Mr Nic's Gully

What a rollercoaster of a day! It started on an unusual note, with meetings, family commitments and other challenges keeping many of our regular botanising crew at home — or nearly so. The heat was relentless too, and it almost felt as though the day was doomed before it began. Yet, like a magician producing a final trick, everything fell into place and botanising at Beacon Hill went ahead.

We arrived with a strict mission: find a forest to escape the day's brutal heat. After our traditional tea, we set off for Mr. Nic’s Gully. On our way, we met two elderly adventurers who had already completed the loop and were searching for orchids. Their bravery was inspiring in the heat, but it raised red flags. They mentioned looking for Eulophia horsfolii, which we hadn’t spotted flowering last year—possibly due to plant poaching. It reminded us to always be cautious about our botanical treasures.

The elusive Eulophia horsfallii
ORCHIDACEAE

As we ventured along the path and into the gully, the grasslands welcomed us with Monsonia natalense, Lotononis viminea and Polygala hottentotta in flower, alongside familiar wildflowers we had previously documented. Entering the forest felt like stepping into another world. The creeping vines were like nooses, reminding us to slow down and take in our surroundings.

Monsonia natalensis
GERANIACEAE
South African endemic

Lotononis viminea
FABACEAE
South African endemic

Polygala hottentotta
POLYGALACEAE

Heading down to Mr. Nic's Gully.

A very zen Loxostylis alata 
ANACARDIACEAE

The stream flowed quietly, offering welcome relief from the heat. Cool pockets of air drifted through the gully, turning it into nature’s own air-conditioning. Anne, Tracy and Gail ventured a little deeper, but Anne — barefoot and carefree — soon turned back, mindful of the tricky grassland she would need to cross to rejoin the others where her shoes and string bag waited.

In the forest, we encountered Mistroxylon aethiopicum, with its velvety leaves and new stems. Gail playfully made a garland from it! The round green seeds lay scattered on the rocks below. We also spotted Plectranthus saccatus pondoensis, its flowers reminiscent of Cinderella’s coach slippers.

Erianthemum dregei 
LORANTHACEAE

Just a hop, skip and a jump!

Plectranthus saccatus subsp. pondoensis
LAMIACEAE
South African endemic

It was Maggie's time.  Lunch on the rocks.

Gail, the forest spirit.

Mystroxylon aethiopicum subsp. aethiopicum
CELASTRACEAE
South African endemic

Canthium ciliatum
RUBIACEAE
Photo credit:  Tracy

Rhynchocalyx lawsonioides
RHYNCHOCALYCACEAE
False-waterberry
Near Threatened B1ab(iii,v)
South African endemic
Photo credit:  Tracy

Making our way through the gully took a bit of agility, the rocks slick beneath our feet. Gail cooled herself by dunking her hat in the stream and suddenly exclaimed, “Smell that! It’s like rooibos tea with honey!” We only understood when we reached the top, where Loxostylis alata stood in full flower, its warm fragrance drifting through the air — a scent deeply reminiscent of South Africa.

Anne clambering up the gully.  These are no river pebbles.

Loxostylis alata
ANACARDIACEAE
South African endemic

At the forest edge, we admired Podalyria burchellii in flower and observed a sunbird sipping nectar from a Syzygium cordatum. Nature was in full swing, with Olea capensis enervis, Gerrardina foliosa, Pittosporum viridifolium, and Erythroxylum pictum also showing off their white flowers.

Tracy and Gail having clambered all the way up Mr. Nic's Gully.

Erythroxylum pictum
ERYTHROXYLACEAE
South African endemic

Combretum krausii calyx

Olea capensis subsp. enervis
OLEACEAE

Syzygium cordatum subsp. cordatum

MYRTACEAE

A Greater Double-collared Sunbird enjoying the Syzigium cordatum nectar in the flowers.

Pseudoscolopia polyantha
SALICCEAE
Near Threatened B1ab(iii,v)
South African endemic

Chionanthus foveolatus subsp. tomentellus

Chionanthus foveolatus subsp. tomentellus

I-nat:  Noronhia foveolata tomentella
OLEACEAE
South African endemic

Gerardiina foliosa

Podalyria burchellii 
FABACEAE
South African endemic

As the group spread out on the walk back, Tracy and Gail found Syncolostemon ramulosus, Crassula alba and Kniphofia laxiflora near the hilltop. Nearby, the fiery flowers of Helichrysum herbaceum and Helichrysum adenocarpum glowed like small suns and fading sunsets beneath the blazing sky.

Syncolostemon ramulosus
LAMIACEAE
Vulnerable D2
South African endemic

Crassula alba
CRASSULACEAE

Kniphofia laxiflora
ASPHODELACEAE

Helichrysum adenocarpum
ASTERACEAE

Helichrysum herbaceum
ASTERACEAE

Tephrosia polystachya var. polystachya
FABACEAE

Hat's off today to everyone who braved the heat.
Gail's hat in a rock pool.

By the time we returned to the car we were hot, weathered and a little dehydrated, but our hearts were full of joy. Stories and laughter were shared before we headed home, though Dorothy, Uschi and our other absent friends were missed. There is something deeply enriching about gathering with like-minded friends, sharing knowledge and the privilege of time in nature. Knowing what one is looking at while botanising turns an ordinary walk into something truly special. Until we meet again. 

Pondoland CREW
Gail Bowers-Winters, Alf Hayter, Maggie Abbott, Anne Skelton, Tracy Taylor and Hiliary Henderson.

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Special thanks to the Pondoland CREW who gather to make these outings possible and who contribute to the valuable work of recording what is flowering. Our thanks also go to those, near and far, who generously share their knowledge with the group. It is the givers — of cameras, time and wisdom — who quietly make this world a better place. Thank you.

Beacon Hill

With the sun promising to scorch the earth, we chose shade over exposure. The African sun can be unforgiving and relentless, and no matter one’s age, a full day beneath it is taxing. With our three octogenarians among us, we set off gently along the stream where the Brunia trigyna grow and the beautifully contorted Syzygium cordatum lean and twist with age. What characters these trees become over time. Then again, perhaps we all do.

The group soon divided: some eager to negotiate the slippery slopes near the cascading falls, others content to remain above. I am not entirely sure which route was more precarious. The upper path is narrow and steep — one misplaced step and you could find yourself unexpectedly joining those navigating the rocks below. It was never going to be a long day.

The terrain is demanding, and venturing deeper into the forest to seek out Lydenburgia abbottii requires a steep climb back up — a challenge in the heat and one to approach with consideration. On this day, we chose not to venture down.

Out in the grassland, Crassula vaginata flowered profusely, tiny yellow umbrellas lifted towards the light. We had never seen such a generous flush. Then came the showstopper: Brunsvigia grandiflora our South African endemic and proudly so. This giant candelabra turns heads without effort — simply magnificent!

Along the path we noted Indigofera hilaris subsp. hilaris, Indigofra herrstreyi var. herrstreyi, as well as Alectra sessiliflora. We found both Exochaenium natalense (small white flower) and Exochaenium grande (Butter yellow flower) growing side by side. Nearby we also found Melasma scabrum quietly holding its place in the grass.

Of the red-hot pokers, one near the office was Kniphofia parviflora, and further along we encountered the endemic Kniphofia laxiflora flowering below the path leading to the stream. Schefflera umbellifera put on a magnificent show, its rounded white flower heads standing out beautifully against the deep forest green. Along the path, Tinnea galpinii appeared in its unusual green-yellow form, flowering freely, while a maroon-flowered form grew a little further on. This remains the only locality where the green-yellow form has been recorded.

And so, in slow and measured steps, we made our way back up to the Beacon Hill office, saying our goodbyes until we meet again — heads full of plants and hearts grateful for shade, gently reminded that botanising is never entirely effortless.

Kniphofia parviflora
ASPHODELACEAE
South African endemic

Crassula vaginata subsp. vaginata
CRASSULACEAE

Alectra sessiliflora
OROBANCHACEAE

Indigofera herrstreyi var. herrstreyi
FABACEAE

Brunsvigia grandiflora
AMARYLLIDACEAE
South African endemic

Exochaenium grande
GENTIANACEAE

Exochaenium natalense
GENTIANACEAE

Pondoland CREW

Syzygium cordatum subsp. cordatum
MYRTACEAE

Kniphofia laxiflora
ASPHODELACEAE
South African endemic

Tephrosia macropoda var. macropoda
FABACEAE

Tinnea galpinii
LAMIACEAE

Alf climbing up a steep embankment from the cascades below.

Our dear Maggie and Dorothy walking along a precarious path into the forest.

Schefflera umbellifera

ARALIACEAE

Pondoland CREW
Gail Bowers-Winters, Anne Skelton, Alf Hayter, Maggie Abbott,
Tracy Taylor, Dorothy McInytre, Uschi Teicher and Hiliary Henderson

“Walk slowly enough, through grassland and forest alike, and the earth will reveal not only its flowers, but its quiet wisdom — reminding us that endurance, like beauty, belongs to every age.”