Giant cacti at Obesa

I have always had a love for cacti and succulents.  Perhaps because there are so many different species, because they often surprise you with the most beautiful little flowers or because they don't need much looking after or water.  But nothing I knew about succulents could prepare me for what I encountered at the Obesa Cactus Nursery in Graaff-Reinet.  We were in town for a long weekend and had a couple of hours on our hands to explore, so when the receptionist at the guesthouse we were staying recommended Obesa I knew we were in for a prickly experience.    

Coming around the corner it's hard to miss Obesa.  The succulents are all over... the yard... the building... the fence... along the pavement...  It's really hard to miss.  So is the sign on the gate stating that American visitors aren't welcome.  Clearly the owner isn't a Donald Trump fan.  So if you're a Yank looking to stop by, just don't say much.  

Obesa was started in 1970 as a hobby garden, grew up and then went into overdrive.  Today it boasts over 7 000 species of plants, raises 35 000 odd plants every year, and stocks well over 2 million.  Definitely not quite just a hobby anymore.  Chatting to owner Johan he was telling me that most of their succulents are exported with the majority going to Europe.  Obesa is basically made up of two sections.  Firstly there is the garden and then the nursery.

It was in the garden where we kicked off our visit.  Johan pointed us in the general direction and from there we followed the paths and signs.  It's in this garden where cactii growing up to around 8 meters high will take your breath away.  Definitely not your typical succulent garden at home.  I didn't know where to point my camera.  Problem is showing the scale of these plants, some of which is up to 45 years old already.  I did try a couple of times to get Miggie to stand by them for scale but she was a bit careful for those big thorns reaching out at her.

The nursery itself is huge and if you're a succulent lover then you better come with you wallet well stocked otherwise don't even go there.  With us it was a case of "I want one of those, and one of those, one of those and definitely one of those..."  And anything you need to know, just ask Johan.  He does come across as very direct and not everybody likes that, but the man knows his succulents.  That is for sure.

Graaff-Reinet has so many treasures to discover ranging from the Valley of Desolation to the many museums in town, but do open up an hour or so in your itinerary and pop by Obesa.  It's perhaps not everybody's thing, but if you like to garden, it will be worth it.

Reinet House and the oldest grape vine in South Africa

I really enjoy visiting small town museums.  There is always something interesting to discover in them and no better way to learn more about the history of a place.  Graaff-Reinet has a number of very good small museums but if I had to choose only one to go to I would choose Reinet House. The Graaff-Reinet Museum or “Reinet House” is a former Dutch Reformed Church parsonage and was built in 1812.  It was the home of three ministers prior to 1822, the year in which the Rev. Andrew Murray, from Aberdeenshire, Scotland, became the resident minister.  After his death in 1866 the parsonage was occupied by his son Charles until 1904 after which it was used as a boarding establishment for girls wishing to train as teachers.  It was during this time that the late Miss Helen Murray, a sister of Rev. Charles Murray, named the house “Reinet House”.  In 1956 the Graaff-Reinet Museum was officially opened.

 

 Not all the interesting objects can be found inside the museum though.  In the backyard is a Black Acorn grapevine planted by Charles Murray in 1870 which is said to be the oldest living grape vine in South Africa.  The "trunk" of the vine used to be a lot bigger than now but some years ago a big part of it had to be cut away when it picked up a disease.  It may have lost some of its girth but at least it didn't die and will hopefully be around for many years to come.

Forest scenes and senses from the Tsitsikamma

The Tsitsikamma is famous for its stunning scenery, magnificent forests and exciting adventures.  I often wonder how many people visit here and marvel at the big things but totally miss the little ones.  Ferns with new leaves opening up, soft moss growing on a rock, bracket fungus on the side of a log, the sound of a forest stream slowly flowing through the underbrush and over a little waterfall and the call of baboons in the distance.  What about the sound of the wind in the trees, the breaking of a branch falling down, the smell of the moist forest and the red flash of a Knysna Loerie overhead followed by it's ko-ko-ko call.  Suddenly I yearn to be in the forest, somewhere I go to feed my soul and always leave behind a piece of my heart.  

Flowering Spekboom in Addo

I like pizza... and braaivleis...  and burgers... and... and... and...   Elephants like a whole bunch of things as well.  One of those things is Spekboom (Portulacaria afra).  Spekboom, also called the elephant bush, forms part of the Subtropical Thicket biome and is prevalent in the Addo Elephant National Park.  In actual fact its one of the reasons why Addo has such a good elephant carrying capacity as the Spekboom is a succulent and also supplements their water intake.  Although the Spekboom normally flowers in late Spring the flowers are specifically noticeable after good Spring rains.  Something we had lots of this year.  Right now Addo is stunning with lots of green and yellow, but its the pink Spekboom flowers that stood out for me on my last visit.

Valley Thicket

South Africa boasts seven biomes or plant kingdoms and Port Elizabeth is fortunate that five of the seven occurs within the Nelson Mandela Bay metro boundary.  One of the biomes which is found largely in the Eastern Cape is the Valley Thicket Biome, previously called Valley Bushveld.  The biome is found mostly in river valleys and is characterised by dense evergreen shrub vegetation.  Closer to the coast the thicket is most dense with thorny shrubs and an undergrowth of creepers and succulent plants. Further inland where the climate is drier the vegetation becomes less intense while in mountain valleys you will find predominantly succulent vegetation.  The majority of vegetation in the Addo Elephant National Park consists of Valley Thicket with Spekboom being prevalent.  The big advantage of Valley Thicket is that it has an exceptionally high carbon dioxide storage ability and is seen as an important area to buffer the effects of climate change. 

Moss seed

Have you ever wondered what moss seed looks like?  On a visit to the Tsitsikamma I was taking a couple of macro pictures of moss between rocks when I found that a patch of it was seeding.  I've noticed it before but never realised what it was I was looking at.

Fort succulents

Succulents on top of Cogmans Kloof with the British Fort in the background

Pink ferns in the forest

If I could go for a walk in an indigenous forest every day I would.  I love the beauty and peacefulness of it and don't think I'll ever be able to get enough for it.  One of the thing that I always find very interesting are the young fern leaves that's coloured pink, something I saw quite a lot of in the Tsitsikamma last week.  I asked somebody in the area once why the young leaves are pink before turning green and the answer that I got was that they grow so quickly that the photosynthesis only kicks in afterwards.

Early morning web drops

There are few things as beautiful as a spider's web covered in dew or rain drops encountered on an early morning walk through the veld or bush. 

New life

A fern growing out of the remains of a bush fire in the Groendal Wilderness area outside Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape

Bull rush

Bull rush along the Maitland River at Sleepy Hollow outside Port Elizabeth

Rain drops hanging around

Like these rain drops I haven't been hanging around much lately.  Not because I've been lazy but because I've been away for about a week and didn't have time to prepost anything.  But I'm back.  Hope you missed me.

Montagu Nature Garden

While exploring the town of Montagu in the Western Cape I discovered the Montagu Nature Garden on the outskirts of town.  I wouldn't really call it a garden, but rather a nature reserve as it covers quite a big area.  The Montagu Nature Garden was established in 1954, the year that Montagu celebrated its centenary.  Montagu Nature garden is situated in the most southerly part of the succulent Karoo “biome.” It has the distinction therefore of having flora of 3 regions of the Western Cape – succulent karoo, fynbos and renoster veld. Although you can visit the reserve at any time, the best would probably be in spring when the excellent variety of Vygies (mesembryathemums) are blooming and covering the reserve in a blaze of colours.

There is a 1,7km circular walking trail within the garden that takes visitors to the top of Bessiekop for a magnificent panoramic view of the town and the surrounding Cape Folded Mountains. Ours was unfortunately a hot day and the kidz were in a hurry to get back to the caravan park and into the pool so I didn't get to the the whole walk.  Next time, I promise. 

At the end of the walk there is a dam with a stream and lush lawns which provide a welcome break after the walk. It kinda looked out of place compared to the rest of the reserve, but the area is well known for its abundance of water in the dry Klein Karoo.

Succulent flowers

Succulent flowers from the Klein Karoo in the Montagu area

Hyobanche sanguina

I get very excited when I find something new and hiking along the Guinea Fowl Trail in Port Elizabeth the other day was one of those exciting days.  I saw Hyobanche Sanguina, commonly known as Cat's Paw, for the first time.  Cat's Paw is a parasitic plant which grows on the roots of shrubs.  The clustered red flower reaches about 150 mm in height and it's soft furriness along with the protruding white anthers forming the characteristic cat's nails gives it it's name.  They are normally found in sandy soil and the underground stems may reach up to 2m before producing flowers.  

This is my 1000th post in The Firefly Photo Files.  I can hardly believe that I have actually done a 1000 posts.  At times I've had lots to post and then there seem to be short dry patches where I haven't been out somewhere for a while and don't have anything to share.  I want to thank everybody who visits on a regular basis and to those who pop in a comment every now I then I just want to say that I really appreciate it.  Here's to the next 1000 posts.

Sour fig in bloom

Sour Fig in full bloom at Kuzuko Lodge in the Eastern Cape.  The Sour Figs grows on coastal and inland slopes from Namaqualand in the Northern Cape through the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape and is often seen as a pioneer in disturbed sites.

Pearson Conservatory

This post isn't supposed to be a reminiscent one, but I can't help by starting off with going back in time.  Ok, first way back in time and then a quick reminisce.  The Victorian style Pearson Conservatory in St Georges Park was opened on 12 September 1882 and named after Mr HW Pearson, the Mayor of Port Elizabeth at that time.  Twenty five / thirty odd years ago my mom used to have a stall at Art in the Park on the first Sunday of the month and I remember how me and my brother explored and played throughout St Georges Park.  I use to just loved walking through the conservatory.  Unfortunately the years weren't good to the old lady and recently it became time for a face lift AND a nip and tuck.

The Pearson Conservatory was reopened in September after the municipality had completed a R5,5million renovation of the building during which just about the whole building was taken apart and all the rotten timber was replaced and the steel structure treated and redone.  The original central fountain which was imported from the United Kingdom in 1882 still stands proudly in the centre of the conservatory.

The flower beds inside the conservatory has been replanted and although the vegetation isn't is as lush as it used to be yet, the flowers on show are breathtaking.  I can actually see how the conservatory could become a very popular spot for photographers with its variety of colours, lines and possible angles.  The "new" Pearson Conservatory is well worth a visit if you are in the vicinity of St Georges Park and looking for something to do.

Colours of nature

Purple vygies, green grass with white(ish) and orange moss growing on the grey rocks.  Pity I didn't get more yellow flowers in the shot like those on the left.  Isn't nature and its natural colours amazing?

Aloe Trail plants and flowers

A weekend or two ago I took the family and joined a guided walk along the Aloe Trail in Port Elizabeth.  The trail is situated between Bluewater Bay and Amsterdamhoek and consist of 2km as well as 7km trail options.  Because we had the Rugrats with us we decided just to do the 2km section which offered fantastic views of the Swartkops River as well as a number of interesting plants and flowers.

It isn't hard to see where the nature reserve got its name from.  Where ever you look there are aloes with a number of them being in full bloom already and others on the verge of blooming.  The predominant ones in flower at the moment are these that I know as  Fence Aloe, although I may be wrong.  But one doesn't have to know its name to appreciate its beauty.

This bush had everybody in the group stumped.  All its new leaves are pink and as time goes on they then turn green.  It didn't have any flowers on it, but the pink leaves does make it look like its flowering.

The Vygies are in full bloom with their brilliant purple flowers standing out against the green background.

The tree on every body's lips at the moment is the Spekbook (Portulacaria afra).  People are encouraged to plant spekbook due to its ability to store big amounts of carbon in its roots.  So if you want to decrease your carbon footprint, plant a spekboom.  Spekboom usually flower in spring especially after good winter rains of which we have had lots this year. 

Another type of spekbook is what we call the wide leave spekboom.  Again the non-botanist in me tells me I'm probably wrong.  I have a couple of them in my garden which has pink flowers, but these had a white one.

You can't just venture off the path, otherwise these guys are waiting for you...

I feel like I'm letting the team down today (sorry Helen, Caroline and Diana), but I think these are a type of Daisy. 

I will correct any of these names if somebody does throw some info about them my way. 

Random Moss

I think its time to do a "Random theme" post for a change again.  The topic today, Random Moss.