February walking in our garden

Macros enchant me, because the camera and I agree on what we are looking at.  This year I will do the indigenous=native with Gail at clayandlimestone for her Wildflower Wednesday. Remember the 23rd February if you follow this meme.   And the commonorgarden=exotic=alien will be in these mid-month walks. Roses, kitchen herbs, fruit trees, inherited plants, zone denial, and I just couldn't resist that!

From the outside, looking in

To the left the inherited mountain ash trees, to the right our neighbour’s invasive er Tibouchina? But peering over the wall are the many indigenous trees and shrubs the Ungardener has planted, and watered, and watered for us. Quite a green look for mid-February, high summer, no rain for six weeks.

Pecan with Stand by to repel boarders!

I remember Nell-Jean once wrote that the very best shade is under a pecan tree. Ours is halfway down the driveway, so we just pause to gawp when walking up or down. The mask is from the Ungardener’s travelling days, in Indonesia. There to ward off intruders.

Japanese maple, Prunus nigra
Pride of India, Australian brush cherry

I have two Japanese maples, this one in a pot, with a wall protecting it from the force of the afternoon sun. The Prunus nigra for the dark brooding presence of its dark leaves. Still flowers on the Pride of India, and MASSES of fruit on the Australian brush cherry.

Beware Nandina

Beware of the cat. And of the invasive alien. Nandina. But it is one of the few plants I have that turns colour in the autumn. One of the few with berries. I must seek out a South African plant with fruit for the birds.

Coleonema, Santolina, Southernwood
Tickey creeper, potted bulbs

Have been hit with zone denial for Lamb’s Ears. First I didn’t realise it should be in the shade. And our hot summers – yes it has grey leaves, but lettuce not leather! My best grey foliage is Santolina, cotton lavender. Behind it, South Africa’s Coleonema. My most fragrant plant is what my mother call’s Southernwood, Lad’s Love, and it smells gloriously of lemons. Tickey creeper, Ficus, is slowly getting going. The potted bulbs are shown here, because ditsy Diana has been trying to grow snowdrops.

My view

If the cats are not hogging the Adirondacks, this is my view out of the garden. Hoping for rain. With a South African karee.

Liriope, Mare's tail
Blue fescue, zebra grass

I do love grasses. Mine are not fancy named new varieties, but alien species. Liriope, Mare’s Tails, blue Fescue and Zebra grass.

This year, we have apples

Neither the Ungardener who waters, not the Gardener who prunes, have any idea why, but this year, we have Apples!

Anna's Red, Germiston Gold
Chaim Soutine, Papa Meilland

The roses are either not-resting-brown-dead, or autumn-is-coming-sprouting! Anna’s Red, Germiston Gold, Chaim Soutine and Papa Meilland.

Lady in waiting

While we are all waiting for the pond to hold water again – bees fly into the kitchen to complain and drink in the kitchen sink. The birds have learnt to use the new birdbath we bought for them. The water lily is happily biding its time in the baby bath.

Pictures and words

by Diana of Elephant's Eye

- wildlife gardening in Porterville, 
near Cape Town in South Africa   

   

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