H E R B S                                                    NO 85     November 2007 GALE FORCE LIFT-OFF FOR A GREAT 2007 WILDFLOWER FESTIVAL!

Show preparations this year lifted off to a reverberating start when the first big marquee took off into space in a northwest gale. Then flower magic kicked in and fairies from the fynbos ensured a trouble-free run with crisp Spring breezes and cool sunshine. There were restio fairies and phaenocoma fairies, grassy-winged herons, froglets and pinecone mice among the cascading masses of wild flowers in the hall. Fairies even spilled into the minigardens to join the pink flamingoes, tortoises, Frog and Cat. Tranquil ponds, a honeymoon gazebo ringed by standard yellow euryops daisies and a magic wheelbarrow filled with a fountain of water enchanted the hundreds of visitors who visited our Wildflower Festival mid-September. One lady, gazing at a ground level protea garden complete with visiting sugarbird, said ‘I want to buy that bird!’ Another arrived at a flower-ringed water trough, produced a cake of soap and proceeded to wash her hands! It was cordoned off after that. Harold Porter National Botanical Garden gave a welcome and much-needed environmental message in their garden and pamphlets. The garden was called the Good, the Bad and the Ugly, featuring alien vegetation, fire damage and litter in the fynbos – not to mention developmental dangers. The pamphlets proclaimed: ‘The power of one: YOU can make a difference. Now!’ A new feature was an info office with flower photographs and posters on display. The show project ‘Conservation through Education’ , the development of environmental education in the Overberg, was also displayed in photographic form. (See Ecoeducation project for more information on this.) The new catering team broke last year’s record and the marquee stalls did thriving business. Five nurseries, including our own Fernkloof one, sold indigenous plants on site with great success. Cut flowers also did well. FINAL FIGURE FOR THE 2007 FESTIVAL: A net profit of about R91 000 was raised towards our conservation and educational projects (and that amount does not include the nursery profit of R20 000). This is how it came together: Admission: R38 542,00 Catering: R29600,50 Cut flowers: R3395,00 Marquee: R511,99 Minigardens: R3916,88 Raffle: R14070,00 Wine auction contribution: R25788,00 (courtesy of Paul du Toit, Wine Village. Thank you Paul). Congratulations to all the hard workers who made this total possible – including the planners, the pickers, the arrangers, the cooks, the shiftworkers, the gardeners and not to forget those who cleared up afterwards!

Linnaeus and his 'Systema Naturae' raised the lowly Nasturtium to heroic heights

Ever wonder how botanists come by names of certain plants? Take the common Nasturtium for instance, which boasts the botanical name Tropaeolum majus L. The famous Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus described it as being grown by gardeners on trellis pyramids and so resembling triumphal ornaments. He said that 'the leaves are shields and the flowers are helmets of gold stained with blood and pierced by spears.' So the genus name means 'a small trophy'. This imaginative love for plants started at the age of five when Carl was given a garden to look after by his father, a Lutheran pastor . After that he acquired the nickname 'Little Botanicus.' This year botanists the world over have been celebrating the 300th anniversary of the birth of Linnaeus in Southern Sweden in 1707. He studied for a medical degree at the Universities of Lund and Uppsala, then at the University of Leiden before publishing the first edition of his 'System Naturae? ' a classification of all living things. After a distinguished medical and botanical career, he became physician to the Swedish Royal Family and was granted nobility in 1761 when he became Carl von Linne. His many botanical works made him the father of modern plant classification.

FERNKLOOF – A LIVING CLASSROOM

Proceeds from this year’s Wildflower Festival will be channelled into a ‘Conservation Through Education’ project. The Hermanus Botanical Society is working with the Overstrand Conservation Foundation to further an Environmental Education Programme for local schools. Fernkloof Nature Reserve is a wonderful environmental education resource for young and old alike and already botanical visits and sorties up the mountain have been enjoyed by local learners. As all activities must be linked to the curriculum the following have met the requirements and pursued with enthusiasm: Hawston High School has observed National Science Week, planted wild fig to stabilise the sandy banks around their netball courts and has identified and researched Hawston heritage sites. Hawston Primary School has tapped into community knowledge concerning various social issues like HIV/AIDS, are planting indigenous scented and medicinal gardens and are taking part in the Whale Festival Recycling Competition. Mt Pleasant Primary observed National Science Week with numerous outings and activities, participated in a cleanup of the community and will also take part in the Recycling Competition. The Waldorf School has established a vegetable garden and improved the existing fynbos garden. The RDP students from the nearby centre will be demonstrating how to build a garden bench using gum poles. The learners have visited Fernkloof to see the specialist gardens and will be planting a scented and medicinal garden in their school grounds. The Recycling Competition is also on their programme. Hermanus Primary School has used Hoys’ Koppie (also part of the reserve) as an outside classroom studying the history and geological aspects of the site. Learners were exposed to the dynamics of waste management in the Overberg with a view to encouraging the students to increase recycling in the school. Water was monitored in the school and an environmental health officer will teach them about water purification in the area. The Montessori School has an active eco-club and has studied tree dynamics in the area. Each school will produce a portfolio which will be assessed by the National Eco-school Coordinators. Successful schools will be awarded a green flag, an international accreditation. DONATIONS ARE WELCOME ! Send to the Hermanus Botanical Society, PO Box 208, Hermanus, 7200.

TRIBUTE TO THE HERMANUS WILDFLOWER FESTIVAL FROM JAMES GRAY OF THE UNITED CHURCH:

September is Fernkloof Flower Festival month. For many years this has been a royal standard flying over the town, a regal affirmation of the treasures of the fynbos kingdom. The splendours of creation is an integral part of our Christian faith, and when I see these flowers and walk in the hills above Fernkloof I remember not only Gerard Hopkins’ splendid words about the world being ‘charged with the grandeur of God’, I am reminded also of what C.S. Lewis once said: ‘Nature never taught me that there exists a God of glory and of infinite majesty. I had to learn that in other ways. But nature gave the word ‘glory’ a meaning for me.’ The folk who put that Flower Show together and the Hermanus Botanical Society in particular deserve the applause of the town, and from the United Church we warmly acknowledge them. ‘Thank you. You have shown us what it is to be wise and careful stewards of God’s creation.’

DID YOU KNOW?

On display in the Flower Show hall: Three hundred and sixty botanical specimens from the Overstrand area. Rarely seen orchids such as the tiny yellow Disperis bolusiana, the yellow Schizodium flexuosum and the spider orchid were of particular interest. Cliff Path lovers enjoyed a coastal Spring landscape complete with magenta 'acky-nackies', mauve wild cineraria and white arum lilies. A special floral display gave tribute to the 50th anniversay of the Fernkloof Nature Reserve. The reserve was proclaimed on November 22 l957. A long-awaited and much-needed brochure about the reserve will be launched at a cocktail party hosted by the Overstrand Municipality on November 22. It will be accompanied by an updated map of the reserve. Both have been sponsored by the Municipality. Members can celebrate Fernkloof?s 50th birthday at a late afternoon ramble and picnic at the end of November. Frank Woodvine , former curator of the reserve, will give a talk on the history of Fernkloof. (See the Programme for details). There was a packed house for the Special Meeting in August, which was followed by soup and wine and an excellent slide show by Godfrey Coetzee. Subject was fire ephemerals on Lucerne Farm, particularly bulbs. Resolutions were also passed unanimously. Thanks to our student Andrew Rhodes for his good work upgrading the sad signage of Fernkloof. His work space is packed with new and restored signs. Society subs will increase from R50 for single membership to R70, R90 to R125 for family membership, from this month.

PROGRAMME

HACKING MEETS :	08:00	September - March
	08:30	April - August

Tuesdays (third of each month) :	November 20
	December 18
	January 15
	February 19

The Mossel River needs your help! Hacks at present meet at the top of Riverside Road, Voëlklip. Sesbania, Acacia longifolia, baby gums are just some of the alien vegetation that need to be eradicated.

For further information contact Bob Hill 028-3121463

 

OTHER SOCIAL EVENTS :

November 30	18:00	FERNKLOOF’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY PICNIC preceded by the Chairman’s Walk (approx. 1 hour). Liquid refreshments will be provided by Botsoc. Bring a picnic supper.
January 18	18:00	Annual General Meeting
February 22	18:00	Annaul braai
March 4-6		EXCURSION: Still Bay

For further information re walks please contact Piet Joubert

tel 028-3140264

Published by Hermanus Botanical Society, PO Box 208, Hermanus 7200 Editor: GERALDINE GARDINER - Fax (028) 313 0617