False Bay garden in October

by Diana Studer

- gardening for biodiversity

in Cape Town, South Africa

On the verge our garden is hemmed in blue. Two Osteospermum moniliferum (bietou) are acting as pioneer / nurse shrubs to Searsia crenata (dune crow-berry) and Buddleja saligna (false olive), while Halleria lucida (tree fuchsia) sends up strong new shoots for Through The Garden Gate.

Blue verge
Plectranthus neochilus

Between the palisade fence and the house our Karoo Koppie is mostly California dreaming in orange and gold poppies.

California dreaming in poppies

My blue and white with yellow sparks is coming on nicely at Cornish Stripe. Strong vibrant blues from Anchusa capensis (Cape forget me not) and Rotheca myricoides (Oxford and Cambridge). Deep purples from Mexican sage, self-seeded heartsease and Polygala myrtifolia (Septemberbossie). A wave of white from Pelargonium, and basil for the bees. Blue and white flowers on Strelitzia nicolai. Softest mauve from Scabiosa. Yellow echoes from lemons to Senecio macroglossus flowers.

Blue white and yellow for Cornish Stripe

Potted Japanese maple has decided to flourish this year (till the summer Southeaster clips its wings) Granadilla vine and Prunus nigra are sadly not sure if they want to go on growing.

Japanese maple

Almost three years till we could achieve what I wanted in this corner, to sit under the lemon tree and enjoy the view up Cornish Stripe. I would like another small bench, big enough for two friendly people.

Sitting under the lemon tree

In Froggy Pond I cut back the dwarf papyrus hard, one way to remove excess nutrients and discourage green hair algae. Not hard enough! Pillow stone comes from my sister's days in Riversdale (where the mountain is called Sleeping Beauty). We have one; count it; one, tadpole.

Froggy Pond Cyperus

Himself worked hard to sift out the concrete rubble and move the remaining heap of garden soil. Kills my shoulders to work that sieve. We have our table at the stone circle near the pond back in use. Photo bombing at the right is Hibiscus tiliaceus - which will eventually give me the yellow flowers I wait for.

Stone Circle

Yellow I need to work on. But delighted to see Psychotria capensis (lemoenbos), tucked in the shady corner behind the Maid of the Forest, has burst into bloom. Large shiny deep green leaves and handfuls of lemon yellow tiny flowers. Little Echeveria flowers. Dietes (wild iris) blooms ahead of rain and we have thunder rolling. Monkey beetle enjoying a Gazania.

Yellow for Summer Gold

For Spring Promise I have satisfying waves of pink flowers with five velvety grey corners of Dusty Miller. White Iceberg roses are revelling in regular grey water. Fine white flowers on nutmeg pelargonium. Trusses of shell pink Dombeya burgessiae. Four pink pelargoniums. Inherited pink Oxalis forms a lush and lovely border.

Pink and white for Spring Promise

Down Cornish Stripe. Along the Woodland Walk. Back up Summer Gold and Spring Promise. The wide views are mostly green, while the collages pick out bunches of flowers.

October in our garden

Back to our drought (updated today) as we wait for desalination to kick in and our dams may last till June and winter rain! In September we used 133 litres a day (for two) - with the extra rainwater for the washing machine 146 litres. For October we have brought it down to 124 litres - with extra rain 137 litres. We reduced our consumption by ten litres a day month on month. Hoping that in November we will be able to plumb our alternative / emergency supply of rain water into the house.

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Pictures by Diana Studer

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