Janus and December for Wildflower Wednesday

The Roman god Janus - for whom January is named – looks both at the past, and to the future. We have our new home on False Bay, and we are split between planning changes there, and preparing Elephant’s Eye for sale. On the verandah a purple Streptocarpus glows like a jewel.

Streptocarpus looking across to Rest and Be Thankful

Last week I was unplugged, with my mother celebrating her one hundredth Christmas. We look back to ‘memory full of years.’ We Skyped my niece’s son and daughter in London – which disconcerted my oldest sister! I think of my mother, emigrated to South Africa and calling her mother long distance in London. Very quickly, keep it short.   

Plums, figs
olives, lemon

I have one lonely lemon, and the lime after light trimming is growing at last. The first few large figs were claimed by the birds. Our curb appeal is two olive trees laden with a fresh crop. The plums trees are having a good year.

Blue sage, Plumbago
Phyllis van Heerden, pelargonium

Mostly, the garden is green, or golden with wild oats. The flowers are – sky blue Plumbago, Agapanthus, blue sage and the last flowers on the Plectranthus neochilus spurs. Scattered flowers on the pelargoniums – but not enough to pick. One Phyllis van Heerden is blooming but she finds the garden hot for an old lady to cope with.

Bauhinia natalensis, Plumbago
Dietes, Tarchonanthus camphoratus

In my Winter Chill bed, whose inspiration was found at Sissinghurst where I met colour-themed gardens for the first time. The Summer Gold idea began at Crathes Castle in Scotland. Natal Bauhinia natalensis is a more refined cousin to the huge Bauhinia galpinii and the orchid/butterfly trees of the East. The camphor bush has tiny pompoms showing that it is a daisy tree, Tarchonanthus camphoratus. Both the Bauhinia and the Dietes have days when they wake up covered in flowers.

Hibiscus tiliaceus
Pride of India, Elephant's Eye Light Railway

One Pride of India, crepe myrtle, has suddenly acquired luminous glowing bronze bark – and another is the first to burst into flower. The Ungardener revelled in building Elephant’s Eye Light Railway. Ungardening eyes are firmly focused on future projects. There will be a new pond. A water feature off the livingroom. The lawn gone will be a wide path of paving slabs. Hibiscus tiliaceus was making flowers when my old camera died, and has NEVER bloomed since, but the plant always has some leaves in glorious golden reds.  

Pearl of Bedfordview, Duftwolke, Perfume Passion
Tropical Sunset
Burning Sky, Karoo Rose

The roses bloom thru summer. If not picked for the vase, a day in the garden tends to turn petals to toast.

Chocolat
Waterlily

Water lilies in the garden for Christmas! I will miss our mountain view, but there will be sunset skies over the sea for an evening drive.

Agapanthus on Ungardening Pond

Agapanthus with Ungardening Pond fading into distant memory.

For Wildflower Wednesday the roses, Pride of India, water lily and fruit trees are commonorgarden, the rest Proudly South African.

Happy New Year to you, my loyal and new readers!

Pictures by Diana and Jurg

text by Diana Studer
AKA Diana of  Elephant's Eye

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

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