Birds of the Magaliesberg 2023

About the Aloe Farm The Aloe Farm is situated between Hartbeespoort and Brits on the R104, below the northern slope of the Magaliesberg where the Critically Endangered Aloe peglerae also grows.With thousands of Aloes in flower in winter,The Aloe Farm has for the last 20 years been a sunbird epicentre. From May to August the farm attracts serious and novice birders, photographers and plant lovers from all over South Africa to celebrate the wondrous creation of the Aloe. The owner, Andy De Wet, and his team work tirelessly to breed and release Aloe hybrids into the commercial industry, thus creating a vital buffer between Aloe species found in the wild and the relentless collection of them for side-of-the-road sales. The Aloe team at the nursery has also started an informal project to germinate and strengthen Aloe peglerae seedlings and to return them back to their habitat in the mountain. Unfortunately, the illegal collection of these vulnerable slow growing plants has resulted in reduced numbers. The Aloe Farm (De Wet Plant Breeders) produces top quality Aloes, selecting them for the market based on flower abundance, faster growth rate and aesthetic value. Andy and his plant breeding manager, Quinton Bean, are held in high regard for their reputable expertise on the subject and in Aloes in particular. They provide reliable advice on growing and maintaining Aloes in your garden. Their pursuit for unique Aloes with more desirable characteristics is ongoing and their passion for these incredible plants is evident in all their hard work over the last 30 years. They are well-known in international circles for their other programmes too, which include Arctotis, Osteospermum, Cotyledon, Bulbine, Felicia, Agapanthus and several other genera. At the international IPM flower show in Germany this year they won the award for best new variety of the year with their Agapanthus named ‘Poppin Purple’. In 2018, ‘Fireworks’ won best new plant introduction at the Glee Trade Show in Birmingham (UK) and was placed third at the prestigious Chelsea Flower show in the UK in 2019. The Aloe Farm supplies the landscaping industry as well with various plant varieties, walk in customers wanting to buy for their gardens, and the international market through their breeding programmes. Visitors to the farm can also enjoy a walk through the indigenous bush garden and it is a great informal outing for families. The Aloe Festival is in June and early July every year and has ‘Aloe walk and talk’ outings daily at 11am. The Aloe Farm also has a sister nursery in Linbro Park in Sandton which is easily accessible to landscapers and the public.

Weavers in action. PHOTOGRAPH: SEAN DAVIS

White-bellied Sunbird. PHOTOGRAPH: MARTIN BRASG

CONTACT INFO Contact the Aloe Farm on 071 162 6790 or www.thealoefarm.co.za; Alternatively follow them on Facebook or Instagram

Amethyst Sunbird. PHOTOGRAPH: SEAN DAVIS

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