Vlakfontein Farm is blessed with a variety of flowers, lilies , and bulbous plants, eg. agapanthus, watsonia, gladioli, pineapple lily, etc.  The latter is a spectacular rare plant with a flower resembling a pineapple, the Eucomis Pineapple Lily, with the botanical name, Liliaceae eucomis, common name Pineapple Lily.  In spring flowers like small pineapples, with leaves on top like shields, in the opening stage erupt from a crown of broad succulent foliage lying close to the ground  becoming a cluster of small tubelike flowers yellow to orange in colour. Nature never fails to surprise :

( Courtesy : Google.com)

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At Treeferns Trout Lodge at least two species of  Watsonia occur, Watsonia angusta, and Watsonia marginata or spp. The former grow abundantly near water sources and favours marshy spots of which there are plenty on Vlakfontein, home of Treeferns. The two species differ mainly in size and form and colour of flowers. The Watsonia angusta are taller and boasts red or crimson tubular flowers well sought after by sugar birds. Watsonia marginata on the other hand has more purple like flowers.

The plant Watsonia was named after Sir William Watson(1715-1787), a physician and naturalist, and the subspecies marginata comes from “marginate” referring to the thick leaf margins. As far as I could find out, the word “angusta” in Latin means narrow or narrowing (perhaps like in angina) to describe the flowers as little tubes.

As I am not absolutely sure of my identifications, I am open for correction, and if someone could ID them accurately, it will be appreciated. Data acknowledgement Google. http://capeseedandbulb.com/watsonia.html

The Agapanthus inapertus is a  very attractive tuberous plant occuring naturally on Vlakfontein in open grassland and also rocky areas. It blooms with very dark blue to violet drooping tubelike flowers as shown in the pictures.Flowering is normally January to March. Six (6 ) different species of Agapanthus occur endemic in South Africa.

The botanical name, Agapanthus, is derived from the Greek words agape (love) and anthos (flower), and inapertus in Latin means “closed” as in tubular.

The five subspecies of Agapanthus inapertus differ in the shape and size of their flowers.

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They are clearly distinquished from the Agapanthus africanus, one of South Africa’s popular garden plants, with striking blue or white flowers.

http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/agapaninapertus.htm

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REFLECTIONS

Wherever there is water you are almost certain to see a reflection of something on the surface of the water. The smoother the water the clearer the reflection.

What excactly is a reflection ?

“Reflection is the change in direction of a wavefront at an interface between two different media so that the wavefront returns into the medium from which it originated. Common examples include the reflection of light, sound and water waves. The law of reflection says that for specular reflection the angle at which the wave is incident on the surface equals the angle at which it is reflected. Mirrors exhibit specular reflection.” (Google – “Water reflections”)

The following are some images we have stumbled on over time :

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M ost people like to be in the open air, and to be on top of the world. Treeferns Trout Lodge offers exactly

this experience. A short envigourating hike takes you up-hill from where an

astonishing sight awaits you in

all directions, including the towns of Dullstroom, Machadodorp, and Waterval Boven, with Belfast  just beyond line of sight. Closer to the top of the world you can’t be.

The pictures show Theo and Nikki Wilken with brother Johan, Vanessa,

sister-in-law, and their daughter.

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The pictures on the web site are mostly subject related and a fragmentary representation of Treeferns Trout Lodge, eg. foto’s of flyfishing showing trout, etc. However, the majority of guests are also keen environmentalists, nature lovers and/or photographers. To specifically show first comers what they can expect when they consider Treeferns as a break-away, we have compiled a slide show of an overview of the most beautiful and representative scenes of the farm. So sit back and relax.