Another week has passed and this week Rob has given us something specific to what is always a magical week in the gorgeous Franschhoek, South Africa. The snow came this week and you can see pictures on our Posterous account. Check back there often, we post items there which do not make it to the website. A bit more of a personal peek into our daily lives.
Pertinent to us this week is the kapokbos. With all the snow around on the surrounding mountains and the flowers in full bloom this plant really does take after its Afrikaans name, they have an amazing visual effect and literally look like they are covered in snow. Stunning!
We plant this all over the farm as its easy to propagate from cuttings and our bees go mad for the flowers. In hedges its amazingly aromatic and nothing beats walking in a dense patch of fynbos and you brush through one these plants, its a heady aroma to say the least!
Up in the Cederberg, we used to hear stories about one of the Afrikaans names for it: oumansebaardbos They used to fill pillows with the fruits, which look like little cotton buds and when the pillow cases got threadbare or split the flowers would end up in the beards! Covering the oumanne with the buds. Lovely story.
Also a favourite for the Karoo lamb in the area, kind of an internal seasoning. They love munching this all day.
When you’re camping and need something to take the smells of camp life away, this is the perfect plant for it.
Makes a quick and easy shampoo, great for fire wood as the smell is heavenly. Think fire, blankets, family & Gentle Giant while you are at it. It’s a great way to spend time together in the cold. Can you feel it? The cold is here…
Just a word of caution against using to cook, it has some pretty intense bitter flavours so it is not ideal for use on meat or veggies. Lastly, it also has mildly diuretic properties…so unless you’re well stocked on loo roll don’t be too liberal with your seasoning, even if it is natures “Special K”. Enjoy the snow and the weekend, go bokke and viva bafana bafana, viva!
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