False Bay garden in November

  

by Diana Studer

- gardening for biodiversity

 in Cape Town, South Africa

 

Gathering up last month's flowers. It seems we had enough winter rain to encourage them. Yellow starflower Hypoxis hemerocallidea in two pots from our first garden.

 

Hypoxis hemerocallidea

That was another not gardening month - we lost the first two weeks to 'lurgy. Today's photos look back at November for Through the Garden Gate Down by the Sea in Dorset with Sarah. Chosen to fit our small garden Bauhinia bowkeri white flowers and the butterfly leaves I love. Those flowers are still, way above my head!

 

Bauhinia bowkeri

The sunnier one already fading, but the deeply shaded one is still in bud. Lemoenbos covered in lemon butter yellow flowers Psychotria capensis.

 

Psychotria capensis 

Ivy pelargonium - raspberry came with the garden, white I bought for myself

 

Ivy pelargoniums

Our new neighbour has begun carving down his glooming hedge. Better for his solar geyser too. When we step out of the kitchen that Cornish Stripe side of our garden looks so different, with edible banana standing proud - still gratefully protected from the worst of the prevailing Southeaster. (About half, the even taller half, still to go)

 

Neighbour's hedge, first half trimmed down

Compost volunteer is a Cape gooseberry. Not a gooseberry, and not from our Cape! Peruvian and a tomato cousin.

 

Cape gooseberry

The Ungardener and his electric hedge trimmer have carved back our tapestry hedge so one can walk past ON the pavement. Hump in the centre is the olive tree which I need to bring down so it doesn't shade our solar panels.

 

Tapestry hedge trimmed back

In the hedge Buddleja saligna blooms. Apparently delicious! A double endorsement, twice.

 

Buddleja saligna flowers with insects

Rich yellow Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Plenty of Alstroemeria so that was my Advent wreath with fragrant Pelargonium leaves.

 

Hibiscus and Alstroemeria

Ending on a happy blue note with a fat Agapanthus bud for Christmas, and Anchusa capensis still veiled in vivid blue. We have lived here 8 years already.

 

Agapanthus and Anchusa

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