The golden rule, as Hiliary wisely reminds us, is to “never follow Gail.” So when Gail and Maggie confidently followed a pin drop and a photo of the Port Edward lighthouse, they naturally ended up in the wrong place. A quick phone call later, they were rerouted to the safety of Rocklands—our botanising destination for the day.
The day held something extra special: it was Tracy’s
birthday. Celebrations began with iced biscuits shaped like wildflowers and
delicious tea-time treats, shared under a gentle sun before we made our way
past electric fences and a rather intimidating Pit Bull. From there, we found
ourselves on a hillside that had been burnt several weeks prior—now bursting
into flower.
It’s remarkable how little ground one can cover when
wildflowers keep appearing underfoot.
One of our first sightings was Hebenstretia comosa—Katstert. Hebenstretia dura which is also locally found has feather like leaves and is unfortunately burdened with the common name Eastern Shrubby Slugwort. It's the kind of name one might expect in a Harry Potter novel, and fittingly, it’s one of Tracy’s favourite plants—an especially serendipitous find on her birthday.
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| Hebenstretia comosa SCROPHULARIACEAE
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Nearby, we discovered Lasiosiphon kraussianus var krausianus, Ursinia tenuiloba, and the bristly Afroaster hispida. Further into the grassland, bursts of colour came from Tritonia gladiolaris, Gladiolus longicollis, and Gladiolus inandensis—prompting a few cheers: “We’re glad to see Glads!”
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| Lasiosiphon kraussianus var. kraussianus THYMELAEACEAE |
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| Ursinia tenuiloba ASTERACEAE South African endemic Photo credit: Tracy |
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| Afroaster hispida ASTERACEAE |
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| Gladiolus inandensis IRIDACEAE South African endemic |
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| Cyrtanthus brachyscyphus AMARYLLIDACEAE Orange Ifafa Lily |
Orchid season had finally begun! The hillside offered another delight: Acrolophia cochlearis, a terrestrial orchid just beginning to flower. “Chocolate!” Anne cried, sparking a flurry of excitement. This species is noticeably different in size to Eulophia clitellifera, which we also spotted in a small colony of about twenty plants—though we all agreed the name might warrant a rethink due to its slightly awkward pronunciation. Adding to the orchid bounty, we found Orthochilus foliosus, with both buds and flowers on display—yet another colony thriving after the fire.
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| Acrolophia cochlearis ORCHIDACEA South African endemic
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| Eulophia clitellifera ORCHIDACEAE |
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| Orthochilus foliosus ORCHIDACEAE |
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| Photo credit: Tracy |
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| Tulbaghia ludwigiana ALLIACEAE  JUNCAGINACEAE Freshwater/Grassland/Seasonal wetlands in grassland Photo credit: Tracy |
Uschi worked her magic with the camera, managing a clear
photo of Gazania linearis, highlighting the barbed margins on its tiny
leaves. Nearby, Scadoxus puniceus was just beginning to open in the
dappled shade beneath Strelitzia nicolai. Nemesia caerulea, with
its soft lilac-blue petals, brought further charm—a dainty garden-worthy
species if ever there was one.
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| Gazania linearis var. linearis ASTERACEAE |
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| Nemesia caerulea SCROPHULARIACEAE |
As we began our slow meander back, Uschi pointed out the cheerful Dimorphotheca caulescens. Other finds included Acalypha punctata, Aloe maculata, and the fiery Cyrtanthus brachyscyphus peeking from the rocky edges.
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| Dimorphotheca caulescens ASTERACEAE |
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| Acalypha punctata var. punctata EUPHORBIACEAE Sticky Brooms and Brushes |
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| Kniphofia coddiana ASPHODELACEAE Near Threatened B1ab(iii) |
But the day ended on a slightly unsettling note. We had the sense we were being watched. Gail quietly packed away her camera, and we instinctively grouped together—much like zebras sensing a nearby lion. Armed with pepper sprays and whatever implements we could muster, we cautiously observed our surroundings calling it a day. Saftey came first. A quick group photo was snapped before we passed broken toilet blocks and scattered litter—and discovered two abandoned cell phones during the day. It was a reminder that vigilance is as important as observation in the field.
Despite that, the orchids stole the show—and left us
grateful for a day of wild flowers, a special birthday, and a bit of adventure on the wild
slopes of Rocklands. These girls rock!
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| Photo credit: Tracy |
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| Pondoland CREW Gail Bowers-Winters, Hiliary Henderson, Anne Skelton, Uschi Teicher, Tracy Taylor, Dorothy McIntyre and Maggie Abbott. “Not all those who wander are lost—but sometimes they’re just following Gail.” — Adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien |
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