Rare Gladiolus Blooms After Alien Vegetation Clearing

The past week at Grootbos Foundation has been full of exciting stories of progress in which we have been able to take a step back to look at change over time. This showstopper, Gladiolus priorii, has made the most of recent rainfall and dip in overnight temperature to burst into bloom on a conservation servitude within the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy. This particular site was full of invasive plants and since teams have cleared these invasives, the fynbos species have been able to grab the opportunity to bloom. Clearing the taller invasive species allows these bulbs to benefit from direct sunshine where they were previously crowded and overshadowed. Look at them bloom!

Another beauty!