In the Cape Floral Kingdom’s shrubby heathlands (fynbos), you’ll find something flowering any day of the year. But September is the height of the flower season, when this World Heritage Site is at its jaw-dropping best.
Small Town Beauties
Happily, that’s also when a number of wild flower shows are held in charming little towns a few hours’ drive away from Cape Town. Apart from the festive ambience and small town hospitality, the most spectacular flowersof each region are displayed.
This extraordinary floral kingdom is home to more than 8 500 species and of these, 70% occur nowhere else in the world. What better way, then, to learn about these specialist plants than to see them arrayed within a pretty town with a party dress on?
The Oldest Flower Show
The very first wild flower show in South Africa was held in 1892 in Caledon, just inland from the whale-watching town of Hermanus, and 2 hours from Cape Town.
Started by a group of farmers who were exporting fynbos flowers to Europe, it is still held every September and remains one of the most popular in the country.
Oh, Darling
Another popular floral event is held in the little west coast town of Darling. The wild flower show here has been running since 1914, and has spurred a true conservation ethic in the town. A number of nature or flower reserves have since been created to protect Darling’s unique floral heritage.
At the show, held in mid-September, expect to see Rice Flowers, Arum Lilies, Wreath Aloes, Pyjama Bush flowers, Doggy Faces, Everlastings, Candlebushes and Chinkerinchees.
Red Bush Tea Country
Clanwilliam, a town in the middle of the world’s only rooibos (red bush) tea-growing region, also has a popular week-long wild flower show starting at the end of August.
A kaleidoscopic display of the region’s spectacular fynbos is set out in the gorgeous old Dutch Reformed Church.
Another plus is that Clanwilliam is close to the spectacular Cederberg Wilderness area, where you could also see the endangered Clanwilliam Cedar and the Snow Protea.
Expect to emerge from a fynbos spring drenched in beauty and the herbed fragrance of this astounding flowering kingdom.
© Photographs are courtesy and copyright of Chris Marais.
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