Merran Silberbauer

One can plan everything except the weather – and Saturday 12 December dawned damp, but by 11 am the sun was shining intermittently and those who dared packed up their picnic baskets and headed for Die Stroompie, a privately owned nature reserve which, at this time of year, is covered in colourful Leucospermum cornocarpodendron.

We arrived at the milkwood trees that border the pebbly cove to find the poachers had been there before us. Plastic bags and empty bottles were strewn around – the black bags were found to contain unshucked perlemoen – simply abandoned; possibly our arrival had disturbed them. The padlocked gate at the entrance is no deterrent to these people. Once photographed, the officials were informed and the remains cleared.

Dark clouds loomed but a few of us had brought brollies; our chairman, with forethought, arrived armed with her rain gear. The rain fell while Certificates of Appreciation were presented to Judy New who is responsible for our fundraising travel talks, to Tim Attwell, the author of our most successful book Your Place in the Kogelberg and a third (which came as a surprise) to our Chairman, Merrilee.

The other recipients of Certificates of Appreciation were unable to attend the picnic. They are Jenny Berrisford for her inestimable service and guidance in matters horticultural; Louise du Toit who has translated our book into Afrikaans and also assisted our fundraising through a gift of a handmade necklace, and Priscilla Blake for her donation to the Branch of original botanical paintings by Ethel May Dixie. Berrisford, being the Branch’s appreciation of all the work she does for us and with BotSoc on our behalf.  Our picnics were eaten and then the birthday chocolate cake baked by member Mary Bossenger was cut.  Conviviality conquered the weather.