Hypoxis

This grows everywhere in our garden. it has been used by the indigenous people as a cure for cancer and for AIDS. It is a lovely plant - so very green and with wonderful bright yellow flowers. there are a number of varieties and it is sometimes called the African potato

Scadoxus multiflora

Known as the 'common fireball' this lovely plant flowers in October through to December. We are lucky enough to have this specimen in our garden.

Although widely spread throughout Africa it is usually only encountered in the wild.

It can be seen on the outcrops above the Victoria Falls.

We planted this specimen last year and it appears to like its spot on the rockery.

This one appears to have a good inflorescence - some plants only have about ten flowers in each clump.

The name is derived from Greek and means 'sharp umbel'.

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.

September

September is here and with it have come winds - not yet the heat we expect for this time of year. One wonders if the rainy season will appear on schedule but there was no rain around show time at the end of August and this is not a good sign.

Lack of water means that the vegetable garden is slow and not as productive as it should be. With constant power cuts and water cuts (no municipal water for three weeks and the borehole only operates when we have power!) water is almost out and we must wait for the rains to replant our lettuces and other vegetables.

Chillies and peppers have been planted but the germination rate has not been good.

Our avocado tree is producing well and mulberries and strawberries provide us with fruit. Our raspberries look like they may give us a good crop and the dusty berries are already starting to produce.

September is a slow month in our garden but we still mange to provide ourselves with something for the table.