Marcia & Edward Go to South Africa

The week in which we were originally scheduled to leave!

I' ve already reported what we did on the weekend of the 4th and 5th, so now to the week that followed. Though a week earlier than usual for this month (the first not the second week) it was Monday and so the hacking team headed for Kenilworth Race Course This time I remembered to bring my hat and gloves, which I left in the CREW office last month, and we had good weather. This month it was Caitlin, Wendy, and me from Kirstenbosch with a stop along the way to collect Dr. Muasya. As it turned out Ismail met us there.

Once at the race course we met the usual group of volunteers and off we went. Dr. Muasya was there to look for sedges and Caitlin and I accompanied him for a bit and then rejoined the group to do a little hacking. Here are the two of them puzzling over another tiny sedge. Caitlin does so get into her plants!

As this was supposed to be the last hacking outing for this year, Wendy had brought the fixings for a tea to thank the volunteers. Everyone gathered amidst the aliens and enjoyed tea and juice and muffins and other good things to eat. Quite a spread. Here we are enjoying the repast, with Wendy doing the serving. Once done the group set off with Dr. Muasya and Caitlin to learn about sedges and to look for two rare species that could be on the site. Much was learned, but the rare species were not found. There is too much overgrowth and an immediate need for a fire. All part of management, but hard to do in the middle of a race course!

Just wanted to show you how some of the veld at the race course is returning after a recent fire. And if you look in the background you can see the always present mountain. This is the one we live and work under, Table Mountain. Certainly feels different from Tidewater Virginia!

And I have to present a few more plant photos since the plants are why we are here! In some ways I have been a bit lacking in my presentation of the Cape flora. The genus Erica, the genus of heaths, is a major contributor to this flora with hundreds of species. And I haven't shown you any! So here are two we found at Kenilworth. These show you the two commonly found flower shapes, tubular and urn. Flower color is often red but can be white and even yellow.

And this is a beautiful Spiloxene! Blooming with this were yellow Ixias and the white and pink selagos (either Selago or Pseudoselago) you see in the picture with Table Mountain in the background.

Three visits and three different sets of flowers in bloom! Very nice to be able to have seen the progression. Do hope they continue to make progress in their battle with the alien plants there.

In the afternoon plans were being finalized for our departure on Tuesday morning. All members of CREW plus three guests will be departing for Nieuwoudtville for a retreat. The Crew contingent consists of Tilla, Ismail, Caitlin, Wendy, and Suvarna. Tilla and Suvarna are in the Pretoria office. The guests will be Annelise, Marcia, and me. Annelise is presently a botanist with Cape Nature. She is working to start a CREW office in Kamieskroon, which is north of Cape Town and about 3/4 of the way to Namibia. This is in the area of the Northern Cape province called Namaqualand, another of the regions that is dry and rich in succulents . One other volunteer was asked to go but she was not able to do so. That left me. I asked more than once if there would be any problem with accommodating the wheelchair and was told more than once that things would be arranged. Given this and that everyone made me feel I would be able to contribute, I agreed to go. Once meeting time and departure instructions were determined Marcia and I went home and got things ready for the next morning.

Due to a delay in Suvarna's arrival we got a later start than planned. I drove Marcia, Wendy, Annelise, and me and we headed straight to Nieuwoudtville by way of the N7. The other group, Tilla, Ismail, and Caitlin, went to the airport and picked up Survana and then met us at the Clanwilliam Dam for a late lunch. Then we finished our drive of around 300 km to where we would be for the next few days. The drive took us into more and more arid regions, and along the way we saw the vineyards disappear to be replaced by citrus orchards -- thus the name of one of the major towns we passed, Citrusdal. We also saw many fields of Aspalathus linearis, the source of rooibos tea. This has become an important crop for export. Then it was just large areas for grazing sheep.

Once we arrived in Nieuwoudtville we met Bettina who would lead and moderate our activities. The retreat then began with an outline of where we going over the next two days and introductions. Though I had interacted with most of these folks for two months it was good to hear their introductions. After the schedule for the evening was determined we got ourselves settled where we were staying. The four in my group would be staying at the Rooi Dakhuis, the Nieuwoudtville version of the Red Roof Inn. Both the name and the building say so! As we were the only ones staying there we were given the keys to the place and then figured out the rest on our own. Interesting!

The others stayed across the street from Bettina's office/home where we were having the retreat. Tilla owns a residence here as she has a special fondness for the area. Not surprising for a botanist as Nieuwoudtville is known as the bulb capitol of the world. There may be as many as 50 different species of geophytes in a square meter of veld here! In the spring these seemingly barren fields explode in incredible displays of colors. We were too late to see this but Bettina gave us a slide show of this year's production. Wow! No wonder this quiet little village becomes a bustling town each spring.

After we got settled and caught our breath we returned to Bettina's house for a braai. Everybody had a chance to relax and enjoy some great food. It wasn't long after dinner that folks began to head to bed. It had been a long drive and the Nieuwoudtville heat was taking its toll. And Marcia, Wendy, and I are going to visit the nearby gorge and waterfall in the morning. Heading to our B & B under a full moon, we could't help but exclaim at the beauty of the night sky and all the stars. Without the glare of city lights, the stars are simply breathtaking. We did note a bright band of 3 stars which we later learned was Orion's Belt.

Up early and to the gorge we go. Somewhat surprising to be driving through this arid landscape and to come across an impressive gorge with a waterfall at its start. Not much water flowing at present but at other times of the year it is substantial. And at the base of the waterfall is a spring-fed pool that never dries up. In our walk to see the gorge and the waterfall we see a variety of plants with interesting adaptations to deal with the arid conditions. And a few of them are even blooming. And various insects were out doing their best to find enough food to eat. We find a small army of large grasshoppers munching away. At least they found this vegetation edible?!?

Then it was time to head back. Both because we needed breakfast before we got started with business and because it already was getting warmer. It would be another hot day.

Over this day, even over lunch, and half of the next day the CREW folks and guests work on identifying strengths and weaknesses and defining a strategic plan. There are problems everyone agrees must be dealt with but there are so many strengths and such passion in these folks that I have no doubt they will continue to be successful. I do hope my limited contributions were of value to them. I look forward to keeping in touch and learning about how they and the CREW project progress.

Before dinner we all take a drive to the kokerboom forest to see the trees and to enjoy a sundowner. The trees are quiver trees, Aloe dichotoma. We saw these in the Karoo National Botanic Garden, but that doesn't compare to seeing them in their natural environs. It was late in the day and the light was beginning to fade and the result was almost surreal. Here are some pictures from our visit.

These are Edward's pictures.
Wendy, Ismail, Tilla, Marcia, and part of Suvarna inspecting one of the kokerbooms. Notice that Marcia is right there under the quiver tree. Tilla and Ismail wouldn't allow her to stay in the car. We half carried and half wheeled her out to the edge of the forest. Quite a workout for all who participated, but Marcia was happy to be included.