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Zandvlei Trust Rehabilitation - removing exotic invasive vegetation. This is a working relationship with the City of Cape Town and the Zandvlei Trust. December 2011. A day of all the seasons, cool rainy
in the morning clearing and then threatening to rain again and eventually
clearing up completely.
Catherine is amazed at the density of the growth in the area. It is like a jungle.
Milan almost in his backyard.
Susan trimming branches so we can get in at the base of the stems.
Bowen sawing the trunk of a Manatoka tree.
Surveying the prickly pear escapee.
Bert topping up with herbicide.
Sue contemplating the prickly pear .....and not her navel.
Milans trousers came off second best against the sticks, both trouser legs getting it.
Sue and Bowen tackling the young seedlings on the slope above Cap Michel Close.
The last hack for 2011, well done
to the dedicated participants throughout the year,
November 2011 The air was very cool and clear. The sea a beautiful asure blue and the mountains in the distance were spectacular. We clered some remaining port jacksons along the top slope. There were many seedlings which needed pulling and cutting. There was copsing of a few Spanish Broom shrubs which were taken care of. It was good to see the survival rate of the planted areas, during July 2011. It has been a very dry winter with reduced rainfall this year, and the majority of the plants have survived and are flourishing. The dotted border butterflies were present flying about the shrubs and trees. A number of bird species were also present. We found some porcupine quills as well. Bowen and Bert disturbed a bees nest and had to beat a hasty retreat when they were stung a couple of times. Fortunately not seriously.
Bert
and Milan working on some
copsed
Bowen about to cut down a Port Jackson.
The cars below are going down Old Boyes Drive. This pretty flowering stem was in a dry sunny area.
Hiding under some bark on a gum tree, were these two cohorts. A beetle and a gecko, not moving so they cannot be seen..
These are some of the plants surviving, which were planted on Mandela Day by the Mountain Men staff.
The groundcovers and watsonias are doing well in the harsh conditons.
An attractive flowering shrublet. October 2011 We worked half way down Old Boyes Drive opposite the 2nd bench. We cut down large copsed Port Jackson and Manatoka trees on the steep slope. The day was very hot (about 30 degrees) with a south east wind not too strong. As we we were finishing a young guy who lives opposite came to see who we were. Seemed happy we were clearing invasives. Seemed to be aware of Zandvlei Trust. He was checking to see if we were bergies.
Bert has chopped down a copsed Manatoka tree.
Ornithogalum flaccida (soldier in the box).
..... and its seed pod forming.
Chris working his way down to the Manatoka tree in front of him.
A Cape Lappet Moth catapillar.
Polygala garcini part of the Milkwort family.
September 2011 Milano is a neighbour and came to
help today, after speaking to us last month. We met more neighbours who were
very supportive of the work we are doing and have offered some help in the form
of paid labour. This is a great community spirit and very welcome. We shall take
them up on the offer.
Milano is sawing a port jackson sappling. Bowen is weeding the wild mustard.
Bert pulling...... Catherine sawing.......
..... and it is nearly down. The sap has risen in the stems of the trees and sawing is more difficult, than other times of the year.
Catherine and Milano cutting the tree stems left behind by some person/s.
We found these trees cut at chest height and not treated with a herbicide, by some untrained persons.
This pretty show of flowers were in a clearing where we worked.
And chomping away and the new stems were catipillars.
This dainty shrub with tiny flowers. We are still learning the new names of the plants on the hillside.
August 2011
An overcast day and drizzling weather at times, pleasant to work in. The view from where we were working. I
checked on the plants which the Mountain Men and the Reserve Staff planted on Mandela
Day, they are all doing very well even with the very dry weather for mid
winter. We continued in the top area, Bert had the gum trees in his sights and
tackled them. The trees were copsed from a previous cutting. On the steep slope
there is sisal, prickly pear plants growing which need to be treated. A
neighbour is concerned about unwanted persons climbing over his boundary fence
in this area. A possible solution is planting aloes as a security device along
side his fence. The aloes would supply the bees with pollen and nectar in the
winter.
Chris cutting a port jackson sappling. An example of sisal plants which need taking care of.
Bert chopping the gum trees copsed branches off previously cut trees.
Susan lopping branches off rooikrans and brazilian pepper trees.
The only wildlife present today. There were a few Dotted Border butterflies flying about.
The sun appeared near home time. Chris climbing up the slope.
July 2011 The weather was perfect for a middle winters day. No wind, the air was warm and clear. A Bokmakierie was calling as well as a Cape Robin Chat near where we were working.
This is the view up the slope of the Muizenberg, from the where we are working. This is the link - biodiversity corridor, on the mountain, across Boyes Drive through the Reserve area and down to Zandvlei.
This is the view down the slope. The Chasmanthae are blooming.
There are beautiful rocks on this site as well.
Bert has cut down a large rooikrans tree.
Doctoring the stump with herbicide.
Chris dragging the tree up the slope so it can be removed from the site.
Chris
cutting a Rooikrans tree. The slope is steep and is probably fed with plenty
Susan cutting the branches off so the stem so the cutters can get close access to the ground.
June 2011 There
were still a few Dotted Border butterflies around even on this very cool day
with a SE wind blowing and genearlly clouded over. We found a number more
pincushion trees some quite old. They were harbouring some quite old port
jackson and rooikrans trees. There is evidence of all sorts of geophytes
sprouting and coming into flower. The Citys Roads and Stormwater dept had been
along the road verges and cleared the gutter along Old Boyes Drive of the silt
and rocks from the burst water pipe incident last November. They also cleared
the vegetation on the pavements which was becoming a problem. Thank you Talcott
Persent.
Susan and Catherine working as a team cutting port jackson.
Chris and his saw getting to work. Bert found this stray pine tree.
Gladiolus watsonius Red Afrikaner. Romula flava.
Eriocephalus africanus Wild Rosemary flowering. Oxalis luteola.
A large Leucospermum conocarppodendron pincushion canopy and its stem underneath. The canopy is about 4 metres in diameter.
A
new life - a pincushion
seedling growing up next Another new life will be able to grow up,
now that the
Leucospermum conocarppodendron
pincushion or kreupelhout and
We worked our way up to the top just below Cap Michel Close. There is evidence of builders rubble and garden cuttings being dumped over the edge in this area. This practise will have to stop.
Another new plant species unknown to us. A Cape Lappet Moth catapillar.
May 2011
More butterflies this month. Cape Autumn Widows were in flight over the grass areas near the intersection of Old Boyes Drive and Main Road. The weather was unusual as far as work days for hacking, it was a very pleasant, grey overcast cool day, with no wind. Seldom is there no wind on the slopes of the mountain.
Bert has cut down a Port Jackson on this steep slope. We cut down a number of Rooikrans, Port Jackson and Manatoka trees opening up more areas for light and air movement. A very large Leucospermum conocarpodendron (Pincushion) was found and we cleared 3 large Rooikrans trees away from the eastern side, which had stunted its growth. The invassives blocked out the sunlight with their towering canopies. Bert also went back to the corner on Old Boyes Drive and cut down 3 remaining Spanish or Yellow Broom plants.
Bowen about to cut down a Port Jackson tree. Bowen saw what he identified as a Chinspot Batis. He had brief views with binoculars while it was flitting from shrub top to top, and by its actions was a male displaying. Another suggestion, it was a Cape Batis or could it have been a Bar throated Apalis? Anyway the sighting was a first for us in 2 years working this site. The others present could only see it without binoculars. Catherine found a Koppie Foam Grasshopper crawling around where she was working. Also a large pupae case of some unknown insect.
Koppie
Foam
Grasshopper.
Catherine dosing a Port Jackson stump after cutting There is evidence of numerous bulbs species starting their winter growth. It will be interesting to see what they develop into. We came across another small shrub not seen on this site before covered in cream coloured berries.
April 2011 There were plenty of Dotted Border butterflies around the area we were working today, with a few Table Mountain Beauty and Citrus Swallowtail butterflies also present. We decided to work the big trees near the bend as we had more muscle power today. Got plenty done on the very steep slopes. Cut Port Jackson, Manatoka and some sestrum trees near the southern boundary. We found a stone over hang where a Parrot beaked Tortoise could live. The soils and grasses are very dry and slippery when climbing the steep slopes. I took some photos of large either protea or leucadendron shrubs on the upper slopes.
Bowen cutting down this large Port Jackson tree on a steep slope.
Timber and down it comes.
Bert about to crop down this tree, also a Port Jackson.....
..... and down it is.
Catherine trimming branches to clear the way to the base of the tree.
The garden escapee Morning Glory
creeper has taken hold of a large
March 2011 Bert
and I cleared an area of small and large Port Jackson saplings, which made a
difference making a new vista over looking the vlei. In some places the
indigenous shrubs are quite dense with low growth. The ground is very dry now,
nornal for this time of the year.
A
view across Main Road, and the intersection of Old Boyes Drive, the southern
suburbs
Bert
clearing branches away so he can get to the
February 2011 It was another hot day with a slight breeze at the Old Boyes Drive site. On the way to the forest area we stopped and cleared a few trees and sapplings from the edge of Old Boyes Drive. We removed many seedlings between us today. This site will be splendid in June July this year, when the suppressed plants and bulbs reappear after the winter rains. If
you would like to join us at this new addition to the Zandvlei Nature Reserve,
please come along on the 2nd Saturday afternoon of the month.
Bert Bron cut down this tree and is "doctoring" the stump.
Catherine Burnett trimming branches off this Port Jackson, so that Bert can get closer the the stem.
These pretty pink flowers are still in bloom at this time of the year, in peak summer.
Catherine pulling seedlings in the forest area.
Sue Wishart and Bert pulling Port Jackson seedlings by the dozen.
This mauve flower and the seed pods developing along the stem. Does anyone know the species?
There are a number of small
shrubs which are thriving, this species is
January 2011 On a very hot day (+30 degrees) we decided to work in the area we call "the forest" - it was a thicket of 3 to 4 metre tall Port Jacksons last year. It now has many seedlings and a few copsed stumps we did not do properly. Between the 3 of us we managed to pull out hundreds of potential invasive trees, a job well done. We need more volunteers to help, as a number of regulars have had to move on. It is not difficult work and only 2 hours of your time once a month. We need consistant, regular, community effort from the team of dedicated and enthusiastic workers. Training and information is provided. This work assists the Nature Reserve staff who do not have enough hands to do the work. Phone me if you are interested in helping with this project 021 705 5224 or Gavin Lawson. There are many interesting things you can learn about nature and the area while we are working. Sue Wishart sheltering under a
tree pulling seedlings. Bert Bron
moving dead branches to get Seedlings
sprouting in groups. They are at
a A pelegonium with
a cream coloured flower.
A
pretty pea type mauve flower on a slender stem. There is all sorts
of life on the hillside, this orb web
A
Koppie Foam Grasshoper in search
of
An attractive pale blue flower on a thin stemmed plant.
Contact Gavin Lawson on 021 705 5224.
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