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Explore the Overberg's
Floral Wonders:
The Overberg
is blessed with remarkable floral
variety. Most of
the region is richly endowed with
fynbos,
characterized by proteas,
ericas and the russet restios or
reeds that carpet the damp lowlands.
The Marsh
Rose, a member of
the Protea
family, has recently been saved
from extinction fy careful propagation.
It has been re-established in the
wild and now grows in marshy areas
high in the mountains of the Overberg.
Small patches of renosterveld are
also found on the richer shale soils
of the rolling hills around Swellendam
and Caledon and forest parches near
Swellendam, and Genadendal.
The western part of
the Overberg
(from Gordons Bay to the Bot River)
has been internationally recognized
as the Kogelberg
Biosphere Reserve, a testament
to its amazing diversity and large
number of flowering
plants. Many of
which are found nowhere else in
the world.
Spring: Pincushions
and other proteas are still in full
show, together with bulbs and annuals.
Small dams are often covered in
the white scented blooms of waterblommetjies.
Summer: The flowers, including
a profusion of ericas, are at their
best in the higher parts of the
Kogelberg, Riviersonderend and Langeberg
mountains.
Autumn: The best time for
amaryllids and brilliant red "paintbrushes".
Winter: The season for proteas
and leucadendrons "conebushes",
with prime viewing from mid-July
to October.
A Guide to Viewing
Flowers
 The
best flower displays usually occur
from August to mid-October. Weather
patterns, particularly hot berg
winds, determine the duration for
the flower season, making accurate
prediction difficult.
The
flowers are at their best during
the hottest part of the day, from
approximately 11am until 3pm.
The
flowers turn towards the sun, therefore
they should be viewed while driving
or walking with the sun behind one.
Although
fynbos is at tis most spectacular
during late winter and spring, there
are flowers to be enjoyed in any
season.
Diversity
is one of the miracles of the wild
flower regions and it is only by
taking a closer look that one is
able to enjoy their variety.
Flower Shows in
the Overberg
- August - Wild Flower
Show Agulhas
(028) 424 2584
- September - Wild Flower Show
Caledon
(028) 212 1511
- Walk amongst the Blossoms Barrydale
(028) 572 1572
- Harold Porter Specimen Show
Betty's Bay
(028) 271 5657
- Napier Spring Festival Napier
(028) 423 3325
- Fernkloof Wild Flower Show Hermanus
(028) 312 2629
- October Fees van die Ganse Gansbaai
(028) 384 1439
- Agriculture Show Villiersdorp
(028) 840 0169
- Barrydale Spring Festival Barrydale
(028) 572 1572
- Rose & Cut Flower Show Villiersdorp
(028) 840 0169
- Elgin Flower Festival Elgin
(021) 847 1334
- November Greyton Rose Festival
Greyton
(028) 254 9414
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