Protea nitida family outing in Hermanus

Although the cone is inverted, this young Protea nitida flowerhead stirs ideas about ice-cream. The beguiled mind may yearn sufficiently to perceive the brown spots on involucre and perianths as chocolate. This can happen to observers of all ages.

The young ones in the party may even start clamouring for the treat. The plans for the walk get changed in the interest of serenity. Remember to finish eating and wiping all hands and spattered body parts before getting back into the car!

The olive green of the bracts and the greyish blue-green of the foliage appear incongruous on the same plant. (Green is a lesser option in ice-cream.)

The reducing visible parts of protruding inner bract rows create a depth illusion: the imbricate overlap resembles a green-hooded crowd on a rainy day, facing away. Maybe not an ice-cream day.

The hairy white perianths give little inkling of the imminent revelations that will transform them into an open, floral capitulum soon. Forget ice-cream and think bloom.