Brunsvigia, Dullstroom, Mpumalanga 2021
Brunsvigia, Dullstroom, Mpumalanga 2021
Please have a look at my GALLERY page for a number of images of Dullstroom, Mpumalanga.
That visit of me and my wife during February 2021 was rather eventful in that I still have living proof of our visit there: plants that I cultivated! Eucomis and brunsvigia. The eucomis was familiar to me because I have some in my garden - the story of those plants are below.
BRUNSVIGIA
Brunsvigia? Oh gosh! What is that? I quickly learnt.
When we were on our way to Dullstroom, I could never have imagined what was waiting for me; and to top it, I never thought that it would have a long lasting effect.
These plants are indigenous plant material from South Africa. My photos bring back such a lot of very fond and inspiring memories. It is a trip that I will not forget because I now have living plants in my garden; I brought back seeds and leaves; then I cultivated plants from it.
My very first impression of this exotic looking plant, which was later identified as the brunsvigia, was that it is not real. How can such a thing of beauty exists? How can it just grow in an open country side with the harsh sun burning down on it? It becomes very cold and rough out there, and yet, it was growing and flourishing; how is it possible that a thing of such beauty can survive? And to crown it, the veld was peppered with it. And it is indigenous to my country. I find the brunsvigia an interesting plant. I had to get out of the car and have a closer look. To touch it was bliss. The candelabra flower contained seeds. And I took some - it was irresistible.
Back home, I put about 60 brunsvigia seeds into the soil [in pots] and about 35 plants are growing. It took months in the coarse river sand to sprout.
Brunsvigia from Dullstroom, Mpumalanga
Brunsvigia, Dullstroom, Mpumalanga
EUCOMIS
Now, onto my eucomis!
Some time ago I got a eucomis autumnalis [pineapple lily] and I was intrigued by this very strange and wonderful plant. I immediately started reading up about it and realised it is indigenous to my country. The upshot was that I cultivated 105 bulbs from five leaves that I cut and put into coarse river sand for about 6 months; I harvested the bulbs and shared some with a fair number of my friends. Every time I look at my flowering eucomis, it is such a pleasure to remember how I cultivated it - by cutting five leaves into 15 cuttings, putting it into the coarse river sand and keeping the sand moist. Then I had to wait very painfully and slowly for about six months to investigate and found that there they were: tiny bulbs! 105 of them.
And during February 2021 I got 5 leaves in Dullstroom and cultivated 18 bulbs from those leaves; also in river sand. The waiting game started all over! Well, I am very happy to report that after six months of patiently waiting, the bulbs were waiting down under for me to admire.
Now, I ask you: how can you not be captivated by these plants.
Eucomis: Dullstoom, Mpumalanga 2021
Eucomis: Dullstoom, Mpumalanga 2021
