False Bay garden in August

  

by Diana Studer

- gardening for biodiversity

 in Cape Town, South Africa

 

My middle sister and I go to Kirstenbosch most weeks. That day we walked up to highest benches to look across to the snow on the inland mountains (between the trees) Another dusting coming on Sunday night.

 

Snow capped mountains from Kirstenbosch
Snow capped mountains from Kirstenbosch

August in our garden for Through the Garden Gate Down by the Sea in Dorset with Sarah was pruning. Brachylaena discolor sends out long strong branches each time we prune, soaring above next door. Pruned back hard and it is filling in again. So much in the sky, then packed in the car for municipal composting. Searsia gets chipped here and smells deliciously citrusy (related to sumac Rhus and cashew)

 

Pruning Brachylaena discolor
Pruning Brachylaena discolor

Searsia behind the lemon had a second slice off. Cut one, step back, and repeat ... there are still a couple of wafty bits there! I have the lemon branches better shaped after years of pruning. Steadily making light and space and the tree has bunches of fresh leaves and flower buds, perhaps we will get fruit again this year. Feed and water.

 

Encouraging the lemon tree
Encouraging the lemon tree

Tallest section of Strelitzia nicolai chopped back for the mountain view (and for the lemon tree)

 

Strelitzia nicolai one down
Strelitzia nicolai one down

Last month I realised Dusty Miller Centaurea cineraria border looked due for fresh cuttings.

 

Dusty Miller fresh cuttings
Dusty Miller fresh cuttings

Burgundy and chocolate Melianthus major. Russet and terracotta Nasturtium. Salmon discs on my mother's tuberous begonia. Fiery colours.

 

Fiery August garden flowers
Fiery August garden flowers

Bietou Osteospermum moniliferum and climbing Senecio macroglossus. Bulbine. South Africa rose. Lime and lemon Albuca. All the yellows.

 

August garden flowers in yellow
August garden flowers in yellow

Pink dangling bells Dombeya burgessiae. Pelargonium. Thuli Madonsela rose.

 

Pink garden flowers in August
Pink garden flowers in August

Garlic buchu Agathosma apiculata. Groundcover to lemon Osteospermum fruticosum. Trachyandra (buds are like asparagus but would rather flowers to feed bees). Freesia leichtlinii alba. Albuca bracteata. Babiana. All in white.

 

Garden flowers in white for August
Garden flowers in white for August

Potted violet and lavender. Fairy bells Melasphaerula graminea. Vlei lily Wurmbea stricta. Felicia. Blue Salvia. Turning to blue and purple.

 

Turning to blue and purple with August garden flowers
Turning to blue and purple with August garden flowers

In winter rain spiders retreat indoors for shelter ahead of the weather. She slept like that hanging from one leg all day. That night wind gusts brought down telecom and radio mast on Elsie's Peak. We have a temporary tower and waiting for Fine Music Radio to return.

 

Rain spider
Rain spider

Need to check on my potted bulbs, which are hidden in lush winter exuberance.

 

I invite you to join us at Elephant's Eye on False Bay. Please subscribe as you prefer

via Feedly,

or my Facebook blog page


Pictures by Diana Studer

of Elephant's Eye on False Bay

 

Teal blue text is my links.

To read comments if you are in a Reader,

first click thru to the blog)

 

Thanks for comments that add value. Your comment will not appear until I've read it. I welcome comments on posts from the last 2 months.

 

Google and Blogger comments uncooperative? Use Name / URL instead.

 

 

Comments

  1. Lovely views from Kirstenbosch. Your garden flowers are as pretty as those you find on your hikes. I'm entranced with your Wurmbea stricta.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a treat to be able to visit Kirstenbosh so often!

    Strelitzia nicholai looks best here as exactly as what you have done: removing the oldest tallest stems, refreshing the plant. Here also the slope nearby is Plumbago auriculata celebrating the final weeks of summer--the slope is covered with the pale blue flowers.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It must be amazing visiting Kirstenbosh so often! It feels strange seeing your preparations for Spring! That spider looks huge! Your August flowers are beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your winter garden is so filled with beauty that it makes me wonder if winter has more flowers there than summer!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your garden looks wonderful! We often plant dusty miller among our annual plants in pots in this part of the world. What a fun plant! Enjoy your transition to spring. :)

    ReplyDelete