My kumquat tree in a large pot outside the kitchen door is bearing its first fruit.But autumn on the high plateau (the highveld) of inland South Africa is hardly a time of mists and mellow colours as described by Keats in one of my all-time favourite poems. Autumn here means sunny days, turquoise blue skies, crisply cold mornings and chilly evenings with lows at about 5-10 degrees Celsius and daytime highs about 20-25 degrees Celsius.
I do admire those of you who know the Latin names of plants (like Melanie at Old Country Gardens and Mary at Across the Pond). We call this the powder puff shrub.
Another one I don't know. We call it a one-day lily as it only lasts a day. Just look at the design and colour combination. These lilies grow all over the garden, almost a weed!
Just saw the best idea for sandwiches. Cut out little rounds of white bread, butter and spread with cream cheese and place a nasturtium leaf on top and then a flower.
This photo is dedicated to Milo at Silver Bell Cottage. The common name of this shrub is Blue Cat's Whiskers and its Latin name: Clerodendrum myruoides. Apparently indigeous to South Africa.By now the roses in the formal rose garden are straggly but still blooming. Both of these grow in pots next to the swimming pool. On the right is My Granny.
To my left is Claude Monet. My husband and I visited Claude Monet's garden at Giverney in France some years ago. A very special memory. After Richard passed away, a friend bought me this rose bush and it blooms continually.
This white evergreen arum lily is an example of Divine design. Who else but an amazing Creator could have folded a spotless petal around a stamen of yellow so perfectly?
The cosmos (bidens formosa) grows next to the roads and highways in summer, something like the bluebonnets in Texas. It is a favourite subject of painters and I am busy with an embroidery in silk thread of white and pink cosmos.
To my left is Claude Monet. My husband and I visited Claude Monet's garden at Giverney in France some years ago. A very special memory. After Richard passed away, a friend bought me this rose bush and it blooms continually.
This white evergreen arum lily is an example of Divine design. Who else but an amazing Creator could have folded a spotless petal around a stamen of yellow so perfectly?
The cosmos (bidens formosa) grows next to the roads and highways in summer, something like the bluebonnets in Texas. It is a favourite subject of painters and I am busy with an embroidery in silk thread of white and pink cosmos. Hope you enjoyed the stroll around my autumn garden looking for treasures!
8 comments:
Yes, Eleanor, I did enjoy the stroll! Thank you for sharing these exotic fruits and flowers. Gorgeous.
Hope you enjoy The Little Locksmith!
Oh my, such beautiful flowers. You are a love to dedicate the blue cat's whiskers to Milo. Thank you very, very much. I can just smell the fragrances across the big blue sea. :)
Alexandra
pretty, pretty. And the blue cat's whiskers for sweet Milo, how precious.
Such beautiful flowers! Are they all from your garden?
My, the colors and plants of your autumn are so different from those here in New England. They are very beautiful..thanks for sharing. Your photos are well done.
What gorgeous flowers!
Stunning flowers sweetie! Your Autumn weather in SA is exactly like ours here in Queensland, Australia! Hope you're having a wonderful week!
Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)
Lovely flowers Eleanor and the kumquat is so luscious looking. How wonderful that you were able to visit Giverny and have lovely memories - I have never made it there....yet.
Here, Cosmos seeds are scattered in great swathes along the open highways by the Dept. of Transportation - they certainly brighten the roadsides during the Summer months. Hope your embroidery is progressing and that you will show us later.
I can see your Autumn weather would be right up my alley!!! Thank you for your e-mail - just know I would truly love to visit some day, one never knows!!!
Mary.
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