Fynbos After the Storm

While last week was blue-skyed and hot driving many of the sports children into the cool river, ocean or pool, this week began with a deluge. Grey skies and rainfall have cooled the earth. Some areas experienced so much rainfall that the exposed sandy soils left by the fire washed towards the ocean and rain pooled in overnight lakes, but the majority of the landscape is expected to thrive after the rainfall. We can't wait to see what new plant surprises will begin to shoot... like this pretty Mairia coriacea or fire daisy that the conservation team and botanical artists were delighted to find.

This is Tritoniopsis triticea which was spotted at Lomond Wines while out scouting interesting plants for the Florilegium. In this rainy day discovery, the droplets really brought out the detail in this fynbos beauty.

Assessing damage to roads after the rain...

As the natural veld burnt recently, the nature of the soil is changed from the fire exposure leaving the sandy soils hydrophobic. This means that heavy rain runs straight off the soil very quickly. These fire daisies held tight.

Amaryllis belladonna ...this trumpet flower is the most amazing colour and has an even more incredible scent. The March lily or naked lady is toxic.