Category: Steenbok Nature Reserve News

  • Preserving our Wetlands for future generations

    Posted on by Di StrombergSouth Africa is a water scarce country, and the water in many streams is polluted. Both droughts and floods are common. In this regard, wetlands play a vital role by removing toxic substances and sediment from the water, improving downstream... Read more »

  • Counting Birds in Steenbok

    Posted on by Di StrombergThis project reaches the whole of South Africa and records information for non- passerine (non-perching) species of birds associated with wetlands. Currently the project curates waterbird data for at least 628 sites, by a network of volunteers numbering between 800... Read more »

  • ASPARAGUS….

    Posted on by Di StrombergThese two Asparagus (picture on the left) can be seen, literally next to each other across from the Indigenous Garden path. Whilst the vigorous, robust & somewhat scary looking Asparagus falcatus would tend to want you to move along, the... Read more »

  • HYPOXIS VILLOSA

    Posted on by Di StrombergFamily: HYPOXIDACEAE This beautiful tuberous perennial is currently very striking in the Indigenous Garden. Easily recognisable with its strap-like leaves which are arranged tidily one above the other in 3 ranks. These hairy leaves are arched with prominent ribs, narrowing... Read more »

  • Plumbago auriculata

    Posted on by Di StrombergSky Blue flora now in the indigenous gardens of Steenbok Nature Reserve plumbago (Eng.); blousyselbos (Afr.) A large scrambling untidy shrub with clear blue flowers at the end of the branch tips.  In summer, the bush is covered with glorious... Read more »

  • Update on Alien Invasive clearing in Steenbok Nature Reserve

    Posted on by Di StrombergVerbena bonariensis; (purple flowers, Blouwater bossie) had started to appear again in the low lying and moist area near the Coral tree west of the tennis courts.  It is a tall herb with square stems covered with stiff hairs. Weeding... Read more »

  • JANUARY 2020, RAINFALL FIGURES….

    Posted on by Di StrombergRainfall in the month of January was a record breaking 182mm. Although not the highest monthly figure ever, certainly  the highest in a January since we started keeping records. “How was the rainfall in Steenbok in January?” – in a... Read more »

  • Irrigation Upgrade

    Posted on by Di StrombergFollowing 3 months of extreme frustration with failing irrigation and excessive heat, we have at last completed the replacement and upgrade of our spike and water pump.  This work was undertaken earlier in the week by Gary Human of The... Read more »

  • ALBUCA BRACTEATA

    Posted on by Di StrombergI decided, after all that wonderful rain, to take a walk in Steenbok and have a closer look at the plants coming into flower. It was such a HOT afternoon that I took a seat under a tree on one... Read more »

  • The Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of South Africa – The noise at dusk

    Posted on by Di StrombergEvening walks in Steenbok awaken all your senses. In summer the  piercing shrills of the cicadas in the Reserve are so loud they can make your ears buzz! The Cicada and its environment: At first glance you could mistake a... Read more »