The last few days it has been a whole lot cooler here in Cape Town which means I felt more inclined to walk around and see what the heat of the previous weeks has done to my garden and plants …
Angelonia is a hard-working little flowering plant that seems to thrive in the heat of the sun…
[one_half]In the “Gardenia bed”
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[one_half_last]there is plenty of lush growth
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[one_half]In the “Rose Bed” …
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[one_half_last]water for my birds
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[one_half]Lots of pretty in the back garden[/one_half]
[one_half_last]Grasses that I love in the Alley
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[one_half]Colour courtesy of some “Supertunias”.
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[one_half_last]and abandoned doggie toys
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At times like this I am particularly grateful for the big trees in my garden that cast so much shade. My plants have not suffered the way Barbie’s garden has suffered in the heat. If anything, growth is lush and everything that has not been attacked by pests is looking green and great. There have been more than usual bugs and ‘pestie’ things around – but such is life and nature and we try to tolerate them all here in my garden, even when I shed tears about destroyed plants.
Seems there is still lots to look forward to this summer!
Happy Gardening
xxx
21 replies on “My Summer garden update”
Looking just beautiful my friend! A bit envious of the lushness 🙂
I am also thankful for the cooler weather this weekend and used the time to clean up!
Post to follow!
By the way – the conifer didn’t make it 🙁
So gorgeous and lush! I love the corner with the trellises and the bird bath. It seems like a nice peaceful little nook!
Your bench is so welcoming. Your garden looks as though it has fared well through your summer. You have a great eye for design and plant combinations…very pretty!
I love how your garden is looking. It is just beautiful. Lush is a great word to describe it. I was saddened to see Barbie’s garden suffering in the heat. You are lucky your garden is doing so well.
Christine, those trellises are fabulous (along with all your garden views). I’m on the hunt for visual screens; your design is inspiring.
Everything looks so beautiful!! ‘Lush’ is the perfect word!! I like the little stones in your bird bath. I do something similar. 🙂
We have snow covering the ground now, although it will melt tomorrow, so it is especially fun to see photos of your lush garden.
Your gardens are so peaceful, lush and relaxing…I get a deep sense of peace from the pictures…how fortunate and talented you are Christina!
Glad your garden is a bit cooler. It does look so very green and lush. Gorgeous! I love all the variety of plants you have in your garden. So much to see – well done!
Your garden looks wonderful…so neat and weed free. I too am a huge fan of angelonia…though they don’t stay small here. I use them as my fill in annual.
Its funny, I’ve visited Capetown twice… granted, I think once in May and the othertime in June, so its mind boggling to me that it ever is HOT there. It was so…. dry and temperate!
Hi Jess! May and June in Cape Town are by far the worst months here, with July. It can get quite depressing if it rains for weeks on end. But it usually only last a few weeks and the other 9 months are glorious!
Looks beautiful to me too! Do you use that bench much? It looks fantastic there — benches are near the top of my list for this year.
“There have been more than usual bugs and ‘pestie’ things around…”
Um, photos? 🙂
🙂 bugs and pestle post to follow soon!
I don’t use that bench much, we tend to sit out back on the comfier couches on the terrace. Hmmm, we should use that bench more, the views are quite nice from that position. Will show them one of these days.
Hi Christine – Up till now I thought of your garden as a work in progress like mine. However, viewing these lovely photos it looks like Job Done to me.
Bag, I promise my garden is a huge work in progress. I only showed the best parts in this post to get myself out the ‘gardening is tough’ doldrums I’ve been in. This is a best of show post – what you are not seeing is the heat burnt lawn and partly bare beds that need lots of work 🙂
I would guess the pebbles give the birds better purchase for takeoff and landing. Your garden is looking lovely, revelling in the summer beneath shady trees.
Thanks Diana! I realize how fortunate I am now to have all the shade.
I discovered Angelonia a few summers back. Where was it hiding all these years? It is one of my maninstays and always perky and fun…even in hot weather.
Your garden looks perfect.
David/:0)
I agree! I’m thrilled to have found it. Pretty, fun and remarkably fuss-free!
What a beautiful Garden you have!! I wonder, did you add pebbles to the birdbath? do the birds still use it or are they bothered by the pebbles?
Oh Wow! Thank you for the compliment! I don’t know about beautiful, but we are slowly getting there 🙂
Yes I added the pebbles and strangely, there are more birds in the bath now than before, but that could just be because of the heat we are having at the moment. But definately they don’t mind the pebbles.