September hikes to Olifantsbos and Kommetjie

 by Diana Studer

- gardening for biodiversity

 in Cape Town, South Africa

 

Hiking among wildflowers 

in the mountains 

around Cape Town 

 

It was March, just before our hard lockdown, when we last hiked at Cape Point. In September we drove down to Olifantsbos, hiked up the ridge, then along. Down the winding path to the Shipwreck Trail.

 

Yellow flowers at Olifantsbos in September

 

Yellow pincushion Leucospermum hypophyllocarpodendron trails along the ground. Othonna dentata toothed leaves, succulent among rocks, loose clusters of yellow daisies. Golden Serruria villosa. Cullumia setosa flower. To the sea mounds of Cullumia squarrosa beach daisy

 

Mostly purple and white flowers September at Olifantsbos

 

Yellow and orange Manulea cheiranthus. Stripy Babiana ambigua. Double pointed Struthiola ciliata and single pointed Gnidia pinifolia crowns. Mimetes fimbriifolius dwarfing the boulder. Tiniest rosebuds Petalacte coronata. White Geissorhiza juncea. Muraltia satureioides

 

At Olifantsbos in September mostly red flowers

 

White cat's nails tucked in, and extended for Hyobanche sanguineus. Last of Audouinia capitata. Dimorphotheca nudicaulis buds between dusky pink and russet. Dark tipped Erica corifolia. Brick red and apricot Crassula fascicularis. Lachenalia luteola. Lemony Roepera spinosa. Euphorbia caput-medusae

 

Agama, Serruria and Moraea at Olifantsbos in September

 

Pair of blue-headed Agama fighting. We battled to find our target Serruria decumbens. Moraea neglecta with dotted stripes  

 

Winding path down to Shipwreck Trail

 

Winding slowly down to the sea and the Shipwreck Trail at the Cape of Storms.

 

Coastal fynbos with Maurocenia frangula

 

I missed three hikes, one week rained off and two life happens. Back to Kirstenbosch, this time with my sister. In the Conservatory (built to protect plants from the very wettest corner of Cape Town) there is a Coastal Fynbos display. That is us on False Bay. For the first time I notice, that the tree in the corner is the Maurocenia frangula we've just planted in our tapestry hedge!

 

In July we hiked up Slangkop looking down to Kommetjie lighthouse. In September we wound slowly along the coast to catch the burst of spring flowers.

 

Ferraria crispa at Kommetjie in September

 

Starfish lily Ferraria crispa. Just a few perfect flowers, with buds lined up.

 

Spring flowers at Kommetjie in September in purple and white

 

Lycium afrum purple trumpets and long thorns. White daisies and stormy clouds. Satyrium odorum orchid. Scarlet Gladiolus cunonius spoon flower. Blue sky again for Slangkop lighthouse. Tiny Moraea setifolia tucked among the grass blades on mown verge. Sheets of white daisies purple budded Dimorphotheca pluvialis. Lilac vygie Cleretum bellidiforme.

 

Yellow flowers at Kommetjie in September

 

Prickly yellow daisy Cullumia squarrosa. Brass buttons Cotula coronopifolia. Cineraria geifolia (the leaves are distinctive year round). Alligator leather petals on Lyperia tristis. Male Leucadendron salignum flowers. Buttery yellow Moraea flava. Yellow vygie Jordaaniella dubius

 

True blue Romulea tabularis Kommetjie in September

 

Unusual to have true blue in Romulea. This is Romulea tabularis (= from Table Mountain)

 

Our hikes are listed on my page.

 

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