Veld Fluister!

Our Veld Fluister series continues to explore the subtle ways in which the veld speaks to our members – through its colours, its silences and its steady cycles of change. These reflections remind us to pause, reflect and listen more closely to the veld, because each encounter with nature holds a lesson, if only we take the time to notice.

PHOTOS BY ARISTA BOTHA

Arista Botha from our Gauteng Branch reflects – in her own words – on the anticipation that comes with the changing of the seasons. As winter transforms into spring, the still moments turn to renewal, as life awakens once more. And it’s a reminder that even beneath the surface, life has quietly persisted, and now stirs again. Her piece invites us to reconnect with the patient beauty of the veld and to step outdoors to witness it firsthand.

Arista Botha

Spring is finally here. Here in the Highveld, it’s the start of the botanising season. After another dry winter, the veld comes alive with bright flowers appearing on a fresh green canvas. Among these, some of my personal favourites are the summer bulbs: Gladioli, Watsonias, Boophone, Scadoxis, Hypoxis, and many more.

My enthusiasm for bulbs is evident in my collection of them at home. And so, this time of year, I always find myself in my garden, staring at the barren ground, waiting for the re-emergence of my bulbs. Day after day, I desperately search for the smallest signs of life.

Anxious moments before the blooms arrive

In the first few weeks, I am filled with keen excitement. As time passes, excitement gives way to anxiety. What if they did not survive the winter? Was it too dry? Or too wet? Maybe the bulbs became a mid-winter snack for some hungry critter. Then, just when all hope is lost, a green leaf pushes through the ground.

So far, my Crinum bulbispermum, Eucomis autumnalis, Scadoxus puniceus, Hypoxis hemerocallidea, Agapanthus inapertus, Merwilla plumbea and Nerine gracilis have re-emerged. The Nerine gracilis has made flower heads, but none of the others have started flowering yet. The Eucomis vandermerwei, Eucomis bicolor and Gladiolus dalenii will only emerge later in the season.

The beauty of bulbs

Their ability to suddenly appear out of nowhere is part of the appeal of bulbs. Just the other day, I was delighted to come across a patch of Moraea pallida, flowering brightly in the middle of the mowed lawn of our local park, during my morning walk with the dogs.

While it seems like they disappear during winter, this is not the case. Unlike annuals, which die and reseed themselves each year, bulbs, much like trees, can live to be hundreds of years old. And, much like trees, they are great at storing carbon. Their underground bulbs store enough energy to allow them to resprout each year, which is why they can grow so quickly when conditions are right for them to re-emerge.

This annual resurrection is not only spectacular to watch, but also serves as a reminder that life is cyclical and seasonal. And while some seasons offer better botanising opportunities than others, all seasons are equally important. So let us embrace each season for the opportunities it brings. This spring, I plan to spend as much time as possible outdoors, enjoying the lovely weather and the beautiful plant life of our country.

Bioblitzing the bulbs and other botanical treats

Now that we have had our first thunderstorm in Gauteng, I am excited to see what we will find during our fieldwork for the Great Southern Bioblitz. While many bulbs only flower later in the summer, we should see some of the earlier flowering species, and many others should be identifiable by their leaves. In addition to the bulbs, there will also be lots of other botanical treats out there, so make sure you get in the field during the bioblitz, from 24-27 October.

Gauteng CREW, in collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Mountain Club of South Africa, plans to visit the Crocodile River reserve, Ruimsig butterfly sanctuary and Melville Koppies that weekend. To join a bioblitz in your area, take a look at the Great Southern Bioblitz 2025: Southern Africa page and find the project in or closest to your city. Contact the project organiser to join a local bioblitz, or arrange your own. It promises to be lots of fun.

Share your whispers from the veld with us!

The Veld Fluister series is a space to share and celebrate these stories. If you’ve had a meaningful experience in nature or undertaken a project that highlights the beauty of our indigenous plants, we’d love to feature it. Reach out to veldandflora@botanicalsociety.org.za to share your story and inspire others to listen to the whispers of the veld.