Our
meeting place to view the Clivia miniata's was from Crag's View where Craig had
created beautiful indigenous gardens to create more public awareness.
People don't really appreciate indigenous gardens as they generally favour the exotics
in search of "colour" and Craig and Gail hoped to sway people to
plant indigenous and become more aware of the plants that grew in the
reserve. They are tough and hardy plants that can survive not being
pampered and watered and yet are so rewarding with all the wildlife and birds
that they attract. With back breaking hours Craig turned a neglected
horse paddock into an interesting garden which have bridges and waterways that
will only become more beautiful in time once established and it has with an
area that has a snare display with information which he personally collected
over the years in trying to save the wildlife that is poached on a daily
basis. This area has been drawing the attention of the local garden
clubs who have enjoyed their mornings here. From this site we meandered
along the trail finding Boophone disticha, Merwilla plumbea (Near
Threatened), Disa woodii, Cyanotis speciossa, Helichrysum spiralepis, Hypoxis
argentea and Drimia echinostachya. Eulophia streptopetala was
awakening.
In the reserve we came across the endemic Gnidia
coriacea, Lasiosiphon triplinervis and Caesia contorta. Leucadendron spissifolium subsp. oribinum is
our endemic and Vulnerable
A2c; B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v). This protea is also known as the Oribi
Spear-leaf Conebush.
Along the forest edge we found our endemic Eugenia
umtamvunensis which is Endangered B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v). The endemic Mitriostigma axillare
was flowering as we entered into the forest. In the forest to our delight
the vulnerable Clivia
miniata var. miniata was magnificently flowering. This beautiful plant is
harvested for medicinal purposes and in the horticultural trade. Its
habitat is threatened owing to forest plantations, crop cultivation and urban
development. We keep a watchful eye on these plants as they have been poached
in the reserve with dustbin bags being carried out in the past.
The rare
and endemic Cyphostemma
rubroglandulosum could
be seen in flower which grew alongside the Clivia's. Gail, Tracy and
Arman ventured to the falls clambering up colossal boulders where we found an
Ochna. This could be Ochna arborea but this species is currently being further
researched and when Richard Boon's book gets published, we may find a new
species. The flower we saw on this Ochna was very large compared to
others we've seen.
We all made our way back in our own time and so grateful to have spent the day learning from each other and enjoying this beautiful environment which we hold so close to our hearts.
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| Tao and the Boophone disticha at Crag's View. Tao is a chinese word meaning "Path/Way". The day she was rescued having being dumped as a 1 kg pup in an awful condition Craig and Gail found her in their path and way, hence she received her name. |
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| Snares Craig has found over the years in dedicating his life to conserving wildlife. |
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| Clivia miniata var. miniata AMARYLLIDACEAE Vulnerable A2abcd |
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| Meandering down observing all flowers to The Fish Eagle Trail. |
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| Boophone disticha AMARYLLIDACEAE |
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| Disa woodii ORCHIDACEAE |
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| Cyanotis speciosa COMMELINACEAE Doll's Powderpuff |
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| Merwilla plumbea HYACINTHACEAE Near Threatened A2bd |
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| Uschi looking at Drosera natalensis in flower. |
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| Tracy in church. |
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| Leucadendron spissifolium subsp. oribinum PROTEACEAE Oribi Spear-leaf Conebush Vulnerable A2c; B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) South African endemic |
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| Helichrysum spiralepis ASTERACEAE |
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| Ajuga ophrydis LAMIACEAE |
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| Argyrolobium harveyanum FABACEAE |
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 Eulophia parviflora ORCHIDACEAE Photo credit: Tracy |
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| Lasiosiphon triplinervis THYMELAEACEAE South African endemic |
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| Caesia contorta HEMEROCALLIDACEAE South African endemic |
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| Eugenia umtamvunensis MYRTACEAE Thick-leaved Forest Myrtle Endangered B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) South African endemic |
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| New leaves. |
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| Garcinia gerrardii CLUSIACEAE |
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| Cassipourea malosana RHIZOPHORACEAE Calyx |
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| Psilotum nudum PSILOTACEAE FERN |
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| Rinorea VIOLACEAE |
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| A stream flowering over the rocks from the waterfall above into the Umtamvuna river below. |
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| Tracy |
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| A lovely refreshing waterfall in which we cooled down in. |
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| Ochna arborea OCHNACEAE Possibly a new species. Awaiting Richards Boon's book.
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| Cyphostemma rubroglandulosum VITACEAE Rare South African endemic Photo credit: Tracy
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Gail, Tracy and Arman clambering up to the waterfall in search of Clivia's
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| The Thursday Group/CREW Arman, Tracy, Gail, Uschi, Maggie, Joan, Dorothy and Buyi who left a little earlier to study vultures with Yvie "Perform those actions you will never regret: actions that will ripen into future joy and delight". - Unknown |
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