Prologue
My quest to go to South Africa began a couple of years
ago and as these things often happen, it was a meandering series of events that took me there. The seeds of my journey, literally,
came from Cape Town.
I'm not exactly sure when my obsession with
unusual bulbs began. Over the years, I've grown to appreciate the versatility and beauty of bulbs. They are usually easy to
grow, have a specific season of interest, and are perfect for squeezing in between the trees, shrubs and perennials that populate
my garden. There are bulbs that bloom in spring, summer, fall and winter, allowing me to have spots of color in my garden
regardless of the season.
My interest has led me away from the tulips
and daffodils of my childhood to the world of South African bulbs. I began my research in earnest in 2003-2004. The more I
have learned, the more I wanted to know about these beautiful plants from a far-away land.
I
found suppliers of bulbs--or other plants--from South Africa to be scarce, and I set out to find seed sources so I could grow
plants for my little collection. I was pleased to find the website of Silverhill Seed Company, a family-run business in the
Cape Town suburb of Kenilworth.
The hobby greenhouse that I enjoyed
for "puttering" was pressed into service on a scale that I never imagined. Strange, wonderful plants have emerged--some have
rewarded me with flowers; others are still years away from blooming.
In
the late summer months of 2005, I was happy to find a new Silverhill Seed Company catalog in my mailbox. When I sat down to
read it one evening, a colorful brochure dropped out--it was a brochure about the IBSA Symposium. Reading the brochure, I
was instantly filled with longing to see the plants that I appreciate in my garden in their natural habitat. I feel fortunate
that I was able fulfill this dream.
I hope you enjoy looking at the
photos and reading about my adventures in South Africa.
Mary
