October and December hikes to Brakkloofrant, Noordhoek Wetland, Myburghskloof trail and Silvermine

  

by Diana Studer

- gardening for biodiversity

 in Cape Town, South Africa

 

Hiking among wildflowers

in the mountains

around Cape Town

 

In October we began on Brakkloofrant for Satyrium carneum. This year the chunky pink and white spikes displayed against yellow and silver Helichrysum dasyanthemum. But 22 December fire came over the top of that ridge at the bottom of our garden - with autumn rain it will be interesting to see smaller plants claim their chance, and then to see these satyriums next time without surrounding shrubs.

 

Satyrium carneum Brakkloofrant in October

Rocky ridge (the rant of Brakkloofrant). Gazania pectinata those elaborate patterns go right thru the petals. White cat's nails of Hyobanche sanguinea. We crisscrossed and found tiniest Moraea setifolia on the jeep track in the mown grass (blurred pictures this week). Deep purple Moraea tripetala jacquiniana, and the usual paler M. t. tripetala.

 

Moraea Brakkloofrant in October

Buchu with ethereal spoon-shaped petals Agathosma serpyllacea. Drosera cistiflora has poppy flowers, not expected from a sundew! Penaea mucronata butter yellow. Aspalathus ericifolia with orange throat. Helichrysum dasyanthemum showing bracts and flowerhead. Monkey beetles as we usually see them, half buried in a daisy, long back legs not drowning I'm waving.

 

Aspalathus Brakkloofrant in October

October to Noordhoek Wetland for must have more masses of pink Satyrium carneum. That wide blue African sky. Wahlenbergia capensis tiny flowers with technicoloured details. Juvenile reed cormorant in a seasonal pond, which will be quite dry come summer. Nemesia affinis big and beautiful.

 

Cormorant at Noordhoek Wetland in October

Disa bracteata. Unusually blonde Polygala garcinii. Lush Wachendorfia paniculata. Hugely happy Serruria glomerata. Yellow beetle with epaulettes on yellow daisy. Prickly daisy Berkheya rigida.

 

Serruria Noordhoek Wetland in October

Chapman's Peak Nature Sanctuary a pocket park ringed by houses below the mountain. Bolandia elongata - no ray florets, tiny deepest pink and white flowers. Pelargonium senecioides with interesting reverse

 

Chapman's Peak Nature Sanctuary in October

In November no hikes - we flew to Trieste. By ship to Greece.

 

In December first on the path to Myburghskloof. Hout Bay below left, Twelve Apostles above and right towards the City Bowl, Llandudno ahead, False Bay and then Africa behind you. Micranthus alopecuroides combflower - arranged in two rows like the teeth of a comb.

 

Micranthus on Myburghskloof Trail in December

New daisy - delicate white flowers with silver leaves - Printzia aromatica.

 

Printzia on Myburghskloof Trail in December

Struthiola dodecandra has 8 teeth in the centre. Spialia butterfly. Helichrysum cymosum daisy. Leaves on thorns are the clue to Putterlickia pyracantha.

 

Struthiola on Myburghskloof Trail in December

December ends at Silvermine, where the path was deeply eroded by heavy weather.

 

Deeply eroded path at Silvermine in December

Emerging watsonia buds. Flaming red from 'enamelled' Hermas villosa leaves remembering  all the colours of a sunset. Monkey beetle, a different species NOT half buried in a daisy. Watsonia tabularis with our Ceroctis capensis beetle.

 

Watsonia at Silvermine in December

 

 

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