Mid-February, high summer although we have had a few cooler days. Commonorgarden and summer rainfall plants are hunkered down for the duration. Some have faded off into the sunset murmuring – It’s hot in Porterville … The roses have been fed and given a handful of wood ash, dutifully watered, every 5 days, 10 litres of grey water to each bush. New sprouts are coming for the autumn flush, but only Lavender Jade has good flowers today.
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| Lavender Jade |
My foreign flowers must be waterwise. I’m sad when Amy discards Bulbinella (Texan frost), or Catmint discards Agapanthus (Oz summer thirsty). But I’m learning to give up battling to keep ailing plants on life support.
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| Dianthus allwoodii |
Many of my bulbs are in pots. To be moved around or raised up when there are flowers, and tucked away when we are resting.
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| Eucharis Amazon lily |
Santolina cotton lavender seems to be indestructible. Needs heavy pruning, rejuvenating, take cuttings. But a wonderful luminous grey presence.
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| Santolina cotton lavender |
Keeping a watchful eye on Mare’s Tails as it is an invasive alien. A golden luminous glory.
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| Mare's tails grass |
Treasured Japanese maple tucked in a pot with the wall shielding the afternoon sun, and the arrow slits giving air movement and coolth.
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| Japanese maple |
Pictures and words by Diana of Elephant's Eye
- wildlife gardening in Porterville, near Cape Town in South Africa
(If you mouse over brown text, it turns shriek pink. Those are my links.)
Hello there,
ReplyDeleteI'm looking at a blog break soon. I am a bit tired and just want to be out in the garden working. I, like you, have the same issue with ailing plants....I restore them but at what cost. Is it just easier replacing them? Maybe. But I think it's a waste of money sometimes to buy new plants just for the flowers etc. Oh well. Love your sunlight over there.
What lovely pictures. Do you filter your gray water before giving it to plants? What about food bits and the oils that would be in dish water?
ReplyDeleteHave a nice break.
FlowerLady
Lovely Lavender Jade! And good to know about Mare's tails being invasive. It really is pretty. Hope you have a fun blog break!
ReplyDeletePlants that don't survive don't often get a second chance with me, unless I know it was my error that caused it. More and more I am turning to natives, and my garden is healthier for it. But non-natives that prosper without becoming invasive are also welcomed, like my japanese maples!
ReplyDeleteI do so agree that plants can't be fussed over, life is too short. Much better to grow what likes your conditions and then also grow its relatives as they should usually be ok. The only plant that I make a fuss over are the Meconopsis, such a beautiful colour!
ReplyDeleteFlowerlady - for exactly those reasons - food scraps and a little grease - our kitchen water doesn't go thru the grey water system. We have a simple filter that catches the lint.
ReplyDeleteSo hard to imagine high summer in Feb. when I have snow again...I love the color of that rose!
ReplyDeleteHi Diana - I love the same plants you do - Acer and the feather grass, roses are all favourites and that Dianthus allwoodii is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteIts been too hot here to do much in the garden.
Your Lavender Jade rose is beautiful. The shading of the petals is so wonderful. Enjoy your blog break.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how the Lavender Jade got its name. Curious. Enjoy your break from the blogging world Diana.
ReplyDeleteLavendar Jade is a strange name for that Rose...it just does'nt seem to fit it. Santalonia is one of my least fave plants but I suppose it's a good one for that situation.
ReplyDeleteYou sound like I feel in August when its too hot for me and most plants too. Even natives will often summer hibernate. What you have looks great, just enjoy! Christina
ReplyDeleteI always had a rule in my garden, if you can't live on your own, out you go. No fussing with the babies...
ReplyDeleteWe will see, this is such a different climate, and I have no idea what is going to do well, flourish, and grow here.
The Santalina is beautiful, and to think, we never got hot enough at the coast to grow it, not going to be a problem here.
Celebrating another word verification free blogger.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
Bom and Bridget - the Lavender I can understand, that is it's colour. And Google tells me there is a stone, called lavender jade.
ReplyDeleteSummer may still be about but I have picked up on the odd subtle hint of autumn approaching.
ReplyDeleteA lovely walk through your garden!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
Have a great day!
Lea
Lea's Menagerie
Sometimes it seems perfectly normal to get inspiration from a garden halfway around the world, and then you stop and think about how phenomenal that is. You've helped me make up my mind to grow dianthus, Diana. I was afraid they might be too thirsty, but if you can grow them there...
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your comment.. you had me laughing out loud about your tea!! I've been meaning to send you a note- the buzz roll is just something I made up. As for freezing the sheets, yep - they are pretty dry and COLD when I bring them in. Love your dianthus. So nice to see your warm photos and blue sky. Just what I needed after a gray day here! Have a great day and grab yourself another cup of tea..!!
ReplyDeleteI lived in Taiwan for many years and was delighted to discover that besides the usual green jade, one finds all shades of purple, from lavender to deep purple! truly beautiful
ReplyDeleteStacy - Dianthus is happier in our summer than the indigenous Tulbaghia, which is whimpering. Will be redistributing the Dianthus in autumn, it not only survives, it spreads!
ReplyDeleteI can almost smell that rose.
ReplyDeletesantolina, one of my faves, does seem indestrucrtuctible, even if you cant' spell.
ReplyDeleteCatmint - just discovered name comes from Latin - sanctum linum - holy flax. Now I need to find out WHY it is called that.
ReplyDelete