Clearwater - Fish Eagle Trail - May 2022

It was our dear Maggie’s 80^th birthday on the last day of May and Thursday could not wait as we wanted to wish her in person a very Happy Birthday. One doesn’t turn eighty every day and so we met on the Clearwater deck high spirited baring treats and celebrating with bubbly.  Gail had brought bubbles and instead of balloons lifting into the air bubbles were blown as Maggie as she glamorously arrived.  This was her day and after many hugs and well wishes we said good-bye leaving Maggie to see other friends and family.

We meandered down the Fish Eagle Trail, the Secamone alpinni had us double guessing it as it was growing stunted on a rock imitating Asparagus falcatus with its narrow leaves but Dorothy wasn't fooled for long and she pointed out a young Phymaspermum acerosum which can look very different in its fluffiness compared to that when it’s established.  Agathosma ovata flowered both in pure white and pink, a show of delicate flowers fit for a bride.  Halleria lucida was striking in its magnificent red and quite the show stopper.  Simon our tree lover disappeared into the forest and he and Dorothy scratched their brains thinking about what tree they had seen which was full of berries and after some homework it ended up being identified as typically Scolopia mundii .  The breeze picked up and gently we carried on with the day grateful that we had been there to see Maggie on her grand birthday. 

Maggie's carrot birthday cake garnished indigenously.

Berkheya speciosa
ASTERACEAE

Afroaster serrulatus
ASTERACEAE

Afroaster serrulatus
ASTERACEAE
(non-hairy)

Apodytes dimidiata subsp. dimidiata

White Pear

ICACINACEAE

Senecio bupleuroides
ASTERACEAE

Gerrardina foliosa

Krantz-berry

ACHARIACEAE

Gerrardina foliosa

Krantz-berry

ACHARIACEAE

Halleria lucida

Tree Fuchsia

STILBACEAE

Scolopia mundii

Red-pear

SALICACEAE

Scolopia mundii

Red-pear

SALICACEAE

Scolopia mundii

Red-pear

SALICACEAE

Simon getting Dorothy a "Takkie".

Podalyria burchellii

Hairy Blossom-pea

FABACEAE

Inulanthera leucoclada

ASTERACEAE

Inulanthera leucoclada

ASTERACEAE

Pycnostachys reticulata

Blue Soldier

LAMIACEAE

Alf

Rhipsalis baccifera subsp. mauritiana

Mistletoe Cactus

CACTACEAE

Seed pods

Rhipsalis baccifera subsp. mauritiana

Mistletoe Cactus

CACTACEAE

Dorothy and Alf pottering around the rocks.

Phymaspermum acerosum

Geelblombos

ASTERACEAE

Phymaspermum acerosum

Geelblombos

ASTERACEAE

Phymaspermum acerosum

Geelblombos

ASTERACEAE

Agathosma ovata

Basterboegoe

RUTACEAE

In pink

Agathosma ovata

Basterboegoe

RUTACEAE

In white

Anastrabe integerrima 

Pambati-tree

STILBACEAE

Secamone alpini

Bobbejaantou

APOCYNACEAE

Seed capsules

Eugenia natalitia

Forest Myrtle

MYRTACEAE

Eugenia natalitia

Forest Myrtle

MYRTACEAE

Happy 80th Birthday Maggie!

Maggie blew out the candles in one breath.  May all your wishes come true.

Pondoland C.R.E.W. with friends.

Colin Taylor, Alf Hayter, Tracy Traylor, Dorothy McIntyre, Maggie Abbott, Gail Bowers-Winters, Natalie Abbott, Craig Hosken and Simon Hicks.

“I must have flowers, always and always.” -Claude Monet