Summer hikes in the mountains around Cape Town

by Diana Studer

- gardening for biodiversity

in Cape Town, South Africa

Hiking among wildflowers

Looking back to before. To our summer hikes. Wide open spaces. We have the blue sky and sunshine today too.

Our Fynbos Rambles take a break during mid-summer. We began December at Kanonkop in Cape Point (in Table Mountain National Park) Daisies defy with endless variations. Along the stream tall shrubs with masses of small yellow flowers Senecio halimifolius. So spectacular in flower Syncarpha gnaphaloides  buds and flowers, then going to seed in full glory! Strawflowers from a tiny Helichrysum pandurifolium, to a stately Edmondia sesamoides with its leaves wrapped neatly around the stem. One blush pink Gerbera crocea.

December daisies at Kanonkop

He hiked every week. Here looking up at the cablecar from 'India'  (add to the long list - cablecar is closed till after)

The cablecar looking up from 'India'

Daisies again. Corymbium africanum can have leaves like reeds, or flat blades like iris. Both the same species. And despite looks can deceive, in the daisy family!

Corymbium africanum in December

An oystercatcher egg. The nest a simple scrape in the sand. So vulnerable on public beaches, but safer in Cape Point reserve. Where Buffel has chosen to moult in peace away from the 'crowds' this year.

Oystercatcher egg (December)

I was enchanted by Schizaea pectinata the toothbrush fern! Furry red Erica cerinthoides. Morella quercifolia leathery oak leaves (waxberry is in Fagales with oak and beech!) A haze of fine white buchu flowers with delicious anise scented leaves Agathosma ciliaris. Blown off our feet, we sat ourselves in the shelter of the bushes for tea. Olea capensis covered in white flowers. Carrot and parsley family Notobubon ferulaceum. Silver felted female cone of Leucadendron coniferum.

December flowers at Kanonkop in Cape Point

Himself can sleep anywhere, even on the rocks tumbled down Agatha's Gully. Which attracts photo ops for his hiking companions.

Sleeping in Agatha's Gully

Two blue pea flowers Psoralea and Otholobium bracteolatum. Unusual coral sand Pelargonium psammophilum. Four winged fruit make this shimmering succculent Tetragonia fruticosus. Lampranthus bicolor has large yellow flowers emerging from bright orange buds. Tiny heads of creamy  flowers Phylica ericoides. Azure Aristea capitata. Mauvy pink Chironia linoides. Selago luxurians (since the flowers are densely packed - I am, underwhelmed)

More December flowers at Kanonkop

His Pride of Table Mountain. Disa uniflora. On wet cliffs in Myburgh Ravine. Beyond my enthusiasm for extreme fitness.

Disa uniflora at Myburgh Kloof in February

Our last short Fynbos Ramble in Silvermine. Yellow buttons Athanasia crithmifolia or unfurled umbrellas Hymenolepis crithmifolia, both with 'leaves like samphire'. Roella ciliata large flowers with dramatic stripes (and a monkey beetle waving his legs). Yellow flowers with a green heart in orange buds Ixia dubia. Salmon Watsonia coccinea. Little cherries Erica multumbellifera. Leucadendron xanthoconus silvery russet new leaves, and a russet and silver female cone. Brunia abrotanoides in pink and cream balls.

Silvermine flowers in December

Dedicated to the Locked Down. UPDATE from midnight today Thursday 26 March we will be on lockdown for 21 days.

The view from Woody Ravine back to Camps Bay (where Lion's Head was recently circled by another fire - defeated by our firefighters and buckets on helicopters)

From Woody Ravine looking back to Lion's Head

I hike with U3A (listed as False Bay)

Our hikes are listed on my page.

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Pictures by Diana and Jürg Studer

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