False Bay garden in September

by Diana Studer

- gardening for biodiversity

in Cape Town, South Africa

We were away for three weeks in September. Lots of flowers to enjoy, and LOTS of pruning and chipping to catch up with. This time it is the pink and white prettiness of Spring Promise that glows for Through the Garden Gate with Sarah in Dorset.

Tillandsia flowers are actually the very bluest flowers in my garden now - but I count them as pink, draped over branches in the shade. I have achieved the honey-scented touched with purple Buddleja salviifolia flowers. Even a sprig in a vase scents the room deliciously! Delicate mauve wild hibiscus from Knysna reminds me of my middle sister Margie. Pink Syncarpha buds open to white flowers, the tips of the petals still hinting at pink. Veltheimia I moved to shade has given me a row of flowers, mostly faded.

Pink flowers in September for Spring Promise

For Wildflower Wednesday with Gail at Clay and Limestone in Tennessee. Ivy leaved pelargoniums prefer some shade, or desperate TLC with heavy watering. Keeping the Tillandsia and Veltheimia company on the shady side are two pelargoniums. Pelargonium cordifolium Valentine has dark heart-shaped leaves and pink flowers that sparkle with silver when they catch the sunshine. Soft velvety minty leaves with ethereal pale flowers that dance on tall stalks above the leaves - if you are a more intensive gardener than I; you can plant shady Pelargonium tomentosum beneath a sunny species and enjoy two layers of flowers (which I saw at Elgin open gardens years ago).

Pink pelargoniums that prefer some shade, in September

Pelargoniums on the sunny side. Delicate white flowers and nutmeg scented kidney-shaped grey leaves Pelargonium x fragrans. Sharply pointed citrus scented leaves, with purple flashes on pink flowers. Dark veined leaves. Soft pink and velvety rose scented leaves. Loud pink commonorgarden ex hortorum.

Sunny pink pelargoniums in September

Out front Euphorbia mauritanica goes from lime green buds to coppery flowers. A band of red pelargoniums weaves along. In a pot a very dark nasturtium from my oldest sister. Spilling over the low terrace are Californian poppies.

Orange and red flowers for September

On the trellis outside the kitchen Senecio macroglossus is covered in buttery yellow flowers. The leaves are ivy shaped but succulent. Yellow Senecio and Clivia are both being chewed.

September's yellow flowers
with Senecio macroglossus

For my blue I have a few Scabiosa flowers (must think about adding something else to the mix) White pelargoniums flower all along that wall. Melianthus has flowers for nectar loving sunbirds, and some elaborate green seeds. Tuberous begonia is enjoying its new pot and has a tall stalk of coral pink flowers. Japanese maple has fresh leaves, until the Southeaster shreds them - that is one plant that doesn't approve of the climate here.

Hoping for blue and white flowers in September

While we were away next door put up a trampoline for their little girl. I will be watering my Kiggelaria africana, Pavetta lanceolata, Dovyalis caffra and three Searsia. Our little trees need to grow to fill the gap in the once was a nice hedge.

Trampoline next door

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Pictures by Diana and Jürg Studer

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