Sprig » flower

What’s growing in the dunes?

Sarah — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 11:33:24 +0000

On a recent trip to Salt Rock,we found these little beauties growing on the hill above the beach. Does anyone know what they are?

Sarah www.eyereports.wordpress.com

Essential Amathole

rike — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 11:06:30 +0000

“Located in the scenic Amathole region of the Eastern Cape in South Africa, Essential Amathole has been established to produce a range of organic essential oils and medicinal plant extracts for the global market”.

Still and nursery in Hogsback

As many of you know, I keep returning to Hogsback, and Essential Amathole is one of the reasons. This initiative follows an incredible approach to sustainable rural economic development in 4 ways. Firstly, it is based on a public-private-community partnership. Participation in this manner allows for equitable, responsible and sustainable development, and is a model that can (and should) be replicated as a priority for any development. Secondly, there are both direct and indirect beneficiaries. Not only is the project addressing severe unemployment in the region, but it has established a community trust that holds 24.8% of the profits, the proceeds of which go into a wide range of community-based organisations and initiatives. Thirdly, the business itself is based on environmentally sustainable methods. All farming is organic and focused primarily on indigenous plants endemic to the Eastern Cape. Finally, it is essential oils so it smells absolutely wonderful!

Here are some pictures I took of the nursery in Hogsback:

Nursery

Rose geranium nursery

Here are some close ups of the crops:

Rose geranium

Lavendar

Lemon balm

The project is still in its second phase of implementation so there are a lot more exciting possibilities emerging daily. I would highly recommend a visit if you are anywhere near those parts. It is a great example of an environmentally sustainable economic development model. And all the sites smell fantastic!

ID on unknown plant please

ZeldaW — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:02:48 +0000

This plant came up in a friend’s garden. Could someone please identify for me. I think it is exotic so it doesn’t matter where it came up but for interest’s sake I live in Durbanville , Cape Town. Hot dry summers, wet winters. This photo was taken late August, which is still very cold and rainy in our area.

Unknown Plant

Spring flowers at Caversham Press

Niall — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 05:20:41 +0000

I was recently up in the Midlands for work and we stopped off at the Caversham Press, a writers and artists retreat. This amazing tree was in their courtyard, heavy with pink flowers. Does anyone recognise it? Could it possibly be indigenous?

More on the Press at www.cavershamcentre.org.

Spring flowers at Caversham Press

Fynbos flowers, unusual colours

Niall — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:35:16 +0000

This fynbos plant has remarkable colouring. The leaves are a blue-grey and its flowers go from a purple to a lovely brown. Again, I forgot to keep the name of it so if anyone recognises it please let me know. Although it looks like it wouldn’t do so well in Durbs, it is thriving in my garden.

Fynbos flowers, unusual colours

September Bush revisited

Niall — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:33:40 +0000

Mol-d, you beat me to the draw – I had just taken some photographs of the September Bush flowering in my garden. I wonder if its called the September Bush because it flowers in September? Anyway, it is a great plant to have in your garden and the bumble-bees seem to love the flowers.

September Bush revisited.

Bumble-bee magnet!

In search of the blood lily

Niall — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:31:54 +0000

I spotted this striking beauty under a tree outside my office today. The flower is followed by fleshy red berries, which the monkeys and birds love. I’ll try to remember to take a photograph of the berries when they come through. The bulb is traditionally used to cure coughs, headaches and stomach problems. The plant is also known as Paintbrush (charming), Rooikwas and isiPhompo.

The Blood Lily.

At home under a tree.

Anyone recognise this plant?

Niall — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 09:47:34 +0000

One of the lessons I’ve learnt from writing this blog is to always keep a record of the names of plants you buy from nurseries. I think the next time I create a garden I will write down each plant in a little black book.

Anyway, I got this plant from the Fig Tree Nursery in Westville and have always liked it. It has furry leaves, grows very easily from cuttings and shoots up these amazing red flowers every year.

Flower.

Leaf.

Underwater succulent

Niall — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:55:49 +0000

My friend Sue gave me a tiny piece of this succulent a couple of years back and it has now grown into a fully-fledged plant – this is the first time it has flowered. I don’t think it is indigenous as it looks South American to me. Anyone recognise it?

Underwater succulent.

Pretty flower.

Amazing flower

Helen — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:30:01 +0000

I just wanted to share some photographs of this amazing, lily flower which grew out of a very ordinary succulent in a corner of my garden.

Amazing flower!

Not sure what the dog is up to ...