The editor reserves the right to edit contributions. Deadline for the next newsletter is around 25 February 2017. Please address all mail to: Kogelberg Branch of the Botanical Society, PO Box 85, Betty’s Bay 7141 read more
If you change your address, wish to resign or change your status, please notify the Botanical Society Head Office on (021) 797-2090. To receive this newsletter via e-mail (and save the Branch the costs of printing, packaging and postage) send your address to jeannie@solutionsconnectafrica.co.za or merran@telkomsa.net. read more
-Tim Attwell An easy walk, circumnavigating the Palmiet Estuary is one of our area’s most beautiful routes. With a brilliant blue sky overhead, eleven members and guests set off from Fairy Glen, dart across the R44 and duck under the forest canopy hiding the steps down to the popular picnic spot on the rocky riverside. The holiday crowd is already gathering, we say hello but don’t linger. The path along the east bank of the Palmiet River, in the direction of the river mouth, takes us through a tiny patch of Afrotemperate forest, an outlier… read more
-Andrea Benn 21 January 2017: Cuan McGeorge on “The adaptability of an endangered species - the African penguin”. Stony Point is the site of the only growing colony of African penguins on the South African coast. African penguins may be little smelly and noisy for some of their human neighbours, but they arrived in Betty's Bay and formed the first mainland colony in 1982, some three years before the colony at Boulders Beach in Simonstown began. When we built our cottage at Betty's Bay in the early nineties, we would often take visitors from Europe… read more
For the first time, Kogelberg Branch had a presence at not only the concerts but also the Plant Sale in Harold Porter this December. Jeannie Harning and Natalie van Wulven - our new committee members and treasurer, manned a table selling Your Place in the Kogelberg and other books and, most importantly, encouraging people to join the Society. Natalie has established a Facebook page for the branch, both are actively promoting branch activities – and hacking. Great work, Natalie and Jeannie! read more
Botsoc Walk 18 February 2017 Finding Nivenia. Brilliant blue Nivenia stokoei is one of our local treasures and coming into bloom as we speak. Meanwhile, it’s that time of year when members of the Amaryllidaceae family (e.g. Haemanthus, Amaryllis, Nerine) start strutting their stuff. We go looking for them on Bobbejaanskop in the Harold Porter National Botanical Garden. We’ll take the high path, but not all the way up the zig-zags, to a spectacular view and return via Disa Kloof. Bring refreshments, a hat and a hiking stick. Meet at the Harold Porter National Botanical… read more
Saturday 18 February: Brian Huntley on his time on Marion Island as a young man. At 18h00 – Nivenia Hall. HPBG Saturday 18 March: Stellenbosch University's Dr Gary Stafford, with a doctorate in ethnobotany, will speak on medicinal plants. At 18h00 – Nivenia Hall, HPBG. “Highlights of Brian’s diary include two visits to nearby Prince Edward Island, most probably the first time anyone since the sealing days has stayed overnight; what is pretty definitely the first summiting of Marion after several attempts; and observations on the sealing huts of which remains then still existed. But… read more
Held on the first Saturday of the month, from 08:30 to 10:30. Tools and refreshments provided. Contact Anuta Scholtz on anuta@omail.co.za or tel 083 388 8239, or Evette on tel 028 273 8483. read more
-Chris Geldenhuys, Convenor For the first hack of 2017 the Pringle Bay Hack Group gathered at Droster’s Gat on 29 January and moved to the entrance of Pringle Bay where they cleared the verges along Hangklip Road from the R44 to the Buffels Road intersection and all along Buffels Road up to the George Road intersection. The infestation was mainly Rooikrantz, Myrtle and Flowering Gum trees, which are a serious threat to the fynbos. The hackers were faced with some senior Rooikrantz trees (see the photos below). As we are in summer time with the… read more
