Friday, November 30, 2012

The Cape Town garden


Three quick pictures from this morning's garden at No. 9. I woke in the night to the smell of jasmine. At 6am I was in the garden with coffee and camera, thanks to jetlag.

The garden is stunning and almost overwhelmingly scented. We usually visit later in December and the three weeks jump we have on that season is remarkable. Roses still in full flight and the agapanthus just starting. And that jasmine.


As I type, I hear the sound of tent poles being erected in the garden for this weekend's party. There will not be much time for blogging, so forgive me if posting is sporadic for a while. It is good to be home, and there is much to do. I cried when I saw the city spread out in twinkling lights last night as our giant aircraft coasted in to land, its nose pointing into the raging headwind, summer's herald in the Cape.


Vince is already out, hunting Cape dwarf chameleons. Lunch will be on False Bay, fish and chips with Tipsy as a late birthday present for her. Tomorrow we go early to Chart Farm to hand pick more roses for the party.

And the jasmine is blowing in through the window, and the garden is full of floating rose petals loosened by the wind which sounds like the sea in the trees.

25 comments:

  1. Beautiful! Welcome back to the Cape, Marie. Enjoy your short visit and family celebrations. Hope you get to do some walking on the mountain too - lots of early summer flowers out!

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  2. Oh now I am homesick, its cold, grey and 2 sunny degrees in London. Sniff boo hoo.

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  3. Scent is the most evocative, and emotional thing...I can almost smell that jasmine.

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  4. Welcome Home! Big hugs and happy birthday wishes to your dad from me!
    Enjoy x

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  5. On an icy day such as it is, your summery post was warming to my spirit : ) Enjoy!!

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  6. Ooo hoe verlang ek nou huistoe! Geniet jou ma en die agapanthus.

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  7. Adrift in a sea of flowers. Scent is strongest at 6am.

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  8. Oh, such beautiful pictures from your mother's garden and lovely prose. Enjoy your trip and all the birthday celebrations.

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  9. What a beautiful garden! Enjoy your family and your time in beautiful South Africa.

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  10. By the way, is that a Verbascum (Dark Mullein) in the second picture? If it is, do you know if I could put one in a pot on my terrace? It's gorgeous, and I'd love to have one, if it can thrive in a container.

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    1. Dont knw where you are...but it grws well in central virgina - zone 7. Might be worth a try...

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  11. I am so jealous...everything is brown here. Have a fabulous week!

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  12. Such beautiful pictures. Spring and summer are a long way off here in Virginia.

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  13. Welcome home Marie and enjoy every moment of your short time here. I know that we'll love whatever you post from Cape Town.

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  14. Glad yu are safely home. ( who needs sleep?) Your mothers garden takes my breath away ... just gorgeous.

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  15. Beautiful, Marie! Can't wait to see more photos. I'm going to dream of the wind sighing through the trees tonight.

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  16. Beautiful garden! How lucky we are to live here - back after our 30 + years in London! Enjoy...

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  17. No wonder you are such a great gardener! This is beautiful! Henry will be envious! Enjoy the party! xo

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  18. This is precious time and fleeing, with family. Your blog can wait - these moments can't. Enjoy.

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  19. What is that fiery flower at the bottom of the third picture called. It's so beautiful.

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    1. Lotus berthelotii, or lotus vine. Grown as an annual...

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  20. Stunning garden! You are lucky to hail from such a beautiful place... :)

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  21. Yes, your posts can wait, should wait, as you enjoy your visit. But, here in Kansas, I cannot wait for your catch-up posts and photos that will let us share in these exuberant festivities!

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