Vygies

Tags

Colour, Flowers, Mesembryanthemum, South African endemic plant, Vygie

Vygies – or mesembryanthemums – are truly South Africa’s most colourful plant group. Their silky-textured flowers – in just about every colour of the rainbow – will give an extraordinary luminosity to any border.

Plant vygies in a sunny, well-drained position. Where drainage is a problem, rockeries and north and west-facing slopes are ideal sites. Vygies thrive in many different soil types, and need little nourishment. Perennial vygies can be planted at any time of the year.

Pastel pinks and Blues on the mountain

Tags

Cape Town, environment, Erica Baccans, Flowers, Lobostemon, nature, photography, plants, South African endemic plant

Erica Baccans and Lobostemon growing wild on the mountain

Lobostemon

Pincushions

Tags

Cape Town, Flowers, Leucospermum, photography, pincushion protea, plants, South African endemic plant

Satynblom

Tags

bulb, Clania glenlyonensis, Flowers, Monkey Beetle, Namaqualand, nature, photography, plants, Pollen, pollinator, Romulea Momadelpha, Satynblom, South African endemic plant

The Satynblom is a stemless geophyte occuring in the Hantam Karoo
The lovely large glossy red flowers (hence the common namesatynblom), have black markings on the inside and anther filaments that are fused into a column.

The Monkey Beetle (Clania glenlyonensis) ” is a main pollinator of Romulea monadelpha and within the Hantam National Botanical Garden. It also visits a range of other flowers, and because of its rapid and busy flight, high loads of pollen carried on its hairy body, and large numbers, it is considered a keystone pollinator.

Satyn Flower
Romulea monadelpha

Bird of Paradise

Tags

Bird of Paradise, Crane flower, Flowers, focal point, garden, honeybee, Perennial, plants, South African endemic plant, Strelitzia reginae

The Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia Reginae) is the most popular perennial around the world.

Ecology
Bees are common visitors when the spathe is in flower. Sunbirds may be the pollinator, but this has still to be proven. The role of sunbirds in Strelitzia pollination needs to be investigated, as they have been observed “robbing” the flowers by taking nectar but by-passing the pollination mechanism. Birds eat and disperse the seed.

Strelitzia reginae is widely used in landscaping as an architectural plant and focal point.

Bird of Paradise
Crane flower
Strelitizia reginae

Honeybee feeding off the sweet nectar

Freshly Friday

Tags

Flowers, Namaqualand, nature, photography, South African endemic plant

Blessed

Papkuilsfontein

Tags

accomodation, Ecotourism, environment, flower kingdom, garden, hiking, Namaqualand, Namaqualand Flowers, nature, Papkuilsfontein, photography, plants, South African endemic plant, waterfall

Papkuilsfontein

Soak up the peace and tranquility of this beautiful farm. Stay in the old, beautifully restored stone cottages,in your own private Fynbos setting.View the awesome canyon and its 100m waterfall. In spring, enjoy the world-renowned flowers in this Serengeti of the floral kingdom (This area is known as ”the Bulb Capital of the World” because it has the highest speciation of indigenous bulbous flowers on Earth). Experience the rich bird life, fauna, and San rock art. Swim in the cool waters of a natural rock pool, or in the pool at the cottages, built to be reminiscent of a farm dam. Hike the trails through sandstone rock formations and don’t forget to bring your mountain bike or your 4×4.

Fynbos flowers

Guest accommodation

Cat’s tails as far as the eye can see

Old Ox Wagon

Windmill

Rivers of flowers

Cat’s tails

Ruins in a field of flowers

Babiana

Blue Aster

water loving plants on cliff face

Spectacular waterfall

Cape girdled Lizard

Sewefontein – 1878

Tags

environment, farm accommodation, Flowers, garden, Namaqualand, Namaqualand Flowers, nature, photography, plants, Sewefontein, South African endemic plant, swimming pools, water fountains

Sewefontein (1878) is a tranquil Old World farm accommodation located in the heart of Namaqualand.

The farm offers seven fresh water fountains, natural swimming pools in the river, hiking trails, waterfall and canyon, Rock Art, wild flowers, rich animal and bird life.
http://www.nieuwoudtville.com/sewefontein/

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Wordless Wednesday in Namaqualand

Tags

environment, Flowers, garden, Namaqualand, nature, photography, plants, South African endemic plant

Wordless in Namaqualand

Namaqualand Daisies

Tags

environment, Flowers, garden, Namaqualand Daisies, Namaqualand Flowers, nature, photography, Ralph Waldo Emerson, South African endemic plant

Namaqualand Daisies

“Nature always wears the colours of the Spirit”

Ralph Waldo Emerson