False Bay garden in January twentyTutu

  

by Diana Studer

- gardening for biodiversity

 in Cape Town, South Africa

 

First month during which I blogged not at all. In the garden. Zilch nada nothing. Citrus swallowtail caterpillars become these magnificent Christmas butterflies!

 

Christmas butterfly

On the Euryops a busy little bee.

 

Little bee on Euryops

The edible banana waves over my head and pushes out almost a leaf a day. Little one is flourishing too. I see bunches of bananas one day. Flowers soon?

 

Edible banana

At the other end of the Washing Pergola Strelitzia nicolai ... will need the tallest trunk trimmed out. That can become 12 metres high if allowed.

 

Cornish Stripe with two 'bananas'

On the other side of the house, the path down Spring Promise brushes against us as we pass.

 

Spring Promise

Come. Through the Garden Gate. With Sarah in Dorset. We have flowers. Shell pink Crinum buds open today.

 

Crinum bud

Just enough sky blue in Plumbago for a fine sunny day.

 

Plumbago

Across from our Adirondacks on the shady patio appealing purples in Plectranthus saccatus (stoep jacaranda)

 

Plectranthus saccatus

Settling into summer heat and I am harvesting the grey water from the washing machine to keep my potted roses watered two or three times a week. Depending on how loudly they wilt at me. Golden yellow South Africa.

 

South Africa rose

I lost January to medical tourism. My sister was in hospital for two weeks. Then the Ungardener has had knee problems and an op last week. Both making good progress. Now I can tackle the pruning (once he can take the heaps for municipal composting again). Brachylaena is looming over half of Rose Courtyard. And the hedge on our verge!!

 

Pruning to be done

I will be in the garden. In the shade. With my tea. And a fresh pile of library books ;~))

 

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Pictures by Diana Studer

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