All photos and text Copyright © 1998-2008 Gordon Richardson gordonr@iafrica.com
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Note: A series of huge fires on 16 to 19 January 2000
damaged large parts of Silvermine and adjacent areas.
Silvermine fynbos regrowth and reservoir wooden bridge - Feb '08
Silvermine with reservoir towards Fish Hoek from Constantiaberg - Jun '03
Silvermine wide-view with reservoir and Cape Flats - Aug to Oct '02
Simonstown and Fishoek mountains from the Amphitheatre - Jan '02
The surrounding area has many caves in the sandstone rock
Spring flowers at top of Ou Kaapse Weg - Oct '01
This area is recovering well after the fire
Waves from strong wind in Silvermine Reservoir - Aug '01
The reservoir has filled and was whipped by a North Wester wind
Silvermine Reservoir reflecting Constantiaberg - Jul '01
This area is recovering well after the fire
Silvermine Reservoir reflecting clouds - May '01
Low water levels after a dry summer
Watsonias in Silvermine Reserve - Jan/Feb '01
A spectacular blooming a year after the fire
Spring flowers and Silvermine Peak - Oct/Nov '00
This area is recovering well after the fire
Flower with flat leaves - Oct/Nov '00
This is in the burned area above
Silvermine peak and controlled burn - late Jul '00
After clear cutting alien pines, the remnants were burned
Trees being cut around Silvermine Reservoir - early Jul '00
Stream and grass in Silvermine - May/Jun '00
The first winter rains, 5 months after the huge fires
Wide view of burned area in Silvermine - April '00
The entire area in the picture was burned
Burned area around dry waterfall from Ou Kaapse Weg - Mar '00
Burned pine trees being cut after fire - Mar '00
Heamanthus flowers sprouting from burned hillside - Feb/Mar '00
8 weeks after the fire
Burned hillside above Silvermine reservoir - Feb/Mar '00
Green bracken and burned trees above Silvermine Reservoir - Feb/Mar '00
Wide view of burned area in Silvermine around Ou Kaapse Weg - Feb/Mar '00
Burned areas in Silvermine around Ou Kaapse Weg - Feb '00
Edge between burn and fynbos in Silvermine - Feb '00
2 years since last burn
Group of Heamanthus flowers - Feb '00
6 weeks after fire
Fire lily sprouting from bare soil - late-Jan '00
Barely 2 weeks after the fire.
Chapman's Peak and still burning area in Silvermine Nature Reserve - mid-Jan '00
Burned areas above Tokai Forest and Constantiaberg above Elephant's Eye - mid-Jan '00
View of Silvermine Nature Reserve with Reservoir - May/June '99
Sundown in Reserve with distant Table Mountain - April/May '98
Silvermine is the mid-section of the Table Mountain/Cape Peninsula Mountain Range
The views north from Silvermine are towards the Table Mountain Range.
This entire range, 50km in length, forms the "backbone"
of the Cape Peninsula National Park, and is scheduled to be listed as a
World Heritage site.Click here to see other panoramic views from the top of Ou Kaapse Weg
Clear cutting of pine plantation - Oct '97
Flowers in Silvermine Nature Reserve
Regrowth of fynbos after clearing pine trees - Spring 1996
everlastings
proteas
leucospermum
ericas
There are a large number of proteas and other species in the Silvermine Nature Reserve. The different species flower throughout the seasons, providing year round nectar for birds.
Click here to see more spring flowers
The Protea Atlas Project website contains a wealth of practical information and links.
Fire in Silvermine Nature Reserve
Fire is an essential part of the fynbos ecology, provided the burns are
not too frequent (or too far apart).
Some species need fire to set seed.Click here to see more on fire and fynbos
One of the best books on Proteas is the Sasol field guide:
published by Fernwood Press
View of burned area after lightning strike - December '98 (with Watsonias)
Waterfall in Silvermine alongside Ou Kaapse Weg
