Guess it is my turn to let you know what I have been doing. On Monday I checked in with my contact at Kirstenbosch, Leschelle Morkel. She is the personal assistant to the director of Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Dr. John Donaldson. He made the arrangements in terms of what I would be doing while at Kirstenbosch and she coordinated everything else. She showed me around and then introduced me to Tony Rebelo, one of the botanists, who is mainly doing office work at the present. He is on the Threatened Species Programme and is presently working on updating the Red List of threatened species and has a major monograph on the fynbos that will be published soon. He gave me numerous suggestions on places to go and field guides to get. And he let me take the proof of the fynbos monograph to read and edit. That should give me great background about this unique flora and its causes. And I may be working with his group in October when he gets a field team up and running. A bit later Leschelle introduced me to Dr. Donalson who had been busy earlier. A CITES workshop was to begin the next day and last minute preparations were happening. While I was doing this Marcia checked in with her folks in GISP and was getting settled. Soon it was time for lunch, and since the weather was great and I had to wait until the next day to meet Ishmail Ebrahim to see about what his group was doing I suggested we head to the Garden to have some lunch and see some plants. And off we went.

After a quick trip to the cottage to get the essentials, as Marcia mentioned we are just down the hill from the Research Center, we made our way into the garden and found the Botanical Society of SA office so we could join. That would provide us free entry to all of the national botanical gardens and a discount in the bookstore. Haven't made it there yet but know there will be a hefty toll to pay given all the field guides one needs to deal with the tremendous floral diversity. But it is for a good cause, the botany of SA! Ate lunch at the Tearoom and had enough food for lunch the next day. Then we took off to see the plants. And my what plants there were to see. Here are a few pictures that don't begin to convey the colors and shapes and sizes of the plants. We knew a few, we had good ideas about the likely general identity of some, and we had no clue about many. But that was why we were there, to see and to learn these plants. And so around and up and down we wandered. LRW struggled at times because the paths were not always smooth and not always flat. And the slopes were often a challenge. LRW and its captain stayed upright the whole afternoon but there were some moments of almost. And by the end of the day we were being careful about the route we took as the battery was running down. We all made it out in one piece. Next time we tackle a smaller section so none of us gets too taxed.

Jenna, this one is for you. The leaves of this bird of paradise were over 20' tall and the blossoms were at least a foot across. Wow!














Proteas by the dozens! And they come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Just incredible.
















And for Michael and Sherwinnii: a beautiful bird on a glorious protea!
















And that building in the center of the photo (with the green roof) is where we work! What a setting!!




So Tuesday comes and I get to meet Ishmail who is Coordinator for the Cape Floristic Region for CREW (Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers). This programme works with local volunteers to identify and protect populations of threatened plant species. At this time of year this involves field trips to sites around the area to determine the status of these populations, to do education programs to school groups, and to clear sites of invasives. So on Thursday I went with Ishmail to a site outside Mamre, about 40 km north of Cape Town in what is called the West Coast. We met a group of 26-30 9th graders from the local high school. They spent the morning learning about the sand plain fynbos habitat we were in and about sampling to determine the status of the three dominant species at the site. They laid out 10 m x 10 m plots and determined GPS locations of their plots. Then they sampled 1 m x 1 m quadrats and determined their locations using a random number/direction system. Good exercise that kept them focused and on task for most of the time. I can't give too many details of the lesson and the interactions because most was done in Afrikaans. Below is a picture of Ishmail with the students. All the yellow-flowered shrub in the background is an invasive acacia from Australia. A major problem and all over!



On Tuesday afternoon I worked with another volunteer, Albert from Spain. He was putting together an ID guide for the 'special' species to be looked for at a particular field site. This involved gathering pictures or illustrations of the species in question from the texts or herbarium specimens in the Compton Herbarium located in the Centre. I worked on the guide for the upcoming trip to Worcester on Wednesday and Friday while others were out in the field. It felt good to use my botanical background in a way different from what I usually do. And combined with the trip to Mamre on Thursday I am beginning to get a feel for some of the members of the flora. What was most enjoyable was the run up the mountain next to Mamre after we finished with the students. Ishmail showed me some undisturbed granitic fynbos habitat. Here is a picture of one of the numerous succulents with daisy-like flowers. They come in all colors and sizes as well. And the lichens just couldn't be left out!



























Okay, it's that time again. I have got to go to bed. It has been one week since we arrived and it has been a good week. There is so much to be seen, but we have made a good start.

Later,
Edward

September 7, 2006

Greetings, everyone! I'm afraid I have been playing hooky from the daily diary -- there have been just too many wonderful things to see and take in... I hardly know where to begin!

Our self-catered accommodation is a cozy, 1-room apartment right next to the Botanical Garden. We can actually see the Research Buildings where we are working from our front doorstep -- they are directly up the side of the mountain above us! There is a street running up to the Research buildings, but they are cut off from us by a gate which is usually locked. We have to go around the "long way" to get in but that's hardly a chore!

We started in here at the Garden on Monday morning. I am doing volunteer work with GISP, the Global Invasive Species Programme, whose work it is to educate and lobby for the maintainence of biodiversity by preventing the wholesale spread of invasive species. The unchecked numbers of invasive organisms -- plants, animals, insects, viruses, whatever -- reduce the biodiversity of any given area, allowing less room for native species to develop and outcompeting the natives for water and nutrients.

At present I'm doing internet research on management plans for control of invasive species -- seeing where plans have actually been put into place so that the plans can be compared. It is hoped that this will result in an accepted model of what constitutes a good management plan.

I can't begin to tell you of the delight I have everywhere we go of seeing all the magnificent flowers. Red bottlebrush trees are in full bloom and everywhere are clumps of birds-of-paradise, the Strelitzias. The protea are blooming all over the upper reaches of the mountainside in a glorious riot of reds and pinks and oranges and whites -- many like pincushions and many other other-worldly looking flowers with playful fuzzy edges!

There are kids out at the traffic lights ("robos" in this part of the world -- short for "robots!") selling bunches of the hugest white calla lilies I've ever seen! Yes, I know they grow like weeds here and that the locals refer to them as "pig lilies", but I love them still!

In our room here I have a beautiful basket of protea flowers that Katie and Juli sent. Have a look see.



Cheers.

Marcia

Edward continues to try to catch up!

8/30th--First full day in Amsterdam doesn't begin very early. The phone rings and it is Leschelle from Cape Town. She is confirming the last aspects of arrival in Cape Town, the shuttle from the airport and the delivery of the rental car. And it is 10 AM! We never sleep this late. Seems we are still adjusting to the time change. No matter, we are on our own schedule for a few more days. By the time we get things in order we have missed the hotel's breakfast service and so head onto the streets to get something to eat. To Cafe Ole we go and cheese/ginger pancakes and a chocolate croissant with burned bacon do quite well. The choice was raw or burned? Guess who ordered which!

Then we head toward the Tulip Museum and the flower mart. The Tulip Museum is a little place with numerous steps. I go in to look around and two couples come by and see Marcia on the sidewalk out front and the men decide they can get her inside with no trouble. Well, with a little struggle and some straining by the fellow whose idea this was she and LRW were inside the gift shop. The museum itself was downstairs and not at all doable. By the time we were ready to go the two couples had gone. Not to worry, we were able to enlist another shop visitor and the store keeper to assist in our departure. And away we went. The museum was quite informative, by the way!

Over the cobblestones and the canals we went and made our way to the floating flower mart. Stall after stall filled with beautiful bulbs and other plants for sale. Marcia was a bit disappointed as she was expecting to see more cut flowers. Fun nonetheless.

More wandering and a stop for Australian hand made chocolates and then a run through some of the University of Amsterdam. After a bit of rain when we set off the day became quite pleasant though cool.

After a brief stop at the hotel we headed toward the central train station and passed many of the tour boats that take folks through the canals. Quite a sight. Following the advice of what appeared to be a local couple we headed down one of the side streets. Very soon we found ourselves in the The Great Swan ordering Danish split pea soup. Perfect choice for a cool evening. We finished the walk down the street but bypassing the red light district this time.

8/31st--Up a bit earlier today but still not on the new time yet. Had breakfast in the hotel and then headed to the train stop to go to the botanical garden, Hortus Botanicus. Had to wait for one of the new trains that had a wheelchair ramp and one of these that had space. And it was cold, windy, and rainy. One came and the staff was very helpful and off we went. We began with the plants of South Africa and then made our way through most of the garden. Made time for lunch, of course, and by early afternoon the weather was much nicer. Headed back to the hotel at what must have been rush hour on the trains. Took some time to get one with space. Then a quick roam around Dam Square and a stop for an ice cream float. That was good. Back to the hotel to get ready for the flight to Cape Town in the morning.

9/1st--Up early, 5 AM, after trying to sleep most of the night but not very successfully. Oh well, we will have 12 hours on the plane! Had tickets for the airport shuttle but it didn't run as early as we needed it, so a taxi we took. Got to the airport with plenty of time. Retrieved our luggage after a few tries with the credit card reader. Beat the rush to check in with KLM and LRW made more friends. After the other luggage was checked we took LRW to the baggage desk and the two men there had a great time as we took it apart and boxed the controls and the support rod. LRW was in good hands. After breakfast and visiting some of the numerous shops we went through minimal security and the KLM gate check. All of the KLM folks we dealt with were great, and it would only get better. We loaded first but with a bit of a hitch as there was no aisle wheelchair other than the one in the plane. We made do with that and then we watched as the rest of the 300+ passengers found their seats and got settled. Amazing! And Sunshine got to ride in the body of the plane for the first time! Off we flew. And for the next 11+ hours we ate, watched movies and other programs, and tried to sleep, and ate some more. I am not sure how many meals we actually had, but nobody went hungry. And then we were in Cape Town!

Seems there were a number of folks headed to conferences or other work related events as once we cleared customs and headed to the exit there was a sea of signs looking for folks. Fortunately the shuttle driver knew what to look for and found us. He got us loaded, all luggage and two wheelchairs, with no trouble. The nice young man who wheeled Marcia from the plane through immigration, baggage, and customs also helped. He seemed very interested in helping me put LRW back together. Then away we went to find The Garden Room. The plant silhouettes were teasing us as we drove, but that would be for days to come. We had a bit of a time finding the cottage, but as we approached what seemed to be the place we saw a woman on the phone in her front door looking about. That was Jenny Ross. And we were there. We got everything unloaded and into the cottage and she gave quick instructions on procedures and where things were and then bid us good night. She had flowers out and food in the fridge and on the table. It was easy to see we had been provided with a guardian angel who would take good care of us. We were really in Cape Town! And it was time to get some much needed sleep.

And it is time again for me to quit so that I can get some sleep so that I can function tomorrow. As I will soon explain, Marcia and I have work to do and so I can't stay up all night boring you with our doings!

Later,
Edward

Amsterdam Pictures!

The Flower Mart in Amsterdam.



Here it is from the backside, floating in a canal.



Some plants near and dear to two botanists at CNU! Yes, the red one is a favorite of Linda's.



In the butterfly room at the botanical garden, Hortus Botanicus.



And we bid Amsterdam and the view from our room farewell. The gentleman had stopped to empty the rest of his joint into a small pipe to finish his smoke!

September 4, 2006-----Edward tries to catch up!

Where do I begin? I promised to fill in details when I posted upon our arrival in Amsterdam and now we are in Cape Town and so much has happened. So here goes. And I will try to do it by days to keep some order to my thoughts.

8/28th--The first of many airport experiences was had when we arrived at the Norfolk Airport to start our adventure. As usual I had us there more than early and so there was plenty of time for the little red wheelchair (LRW) to begin to make friends. In we rolled to the NWA counter and the ticket agent was thrilled to see us, actually to see LRW. She set about figuring the best way to get it ready for its ride as cargo. She called George, an NWA baggage handler, to help her. And then the search for packing materials began, but fortunately I had my always useful roll of duct tape in my carry-on bag. Don't ask! And with George doing most of the design and installation the chair was ready to be scanned by security. George wouldn't let me help carry LRW as he wanted the TSA folks to see how light it was. Then the TSA folks took its picture, one of each section, and spent at least 10 minutes studying those pictures. Then away it went. And as the picture from the Amsterdam airport showed, the ride went well. And in Amsterdam there was a baggage handler waiting with LRW to make sure we could get it back together. Except for a slight delay in leaving Detroit, something about a security breach, late passegers, and an obnoxious couple in the wrong seats, the flight to Amsterdam was uneventful. Fortunately the obnoxious couple wore themselves out with their complaining and spent most of the flight asleep. Fortunately because they were moved to the seats next to me!

8/29th--Once we arrived in Amsterdam we loaded up our luggage and headed for the storage lockers. Thank goodness these were available. We used the next to largest and needed two of them, one for the manual wheelchair (Sunshine) and one for the two big suitcases. And there was little room to spare. And much to Marcia's amusement there was white powdery material along one side of my bag. Seems the powder container had lost its lid! But the extent of the mess was for another day and another continent!! (Probably had some security folks shaking their heads.) Into the hotel shuttle we went with little trouble and to Hotel Rho we headed. We were the last to be dropped at our hotel and so we got quite a ride through the city. At the hotel there was a moment of small panic as there were many steps at the entrance. Not to worry, we were in a new section that was entered through the garage door on ground level. Into the room we went and without much delay a nap was taken. Then to do some exploring. Down one street, along a canal, and then we realize we are in the red light district. And in the not-just-for-coffee coffee bar area and the buy some seeds to grow your own shop area. So in a different direction we head and to find a place to eat would be a good idea. We wind up at a cafe next to Dam Square where we can watch the people go by and get something warm to eat. Great fun trying to differentiate all the languages heard! I am not very good at this. Then we head back to the hotel to really collapse. And collapse we do!

All for now. I have to do dishes and get to bed. It will be day two at Kirstenbosch tomorrow. And more entries to make to try to get up to the present.

Edward

P.S. Marcia and LRW did fine, even with the cobblestones and curbs. More tests to come for the two of them.