Know, grow, protect and enjoy South Africa's indigenous plants

Bot Soc Blog

Bot Soc is dedicated to biodiversity conservation and environmental education and awareness. Read our latest blogs and news stories here and join us as we get to know, grow, protect and enjoy South Africa’s indigenous plants.

Clearing Alien Invasive Plants with Purpose
Clearing Alien Invasive Plants with Purpose
“Bulb Buzz” uncovering South Africa’s hidden treasures: from conservation to cultivation!
“Bulb Buzz” uncovering South Africa’s hidden treasures: from conservation to cultivation!
Upskilling Youth in Plant Conservation and Horticulture
Upskilling Youth in Plant Conservation and Horticulture
Empowering the Next Generation of Green Stewards Through Practical Training and Education
The Giving Garden – Rethinking the food-medicine continuum in the urban sprawl
The Giving Garden – Rethinking the food-medicine continuum in the urban sprawl
The Giving Garden - Rethinking the food-medicine continuum in the urban sprawl
Hop To It: conservation efforts for frogs and other water wildlife
Hop To It: conservation efforts for frogs and other water wildlife
Hop To It: conservation efforts for frogs and other water wildlife
A royal transformation at Princess Vlei
A royal transformation at Princess Vlei
Restoration at Princess Vlei has come a long way in recent years. DENISHA ANAND, EMMA OLIVER and BRIDGET PITT report on the progress made, the obstacles ahead and the plans to overcome them.
Plant hitchhikers spell trouble for ecosystems and roads
Plant hitchhikers spell trouble for ecosystems and roads
Have you looked out the car window and noticed alien invasive plants growing along our roadsides? These invaders spell trouble – not just for indigenous ecosystems, but also for the infrastructure of our roads, explains DR MOLESENG CLAUDE MOSHOBANE.
Pearly Beach: Packing a plant punch
Pearly Beach: Packing a plant punch
Pearly Beach may be a small seaside village near the southernmost tip of Africa – but from the coastline to the countryside, it is brimming with floral marvels. Not only are many of these plant species incredibly beautiful; many are also very threatened.
Creating stepping stones for sunbirds
Creating stepping stones for sunbirds
Have you ever watched the birds in your garden and wondered what they eat and how far they have flown to get there? In cities, where habitat is being lost, many birds that rely on pollen are having to travel further in order to find food. This journey not only puts them at risk, but also the plants that they pollinate. An organisation working in the Cape Flats is looking to address this threat, by creating stepping stones for birds. CEINWEN SMITH and JOEL SIMONS explain.
A bonfire for nature puts Swellendam in the spotlight
A bonfire for nature puts Swellendam in the spotlight
A hacking group in Swellendam gave Bonfire Night a whole new meaning – transforming it into a bonfire for nature. While people around the world celebrate Guy Fawkes Day on 5 November, last year this group of nature lovers made a little bit of history – by bringing partners together, including the local municipality, to undertake a controlled burn. WILLEMINA DE WET explains.
Veld Fluister
Veld Fluister
The Veld Fluister is a series in which we pause to reflect on the little whispers of connection between our BOT SOC members and the veld. The stories in this series not only remind us of the links between people and plants, but also the power of nature in connecting communities.
Living among the dead
Living among the dead
Cemeteries are sacred places where we honour and remember our loved ones. DR MOLESENG CLAUDE MOSHOBANE unpacks an unlikely new threat to these spaces: invasive species that infringe on our biodiversity and taint the reverence in our places of memory.
Reverse the Red – conserving and restoring South Africa’s plant species
Reverse the Red – conserving and restoring South Africa’s plant species
Ecosystem Corridors - A web of plant connection with the focus on “No Mow” areas
The Giving Garden – Rethinking the food-medicine continuum in the urban sprawl
The Giving Garden – Rethinking the food-medicine continuum in the urban sprawl
The Giving Garden - Rethinking the food-medicine continuum in the urban sprawl
The Giving Garden – Rethinking the food-medicine continuum in the urban sprawl
The Giving Garden – Rethinking the food-medicine continuum in the urban sprawl
The Giving Garden - Rethinking the food-medicine continuum in the urban sprawl.
Is Mother Nature on Your Holiday Gift List?
Is Mother Nature on Your Holiday Gift List?
We continue to celebrate our quiet, meaningful encounters with nature – this time by following a BotSoc Council member’s quest to transform a road verge into a flourishing indigenous garden.
Explore the Eateries that Embrace Indigenous
Explore the Eateries that Embrace Indigenous
Restaurants across South Africa are showcasing the delicious potential of indigenous plants. The BotSoc team went in search of the eateries that are celebrating local biodiversity by choosing indigenous ingredients.
How Fynbos and Farming Flourish at Delheim
How Fynbos and Farming Flourish at Delheim
Over 70 years, the team at Delheim Wines have mastered the art of farming with conservation at its core. Farm manager CORLIA ERASMUS explains how the farm’s history is inextricably linked with its commitment to protecting biodiversity.
Weeds: From nuisance to nouvelle cuisine
Weeds: From nuisance to nouvelle cuisine
Weeds: From nuisance to nouvelle cuisine
Veld Fluister
Veld Fluister
We continue to celebrate our quiet, meaningful encounters with nature – this time by following a BotSoc Council member’s quest to transform a road verge into a flourishing indigenous garden.
Putting Indigenous Crops Back on the Menu
Putting Indigenous Crops Back on the Menu
Earlier this year, a special dinner celebrated culinary agrobiodiversity by shining a light on the potential of indigenous plant ingredients. In a world dominated by a lack of crop diversity, RICHARD HAY and DR HENNIE FISHER reflect on the success of the first Indigenous and Orphans Crops Dinner.
BotSoc Limpopo Branch – Plant Walk (Haenertsburg in Magoebaskloof)
BotSoc Limpopo Branch – Plant Walk (Haenertsburg in Magoebaskloof)
This weekend, the BotSoc Limpopo Branch embarked on a plant walk near Haenertsburg in Magoebaskloof, exploring a beautiful patch of grassland and adjacent forest. The group included enthusiastic nature lovers from the University of Limpopo, BotSoc members and CREW (Custodians for Rare and Endangered Wildflowers).
Free State Branch Celebrates SANBI Free State National Botanical Gardens Staff
Free State Branch Celebrates SANBI Free State National Botanical Gardens Staff
Free State Branch Celebrates SANBI Free State National Botanical Gardens staff
Hide and Seek: In Pursuit of the Elusive Orchid Holothrix Micrantha
Hide and Seek: In Pursuit of the Elusive Orchid Holothrix Micrantha
Hide and Seek: In Pursuit of the Elusive Orchid Holothrix micrantha
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