Category: Steenbok Nature Reserve News

  • MAY RAINFALL CHARTS

    Posted on by Di StrombergIt has been a disappointing May.  As can be seen from the bar-chart our rainfall of 26 mm is half of the 10 year May  average. The cumulative chart shows this year is very similar to 2018 and not too... Read more »

  • A bright picnic spot in Steenbok Nature Reserve

    Posted on by Di StrombergIvy Garden services hard at work around the Sideroxylon inerme (white milkwood) tree near the boat club entrance of Steenbok.  The white milkwood has been trimmed and vegetation around the tree cleared.  Now there is a beautiful, sunny picnic spot with... Read more »

  • Dietes grandiflora

    Posted on by Di StrombergCalled a “Fairy iris” because the fragile white petals not only look like feathers but also have a tendency to disappear mysteriously overnight. Family: Iridaceae Common names: large wild iris, fairy iris (Eng.); groot wilde-iris Dietes grandiflora is a perennial,... Read more »

  • Chasmanthe aethiopica

    Posted on by Di StrombergThese plants flower during autumn and winter, from April to June or rarely July.  They can now be found in the area west of the tennis courts and between the long grass near the Tow Path. The pale green leaves... Read more »

  • Clivia nobilis

    Posted on by Di StrombergIt’s always nice to come across some plants in Steenbok that have not previously been recorded and were not even part of our Webpage. The new addition is Clivia nobilis. Common name: Eastern Cape clivia (Eng.) Family: Amaryllidaceae Spotted in the... Read more »

  • Scattering seeds in Steenbok

    Posted on by Di StrombergWinter is well on its way and evidence of this is the helichrysum foetidum (yellow everlasting) looking dried and withered.  The fruits have pappus bristles which are easily dispersed by the wind. The photos show Roger enjoying the task of... Read more »

  • Bird Watching in Steenbok

    Posted on by Di StrombergThere are quite a few places in Steenbok Nature Reserve to enjoy this pass-time. Land’s End is a perfect place to sit quietly and watch plovers moving quickly along the water’s edge.  Plover, White fronted, are occasional visitor to Leisure... Read more »

  • The very famous Mudprawn (Upogebia Africana)

    Posted on by Di StrombergEveryone in South Africa is familiar with the Mudprawns and most fishermen would have used them for bait at some point. The Steenbok boundary bordering the lagoon is abundant in this aquatic species for several reasons: The Mudprawn habitat –... Read more »

  • A walk in Steenbok with Ingrid Meter

    Posted on by Di StrombergGladiolus dalenii   Common names:  African gladiolus (Eng.); papegaai-gladiolus (Afr.); khahla-e-kholo (South Sotho) Family:  Iridaceae Take a walk along the high tide path to Kingfisher Creek to see these stunning beauties, flowering in May, even though their normal flowering time... Read more »

  • Virgilia divaricata

    Posted on by Di StrombergCommon names: pink Blossom Tree, pink Keurboom (Eng.); keurboom, amakwasboom (Afr.) Family: Fabaceae SA Tree No: 221 This small to medium sized tree is a very affective pioneer plant.  It has a bushy, rounded to broadly conical growth habit with... Read more »