Colours of the moment

Leucadendron stem-tips lit up like candles brighten the fynbos, in sunshine and under cloud. The panorama swaps leaf and flower garments per season, the growth form players come and go in favourite patches, each lingering for a while or longer. Geology and soil type go the other way, enforcing some stability, while the blessings of rain and the traumas of fire add to the palette between pattern and chance.

Fynbos doesn’t have only one spring peak as in many temperate floras. Several colourful spurts by brief-flowering species succeed each other in a season. Certain ericas and geophytes occupy centre stage in parts of spring, numerous daisies and restios corner summer together or in sequence, while autumn ericas and their mates lead into winter. A multitude of contributors then include Aspalathus, Podalyria, some of the mesembs, more daisies, and more of everything else. The participants deliver unique, or at least admired colours to favourite nooks and niches.

Hikes should not be postponed to different flowerings, rather increased to witness more of them. The kids love it and your doctor will approve.