September in our False Bay garden and Kataza the baboon

 by Diana Studer

- gardening for biodiversity

 in Cape Town, South Africa

 

At Kirstenbosch nursery I was looking for blue and white. Variegated white leaves - tick. Bright blue flowers - tick. But when I read the label at home, Blue Spires is commonorgarden from Australia - untick, sigh. Plectranthus parviflorus. Blooms from spring to autumn, water in summer, semi-shade or sun.

 

Come Through the Garden Gate with Sarah Down By the Sea in Dorset.

 

Plectranthus parviflorus Blue Spires from Australia

Ding dong, the palm is gone! A little more mountain view. While our neighbour's tree, planted in the far corner, loomed over the embattled lemon tree, I trimmed the fronds I could reach.

 

Palm tree is gone!

 

Lemon tree can see blue sky. Searsia to the right I trim back layer by layer. Hidden in the corner is a wild olive gratefully claiming its space. Behind the lemon our neighbour's hedge looms.

 

Lemon tree has blue sky

 

Our garden is small so I make ALL the space work. I want the sections to invite exploring. On the East Patio coral tuberous begonia flowers screen blue and white Cornish Stripe (with the washing pergola and compost bin). Bookended by the lemon tree at the bottom and yellow daisies Senecio macroglossus across the trellis at the top. Pure white pelargonium. Kingfisher blue Felicia. Lavender topknot. Tiny feathered purple stripes on white Melasphaerula graminea. Lachenalia in soft mauve and Babiana in fierce purple.

 

Cornish Stripe in blue and white

 

Across the bottom of the garden Woodland Walk for the birds. I moved the Japanese maple to the shade of the carob tree. Froggy Pond. Water-loving soft yellow Gladiolus triste. Lemon yellow Bulbine frutescens. Vivid pink Pelargonium graveolens. In the shade Knowltonia vesicatoria, last flowers, mostly gone to shiny green berries. Dwarf papyrus Cyperus prolifer in our pond. For Wildflower Wednesday with Gail at Clay and Limestone in Tennessee.

 

Shady Woodland Walk

Summer Gold gathers all the yellows. Euryops daisy. Lime gold and cream bells of Albuca. Yellow Bulbine. Rich orangey yellow Hibiscus.

 

Summer Gold

 

Spring Promise in pink, white and silver. Looking down the layers of Spring Promise, past Summer Gold, to Woodland Walk. White Freesia leichtlinii and arum lily. Dusky pink Veltheimia. Shell pink bells of Dombeya burgessiae. Tillandsia blooming in pink and blue. Mauvy pink wild hibiscus. Pompom of garlic buchu Agathosma apiculata. Fragrant pink Pelargonium citronellum (have trimmed the height for potpourri and forfeited flowers) Commonorgarden shocking and salmon pink pelargoniums. Cut back and replanted the Dusty Miller hedge.

 

Spring Promise in pinks and white

 

Rose Courtyard was inspired by inherited Icebergs. I added Melianthus major in a rich mahogany. Diospyros whyteana has glossy glassy dark green leaves.

 

Rose Courtyard inspired by Iceberg

 

Tucked behind the tapestry hedge on the verge, which makes a green velvet background. And hidden behind the gated wall, is our secret garden. My view thru the bay window. Autumn Fire on the Karoo Koppie. Four aloes politely taking their turn to be the jewel in the box. Aloe maculata bud. Chandelier of coral aloe. Spires of vivid orange climbing aloe emerge where they choose. Red commonorgarden pelargonium. Californian poppies, and nasturtiums. Five gold rings Euphorbia mauritanica. Golden Portulacaria afra. Coral stems Euphorbia tirucalli. Red Crassula Campfire. Tecomaria capensis hedge was knocked over by a winter wind from Antarctica - cut back by a substantial half, try again.

 

Secret garden Autumn Fire on Karoo Koppie

 

My month has been about Kataza the baboon. Capetonians who live on the urban edge in baboon territory can be problem animals. UNmanaged waste (but mommy will clean up for me). City of Cape Town employs Human Wildlife Services (for 14 million rand a year) to use live baboons as paintball targets. If that doesn't work, they are culled.

 

Shirley Strum, a San Diego anthropologist, was invited to Cape Town in 2011. She advised this protocol. Blames 'activists' for not behaving like people from that country called Africa (based on her work in Kenya 50 years ago)

 

Justin O'Riain ecology professor, and endorser of HWS protocol, complains about a middle class (WE pay the rates and taxes for you) storm in a teacup.

 

We held a silent protest on Sunday.

 

Thomas says - make yourself at home, put your feet up!

 

Thomas says - make yourself at home. Go forth in peace.

 

Turn to iNaturalist Southern Bioblitz. Snow in Sutherland this week!

 

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