by KBergReserve

Walk Report – 18 May ’19

Saturday 18 May 2019  Walk from Pringle Bay to Rooiels. A moderate to easy undulating route in front of the Two Sisters Peaks with great views of False Bay, young fynbos starting to mature and interesting birding – possibly the Cape Rock-jumper, Cape Rock-thrush and Ground Woodpecker, and certainly the Cape Sugarbird and maybe Orange Breasted Sunbird. Bring binoculars, good walking shoes or boots, refreshments and water, hat, sunblock and clothing for changeable weather. Meet at Harold Porter National Botanical Gardens at 09h00 to share transport to Pringle Bay. We will need to leave a…
read more
by KBergReserve

Upcoming Talks

Diarise the date! 18 May 2019 Time: 5.30 pm for 6.00 pm Venue: Nivenia Hall, Harold Porter Gardens Enquiries: Rea Borcherds 028 272 9756   Prospects and Progress with Biological Control of Invasive Alien Trees in the Western Cape By John Hoffmann, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town Biological control, such as deliberately introduced insect and fungus species, has been used as one of the management options for reducing the invasiveness of several Australian tree species in South Africa. The results of some long-term studies will be presented which show that considerable progress…
read more
by KBergReserve

Gardeners’ Circle 15 May 2019

Special meeting: Wednesday 15 May 2019 Ebraime from HPNBG will be sowing and smoke treating seeds on Wednesday 15 May from 10:30 onwards. All are welcome to come along and see how it is done. Ebraime will be doing the smoke treatment in the nursery by the potting shed.  Regular monthly visit: Monday 20 May 2019 Our next two garden visits are in the Jocks Bay area - sunny, close to stormy seas, and windy at times! These special gardens are in Lipkin Road. The owners both have interesting stories to tell us - one being that the…
read more
by KBergReserve

Talk Report – Feb, Mar & Apr 2019

“FROGS” Andrew Turner, 16 February 2019 Are you a frogger?  After Andrew Turner’s most interesting and informative talk we will be using our ears rather than binoculars as we walk around Betty’s Bay’s wetlands. Particularly in the evenings, tune your ears to the sounds of an African night. Frogging can be a science or a recreation as we make exciting discoveries of these little creatures. Frogs are classed as Vertebrate amphibians with two phases to their lives: the tadpole, and the four legged adult (amphi = two, bians = life). Toads are frogs, frogs are not…
read more
by KBergReserve

The Wednesday Hack

Work continued on the slopes of the Klein Hangklip Mountains between Pringle Bay and Rooi Els. Waterbessies were cut on Bass Road in Betty’s Bay and Rooikrans on Hangklip Road, Pringle Bay. During the month, 70 man-hack days were thrown at the enemy. Hackers were: Tom Dreyer, Frik Potgieter, Bernard and Natalie van Wulven, Ulli Niemann, Tim Attwell, Claude Moine, Selwyn Botha, Louw Toerien, Chris Geldenhuys, Mike Robinson, Willem Stiglingh, Chris Cadman, Nils Rottcher, Giel Maree, Ed Silberbauer, Sandy Middleton, Jack Wixley, Bernie Becker, Sue Fielding, Barbara Silcock, and Mike and Karin Burns.   Frik…
read more
by KBergReserve

Gardeners’ circle report-back on March visit to the Harold Porter gardens

There were 35 of us and we were again joined by Harold Porter’s horticulturalist, Karen Wall. The effects of the January fire are very stark.  Thousands of hectares were destroyed up in the Biosphere, and much in the gardens, including the irrigation and garden beds near the entrance. To neaten the beds for the public, the Gardens staff cut back and cleaned them, which, in hindsight, was not the ideal thing to do because Fynbos does not like to be disturbed. Each species has its own regrowth pattern, some re-sprouting and some reseeding, so besides watering, one definite lesson learnt…
read more
by KBergReserve

Wildlife Rescue

Rescue advice for baby birds If you come across an abandoned nest or baby, the best thing to do is not to act at all for a while, unless it is an obvious situation like a young baby fallen out the nest. In such a case, pick the baby up gently and put it back using a cloth to keep the human smell off it. Otherwise, keep your distance and watch. Perhaps the parents are away catching food and will return. Perhaps the baby has just fledged and the parents may be sitting just out of…
read more
by KBergReserve

Pringle Bay Hack Report No 145

PRINGLE BAY HACK REPORT N0 145 On 27 April 2019, Freedom Day, a group of dedicated hackers reported to launch an attack on the invaders of Pringle Bay. Despite all the festivities in the town centre, we managed to kick off at 08h30. Some hackers had to address family matters at 06h00 to be on time for the hack. Now that is dedication! A small group of hackers finished off last month’s hack in High-Level Road, while the rest took on the invaders in Oliver Road. The Rooikrantz and mostly Myrtle kept us busy for…
read more
by KBergReserve

Betty’s Bay Hack Report No 672

THE BATTLE OF BETTY’S BAY: REPORT ON HACK NO 672 On a chilly and windy morning, the troops did very well ridding the plot between the R44 and Porter Drive of Rooikrans. We did not finish, and will return next month. The tea was provided by Merran Silberbauer, and the sandwiches by Jane Fearnhead. Thank you both! Penguin Place again donated the bread, so thank you to Odette too! The troops were: Tim Attwell, Mike Begley, David Bossenger, Jan Joubert, David Mourant, Claude Moine, Ed and James Silberbauer, Lewis and Caroline Silberbauer, Sue and John…
read more
by KBergReserve

Designing with Fynbos

(Adapted from https://www.capecontours.co.za/2015/11/13/designing-with-fynbos/ with credit to Contours Landscapes) Now that autumn is underway, it’s time to picture and plan a fynbos garden. The cooler temperatures and reduced soil temperatures provide the ideal conditions for establishing your fynbos garden. A Fynbos garden, using plants indigenous to the winter rainfall areas of the country, is probably one of the most beautiful and rewarding gardens to grow, yet most difficult to maintain over time. Beautiful because of the large diversity of different perennials, annuals, grasses, reeds and succulents that you can use, that allow a rich array of…
read more