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| We have more than 100 different aloes, mostly
species, but a few hybrids too. The aloe in bloom on the photo above left is a hybrid with
Aloe framesii (on the left next to it) and Aloe krapohliana which is a smaller aloe. Aloe
krapohliana grows in the very arid Namaqualand and Aloe framesii grows along the west
coast. Their habitat overlap, but there are very few natural hybrids. We saw only one in
all these years. The climate in Namaqualand is very harsh in the summer, but in winter when it rains Namaqualand changes into a flower garden. Mostly succulents, mesembs and daisies, but also lilies and even some terrestrial orchards. The Western Cape where we live border on Namaqualand and our rain season is also in the winter - our rainfall is quite a bit higher, but strictly speaking we are very near to Namaqualand and many of the plants can grow in our garden. By the way the garden on the photo left above is part of Rudi's garden. The aloes in front are left to right. Aloe comptonii, Aloe framesii (two plants ), Aloe hybrid mentioned above and Aloe thraskii. The photo above right is roughly what my side of the garden looks like in bloom. |
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