Going for Gold
Bergplaas
We are still trying to establish the size of the population of Indigofera sp. nova (outrampsii) that occurs at Bergplaas. This task is hampered by the very similar Indigofera alopecuroides var. minor that also grows there. Calvin Saunders was with us. He is commissioned by Cape Nature to take photographs for the webpage. One of his briefs is to take photos of older people on the trails. Well, he had plenty of those, although on this occasion the young almost outnumbered the elderly. We are working hard to get the average age of the Outramps down.
https://www.inaturalist.org/places/eastern-outeniquas-from-bergplaas-to-gouna
Rooiberg
Getting on to the Rooiberg Jeep Track is proving difficult with a locked gate. We looked at the options and after some discussion decided to stick to the Pass. Recent rains, bright sunlight and Spring combined to give us a floral treat of note. It is surely one of the most beautiful places on earth and we are so privileged to have it in our back yard. Thank you Niekie for your help and encouragement.
https://www.inaturalist.org/places/rooiberg
Camferskloof with the Vloks
We had the rare privilege of a day out in the field with Jan and AnneLise Vlok. It is always a great treat to walk in the veld with these passionate and knowledgeable people. We saw a wealth of interesting beauties and were riveted by the stunning Golden Sceptre (Aspalathus sceptrum-aureum). As always, "Baie dankie" for a great day out in the fynbos.
https://www.inaturalist.org/places/camferskloof-in-the-outeniquas-za
Tonnelbos
Young Fred mentioned that he could see sheets of gold on the lower slopes below George Peak from his house in Denneoord. We were intrigued, as it is usually sheets of pink Watsonias that provide that kind of display. As we emerged from the plantations, the air was heavy with the scent of honey. We were completely gobsmacked when we reached the golden slopes on the Tonnelbos Ridge. Cyclopia subternata (Honeybush Tea) was the main culprit, followed by Osteospermum corymbosa, Wachendorfia thyrsiflora and some Liparia hirsuta in a display unrivalled by anything that I have seen in the last 50 years. Get there if you can. You will not regret it. We shared the plantations with a Hillbilly Fun Enduro, which provided lots of extra entertainment on an unforgettable day.
https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outeniqua-southern-traverse
Southern Bioblitz Recce
We were planning to do a recce of the east/west ridge at Camferskloof for the upcoming Southern Bioblitz. Torrential rain and an icy wind coming straight from the South Pole had us in full retreat. So instead, we went off to our favourite Roadside Deli for a Pizza and a discussion on strategy for the Bioblitz.
When we got back to George it was still pouring, but there was no wind. Nicky and I decided to brave the conditions and walk through the plantations to the upper slopes. We were sodden, but it was so, so beautiful. The rapidly rising, swollen rivers put an end to that. We were becoming anxious that we would get marooned between the river crossings, so we "Abandoned Ship" for a warm car and a hot cup of coffee. Meanwhile Jenny helped one of our newer recruits Dr Herman Reuter with an introduction to iNat. We are getting ready for the Southern Bioblitz later this month.
tanniedi
PS. A full report on all the places we've visited in the last month would make the Diary so long that it would be totally unreadable. For some of the beauties we found, please check the Album.
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Sewefontein at Gifberg
This is one of the special places in which our country abounds. Jen had long been trying to put together an overnighter at Gifberg, which she had grown to love on visits with her husband Thys. She was determined that the the Outramps were going to share this experience.
So in early September we came together from Knysna, George, Mossel Bay, Kommetjie and Stellenbosch for an unbelievable few days. With us were Peter and Werner from Stellies and a retired Prof of Applied Mathematics, Ben Herbst. Mo and Ian joined us from Kommetjie.
The next 3 days will be unforgettable for all of us. Trips through the craggy landscape of the tail end of the Cedarberg and a whole host of plants that were new to us kept us enthralled. Recent rain had every streamlet running with enthusiasm, There were waterfalls and pools everywhere in an area that is very dry in Summer. The plants were absolutely stunning and we garnered a whole lot of new rares to add to our life lists on iNaturalist.
Evenings were spent round the braai, as we caiught up with the news of our far-flung membership group. It was such fun. And an added bonus was contributing plenty to the Gifberg checklist. Hopefully this will help the long-term conservation of this very special area.
tanniedi
Here is the link to the plants we found on this memorable trip
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?q=CREW-Outramps-Gifberg_08-21&search_on=tags
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The Team Orange Road-Trip
Going North after visiting the Poisonous Mountain, 31 August – 5th September 2021
After Fred had taken the Falangas to their car at the top of the steep access to our cottages, we packed up and headed for our next destination – Nababeep. Although overcast and drizzly for much of the day, the flowers were looking beautiful and we made many stops along the way, arriving in Nababeep as the sun was setting.
The next morning, we did a quick shop in a new mall in Springbok which has sprung up since our visit in 2016. It has underground parking and a lift and the selection of cheeses and veggies in Checkers lacked nothing. Things have changed so much in the forty years since we lived there! Our main grocery supplier was Springbok Kafee where we could only order whole boxes of things as they were afraid that the strange ingredients we had ordered would remain standing on their shelves. It now houses a fantastic book shop and mineral collection which are well worth visiting. Previously, our veggies came from the greengrocer, which only stocked potatoes, onions, carrots and cabbages!
For the next two days the sun shone, and the flowers opened. The granite slopes were orange and on closer inspection there were masses of floral treasures. The locals said it was the best year for a long, long time. Using Nababeep as our base, we spent one day travelling north along the side roads to Port Nolloth, returning via the aptly-named spectacular Spektakel Pass. The next day we drove to Kamieskroon, where we enjoyed the orange fields in the Namaqua National Park. The weather closed in again for our return trip south to Montagu where we spent a few days playing with our granddaughters before heading home. Brenton-on-Sea to Gifberg to Namaqualand to Montagu and back – a very special Spring trip!
Nicky
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After Gifberg:
Stocking up on famous skuinskoek in Vanrhynsdorp was the absolute first priority after Gifberg. At Niewoudtville the local aunties had the red carpet out for flower visitors. They were cooking up a storm in gazebo stalls which lined the main street, looking delightful, wearing traditional kappies. Iffy weather and no sun meant we skipped Hantam National Botanical Garden. Thirteen kilometers south, we drove through meadows of knee-high pretties at Matjiesfontein. Though many flowers were still reluctant to open it was still a sight to behold. On the Botterkloof Pass I caused a traffic jam. The psychedelic mounds of colour of Pelargonium magenteum are just to die for. Botanising and driving = always a no, no!
Till now we had seen sodden rock sheets, moss pads, mini-tiny plants, a gushing stream, an incredible waterfall, carpets of colour and we had to be extra careful where to put our feet. The Rocklands area in the Cederberg was no different. Rocks, more incredible plants and I swoon for the Cederberg ‘tarns’. Shallow pans and rock pools just everywhere. A demo and soon we know what bouldering is too. Our son Albert conquers a cave-like overhang using finger grips and toe tucks. Much of this climbing is done as upside down as a bat. It has quite a following. The climbers walk about with large square mats strapped to their backs, which they use as crash pads below their climbing routes. Acrobatic humans morphing into giant tortoises. We are bemused. It is family time. We walk, walk and walk some more. A surprise encounter with a herd of eland in that stillness of early evening adds a drumbeat to my soul.
Gifberg, Cederberg are quickly added to the to visit again list. Midwinter edged into spring in blurry lines for us – and this trip was way better than any doctor could have ordered. It was wielietjies pap lekker. We’ll be back!
Some cool plants, though it does feel like an unfair Sophie’s Choice list:
Babiana vanzijliae NT
Cyphia ranunculifolia Critically Rare
Gladiolus taubertianus Rare
Heliophila cornuta var. cornuta
Lachenalia nardousbergensis NT
Leucadendron concavum EN
Oxalis oculifera Rare
Pauridia pusilla Rare
Phiambolia longifolia
Sclechterantus abruptus
Sandra
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Doringrivier Skyline
During September, our High-altitude Team members remained active. For some time, HAT Stewart had been muttering, “ It’s high time we explored the skyline on the south side of the Doringrivier valley". Finally, this month 2 “HIGH” day trips were undertaken. The bushy Kapp se Bakenpiek was scaled in the swirling mist. The hikers then continued west along a snakelike ridgeline known as Teewaterberg before dropping back into the valley. On a 2nd hike the same ridge was completed to the western end, to a peak identified by its trig beacon name as ”OUD 39”. Apparently, there is a treasure of outstanding views and fynbos along this ridge. There was no real evidence of fires for many years. The fields of 100’s if not 1000’s of Mimetes pauciflorus (VU) are almost unbelievable, as reflected on the photographs! We now know the special Doringrivier Erica croceovirens (CR) also exists in good populations at this high altitude.
In the specimen bag handed over to HAT Evie was a surprise. Only one stukkie per hike of Erica outeniquae (VU). Outramps have been hunting for this Erica for many years. We now have a second site (2 small populations) for this Erica only known on the high-level peaks of the Outeniquas. Sadly, the flowers were all spent.
Evie
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Witsand
The Outramps visited the Witsand Nature Reserve to continue the plant survey that we started in March this year. Adrian Fortuin asked us to do a two-part (Autumn and Spring) bioblitz for the Hessequa Municipality to photograph and identify as many plants as possible and post them on iNaturalist.
Our group of 4 were so happy to see the Reserve at its best in spring after good rain with everything flowering. It was so much easier to do our work with flowers to photograph. We really enjoyed our visit.
We were impressed with the state of the Reserve in terms of almost no alien plants and well-kept paths. The one thing that should be removed is Echium vulgare, which is a a garden plant: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/95936058.
We are busy identifying and posting our photographs, but as we said, it will take time before the list is complete.
My thanks go to Sandra and Nicky for handling the teaching side of things. Sadly, the wi-fi was very poor and we needed a big TV screen so that everyone could see.
The good news is that we found and identified an Erica that is near threatened: Erica arenaria. It wasn't looking its best as the flowering was over:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/95934165
Once again here is the iNaturalist link:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=164519
Jenny
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Outeniqua West
Moving west, HAT visited the Attakwaskloof/ Western Outeniqua Mountains for a weekend. It was a weekend studded with sad moments as members of the South Cape MCSA commemorated our dear friend and friendly farmer, Greg Moore. Greg was a hard worker, who loved the outdoors and was a keen mountaineer. He and his wife always enjoyed visits from both mountaineering friends and the Outramps types!
His farm is a fine example of how both agriculture and fynbos can be managed in tandem. Some of our group walked the boundaries of the farm. These sections of reclaimed fynbos currently host a wonderful display of spring flowers, where both white Serruria fasciflora (NT) and pink Acmadenia tetragona (NT) are very dominant. Others in the group climbed the tall peak seen from the farm, known to us as “Unnamed Peak “. After a dusting of ashes on the peak, it was deemed that from now on this mountain top would be referred to as Gregs Peak.
HAT Tony reports there are numerous trees of the Psoraleas sp. nova (outeniquensis) all the way along the higher parts of the rocky ridgeline. Wonderful, as the Psoraleas are currently in full flower. So far, we have only found Psoralea outeniquensis in this westerly section of the Outeniquas and on the opposite side along the Attakwasberg ridgeline. Last year Brian had to visit on two occasions to eventually find flowering specimens for the herbarium collection.
Evie
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