Flowers of the Eastern Cape #2 - Shades of Autumn

I had no problem in finding flowers for this weeks post, the problem was what to choose.

The choice in the end was simple. It is now late Autumn and it is that time of the year we associate with yellows and oranges. The Eastern Cape is no exception, so enjoy what I captured this weekend.

Bauhenia galpinii, looking stunning against a blue sky. It is not strictly an Eastern Cape plant, but who could resist its beauty.

Strelitzia regina, also known as the crane flower or bird of paradise.

Strelitzia juncea. It had its debut in #1 of this series.

Metalasia auria, a plant that is very common in this area. 

A very tied looking Berkheya decurrens.

This could be a young Aloe arborescens. The Eastern Cape will soon be glowing as the aloes start to flower.

And that is a sample of Autumn in the Eastern Cape.

Tuesday's Trees #17 - Strelitzia alba and nicolai

Way back in 2008 I started a series I called Tuesday's Trees and stopped after 16 posts.  I have decided to reinstate this series, because I have collected many more tree pictures since then.

I thought the tree Strelitzias would be a good starting point.

The Strelitzia alba grows in the forests of the Southern Cape and this grove can be seen along the road  as you travel up the Grootrivier Pass from nature's Valley.

The Strelizia alba grows to a height of about 10 metres (33 feet). We had some of these in the garden of our previous home. They are nice, but very messy.

This flower is from the Strelitzia nocolai, which grows naturally further north along the coast Eastern Cape and Kwazulu Natal Coast into Mocambique. It also occurs in Zimbabwe. I chose this flower, because I do not have one from the Strelizia alba. The difference between the two is that the flowers from the Strelitzia alba are completely white and lack the blue that is present in its cousins.



I have heard that the Strelitzia regina has become quite prolific in California. I would be interested to know if the tree Strelitzias have been introduced there as well?

Flowers of the Eastern Cape #1 - Strelitzia Juncea

I have often said that there is always some plant that is flowering in the Eastern Cape, no matter what time of the yearit is. I have decided to put my theory to the test and will publish a photo a week, at least until spring.

My first flower this series is the Strelitzia juncea, which grows naturally in the Uitenhage and Patensie areas, just to the North of Port Elizabeth. 

This photo is not the best quality, as it was shot from my car window at a traffic light in Uitenhage yesterday evening, in a hurry. And in case you are wondering I was not driving. I had to be very quick as the light was about to change and my camera was still in its bag. Up until that point I did not know where I was going to find my first subject.

These are ideal plants for beautifying the road verges because they are very drought resistent and as we are in the middle of a terrible drought at the moment need no tlc.