Follow the recovery journey through the eyes of our conservancy members
Many members of the Iris family, Iridaceae, are stimulated to flower after fire. In the last month, three species of Gladiolus have erupted from the ground like fireworks across the burnt landscape, each telling a story of resilience and recovery. The Kaneelpypie, also known as the Fragrant Afrikaner or Rock Afrikaner (Gladiolus guthriei), was the […]
The Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show is the world’s foremost garden show, featuring a beautiful array of plants and designs from around the world. This year, the award-winning South African team, led by Leon Kluge, presented “Life After Fire” – a garden inspired by the recent, severe wildfires that swept through large areas of […]
A picture paints a thousand words. As part of their efforts to document post-fire recovery of the fynbos landscape, the conservation team on Grootbos Private Nature Reserve selected sites for fixed-point photography and have already witnessed a striking transformation. From bare, sandy soil dusted with ash in mid December, to the first signs of fresh […]
In the recently burnt fynbos, a beautiful Palpares speciosus antlion was spotted among the recovering vegetation. These intricate antlions are usually active at night, their delicate wings catching the light as they flit through mountain fynbos habitats. While the adults are graceful and harmless, their larvae are formidable predators, hiding under sand at the base […]
In a recently burnt area of fynbos, a grysbok (Raphicerus melanotis) was observed feeding on the first shoots emerging from the ash. Fires clear older vegetation and stimulate new plant growth, creating fresh food sources that herbivores rely on. Watching the grysbok nibble on these tender shoots highlights the important role post-fire growth plays in […]
Although the fire removed dense stands of mature invasives, it also created ideal conditions for rapid germination. Many invasive species, like stink bean (Parkia speciosa) are strongly fire-stimulated, and large flushes of seedlings are now emerging across the landscape. This post-fire window offers a valuable opportunity for cost-effective management, as young seedlings can still be […]
Within the recently burnt veld, isolated forest pockets continue to support wildlife. Camera traps have captured bushbuck, grysbok and porcupine moving quietly through these patches, highlighting the vital role they play in post-fire survival. Unlike the surrounding fynbos, forest pockets are far more sensitive to fire, but they often endure thanks to natural defenses. Milkwood […]
Across the stark, blackened flats and low-lying areas of Grootbos, thousands of crimson Candelabra lilies, Brunsvigia orientalis, have burst into spectacular bloom in the wake of the recent fires. For years, most of these plants lay hidden beneath dense fynbos, producing broad, strap-like leaves through winter and spring while steadily building reserves in their underground […]
Aulax umbellata (Broad-leaf Featherbush) has mastered the art of fire. This serotinous plant stores its seeds in tough, woody female cones, keeping them protected for years until the right moment arrives: a fire. In the video above, a burnt Aulax umbellata is gently shaken, releasing thousands of seeds that have been patiently waiting. After a […]
