WHAT
WE FOUND |
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| Upon the first visit to site,
the plant growth was found to be a monoculture, consisting mainly
of exotic invader trees, i.e. Cluster Pine Pinus pinaster (Europe)
Blue gum Eucalyptus sp. Australia. The problem with these
types of trees is that they shade out sunlight, making it impossible
for our indigenous trees or shrubs to grow. Over time, these trees form a leafy mass on the top layer of soil which is not favourable for the germination of seeds. The result is that nothing grows under these trees. Although the roots of these trees do stabilise the slopes against erosion, the concern is that when these trees die, there is nothing to protect the soil. Gradually the roots decay and run-off water erodes the slope. This problem will keep on recurring, as the mass of leaves built up over the years prevents the germination of seeds. The process of succession - natural stages in plant rehabilitation/re-vegetation (annuals and grasses, then shrubs then trees) cannot take place. The leaf material also blocks the flow of natural water streams. With this leaf matter decaying, oxidation does not take place, leaving a nasty smell to water. The oil in Eucalyptus (Blue gum trees) also pollutes the water.
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REHABILITATION PROCESS |
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| The rehabilitation process includes removing
as many as possible of these invader species. The trees which are not removed must be pollarded in order to let more sunlight through. Thereafter, the layer of leaf mass from the invader trees must be removed to prepare a seedbed. This process is followed by scarification of soil and sowing of primary seeds to stabilise bare patches. With more sunlight, these seeds will germinate easily. Once it has been stabilised, the planting can be augmented those plants grown in containers, which is more valuable. At this stage, trees can also be introduced.
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Trees we are introducing
include the following:
Apodytes dididiata – Witpeur / White Pear Buddleja salvifolia – Wilde Salie / Sagewood Celtis africana – Wit Stinkhout / White Stinkwood Elcebergia capensis – Essenhout / Cape Ash Ilex mitis – Without / Cape Holly Lencodendron argenteum – Silwerboom / Silver Tree Oleo europaea subsp. – Africana Olienhout / Wild Olive Podalyria calyptra – Waterkeurtjie / Water Blossom Podocarpus latifolius – Kaapse Geelhout / Real Yellowood Rapanea melanophloeos – Kaapse Boekenhout / Cape Beech Sideroxylon inerme – Wit Melkhout / White Milkwood Virgillia oroboides - Keurboom
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| Plants
we wish to re-introduce include the following: Erica sp. Kniphofia uvaria – Vuurpyl / Red Hot Poker Leonotis leonorus – Wilde Dagga / Wild Dagga Ornithogalum thyrsoides – Tall Chincherinchee Watsonia pyrimidata – Pink Suurkanol
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FYNBOS |
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| The Western Cape is famous for its wide variety
of flowering plants, known as fynbos.
Some interesting facts… There are over 9,000 species of fynbos! Two-thirds of the plant species on seven of the plant families are endemics. They are not found growing naturally anywhere else in the world! Best known, are South African Proteas, Ericas, Restionaceae (Cape reeds or Cape grasses, which are evergreen rush-like plants) and the Bruniaceae (branching, fine-leaved, heath-like shrubs with characteristic flower heads) and the Cape spring and winter flowering bulbs. 1,491 of 9,000 species are at risk of extinction and are in need of conservation. Propagation of some fynbos plants from seed is difficult, as seeds of many species are dormant when they are shed and often require very specific environmental ‘messages’ or cues before they will germinate. Fires and fynbos… Fynbos is accustomed to periodic fires, which have actually helped to shape and characterise it. For although occasional fires (every 15 years or so) may be advantageous, repeated fires are disastrous. Fynbos species are variously adapted to recurrent fire cycles and characteristically experience intense recruitment immediately after fires with little or no recruitment between fires. Seeds of many species are adapted to germinate in response to one or more of the cues provided by fire. Heat from flames may fracture the impermeable seed coat of hard-seeded species resulting in the coats becoming permeable to water (e.g. Fabaceae or legume family). |
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| VINEYARD | ||||||||
Our Executive Chef, Peet, has great interest in “garagista winemaking” and has been allocated a small piece of land to produce up to 300 bottles of wine. The soil has been rested and the first vines would be planted in 2007.
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White
Pear
 click here |
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