HERMANUS FLOWER FESTIVAL

The Hermanus Flower Festival will take place in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve from Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 September. Our theme for this year is “Fynbos and Fire”. Join us to enjoy this flower spectacular, including fun, activities, teas and meals. Open from 9 am to 5 pm. Entry R20, children under 12 free. Contact Hermanus Botanical Society at botsochermanus@telkomsa.net.
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UPCOMING BOTANICAL ART EXHIBITIONS

- Chris Lochner Two new exhibitions are happening this spring. Both focus on botanical art, and while each has a unique approach, each one will be well worth the visit. Flora Old and New Date: Opening on Saturday 3 September 2016 at 11am Venue: Irma Stern Museum, Cecil Road Rosebank (Parking on Chapel Road) Exhibition runs until 1 October 2016 Museum is open Tuesday to Friday 10am - 5pm and Saturday 10am - 2pm Daily walkabouts by artists at 11am www.irmasternmuseum.org.za http://artthrob.co.za/2016/08/17/flora-old-and-new-at-the-uct-irma-stern-museum/ 021 685 5686 Plant Date: 17 – 25 September 2016 Venue: Old Mutual…
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AUGUST WALK REPORT

- Tim Attwell Botsoc Walk 20 August 2016 The Denys Heesom Trail at Betty’s Bay commemorates a hero of the fight against alien invasive vegetation and founder, 53 years ago, of the famous ‘Betty’s Bay Hack’. Multi-talented Denys Heesom was a director of companies, doyen of South Africa’s cricket statisticians in the 1970s, one-time mayor of Betty’s Bay and inspirational conservationist. Multi-talented Denys Heesom was a director of companies, doyen of South Africa’s cricket statisticians in the 1970s, one-time mayor of Betty’s Bay and inspirational conservationist. The eponymous Denys Heesom Trail starts at Jock’s Bay…
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AUGUST TALK REPORT

- Andrea Benn Saturday 20 August: Dr Chris Whitehouse – A complete guide to pokers It was on a Scottish Island that Chris as a young boy began his interest in plants. This led him to South Africa where he is now a world authority on Kniphofias or Red Hot Pokers. Incidentally, his wife Anna has a PhD in elephant studies. They enjoy walking in the Klein River mountains. Of the asphodelaceae/liliaceae family the genus kniphofia has about 70 species from mountainous or upland areas in southern and tropical Africa. The flowers are attractive to…
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KLEINMOND FYNBOS EXPO

Earlier this year, our branch donated R5000 to Whale Coast Conservation (WCC) towards the Kleinmond Fynbos Expo. The aim of the project was to provide environmental education about Fynbos to 200 local school children. Here is the report on the exhibition, sent to our Branch by the WCC. On 19 August, Whale Coast presented an Expo on Fynbos to the Grade 6 and 7 learners from Kleinmond Primêr and to the Siyabolela Pre-Primary School.   The Expo was kindly sponsored by the Kogelberg Branch of the Botanical Society of South Africa. We, and the children,…
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AGULHAS NATIONAL PARK – A VERY SPECIAL PLACE

- Dr Allan E F Heydorn - Marine and Coastal Ecologist August 2016   Some observations prepared for the Kogelberg Branch of the BotSoc, following a field trip in August 2016 It is hard to think of a more spectacular location than that of the Agulhas National Park (ANP) situated right at the southern tip of the enormous African Continent. It is furthermore of interest that the ANP represents a transitional area between the sub-tropical East Coast and the West Coast with its more temperate, mediterranean-type climate. Plant and animal life - on land and…
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HAARWEGSKLOOF

-Merrilee BerrisfordThe visit to Agulhas National Park came to an end, ten of the group of seventeen now met at Cameron McMaster’s house for a visit with him to the Napier Renosterveld Reserve. And then there were five, five keen types who had the time to go on to Haarwegskloof for two more nights. But first, Cameron had yet another delight - a visit to Fairfield to see that great treasure, Moraea elegans, in its two colour forms, yellow with either green or orange growing only on that slope and one across the road. Another…
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