Many exciting things continue to happen at the branch but one of the most exciting developments in the past few weeks for me is the fact that the Sugarbird Foundation (a Non-Profit NGO whose main objective is to eradicate alien vegetation) has agreed to a Pilot Project starting in the catchment area of the Buffels River above Pringle Bay. They have been working mainly on Table Mountain until now. The final “I’s and T’s” have not been dotted and crossed yet but we are very hopefully that this pilot project will kick off at the beginning of March. A permanent team with their own transport will be employed. If this pilot project works, it could lead to bigger things. To Chris Geldenhuys, Mike Burns, Mike Christelis, Rob Boyd, Brian von Wilgen and all the others who have worked tirelessly to put this together, a big, big congratulations from all of us in the branch. This is an incredibly exciting development.
The Branch really hit the ground running in January, and almost all the sections of the branch got stuck into their activities at full pace or have exciting activities planned for February.
HAROLD PORTER NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDENS
Before I mention some of the negatives, I will concentrate on some of the positives. We are blessed to have a dedicated and motivated core of individuals employed by SANBI and despite the lack of support from Head Office, they try their very best with limited support and supplies to maintain the garden in a pristine and beautiful condition, because of their passion for the fynbos in the biosphere. To these employees, our big, big thanks. Parts of the garden were stunning this past January and the Disas were outstanding.
The irrigation system is in a much better condition than it was a month ago and the borehole, despite the relatively high iron content in the water, is functioning well. It would be great if we could get the irrigation automated so that we could irrigate at least 18 hours a day and over the weekends. Hopefully with the rain that we have received and the dedicated staff switching the irrigation on over the weekends, we will see the improvement in the gardens. The Friends of the Harold Porter Gardens, led by Viv von der Heyden and Jenny Pattinson, continue to do sterling work in maintaining the flower beds.
On the negative side, the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens (SANBI) will not be having an Easter Plant Sale for the first time in almost 50 years because they have no plants to sell. The reason given by the Curator of the gardens, Berenice Carolus, is that, with the propagation hut damaged and declared unsafe to enter, they haven’t been able to propagate plants. They have also had a lack of supplies from SANBI when it comes to bags, compost, potting material, rooting hormone etc.
Our branch has decided to carry on with its plant sales and we will be sourcing a greater variety of plants to make up somewhat for no plants being provided by Harold Porter Gardens. Also on the negative side, we have been told by SANBI that there will be no free entry for the plant sales this year. To counteract this we as a branch have decided to refund the entry fee if one purchases R500 or more worth of plants on the day of the plant sale.
So, diarise plant sales Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th April 2026.
WEATHER
Betty’s Bay recorded in excess of 160mm of rain in Week 8 of 2026 which was very welcome after a very dry spring and summer to date, a tremendous boost for the fynbos in the Kogelberg Biosphere. This is the wettest February in the past twelve years and equals the wet March of 2023.
Since I have been keeping rainfall records (2015 – 11 Years), 2025 was the fourth driest year since 2014. Only 2015, 2017 & 2022 recorded lower rainfall figures.
(Editor’s note: Peter wrote his report on the 17 February. On Thursday 19 February we recorded a further 23mm of rain in Jock’s Bay.)
HAROLD PORTER BOOK AND CRAFT SHOP
The shop continues to perform well and we are very happy with the January results. There was a 31% increase in turnover over the previous year for January.
We receive numerous compliments re the product range that we have in the shop and the quality of our products. Janet, Paddy and I are always looking for new products to stock and we remove some that are not good sellers or that do not meet our very high-quality standards.
February has been very quiet to date and we are hoping that the last two weeks will be a great improvement on the first two weeks. There are two book launches organized for March. We would like you to diarise them!.
Saturday 7 March 2026 at 10h30 for 11h00 – The authors of the book Exploring the Cape Winelands, Doris Jansen and Kay Leresche, will talk to us about their book, which has been a very good seller in our bookshop. We do believe it is a great book for anyone living in the Cape Winelands.
Saturday 21 March 2026 at 10h30 for 11h00 – Tim Lundy will launch his updated and revised version of his dad’s book Lundy’s Best Walks in the Cape Peninsula (Revised by Tim Lundy). This has also been a bestseller in the bookshop.
LAUNCH OF THE BETTY’S BAY BOOK – BETWEEN MOUNTAIN AND SEA
This book has been an unbelievable success and to Skip Krige and his co-workers on this project a hearty congratulations and thank you. As I write, we are down to the last three copies of the book. It has already become a collector’s item. Well done to Skip and team on a very successful project. I know Skip has also made a great personal financial contribution to this book and for that, Skip, we say a big thank you.
FRIENDS OF THE HAROLD PORTER GARDENS
Viv and Jenny and their merry band of gardeners do a great job of gardening in the gardens. Their work is not without challenges, but they remain positive.
We are considering how we can plant up the bare areas that we weed as the Harold Porter Gardens have no plants to plant into these areas and there are huge limitations on what plants we are allowed to bring into the gardens. This is work in progress which hopefully will be resolved in the near future.
We appeal to anyone who has a great love for the Harold Porter National Gardens and the Kogelberg Biosphere to assist Viv and Jenny with their gardening activities.
The first gardening session in March will be on Thursday 5 March and then again on Tuesday 10 March. The sessions alternate each week between Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting in the warm months at 08h00.
If you would like to volunteer, all you need to do is pitch up at the Harold Porter Gardens at 08h00 on the gardening days. We have the tools and protective clothing for you; we just desperately need your hands to help.
KOGELBERG GARDEN CIRCLE
Our avid gardeners members met at Jackie Davies’ house in Kleinmond in February. Jackie bought her Kleinmond home in 1996 and with Kleinmond’s kinder climate and gentle winds, this once overgrown garden is now a melange of fynbos and other plants that would not cope in the tougher growing conditions in Betty’s Bay, Pringle and Rooi Els. The garden became a plant nursery in 1997 but since evolved into Jackie’s “happy place” and is an eclectic ever changing work in progress. Gerda Theron gave an informative “show and tell” on exotic plants, evasive aliens and weeds – not just the big trees but the smaller bushes and grasses too.
The Kogelberg Garden Circle meetings end with coffee, tea and biscuits. Donations towards keeping these gatherings going are most welcome.
Convenor: Galia Manicom 082 963 3804
HACKS
Betty’s Bay Hack takes place on the first Saturday of each month at 08h30. (See Rob’s notes above in the newsletter. Ed) The next hack takes place on Saturday 7 March 2026.
Convener: Rob Boyd 082 567 8858
Hangklip Hardcore Hackers (HHH) hack between Rooi Els and Betty’s Bay every Wednesday morning. In January there were 7 hack opportunities with 197 man days.
Chris reported on the successful sale of Christmas trees, hacked by the HHH, at Lemon and Lime. A total of R12 930 was raised by this project.
The approach for 2026 was revised in order to have a clear direction for the year ahead. Briefly summarized the strategy will be as follows:
To continue with Pine Hacks to suppress the pine infestation.
To find solutions for all the spots of extensive alien infestation. If we don’t do that, it will bog us down to such an extent that we won’t be able to make any progress in our fight against alien vegetation.
The other option we are looking at is to empower the landowners of the plots we have cleared to be self-sufficient in terms of the maintenance of the cleared plot, preventing the re-sprouting of the eradicated aliens.
All these actions are to assist us to fulfill our overall goal, which is to stop or prevent the influx of aliens into the precious Biosphere/Reserve.
Convener: Chris Geldenhuys 082 900 8299
Pringle Bay Hack:
Chris Geldenhuys reports on the Pringle Bay Hack No. 218 held on 31January 2026: “This hack had a very healthy attendance of 37 hackers who prepared to address the Rooikrans invasion on the Green Belt at the William Road Parking area.
The Green Belt was last checked for aliens more than 8 years ago and it is surprising to see to what extent the aliens had returned to this area. It is a precious piece of land, and it is our duty to keep it in a pristine condition.” Chris goes on to say: “I want to express my sincere appreciation to all the hackers, who are always available to commit to the day’s work once a month. While I know it is not always so much fun and easy, we all know it is necessary. Besides, the fact is that we owe it to nature. The mere existence of the aliens in our area is due to human intervention. But it is also good for us in terms of fresh air and a good workout. Thank you for everyone’s commitment!”
The next Pringle Bay hack will be on Saturday 28 March. The meeting point will always be in front of the Hangklip Bottle Store in Central Avenue, Pringle Bay at 08h30.
Convener: Chris Geldenhuys 082 900 8299
Rooi Els Hack:
The Rooi Els Hack takes place on the second Saturday of every month, led by Mike Christelis, meeting at the Rooi Els Village Shop at 08h30.
Mike Christelis goes on to report as follows:
The first official hack of 2026 was held at Rooi Els on Saturday 14 February and was well attended with 20 participants.
The hack split into three groups initially. One went onto the slopes of Klein Rooi Els where the target was some Rooikrans trees spread among the slopes between the estuary and houses. When done this group moved onto Clarence Drive to tackle the big trees on the slopes at the first parking viewpoint just past the river up on the mountainside.
Ralph Pina took it upon himself (with some help) to tackle some very difficult-to-get-to trees right down on the estuary banks, on the beach side of the estuary. A third group worked on the slopes between the R44 and the beach. Access was not easy to any of the sites, so amazing work was done by all. It’s clear that we need to go back to complete the site next month and also to work more on the mountainside along the valley.
Mike goes on to report that the Ad Hock Hack was convened by a small team of 6 to tackle the individual aliens that were on plots between Anemone Rd and the beach. Thanks a lot to the volunteers. These are the jobs too small for an entire hack group to attend to but still essential to get done.
Next hack will be Saturday 14 March 2026.
Convenor: Mike Christelis Cell: 082 467 2795
CREW
The Kogelberg Crew Team continues to do wonderful work in searching for endangered or near endangered species, recording the numbers and locations – which all helps with conservation of the fynbos in the Kogelberg Biosphere.
While Adele Scheepers will continue participating in Crew work, she has handed over the mantle of representing Crew on the Kogelberg Branch BotSoc Committee to Gerda Theron.
Adele, we know that you are not going away, thank goodness, but a big, big thank you from all of us for the sterling work that you have done in this regard. Welcome to Gerda! We are really honoured and privileged to have you serve on the committee with us – your knowledge of the fynbos is legendary.
MONTHLY TALKS
Instead of a talk in February we held a special screening presented by Ruben Els of the film “Oceans”, narrated by David Attenborough.- a compelling film on our still largely unexplored oceans, a world of astonishing beauty and fragile balance. The film revealed how human behaviour has damaged marine life, through pollution and over exploitation.
Yet it is not a message of despair. Small, conscience changes in our daily lives can help protect the seas and allow ecosystems recovery.
It was an eye-opening and inspiring presentation.
KOGELBERG BRANCH MONTHLY WALK
The monthly walk on Saturday 21 February was a botanical ramble on the mountainside above the Catholic Church, especially to see the summer flowering of Nivenia stokoei. The Nivenias are looking great at present.
Image credit: Janet Pienaar – from the Kogel BotSoc webpage
CONCLUSION
Change in the status quo is never easy and it has its risks and its challenges. The main aim of the Kogelberg Branch of the Botanical Society of South Africa is to know, grow, protect and enjoy the indigenous flora of the Kogelberg Biosphere.
The volunteers in the Hangklip Region have done an amazing job in trying to fulfill this aim and objective. We believe we can even go even further than this and incorporate even more people as volunteers to protect the flora of the Kogelberg Biosphere.
Enjoy the fynbos as autumn approaches, always a wonderful time in the fynbos.
Peter Dall
KOGELBERG GARDEN CIRCLE
Botanical Society of South Africa
Email: peter@pdconsult.co.za
Snippets for an amateur fynbos gardener from ……………………
Congratulations! Or is that Commiserations? You’ve recently moved to a new house, probably with 1 of 3 types of gardens – a fairly established one (lucky you!); or a lawn all around the house (sterile!); or (the worst!) a new-build with dead bricks and piles of rubble, all covered with hundreds of blobs of cement.
Where to begin? The worst, first!
If the rubble is ‘only skin-deep’, it’s fairly simple to remove it. But not the rocks! They make wonderful features and form natural protection around new plants. If the rubble is meters deep, then be prepared for it to be a long-term project. Building raised beds will give plant roots deeper soil to establish themselves, but will mean importing topsoil, which can be rather expensive. But please, please, use a reputable supplier. This will save you years of weeding (and swearing!).
If you’re substituting fynbos for invasive plants or thirsty lawns, suggest you clear smallish, workable sections at a time, limiting areas of exposed soil, which can be blown over to the next-door neighbour.
What to plant?
Succession planting is a fancy way of saying firstly, plant indigenous ground-covers everywhere. They will stabilise the soil, stop wind erosion and protect young, slower-growing plants, giving you time to plan the garden. Ground-covers can then gradually be thinned out, while your fynbos shrubs, bulbs, restios, grasses, and yes, even some non-fynbos plants, establish themselves. Examples of fast-growing groundcovers include the many varieties of vygies, gazanias, spur flowers (Plectranthus) and ‘everlastings’ (Helichrysum).
Many of us make the mistake of buying lots of plants and just plonking them all over the garden, because we’re desperate to cover the empty spaces. But there is a method to the madness of fynbos gardening! You really do need to know if your plot is very rocky, in a wetland or a dune (more about this in our next article). But in the meantime, you can chat to your surrounding gardeners, and also contact the Kogelberg Garden Circle. We have many years of hard-earned experience that we can share and, hopefully, you can avoid making (too) many costly mistakes. PS – The best source of plants are other gardeners, friends, friends of friends, and then rescuing fynbos from plots about to be developed.
Good indigenous nurseries will also be able to give you advice, but please clearly explain your plot conditions. Some fynbos stockists include Fernkloof Nursery in Hermanus, Harold Porter Gardens in Betty’s Bay, Cherish Plants and Cape Flats Fynbos Nursery in Cape Town.
For more information, contact Galia 082 963 3804, or you can visit
https://kogelbergbiosphere.org.za/gardening-in-the-kogelberg-working-with-the-elements/
PICTURE 1
Remember that we are living within a declared UNESCO biosphere. The municipal guidelines say homeowners should keep at least 40% of their property as local fynbos. Think of it as having a mini-Harold Porter Gardens right on your doorstep.
PICTURE OF BOOK
A very useful resource is Tim Atwell’s book Your Place in the Kogelberg, which is a very good introduction for beginner fynbos gardeners. (Available at the Harold Porter Book and Craft Shop)
Thank you to Galia for the use of her articles that appeared in the Hangklip Herald last year.