Contents
Tony's Talks
Tony's Book
Exploration Logs
- About
- Mexico, 1994
- China, 1996
- Korea, 1997
- Southeast US, 1998
- Texas, 1998
- North Carolina, 1999
- Argentina, 2002
- Hawaii, 2003
- Holland and Belgium, 2004
- Arizona, 2004
- South Africa, 2005
- Vietnam and Thailand, 2005
- Taiwan, 2008
Plant Articles
- About the Articles
- Arisaema, Arisaema, Arisaema
- Baptisia - Revenge of the Redneck Lupines
- Bizarre Plants Only a Mother Could Love
- Building a Pitcher Plant Bog
- Cacti in the Southeast
- Crape Murder - The Unkind Cut
- Cutting Thru The Jungle-Native Plants Myths and Realities
- Fragrant Hostas
- Gardening in the Shade
- Gardening With Hardy Tropicals
- Hellebores, Hellebores,
Hellebores
- Highlights From Tony's First Visit to England
- Hosta Breeders and Other Strangers
- Hosta, Hosta, Hosta
- Hostas for Warm Climates
- If You Can't Stand the Heat, Get Out of the Garden
- Leaves that Light Up the Garden - Variegated Plants
- Meatballs, Save Them for Spaghetti
- Organi-size Your Garden
- Palm Hardiness Report
- Paul Aden Hosta Introductions and Breeding
- Plant Delights Nursery Hosta Breeding Program
- Plant Hardiness and Mapping Out a Strategy
- Pulmonaria, Pulmonaria, Pulmonaria
- Soils and Soil Preparation
- Stop the Crape Murder!
- Tony's Planting Tips
- Tony's Top Ten Hosta Myths
- The Trademark Myth
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In Search of the Horticultural Big Five
South Africa Trip Expedition Log
2/5/2005 - 2/24/2005
click thumbnails to open large images in a new window
Day 18, Monday February 22
Our plans for Monday were to head to the top of nearby Table Mountain,
but the fierce winds and fogged in summit shut down the ski
lift to the top. Instead we opted to drive to the top. We
passed the ski lift entrance only to find the road closed by landslides
lift to the top. Instead we opted to drive to the top. We
just a mile further up the road. With a nice view of the city
of Capetown below, we figured it was a good day for a walk.
We found several new ferns along with an interesting watsonia that produced
bulbils instead of seed. After a brisk 2-hour hike along the deserted road,
it was time to retrace our steps back to the car. There's nothing like
having a closed highway to botanize along.
Our plans for Monday were to head to the top of nearby Table Mountain,
but the fierce winds and fogged in summit shut down the ski
lift to the top. Instead we opted to drive to the top. We
passed the ski lift entrance only to find the road closed by landslides
lift to the top. Instead we opted to drive to the top. We
just a mile further up the road. With a nice view of the city
of Capetown below, we figured it was a good day for a walk.
We found several new ferns along with an interesting watsonia that produced
bulbils instead of seed. After a brisk 2-hour hike along the deserted road,
it was time to retrace our steps back to the car. There's nothing like
having a closed highway to botanize along.
After lunch at the waterfront, we headed off on our final stop to visit
Rod and Rachel Sanders of Silverhill Seed. Silverhill Seed
((www.silverhillseed.co.za)
is an amazing company that specialized in South African natives, many
of which we had seen during our trip. Along the way, we stopped at the
Mercedes dealership to try and purchase hubcaps to replace those that we
lost along the way. Missing hubcaps on these vehicles were obviously a
problem, since every Mercedes Vito that we had seen along the trip also
had missing hubcaps. The gentleman at the parts department seemed to
remember a problem with hubcaps falling off, but would have to research
it for us. He was also delighted to order the hubcaps, but they kept
nothing in stock. Since this was our last day, we would have to return
our van sans hubcap.
We arrived at Rod and Rachel's Capetown home and spent a wonderful 2.5
hours touring their garden, library, and seed fulfillment area.
Since many of us purchase regularly
from Silverhill, it was great to see how their operation works.
We were also quite eager to purchase books from their amazing stock of
native plant books. After loading up with books and seed, we were off
again for our final dinner in Capetown.
Day 19, Monday February 23
We made a quick morning stop at the downtown Post Office, which was nearly
impossible to reach with a vehicle. The drive into the parking lot was
so tight, that we nearly scraped the sidewalls off our tires, but somehow
made it out without losing another hubcap. From here, it was back to the
waterfront to get a refund on our VAT tax. For those who haven't traveled
much, many countries have a national sales tax of VAT (Value Added Tax).
The 14% tax is refundable to tourists when they leave the country. We had
gathered up our receipts and now waited in line. Upon reaching the counter
person, we found that we could not get a refund on anything other than
goods to leave the county. In other words, no refunds on food or hotels,
which was our largest expense. After examining our receipts, we were
informed that we would only receive a fraction of the amount we had
expected. We would then have to take the paperwork to the Capetown
airport, unpack each item and then receive more paperwork. Next, we would
take that paperwork from the Capetown airport to the Johannesburg airport
to get our money. Forget it. The government has succeeded in making the
system so convoluted, they are in effect charging an income tax to tourists
with no chance of getting a refund. At least our return trip to the
waterfront allowed us to see the nearby Table mountain sans fog.
We reached the Capetown airport by noon for our 230pm flight and headed
directly to the car rental office to drop the rental van off at the
airport, dreading the consequences of losing the two hubcaps. Upon our
arrival, they instantly notice the missing hubcap, but not the VW replacement
that we found to replace the original. We discussed the reasons for the
missing hubcap as they poured over the vehicle checking for further damage.
They still haven't noticed the VW hubcap. We settled up for the one lost
hubcap and headed back to the terminal and our long 10,000+ mile flight
back to the US.
Addendum: I would like to say another special thanks to our tour guide,
Cameron McMaster, who is without a doubt the finest tour guide that I have
ever had the pleasure to accompany. Cameron is available for other groups
as his schedule will permit. He can be reached through his nursery
African Bulbs (www.africanbulbs.com).
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