August in our False Bay garden

 

by Diana Studer

- gardening for biodiversity

 in Cape Town, South Africa

 

As we turn to spring our sombre tapestry hedge is lit with orange flames of Aloiampelos ciliaris. It is a scrambler that needs a friend to lean on - leaving that dead bietou to be a good friend, while the little replacement grows to fill the space.

 

Climbing aloe in tapestry hedge

Our only winter damage from the storm warnings was this chunk of Coprosma repens. Smothered table and chairs and blocked the path - why, does that look wrong?? Since it was here when we moved in, about 26 years old and the wood is rotten in parts. Good to have my little chainsaw to whizz thru reducing it to useful sections to edge the paths.

 

Storm damage to Coprosma

With carob and Coprosma trimmed that corner is lighter and brighter, with the glimpse of Brakkloofrant restored.

 

Coprosma and carob corner

Last time we got halfway across the Brachylaena discolor, waited for the cold, wet and windy to give us another gap. My yellow South Africa rose is sulking between fertiliser burn and too much winter shade, but it has leaf buds waiting. Trimmed the other half of the tree, and again appreciate countering winter's grey days.

 

Brachylaena discolor

Vlei lily Wurmbea stricta and pink rose Thuli Madonsela.

 

Vlei lily and pink rose

The original wild white species is Freesia leichtlinii. A perfect trumpet.

 

Freesia leichtlinii

Self-seeded lavender for Through the Garden Gate Down by the Sea in Dorset with Sarah.

 

Lavender

Daisies, the new yellow Euryops and kingfisher blue Felicia.

 

Daisies

Lime gold Albuca is all over my garden. Albuca bracteata spreads its clump, but not far from the mother bulb - common name pregnant onions.

 

Albuca twice

Orange nasturtiums and salmon pink pelargonium for more spring colour.

 

Orange and pink for spring

Garden year month by month here, back to November 2014.

 

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Pictures by Diana Studer

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