Where the aloes live, on a Karoo Koppie

When we travel towards Worcester, to the Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden, we leave the wheat-fields with their isolated pockets of renosterveld. At the foot of the Mostertshoek Twins 2030m we saw the sunshine bush – golden leaves on the Leucadendron proteas. Lighting up the fynbos slopes of the mountains, then winding away along the road not taken, to Bain’s Kloof Pass. To the Little Karoo  three-icons-of-karoo. Semi-desert, because it does get a little rain, now in the winter.

We have now earned our lunch. Sitting on the terrace, looking across the garden, aloes blooming, snowy mountains in the distance. Cupcake, one of those tiny fluffy Yorkshire terriers, bounding across the lawn – Warnung vor dem bisschen Hund. Not beware of the bite of the dog, but beware of the bit of a dog.

What lights up this garden now, beneath the flaming torches of the aloes, is the chartreuse-gold of Euphorbia mauritanica (NOT from the Moors in ancient Mauretania, but from South Africa and Namibia). Grey leaves and white flowers of wild rosemary. A little pink-and-white-prettiness Crassula has two tone leaves, supporting those flowers. Feathery mauve Felicia, not the more common kingfisher blue. (Wakes up in yellow pyjamas, and only puts its mauve dress on, when the sun comes out!) And in the path, the first of the pink Oxalis.

Nature weaves a tapestry of textures. The thick trunk with fleshy luminous green leaves, just in winter, is the botterboom. With blue-grey leaves edged with burgundy from Cotyledon orbiculata.

This landscape is covered with an understory of Karoo bossies, beneath the trees and the tree aloes. Karoo bossies, like wild rosemary, eaten by the sheep. Giving Karoo lamb which is famous (but not to these vegetarians). In a harsh climate, people survive by farming sheep. 

I think that spotted leaf is the Worcester aloe (A spotted Aloe microstigma from their nursery came home with us). The aloe flowers are probably Aloe ferox, which has green leaves, no spots.

Along the rocky path, where they benefit from the trickle or flow of water in winter, but risk hikers boots, there are bulbs. A brave bud just starting to show its head. And despite that semi-desert climate, in winter, there is moss and lichen, in shady places.

This, is a Karoo Koppie. A rocky outcrop, with its own particular community of plants. (Inspiring our karoo-koppie)

If you grow small succulents, Haworthia or Gasteria, remember that although they come from a hot dry climate – when they are at home, they grow like this. In the shade of a small twiggy bush. Tucked in under the canopy, where leaf litter gives them a little nourishment, and the sun, cannot quite reach them.

The bush might be, as this one is, wild rosemary. But daisy, not sage, family. Eriocephalus. Grey leaves. China white flowers which cover the bushes. A tiny knee high light house. If you click on the flower detail, you will see the seed-heads developing. Tiny feathery cotton-bolls, which will cover the bushes in a second wave of white, after the flowers have faded. See those delicate burgundy markings on the flowers?

Hike up and around the Koppie. The Ungardener panting from the exertion, and my stiff legs, reminding us that we are not as fit as we were. So this Sunday saw us going back to our ‘usual’ weekly walk.

Pictures by Jurg and Diana, words by Diana of Elephant's Eye