Spring garden

It's spring in South Africa, and even though we have not yet had any rain, all the plants are waking up from the winter slumber.  I've been watering and pruning and feeding my garden, and have put in a few new plants.  I love spring, it's my all time favourite season of the year.

 

I work, she watches 

my beloved salvia hotlips are about to bloom, the rain gauge is waiting to measure the spring rains

the last of the winter pansies 

A new arrangement of pots at the front door

Around here

August in South Africa was very warm, unseasonably so.  Spring starts in September down here in the southern hemisphere, yet it was a very cold month in Johannesburg.

 

And now ... I'm starting to open up the windows, the day time temperature are heating up quickly, and although it's still quite cold at night, it's official - spring is here.  There's a lot going on in my garden

 

  

 

  

 

Autumn Garden

It's late Autumn in South Africa

It's really cold at night but still very warm during the day

My Autumn garden is coming alive...

I love the little 'faces' of the winter pansies. 

The colour above is antique rose - gorgeous! 

Most of the succulents in my garden have flower buds; I can't wait to see the explosion of winter colour - mostly bright orange.

Wheelbarrow garden project

I've been busy with a little garden project.  It's impossible to plant anything in the area down the side of my home, because of excessive root compacting from the trees in my own garden and those on the pavement. 

 

I bought an ordinary garden wheelbarrow, painted it beige, had some holes drilled in the bottom for drainage, and then planted some succulents. 

 

My gardener has removed all the plants in the flower beds, I've had 2 very old shrubs removed, and this will now become a succulent garden using pots and a wheelbarrow.

 

 

 

I still need to do some planting in the pots, but it's all coming along nicely