29 October, 2014

October roses and baby swallows

by Diana Studer
- gardening for biodiversity

I look at boxes. We will be leaving Elephant's Eye and Porterville in November. My last Wildflower Wednesday for Gail at Clay and Limestone from this garden of 8 years in our life. But always there are flowers, even if only two roses in jam jars.

Moving with Duftwolke and Karoo Rose

01 October, 2014

October at Paradise and Roses

 by Diana Studer
- gardening for biodiversity

In a Persian garden

“The word paradise originally meant a hunting park,
and it is still a Persian word for garden. Gardens of the Islamic world,
an oasis. All round stretch bare hills in the burning sun.
Within the garden, cool shade and the sight and sound of water.
High surrounding wall, trees for shade and fruit,
a pavilion, flowers in beds and pots.
Native bulbs, followed by roses. Garden is divided in four"
- slightly modified from Hugh Johnson’s The Principles of Gardening, 1979
This was my inspiration for the rose garden.

Magic-carpet-ride-Persian-gardens history and background

The house and a wall curved around two sides provide seclusion. A low informal hedge of Dusty Miller Centaurea cineraria plumes of velvety grey feathers. A view up to the Olifantskop (Elephant’s Head). We can hear the waterfall. Four paths, the four rivers of paradise – milk and honey, water and wine. An octagon in the centre. As focal points – there are four trees providing dappled shade. Years ago when we saw the White Garden at Sissinghurst, I realised that instead of a random collection of pretty plants – you can compose a living picture.

Preparation for the roses in 2007

Photographs and Copyright

Photographs are from Diana Studer or Jurg Studer.
My Canon PowerShot A490

If I use your images or information, it will be clearly acknowledged with either a link to the website, or details of the book. If you use my images or words, I expect you to acknowledge them in turn.


Midnight in Darkest Africa

Midnight in Darkest Africa
For real time, click on the map.