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

Sunshine and firelight in the Groot Winterhoek

by Diana Studer

- gardening for biodiversity

Jack at Sequoia Gardens and I were talking about South African indigenous plants with interesting leaf colour. I said grey is easy, but gold and wine-dark are exotic. Jack reminded me that proteas do leaf colour. That was the nudge we needed to go walk on our mountain. Timed it for the Leucadendron to perform.

Sunshine
Leucadendron salignum female

Paradise and Roses

When I hand-water our roses, 2 five litre cans in hand,

I walk a meditative labyrinth

– circling back to the grey water tank.

All my roses come from Ludwig's Roses Winelands branch.

Edited in September 2014

1 Pushed out of Paradise

Anna in her fuchsia gown met the Black Prince (an Old Cape rose). He was first overwhelmed by her Perfume Passion, then introduced to little Apricot. A line of 3 Anna’s Red remind me how quickly three decades pass.

Pushed out of Paradise
1 Anna's Fuchsia
2 Black Prince
3 Perfume Passion
4 Anna's Apricot

Spring Promise at Paradise and Roses

I love striped roses, inspired by Rosa mundi. Spring Promise is PINK. Chaim Soutine striped in shocking pink and white.

Chaim Soutine

Autumn Fire at Paradise and Roses

Tea in Paradise with Summer Gold to my right, and to my left (I'm sinister) Autumn Fire. When we built the house I wanted a walled rose garden, face brick to match the house. The most visible of the four beds (when you look out the window, step off the verandah, or walk down the path into Paradise and Roses), I'm grateful that it is the one among the four that works best!

Looking out the window at Autumn Fire

This bed was planted in September 2007.

Summer Gold at Paradise and Roses

Turn away from Winter Chill, and gaze at Summer Gold, where the sun shines down and we battle with overexposed photos. The first hot summer breeze turns my mind to lowering the blinds.

Looking out the other livingroom window

I want the foliage to support the colour theme and provide texture and interest. Even flowers, regardless of whether the roses are game, or out for the count. I choose first, indigenous, adapted to hot summer, wet winter, clay soil.

Winter Chill at Paradise and Roses

November is rose month. Prompted by Ludwig's Roses Newsletter, I fed them. Puttering around the Paradise and Roses garden dead-heading, I harvest for vases. Imaginary tabletop in mind, I prune the stalks down to the new low. Cut out the extra fork, so the remaining bud can flourish.

Oyster Pearl

I chose to add a lot of indigenous plants. Winter Chill with pale and white roses, has suffered from my enthusiasm. Only two roses have survived competition with vigorous neighbours, who claim their food and drink. I do I do cut back the Dusty Miller hedge. Quite hard so it looks scraggly. Just weeks later we are back to the battle of – but, I’d like you to be knee high!

Pink Promise

My pink roses have lots of leaves, coming, and buds for later. But there are just two flowers on minature Lavender Jade. I choose to mix my roses with lots of other plants. Indigenous/native as a first choice. I use blue/glaucous foliage to set off the variety of pink shades. Any colour, so long as it is pink. The planting  plan? 

A variegated Tulbaghia adds some vitality.