Wildflowers
- Earth laughs in flowers. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
- The flowers of the West Coast have an enigmatic pull that draws people from across the globe to this celebrated corner of Africa.
- Every spring, from August to September/October, the apparently barren soil of the West Coast, from the mountains to the ocean, burts forth in a kaleidoscopic carpet of flowers.
- Many tourists are drawn to this glorious annual display, and if you decide to follow suit, please bear the following in mind.
- The duration of the flower season and the quantity of flowers is determined by the rainfall and the absence of warm berg winds.
- The flowers turn to face the sun, and therefore are best viewed with the sun at your back. Flowers are in full bloom between 11:00 and 15:00, on sunny days.
- Making use of the South African Wild Flower Guide 7, by John Manning and Peter Goldblatt, will be a great help in identifying the myriad species to be seen.
- Never remove plants, bulbs or flowers from the veld… it is illegal to do so. Maps of the flower routes are available from the information offices. During the flower season, overnight accommodation should be booked in advance.
- http://www.westcoastflowers.co.za/