West Coast & Namakwa Flower Report
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WESKUS STREEK-TOERISME ORGANISASIE WEST COAST REGIONAL TOURISM ORGANISATION Tel: + 27 (0)22 433 8505 E-mail: [email protected] Navrae/Enquiries: L. Swart Websitehttp://www.capewestcoast.org WEST COAST & NAMAKWA FLOWER REPORT - 2012 (Updated 25/09/2012) For updated weather reports, you may visit the following websites: www.yr.no www.accuweather.com www.windguru.com www.fallingrain.com www.weathersa.co.za Kleenex Flower Hotline - 071 320 7146 SWARTLAND AREA DARLING The veld is currently really beautiful. The hot weather over the weekend has caused the later flowers that were not yet open (e.g. Chincherinchees), to bloom very quickly. The cooler weather expected this week means that it is going to last a long time. Darling Wildflower Society reports that we are experiencing one of the best flower seasons in many years. They anticipate that the flowers should last until at least end September. I’m told that Waylands and Duckitt Nurseries reserves are particularly good at the moment. LOCATION OF FLOWERS: Darling Renosterveld Reserve (Access at top of village behind the Darling Primary School or lower down gate in Langfontein street); also on the plot at the top of Langfontein st just below the reserve Darling Groenekloof Reserve (R315 alongside the SPCA premises) Park at the SPCA and enter through the small gate on the road; Tienie Versfeld Reserve (R315 Darling – Yzerfontein); Visitors should walk to the left of the reserve following the old boardwalk and stay on the paths as it is rather wet in places otherwise. Duckitt Nurseries Wildflower Reserve – farm road through reserve (R307 Darling – Mamre – in front of Duckitt Nursery); Waylands – farm road through reserve (R307 to Mamre) Visitors must please take care not to drive off the road in the Waylands and Duckitt Nurseries reserves as they may get stuck. No buses. Darling hills roadsides very pretty (gravel road joining R315 to R27) Burgherspost Wine Estate Reserve (R315 Darling – Malmesbury) does wildflower game drives if booked in advance with Conservation Manager, Jacques vd Merwe 022 492 2830 /084 606 3470 e-mail: [email protected] TYPE OF FLOWERS: Roadsides R307 from Mamre/Atlantis: patches of pink oxalis, arums, pink & blue lobostemum (pyjama bush); white Dimortphotheca pluvialus (rain daisies). Darling Renosterveld Reserve: This reserve is particularly nice around the reservoirs and off the pathway towards the west. Hesperantha (bontrok aandblom) – opens in afternoons;blue Suteria uncinata (bos opslag), Harmannias (poproos); oxalis (suring); romulea, arum; lachenalia (viooltjie); salmon- coloured morea flaccida , Laperousia (koringblom), Sparaxis villosa (blou kappie), the red Romulea, rain daisies, Wachendorfia, Indigofera, Pelargoniums, Diascias (horinkie), various Asteracea (daisies). Spiloxene capansis with its white star-shape and peacock centre, also the smaller yellow Spiloxene, abundant kapokbossie – Eriocephalus. Vygies, and Bokbaai Vygies Specials to look out for: sparaxis villosa; various babiana – melanops, nana and ambigua .Ixia scillaris is starting to appear, also gladiolus alatus. Magenta honey-scented muraltia shrubs still brightening up the bush. Langfontein Str plot: Still beautiful with lots of gousblomme and vygies, daisies, lachenalia, etc Darling Groenekloof Reserve: clusters of red romulea;Tiny lantern-like heads of the orange and yellow poproos (Hermannia); Wachendorfia; Trachyandra (kool); salmon Oxalis purpurea (Suring); white pelargonium; bright red climber Microloma (bokmaellie); yellow senecio pubigerus (skraalbossie) the pink (endangered) Lampranthus ficaulis (vygie);cotula – from the all-yellow to the white ray floretted one;Tetragonia; the tiny purple and yellow Lapeirousia hiding amongst the grass, yellow Cotulas, pink Vygies, a few blue Morea tripetala, and lots of Lachenalia, magenta Muraltia. Duckitt Nurseries Wildflower Reserve: The Heliophila (blue flax) is out in profusion; lots of arums; First Babiana pygmaea (geel Bobbejaantjie) look out for the Gladiolus carinatus (sand 2 pypie) in the restios as well as little yellow Nemesia affinis. In the little dam at the gate are Onixotis punctata (Dipidax) flowering - they are quite special as we do not always have the chance to see them in flower. Waylands reserve: now looking absolutely spectacular! Drosera (snotrosies); very pretty white stars, also some very rare orange stars (Spiloxene canaliculata), (Yellow Nemesia, yellow Geissorrhiza). blue Geissorrheiza's (Blou Sysie). Lots of the really beautiful red-centered Babiana to be seen, and our really special flower, the Kelkiewyn now out in full force. Chinkerinchees (ornithogalum) just starting to open. The veld is really very pretty this year. The hot dry summer, the plentiful winter rain and the cold are bringing a magical touch to the veld which we haven't seen in many years. Tienie Versfeld Well worth a walk through. Burgherspost Wine Estate Reserve Lots of daisies still around.Wine cups in patches (take precautions for blind flies in the wetlands) Fields of slakblomme, Patches of vygies. In the Fynbos the conebushes are in full flower as well as the pincushions. Also fields of Echium on the old fields – nice for those that don’t mind the fact that its exotic. HOW MANY FLOWERS: Fields / Plenty / Patches / Few Please note that this is someone’s perception, and not a guarantee. FLOWER SHOWS: Over until next year Darling Wildflower Show Fri 20 until Sunday 22 September 2013 Enquiries 022 492 3361 [email protected] Duckitt Nurseries Orchid Show Fri 19 – Sunday 22 September 2013 022 492 2606 [email protected] th Wildflower Meander – Wednesday 26 September 2012 Darling Flora group takes walks in the reserves in and around th Darling with the next one scheduled for Weds 26 Sept. leaving from the Tienie Versfeld reserve at 10h00 am. They explore the reserves for whatever is flowering that day, also to find anything new and to discuss anything botanical. These are gentle walks so anyone is welcome to join. For more details – Helene Preston 082 222 8135 3 Photos taken by WM Duckitt September 2012. Last one is the scarce Kelkiewyn. YZERFONTEIN LOCATION OF FLOWERS: It seems we have some rain heading our way. Best to wait after Rain this weekend to view some flowers. Flower season is almost At its end, so there is not a lot of time left to view flowers. Bokbaavygie trail and the Schaap Island trail are stil the best places to view some of our beautiful flowers. When walking the Schaap island Trail wear comfortable shoes as there are rocks that you may need to walk over. The Schaap Island Trail is a 2km trail that stretches from the main beach wraps around the harbour past some beach caves and stops at Schaap Island. If it has rained the trail may have a few wet patches so please watch your step when walking. But this year as been the best year for flowers at the Bokbaai vygie trail. The bokbaaivygie trail is still free to enter, visitors have parking available but must just make sure to close the gate 4 when entering as there are Ostrishes that roam in a nearby camp.The Bokbaaivygie trail is only open till the end of September. Dassen Island Drive has beautiful streams of yellow and pink Cinerarias on the side of the road. The best time to view Yzerfontein’s wildflowers is between 12:00 and 14:00 as the sun is at its highest point. Wildflowers turn towards the sun. If you would like to see even more flowers then the West Coast National Park is a great option after you have popped in at Yzerfontein. Come and few our flowers before our season eds. TYPE OF FLOWERS: Cinerarias-Pink and Yellow, Bokbaaivygies, Senecio, Babiana nana, Gazania Pectinata(Kaapse Rooi Gousblom), Arctotis Stoechadifolia(Kus Gousblom) HOW MANY FLOWERS: Fields / Plenty / Patches / Few Please note that this is someone’s perception, and not a guarantee. Photos sent in by Christa van Ellewee, of Yzerfontein. WEST COAST PENINSULA HOPEFIELD LOCATION OF FLOWERS: From Hopefield to Velddrif on the roadside(R234 –R27) Plaasmol (R45) 5km outside Hopefield TYPE OF FLOWERS: Wit, Geel & Helder Oranje Gousblomme (daisies), Persbosse, Bitoubos, Bruin Saliebos , Pers Drumsticks, Groot plate Camel blomme, Geel Bokbaaivygies, Arum Lilies (along the river), Viooltjies (Lachenalia), Weeskindertjies, Geel Hongerblomme, Cineraria, Suikerkanne, Aalwyne, Rotsstert, Aandblomme, Pienk Wilde Malva, Wit Morea, Sewe dae Geneesbossie, Pers 5 & Pienk Vygies, Melkbos, Slymstok, Kapokbos, Vlei-rys blommetjies, Blou Salie, Red heart Pocus in vleilande, Skilpadbessie, Duinebessie, Blombos, Tolbos (Leucadendron), Restios HOW MANY FLOWERS: Fields -On R234 between Hopefield & Veldrift Fields – White & Orange Daisies in town Please note that this is someone’s perception, and not a guarantee. Website: www.capewestcoastpeninsula.co.za Links: https://www.facebook.com/HopefieldFynbos www.facebook.com/Visit Hopefield JACOBSBAAI LOCATION OF FLOWERS: Jacobsbaai Village & Walk along Roads /2.5KM SOUTH OF TOWN TYPE OF FLOWERS: bietou Chrysanthemoides monilifera ossierrapuis Othonna cylindrica soetkopdikblaar Senecio sarcoides bruinsalie Salvia africana-lutia skilpadbessiebos Muraltia spinescens slaaibos Zygophyllum morgsana geelmelkbos Euphorbia mauritanica hanepootharpuisbos Euryops multifidus sjielingbos Zygophyllum cordifolium siering Oxalis pes- caprae gousblom Arctotis hirsuta cape weed Arctotheca calendula reenblommetjies Dimorphotheca pluvialis strandhongerblom Senecio maritimus bokbaaivygies Dorotheanthus bellidiformis elandsvy Carpobrotus acinaciformis kleinkruid Foveolina tenella varkoor