Autumn in Cape Town

The days are getting shorter and the nights are longer again as we look forward to the cooler weather that comes with Autumn. While Diana in Porterville is enjoying her Nandina for autumn colour, Barbie’s garden in Philadelphia survived the heat of the summer and is still producing an abundant harvest, my garden here in the Southern Suburbs is giving me a few new gray hairs. Last year the Camellias started flowering on the 10th March and this year there are barely any buds in sight. Does the garden think it is still Summer? Probably. It hasn’t cooled down that much and still feels summery most days.

I love my garden in Autumn and Winter. There is always far more going on in it during the cooler seasons. Here are the first of my lovely Japanese Anemones showing their buds. All the plants I planted a few months back are growing beautifully and are covered in buds. I’m really looking forward to the lovely flowers opening.

In the Northern Hemisphere our gardening friends are enjoying the start of spring. Donna in New York said her favorite sign of spring is that of the first pollinators returning, bees buzzing and birds chirping are always a joy. Andrea in Idaho says it’s time to get back outside to watch a fresh line of spring ‘pretties’ emerge in her garden whilst Alan in St Louis is sowing seeds for his revamped vegetable garden. Holly in Texas is so happy its spring not even the weeds are getting her down and our friend Bag in London celebrates Spring with a study of the London Plane tree throughout the seasons.

How fortunate we are to be able to share in the joys of their spring gardens. When I feel uninspired to garden I “visit” their gardens and get fresh inspiration to prepare for spring. I’m already dreaming of Irises and Lilies … but for now I am still enjoying my Autumn blooms.

The Patio Rose above (a Woolworths special) is pretty in a pot on the outside table. I wonder what they are fed before they are offered for sale? This plant has been flowering non-stop for a few weeks now. On the opposite side of the garden the Petunias are still doing their thing in the Camellia bed, tumbling over the edges of the bed and wandering over the stoned area. Lovely. I wonder for how much longer.

In the other beds where I have deep shade I planted lots of white Impatiens. They’ve been delightful all summer – easy plants requiring hardly any attention while providing a splash of white prettiness in dark corners. Unfortunately one bed has been spoilt by cutworm decimating two of the nine plants. Not sure which I dislike more, the moles or cutworms.

I’ve really enjoyed the summer. I learnt a lot again and enjoyed making my garden more birder-friendly in the last three months. Lots of different birds made appearances at various times including a family of Rooibeksysies, the baby doves that posed for a photo shoot and lots of other birds I’ve peviously written about.

I planted a few Dahlias earlier in the season. I’ve had amazing lush green growth from the few bulbs I planted and am thrilled how they have “greened up” a large bare area that I had at the back. But the flowers have been disappointing. No mass of these pretty blooms, just a couple. I wonder if I did something wrong? Or perhaps the area I planted them in really does not get ample sun for Dahlias.

I’ve joined up with Donna and friends for Seasonal Celebrations over at Garden’s Eye View. Why not join and share your Spring or Autumn garden with us!

Happy Gardening
xxx

[note_box]PS: We’ve updated our Facebook Page to the new cooler layout and time-line. If you are on Facebook, please “Like” our page … we’ll be so happy if you do xxx[/note_box]