Lilies in the garden

There are beautiful indegenous lilies Zimbabwe. The one shown here we are yet to name. Fearing we might loose it we have planted in a pot and hope it will seed. Indigenous lilies grow well in the open ground so if this one survves we willplant it out and plant the seeds in the open grond. This is how it looks at this time.

Tree Wisteria

This beautiful tree has just finished flowering in our garden.

Bolusanthus speciosus is graceful and grows to 7 metres in height. When the flowers fall they form a carpet of purple on the grass below.

This tree was planted about 15 years ago from seed and has almost grown to its full height.

So much for indigenous trees being slow growing.

Dry gardens

Well ------ this is about it at the moment! We are waiting for the October/November rains. Not wanting to deplete the underground water we do not water the grass. It means more dust - but, hey, grass dies down in winter anyway - so why make it grow! It needs a rest!

Our vegetables have taken the brunt of the weather - but still produce a few tomatoes, peppers and the spinach, rhubarb and strawberries are fine. Dusty berries are coming on, as are raspberries. Our crop of guavas should be good and the mango trees are flowering - whether or not we will get any that ripen properly is yet to be seen however none will go to waste as I will stew them with some specially saved sugar and make puree for the coming year.

A lot of our vegetables will be planted in pots this year as we have no one to help in on our acre plus garden.

Seed is impossible to obtain but Alex has posted us some from SA - hope it arrives!

Gardenia spatulifolia in flower!

Although spring as such does not exist in Zimbabwe - the transiton from cold to hot happening almost overnight - this time of year is full of flowering trees and shrubs.

One of my favourite trees is Gardenia spatulifolia - giving us an abundance of white waxy flowers that turn to yellow . The flowers are highly perfumed and the perfume can be sensed over the whole garden. The tree is this picture was planted by us about 12 years ago.