Autumn Days
We are entering our autumn now and the Western Cape has a far different habitat to the rest of the country. We look forward to seeing the squirrels scurrying about at their busiest, gathering the acorns for winter. We have some wonderful huge old Oak trees in the Gardens near the centre of the city, where people usually buy some nuts from the vendors and feed these cute little creatures. We see some of the birds preparing to fly north to the warmer climates. Our days are starting to cool with most of the scorching heat now over. The sun is appearing that little later and disappearing a tad earlier. Long summer evenings now moving on to shorter more comfortable ones.
Of course, this is the busiest time for the gardener, planning and preparing for your Spring and Summer garden. Colour of course plays a big part in the entire creation and it is mostly your time and effort now that will make your garden spectacular.
Pansies and Violas with their pretty little smiling faces.
Poppies, Primulas and Petunias from single to double in any assortment of colours.
Bulbs of all kinds from Daffodils, Ranunculus, Freesias, Dutch Iris, Watsonias and Sparaxis all so intriguing from when the first spears appear above the ground until you see the full show of flowers.
Lobelia, Calendula, Cineraria and Stocks, from little fairy like sprays of flowers to the hot and showy.
Cabbage, Onions, Peas, Carrots, Turnips and Swiss Chard, the perfect collection for your steamy winter soups.
Rosemary, Thyme, Origanum, Fennel, perfect for a bouquet-garni in your soul warming stews.
All that is needed is some digging, fertilising, mulching and planting for that wonderful Spring and Winter wonderland.
Every blade of grass has its angel that bends over it and whispers, ‘Grow, grow.’
The Talmud