Cape Town in bloom

I’m down in Cape Town this week, visiting family and having a break from Durban and work.  And I think I’ve timed it perfectly!  I took a stroll along the Pipe Trail on Table Mountain and the fynbos is in bloom.  Such beautiful, interesting flowers.  I didn’t have my camera with me, but snapped a shot of this fascinating plant with my phone.

Cape Town flora

Cape Beauty

I have noticed this flower fairly often in the Cape. With its tight buds and sturdy stem, it seems quite different from what one might encounter in Durban. I’m new to the Cape. Does anyone know this plant? Is it indigenous?

Bonsai Tulip

A few weeks back I went to the nursery to get a small tree for an empty bonsai pot I had when I got distracted by the display of bulbs. I’ve never actually grown bulbs but decided to give the tulips a go, what with my niece being Dutch. So, I grabbed a bag and packed my ceramic bonsai pot with them, watered and left. I’m happy to say that the bulbs have survived and started to sprout. I can now see the excitement in bulbs as every morning I head outside to see if any more have sprouted or how much they have grown.

Being a plant and computer nerd, I have documented the whole process and will undoubtably post some pictures once they flower.

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Blooming marvelous

I’ve noticed this striking tree in bloom all around my neighbourhood – in the scary kid park, outside the Pakistani hairdresser and lining the streets. Its the middle of winter so quite surprising to see such a display of colour. It is great but I know little about it – could it be indigenous?

Patrick

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Succulent flower

This beautiful little succulent is currently flowering – can anyone identify it and provide any more information about it? For example, is it from South Africa? If so, where? Karoo?