"If you're still hanging onto a dead dream of yesterday, laying flowers on its grave by the hour, you cannot be planting the seeds for a new dream to grow today."
- Joyce Chapman
Spring is such a magical time in the garden! When the days are still cool and the nights cold, plants already sense the lengthening of the days and below the soil growth is taking place. A close look at twigs and branches will reveal the thickenings that will become leaves and blossoms. All of a sudden flowers burst forth and trees are clothed in the palest of green leaves.
1st September 2009 - The peach tree blossoms - the green buds are already replacing the lovely pink flowers.
1st September 2009 - The Celtis africana (White Stinkwood) dressed in splendid green buds.
These three Trees of the Year, Acacia galpinii (Monkey Thorn), Halleria lucida (Tree Fuchsia) and Pterocarpus rotundifolius (Round-leaved Teak) can all be planted in Gauteng, depending on the micro-climate of the area where you live. I already have two of them, but won't be getting the Round Leaved Teak, as it grows mostly in KwaZulu-Natal in the south, through Swaziland, Mpumalanga, Limpopo (Northern Province) to the northern parts of North-West Province. It is also indigenous to Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia. It grows in open bushveld and on rocky hillsides, often forming a colony. Too much frost for it here in Tarlton.
Acacia galpinii (Monkey thorn)
Halleria lucida (Tree fuchsia) - this is the size they can grow to.
Pterocarpus rotundifolius (Round-leaved Teak)
On the 1st September we had a veld fire rage through our property, ignoring all fire breaks - this is an annual winter occurrence and I thought we were done with that now.
The neighbour's property on the other side of the fence where I think the fire originated.
The veld recovers very quickly - this was taken exactly a week after the fire. Soon it will be standing waist high and have to be cut again. As soon as it has been cut, the Plover (standing in the middle of the pic) will be making her nest again.
10th September 2009 - Looks like our rains are on the way.
Cape Reed Grass - getting huge and covering half the walk-way
My favourite winter spot for sitting in the sun and watching the birds
September 2009 - The Aloes after the winter
Seeds on Aloe ferox (Bitter Aloe) - I've never noticed these before - it's amazing what the viewfinder of the camera can reveal!
Seeds on Aloe ferox
The Cape Reed Grass is taller than ever and seeding very well.
I'll only be doing my next garden up-date at the end of the year.
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