Pondoland C.R.E.W. Blog: Ingrid Fall's Beacon Hill 11 May 2023

We gathered at Beacon Hill and decided there where to go. It was a chilly morning but by the time we set off we had removed all our jackets and left them in the car. We headed down the hill noticing some Brunsvigia grandiflora seed heads lying in the grasslands, their seeds scattered with hope of new plants in the future. The vulnerable Syncolostemon ramulosus was in flower, it scrambled on the ground with smaller leaves than its cousin. As we headed towards the steam to cross over, we noticed Drosera natalensis growing. They were flourishing after all the rain we had received. Growing next to them was Utricularia livida and Utricularia prehensilis. Tracy pulled out Wild Ginger that had escaped from the farmers lands that had washed down and grew along the stream. Pycnostachys reticulata, Psoralea glabra and Nuxia floribunda were all flowering. It was hot and we sought shade, we quickly made our way to Ingrid's Falls. The relief of the forest brought joy. Wild pig's spoor was found as was bird song. Along the forest edge we found Maesa lanceolata, Isoglossa cooperi and Allophylus dregeanus flowering. The Flatid Planthopper Nymphs caught our attention for a while, they are quite endearing. No matter how slow the pace was we admired everything. The trees that were fluted and with their beautiful buttress roots growing laterally. The ancient trees towered above us. We sat having our lunch at Ingrid's Falls, the rainbow from the water played against the rocks and our hearts were content. We meandered home and the show stopper was Moraea spathulata. It was so beautiful that Gail decided it would be a good subject to paint. The genusname Moraea is a tribute to the English botanist Robert More. The species name spathulata is dervied from th eLatis word "spathulatus" meaning "spatula-shaped"and refers to the shape of the leaves. Helichrysum adenocarpum subsp. adenocarpum and Helichrysum ecklonis were flowering too in the late afternoon sun. It had been a wonderful and gentle day. A day just what one's heart needs from time to time.