Landscape and Terrain
The Cape Region forms a small area on the southwestern tip of the African continent. This landscape has ancient mountain ranges that have weathered over millions of years into acidic sandy soils low in nutrients which are critical for plant growth. The Cape Region is renowned for its showy and diverse flora and is unlike that of any other area in the world. The characteristic vegetation is fynbos, an evergreen shrubland dominated by the family Proteaceae and a diverse assemblage of small-leaved shrubs. A second important community is renosterveld, a low shrubland which occurs on richer soils. Herbaceous geophytes (i.e. plants with bulbs, tubers or other fleshy underground organs) are a notable plant group in both communities. Woodland and forest communities are rare.

Human History
Human history in the Cape Region of South Africa dates back as much as 150,000 years, with evidence of active hunter-gatherer tribes in the region 21,000 years ago. Bushmen occupied the area until the 17th century when European settlers arrived. Although little or no agriculture was possible on the poor fynbos (an Africaans term meaning fine bush)soils, the Dutch brought French Huguenot settlers in the late 17th century to produce wine grapes on the richer renosterveld soils. Many of our common garden bulbs including gladiolus, watsonia, freesia, agapanthus, and calla lily are native to this region.

Climate
Rainfall is highest in May and June. The average for these months is as high as 90mm, where as little as 17mm is the monthly average for January and February. Temperatures reach an average monthly high of 27°C (81°F) in January and February. Lows in July can reach 5°C (41°F).

Vegetation
This region is dominated by lowland Fynbos and Renosterveld. Fynbos is the most extensive and varied form of native vegetation in the Cape Region and is dominated by evergreen shrubs. Renosterveld, a low shrubland, occurs on richer soils and contains vegetation types such as succulents, bulbs and annuals.