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
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
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
Psychotria capensis 

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

 

Ivy pelargoniums
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
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
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
Tapestry hedge trimmed back

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

 

Buddleja saligna flowers with insects
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
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
Agapanthus and Anchusa

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Comments

  1. I'm sorry you lost some of the month to illness. I hope you can get back to a gardening routine - and hiking - in December.

    When neighbors have removed trees or cut other large plants here, it's usually been a bit of a shock, generally followed by rejoicing due to the increase in the available sunlight. Coincidentally, the neighbors behind us pruned their 2 giant pine trees today, as well as other trees and shrubs, and suddenly our back garden is flooded with light I hadn't realized we'd been missing. I love the white-flowered Bauhinia - my pink-flowered Bauhinia x blakeana puts the majority of its flowers well above my head too.

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  2. I'm sorry you have both been ill. Your neighbours hedge looks huge you must be delighted that they are reducing its size! As always it is lovely to look at the plants that we can't grow here and the wildlife that live there. Sarah x

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  3. Had to look up both 'lurgy and solar geyser. Hope you are 100% recovered and feeling good again.

    Best of luck with your banana. There is someone who grows them nearby and gets huge bunches--I've heard lots of water and fertilizer are involved. If they are like tomatoes, home-grown is always more delicious.

    The Ungardener did a fine job on that hedge, and the Pelargoniums are sweet.

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    1. The ONE bunch we have had so far was delicious. What my mother remembered as lady fingers - which we never see in the supermarket. Next time - shall try eating the skin as well ...

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  4. I hope you are doing well now. I admire your flowers, they are so special and colourful.

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  5. I want to be in your garden! Winter is gaining traction here, and while it's beautiful, it's so long. I'll just keep visiting your blog to "warm up." Love the peachy shades of your Hibiscus and Alstroemeria. Those insects on the Buddleja hedge are fascinating!

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