July in our False Bay garden

by Diana Studer

- gardening for biodiversity

in Cape Town, South Africa

Looking at gaps in the garden. Taking stock of how far we have come, and where we got sidetracked. A quick record to look back at before I take a break away from the computer.

Alstroemeria towards the camera

I have been looking for plants to represent the mediterranean part of Chile. Lemon verbena is my first, and I've discovered that my inherited Alstroemeria, Inca lilies, would be the second. And explains why they grow so happily.

Summer Gold and Spring Promise

Karoo Koppie

ABOUT THOSE GAPS

Tapestry hedge dips at two small Searsia crenata and two small Halleria lucida.

Garage gap towards the neighbour where we removed a huge Brazilian pepper tree.

Their kitchen window where we have a trellis and a goodly Halleria lucida with Grewia occidentalis catching up.

Exposed corner beyond carob where we felled the New Zealand Christmas tree and now see Kayaks!!

Shady strip against our bathroom wall to be planted with??

Striped awning lurks above the kitchen patio.

Caterpillar on Veltheimia

This explains why the optimistic buds on Veltheimia come to nothing. Caterpillars. Left in peace to become the butterflies or moths in their future. While I hope for surviving flowers, next year? On the softest yellow vygie flower a very busy bee. Much too early for the next Wildflower Wednesday (link is for June) at the end of the month.

Bee on yellow vygie

I have read

Marguerite Poland --- The keeper

(about life in lighthouses, with her delicately beautiful use of words!)

... silhouetted ... against a four-season sky: high and white; deeply grey with rain linking sea to cloud in swift, drifting brushstrokes; blue as periwinkles; still as autumn.

July flowers
Arum lily, Hibiscus, Iceberg rose
Chasmanthe and Dombeya
Pelargonium

And what flowers I can capture as I slip away from July in my garden. An arum lily, the orange cobra lilies, and a Dombeya dangles its bell down. 

False Bay in June

At the weekend with perfect winter days we walk on our beach.

Swiss flag anticipating the First of August
and hoping for sunny summer weather

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