Kirstenbosch Blooms and Bits

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Mon 13 Jan 2020 23:47
Kirstenbosch Blooms and Bits
 
 
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We entered the gardens and the first thing we saw were some bonsai trees (behind the Hothouse).
 
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Senegalia galpinii. Monkey Thorn Apiesdoring, age 24 years..
 
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Ficus natalensis – Coast Strangler Fig, age 65 years The next tree had a write up.....:. Olea europaea subsp. africana. Wild Olive aged about 160 years. This tree was found in dense bush, overgrown with Port Jackson. It had severe die-back and was near death. When it was dug out, it had very little root and was in a very poor state. It did not grow for two years but eventually started to grow again and gain vigour. As soon as its potential as a Bonsai was recognised it was donated to the Oyama Bonsai Kai by the club member who had dug it out. In 1990 it was planted in pure river sand, into its present container.
In 1994 this Bonsai was exhibited at Kirstenbosch as the Peace Tree to commemorate President Nelson Mandela’s inauguration. In 1999, it caused a stir in Cape Town when it was labeled as the world’s first talking tree, at the Oyama Bonsai Kai annual Easter Show. It delighted young and old for days, and was named ‘Oliver’.
At the conclusion of the 1999 Easter Show. ‘Oliver’ was donated to Kirstenbosch by the members of the Oyama Bonsai Kai, so that this magnificent Bonsai can be enjoyed by all who visit Kirstenbosch.
Not entirely sure what to say about that then......
 
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This chap was as underwhelmed as I was but he soon perked up when we decided it was time to find some flowers.
 
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Kirstenbosch is all about massive scenes with many plants and trees with Cape Town as a backdrop, and to the left the impressive Table Mountain but we did find plenty of colour.......
 
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.......and so much to see.
 
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ALL IN ALL NICE TO SEE THE COLOURS
                     LOTS OF PRETTY CHAPS