Grotto Bay in flower

Many plants are not too easily stressed by the bustle of a densely populated environment. Everyone just grows eagerly to get some sun. And there are losers. But nobody moves away because of the neighbours unless living conditions become unbearable.

All distribute their seeds according to the methods determined by their genetic make-up without a worry about which neighbourhood their children will settle in one day.

The orange flowers of Dimorphotheca sinuata or Namaqualand daisies adorn west coast open spaces, as well as many gardens in late winter and spring.

The space among the perennial shrubs was created as a firebreak. Seasonal annuals and lowgrowing plants predominate here. As for the shrubs, the perennial taller vegetation gradually take over from the annuals by resprouting or reseeding after set-backs like fire, depending on whether they grow from multiple stems or a single stem.

After a fire, the resprouters with multiple stems from underground rootstocks flourish first. The reseeders, the single-stemmed shrubs take their time as newly started plants before they can dominate in the vegetation mix.

By then these lowly types have to wait their turn... which does not come if there is no fire. Unless the firebreak is cleared again.