Seneca Hill Perennials

February 2, 2008

Too too too tired….got up at 3:30 AM after very little sleep to start off at 4 AM on our 800-km drive from Napier to Somerset East.  Must check w/Cameron to get route straight, but after following the coast to Mossel Bay we headed inland, cutting across ranges and then across the Karoo to Graaf-Reinet, the 4th oldest town in SA.  Got to Glen Avon around 3PM (Cameron at the wheel the entire time), deposited stuff, got gear and headed up to Waainek Nature Preserve to look for various things.  Did not find much to excite, other than Kniphofia acraea in bloom (a rather plain little thing, but exceedingly rare).  The Haemanthus carneus had all finished blooming. Then back to Glen Avon after 3 hours of botanizing to clean up for dinner.  Nice to see Allison and Bill Brown again, only 2 yrs later – in fact, it was extremely strange to come half-way around the world and find myself sleeping in the same bed I had 2 yrs ago.  Am not seeing a bat anywhere here tonight, though (unlike last time) – hope I don’t.

Floral highlights of the day included, first and foremost, the sighting of Cyrtanthus elatus growing on a wet ledge on an exceedingly steep slope in Outeniqua Pass, north of George.  We all climbed up to see it – life depended on the roots of all those plants I grabbed – it certainly wasn’t a walkable climb.  Unbelievably gorgeous plant in situ, with water dripping past it and a large fern keeping it company.  A couple of lesser specimens grew above and below.

Stopped later at Potjiesberg Pass, c. 900m, to admire Tritoniopsis antholyza and collect a few seed pods of same.  Winter grower but summer bloomer – John says corms go very, very deep, so never completely dry. 

Further along, Brunsvigia josephinae, not quite open, but clearly a massive inflorescence.  Then the Karoo, hot and inhospitable; gas and lunch (grocery store, bad choices made) in Graaf-Reinet.  Dinner at Brown’s delicious, as always.  Breakfast tomorrow at 7:30 AM, and so now to bed and hopefully a good night’s sleep.