Our False Bay garden in July

 by Diana Studer

- gardening for biodiversity

 in Cape Town, South Africa

 

In July we had weather building up from Antarctica and South America, across the South Atlantic Ocean. After 6 years here, the Ungardener climbed up into the attic and installed green insulation over our livingroom. Now our woodstove can heat us efficiently. His photo, a different view from up a ladder of our solar geyser, photovoltaic panels and rain tank in a green garden.

 

Our green house

From my sister a bunch of flowers for my birthday. Serruria with Erica, and tiny white Phylica which still offers a delicious waft of honey each time I pass.

 

Birthday Serruria

Zöe and the Ungardener like to soak up the winter sun.

 

Zöe in winter sun

Thomas and I prefer pale and interesting.

 

Thomas in shade

Come Through the Garden Gate with Sarah Down by the Sea in Dorset. Pictures of English formal gardens with grim dark hedges scattered with bright orange climbing nasturtium ... have found an echo in my garden. Climbing aloe reaches for the sun, up thru shrubs and trees, across to the sunny side of hedge or wall. Began as a branch reaching across from our Porterville neighbour.

 

Climbing aloe in our tapestry hedge on the verge 

Aloe ferox in its mid-winter glory!

 

Aloe ferox

Buzzing with bees laden in bright orange pollen.

 

Aloe ferox with bees

I was feeling sorry for the bees on garlic buchu Agathosma apiculata. Till I zoom in and see they are equally laden but in gloomy khaki and olive drab pollen.

 

Garlic buchu with bees

Among the understated July flowers. Knowltonia vesicatoria in a shady pot with Commelina africana. Curly leaf grass Pentameris curvifolia planted for the delight it brings me when out hiking. Tall spike of green and white striped pregnant onion Albuca bracteata. Yellow Chasmanthe has one spike of buds in my garden - that was what Thomas chose to biff (he finds flowers untidy) Always unexpected to find berries on a tall daisy bush. Bietou Chyrsanthemoides  monilifera showing its 'ring of beads'

 

Understated flowers from our garden in July

Dark orange Tecomaria capensis. My mother's coral tuberous begonia. Golden Hibiscus enjoying the sun since he cut back the carob. Climbing yellow daisy Senecio macroglossus with its glossy and succulent ivy leaves. Pink bells of Dombeya burgessiae.

 

August means spring flowers up the West Coast and there are already pictures on Facebook. Time we got back to pruning and making space for more light and colour in our garden.

 

July colour in our garden

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Pictures by Diana and Jürg Studer

of Elephant's Eye on False Bay

 

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