February hikes to Silvermine, Kirstenbosch and Slangkop

  

by Diana Studer

- gardening for biodiversity

 in Cape Town, South Africa

 

Hiking among wildflowers

in the mountains

around Cape Town

 

We begin at Silvermine Crags along the ridge hoping for Aspalathus capitata. One solitary blooming bush, too far below the path among rocks and tall shrubs. A single flower next to the path. Aspalathus crenata, with pale veins in the leaves, was more flowery.

 

Aspalathus at Silvermine in February

Spider with a stabilimentum, not the neatest zigzag stitch from Argiope australis. Quiet beige flowers opening to pink flashes Tritoniopsis unguicularis. Phylica dioica has little white starry flowers. Phylica imberbis showing the more typical Phylica leaves with rolled under margins.

 

With Phylica at Silvermine in February

Kirstenbosch up up up thru the forest for the trees. Mountain cedar Widdringtonia nodiflora was too big to hug my arms around.

 

Widdringtonia nodiflora

Red pear Scolopia mundii has buttress roots.

 

Scolopia mundii

Reminder to mountain bikers - slow walkers are us! Fern and moss in the forest, up in the kloof bordering Kirstenbosch. But I missed most of the tree lesson, as one of our hikers had to turn back. Then we pair of backstops had a brisk march to catch the others. We were on the upper contour path halfway up the mountain. Looking down across montane fynbos at the managed garden with its irrigation dam. Our home lies behind distant Steenberg mountain.

 

Kirstenbosch forest

Destination Disa uniflora, last year that same plant was carrying its flower disconcertingly upside down. Disas favour rock outcrops and cliffs, which brought down our second hiker.

 

February is Disa month
Disa uniflora at Kirstenbosch

Back to Silvermine towards Junction Pool, but thunder and lightning sent us home early. "Sit DOWN, Diana - you'll be struck by lightning" (Started 2 small mountain fires, but not near our hike!) Vivid blue Disa graminifolia. Lobelia setacea white with purple flashes. On this slope is a population of green Erica urna-viridis. Glowing gold and endemic to Southern Cape Peninsula Serruria villosa.

 

February flowers at Silvermine towards Junction Pool

Ending at Slangkop. First target Brunsvigia orientalis and Haemanthus sanguineus (unspotted flowerstalk) both having a better year. Tritoniopsis triticea. Succulent Tylecodon grandiflorus.

 

RED flowers at Slangkop in February

Second target Erica ferrea (similar to corifolia but this time) with dark dots on the tips of the sepals. Dianthus albens which is usually pink. Blue magic Roella ciliata. Pink daisy, each flower with a single pink petal Disparago ericoides.

 

Pink and blue at Slangkop in February

From Slangkop we look back at Noordhoek beach, Chapman's Peak, Hout Bay, and half of Table Mountain.

 

Looking from Slangkop to Table Mountain

My hikes are listed on my page.

 

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