one ahead first.

Swim the gap Traverse of the Gods above Camps Bay

At Little Grootkop (Redhill). Phylica imberbis. Agathosma lanceolata delicious liquorice scent! Senecio triqueter neat cream tuft. Macrostylis villosa. We walk slowly, with many eyes peeled to find the flowers. Haplocarpha lantana woolly leaves. Stadia radiate. Gladiolus brevifolius. Osteospermum polygaloides

Little Grootkop flowers in March

Tritoniopsis triticea scarlet with purple hearts. Dilatris elegantly gone to seed. Roella triflora indigo heart. Aristea africana. Bulbine cepacea sturdy substantial stalks with a display of flowers and short cylindrical leaves. Only growing in this one particular perfect for them corner.

Little Grootkop flowers in March

Cape of Good Hope ostrich gazing at the active Cape Point light house (tourists are routed to the old lighthouse which is often shrouded in cloud) as he walked above Diaz beach.

Ostrich at Cape of Good Hope

Hiking with U3A both for the company (safety in numbers) and to discover more nature in our mountains.

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