Kirstenbosch and February in our False Bay garden
by Diana Studer
- gardening for biodiversity
in Cape Town, South Africa
Most weeks my sister and I go to Kirstenbosch to walk and talk. Took my camera this time as I go cautiously beyond point-and-click. From the Conservatory we walked uphill, in the shade of the Camphor Walk, to the Rycroft Gate.
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| Camphor Walk at Kirstenbosch |
Below the trees I caught African coromandel. Asystasia intrusa. First found on iNaturalist where someone explained - not large purple gangetica (coromandel in Tamil meaning Indian coast). African is smaller, white, with a purple lip. Brought me to 650 species observed on the Cape Peninsula!
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| Asystasia intrusa African coromandel |
Meet Granma, one of Kirstenbosch Centenarians. This is my favourite plant at Kirstenbosch. Planted in 1922 when she was 11 years old. A nother daisy. Woody tree - not very tall for 110 year old. Leaves like a loquat, flowers huge. Oldenburgia grandis. Natural distribution around Grahamstown / Makhanda. Pollinated by Cape sugarbirds.
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| Oldenburgia grandis Planted in 1913 |
Outside the Conservatory is a Gondwana bed with this Australian protea. Lambertia formosa. Mountain devil from New South Wales.
Bottom right Barleria greenii. Acanthaceae bracts. And unexpected thorns! Endemic to Estcourt in Kwazulu-Natal.
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| Lambertia and Barleria |
We skip the unkind weather days. Sat for a while to watch clouds roll over the mountaintop, shafts of sunlight catching luminous green new leaves on fever tree.
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| Sunlight on fever tree at Kirstenbosch |
Come with me Through the Garden Gate Down by the Sea in Dorset with Sarah. Home to my garden where I am rescuing the lemon tree. Cut back around its trunk (still need to retrieve the root flare). Clear the sprawling groundcover and retrieved 3 slabs of the path. Another 3 to do.
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| Around the lemon tree |
Now we need a rest. We bring home Leucadendron cones for Thomas. He likes to roll them off the cabin trunk.
Bonk on the laminate floor! Cat here! Needs cuddles!
BONK!! Come back here! Need MORE cuddles?!
Zoe sits looking politely hopeful. Cuddle me too?
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| Thomas the percussionist and quieter Zoe |
Boophone disticha bloomed for the second time. Mystery bulb towered up to a chink Ornithogalum thyrsoides.
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| Boophone and chink |
Always some colour offering. Alstroemeria. Streptocarpus. Euryops.
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| Alstroemeria, Streptocarpus, Euryops |
Back with February hikes next time
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Oh, I want to be there right now. Sweet blooms and plants and cute kitties! And the view of the fever tree with the mountains in the background--lovely!
ReplyDeleteAround here, we call that color on your fever tree "spring green, " but I guess there it is more "autumn green"!
ReplyDeleteAs Kris in California says - with a summer dry climate we have 2 springs!
DeleteWhat a lovely tour, Diana. That Oldenburgia grandis is magnificent. Apparently, some things do get better with age ;)
ReplyDeletewhat a lovely place to walk and talk with your sister - I really liked the Fever tree shot. Am wondering what you mean by going beyond point and shoot ? a new camera. The little Coromandel plant made me stop and research why New Zealand's North Island peninsula is so named - after a British ship and perhaps the original wood? Hope the Lemon tree appreciates all your rescue efforts -
ReplyDeleteSame old camera, but also the same old photographer who has never learned to use what it could do!
DeleteLove those sweet kitties! We’re having an extra early spring here, so it makes me think you’re moving towards autumn. Do you see much foliage color changes?
ReplyDeleteWe have planted exotics across the landscape. Vineyards and oak trees, ginkgo in June. But our fynbos shows more colour with fresh growth in spring, or a little now as the autumn rain comes.
Delete