First job this morning was to pick up our hire car from the Avis city office about 20 mins walk from us, past the Bo Kaap area. The staff there were probably the most disinterested I have ever come across and were completely lacking any people skills but after the usual lengthy bureaucracy we were on our way back to the apartment in the car. What we hadn't realised when we booked was that we had private garage parking which was an absolute bonus and the garage attendant was very helpful.
This morning we planned to visit the world renowned Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, but typically it's grey skies and drizzle but, on the basis we're only here once, we've made up some rolls and are heading to the gardens which are on the slope of Table Mountain but the side of it we don't see. Unfortunately we're past the main protea flowering period (mid Sep to end Oct) but hopefully we'll find a few blooms.
White Agapanthus which is of course another native plant.
These are all Leucospermum cordifolium
We had to go through a small glass covered section and one of the staff working in there told us about the owl nesting just outside.
These next two are Leucospermum reflexum (still protea family)
I'm particularly thrilled to have seen this Protea cynaroides, as the King Protea is South Africa's National Plant and is beautiful. There were just one or two blooms still flowering but it must have been an amazing sight when the plants were in full flower.
Possibly Leucospermum praecox
Mimetes cucullatus
Sutherlandia frutescens aka Cancer Bush due to its traditional use in treating internal cancers.
Aristea capitata
Another Cotyledon orbiculata
Hoodia gordonii which we saw growing wild in Namibia.
Watsonia coccinea
This is an orchid - Disa uniflora
Crytantus obliquus
And finally Pachypodium succulentum
At least I hope that's what they are all called - I've relied on Google reverse image look up!
We had to go through a small glass covered section and one of the staff working in there told us about the owl nesting just outside.
A very scruffy chick.
Back now to the apartment via Avis as there's no water in the windscreen washing bottle!