JOIN US AT THE RETREAT AT GROENFONTEIN

- Merrilee Berrisford  I was in  the Klein Karoo last week, and stayed at The Retreat at Groenfontein in the foothills of the Swartberg. Last spring I was there, mostly on hands and knees looking at flowers, I felt it would be a good place for a Kogelberg Branch stay. There are two possible plant people who could guide us. As John Rourke says, it is not a really botanically rich spot but it is Klein Karoo, different. There are special places on the way where we may meet to botanise. Rates are very reasonable with deductions…
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KOGELBERG BRANCH OF BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

Betty’s Bay’s Judy New is a great traveller. She is also a great presenter of those travels. Over the years we have enjoyed her journeys to Papua New Guinea, the Richtersveld, Central Kalahari, Peru and now the destination is Antarctica. Judy and cousin, Sue Goodman, a photographer, went on a voyage to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands; together they will convey to us the excitement of icebergs, penguins, elephant seals, high snowy peaks, intrepid explorers. DATE: SATURDAY 29TH JULY 6pm VENUE: NIVENIA HALL, HAROLD PORTER NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDENS TICKETS: R100  which…
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GREY-BEARDS OUT IN FORCE – THE WEDNESDAY HACKERS

- Merrilee Berrisford It is 8.30 am, I am driving from Kleinmond, just before turning into Sunny Seas, I see grey-bearded men emerging from cars, crossing over to the mountainside and carrying arms. What on earth? Then I realise it is the Wednesday Hackers out to do battle with a nasty potential forest of wattles, that for years has been growing, spoiling the sweep of fynbos, threatening to engulf it. I learn that the owner of this large small-holding has asked the intrepid band of weekly hackers to eradicate this menace. All hail to that…
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PRINGLE BAY HACK REPORT N0 124

- Chris Geldenhuys, Convenor After the initial rain, not more than 7mm in Pringle Bay, it was a wonderful crisp winter’s morning when the Pringle Bay the Hack Group gathered at Droster’s Centre on 28 May 2017. We still had an obligation to plot 728 and a well-motivated group moved to the intersection of Barbara and Bobby roads in Pringle Bay. The infestation this time was mainly Rooikrantz, but the coppicing slowed the progress. There is only one way to address a challenge like this - on your knees!   With great determination we managed…
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TALK REPORT: MAY 2017

- Rea Borcherds Diamonds or rock lobsters? - A presentation by Allan Heydorn: Saturday 20 May 2017 Dr Allan Heydorn held his audience captive on Saturday evening 20 May when he recounted his role in a historic expedition in 1964 to a near mythical undersea mountain to search for diamonds. Vema Seamount is an isolated flat-topped undersea mountain rising up from the deep Atlantic Ocean Basin to approximately 26 - 30m below the surface. It was discovered in 1959 by the American research vessel ‘Vema’ and lies approximately 550 nautical miles west of Lambert's Bay.…
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WALKS PLANNED FOR 2017

Saturday 17 June 2017: Rod's Trail The best of Kogelberg Sandstone (Mountain) Fynbos for the least effort. It’s been a while since we explored this little gem of a trail, familiar to many, surprisingly little known by others. The trail is a contour path on the slopes of Betty’s Bay’s Voorberg, starting from the Harold Porter National Botanical Gardens and ending at the Village Centre, about two and a half kilometres, and we take it slow. Wear warm clothing and sturdy hiking shoes or boots. Bring rain gear, a snack and a warm drink in…
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TALKS PLANNED FOR 2017

Saturday 17 June: Geologist Dr John Rogers will talk about his new book, Geological Outings in the Fairest Cape: Unlocking the Secrets of its Scenery. At 18h00 – Nivenia Hall, HPBG. Dr Rogers' book is due to be published in April; it features Betty’s Bay and mentions two of our residents. The following day, on Sunday morning, John will take us on a field trip in our area. Way back in May 2010,  John gave an excellent talk “on the hotly debated Pringle Bay Fault in his usual knowledgeable and infectiously enthusiastic style” to quote Prof Michael…
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Betty’s Bay Hack No. 650

- Ed Silberbauer, Stand-in Convenor. Three young and enthusiastic troopers reported for duty on time; but had to wait for the necessary arms and ammo to arrive, which arms and ammo were a bit delayed due to mix up with the ordinance arrangements - and Richard, all the way from Pringle Bay, thought the hack had been cancelled! However all was sorted out and in perfect weather a lot of rooikrans was eliminated over a big area which, for a change, was not too difficult to access. Next hack - same place BUT this time…
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