A southern African clematis

I took myself for a necessary walk at Kirstenbosch - a major perk of being in Cape Town (and essentially free, since I am a member of the Botanical Society, mission statement: To win the hearts, minds and material support of individuals and organizations for conservation, cultivation, study and wise use of the indigenous flora and vegetation of southern Africa.")

Coming down the slopes to a wide path that crosses the garden south-north, I was stopped by a gorgeous scrambling climber, in full bloom in this southern autumn.

Clematis brachiata (which I have seen in Lesotho) was crossed with Clematopsis scabiosifolia, also called bush clematis. The result is this hybrid.

The air around the clematis was richly scented. In this Veld and Flora article about the plant's backstory, Rod Saunders, who bred it, attributes the scent to the Clematopsis part of the pairing; that plant is native to the Witwatersrand, at home in nutrient-poor soil and able to withstand the cold Highveld winters.

I fell in love. Flowers, seedheads, scent.

Seed hunters Rob and Rachel Saunders own Cape Town-based Silverhill Seeds, a mail order seed company.  Browse if dare.

Garden quinces

After supper in a beautiful room with new and old friends, I was given these quinces - very generously - from a walled garden in Cape Town's city bowl, where it climbs on steep streets the lower slopes of what becomes Lion's Head.

I am turning a handful of them into membrillo. The rest I shall keep a little while longer, for their good smell.

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Colour - Babylonstoren

 Cape Dutch gable, April sky.

Red salad.

Delicious dandelions

Dandelion season is in the offing in the Northen Hemisphere (try digging the young, undeveloped shoots and entire crowns, now - quite Belgian endive-like). But they are in full production here at the southern tip of Africa, in the early autumn. I hoisted some from my mom's aloe garden, where they volunteer in abundance.

Ironically, it is Harlem supermarkets that have accustomed me to their mature bitterness; they are always in stock in enormous bunches.

For these substantial lunch bruschette I crisped some bacon, deglazed the hot pan with a splash of sherry vinegar, threw in the dandelion leaves till wilted (adding a pinch of sugar), then piled everything with not-quite-hard-boiled-eggs onto toasted sourdough rubbed with garlic.

What's in dandelions? Loads of overlooked Vitamin K (bone, brain and vascular health), lots of A, and plenty of C.

Eat up!

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Begonias, beautiful again

I have long suffered from a begonia prejudice. I am getting over it.

They are at their peak right now in Cape Town - in early autumn, and on my mom's terrace in high shade (under an awning), their variety is spectacular.

How do you feel about begonias?

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Windscreen scenes - Cape Town driving

Monstera deliciosa

I say! Is that a delicious monster in your pocket or are you just...?

I love the form of these flower and fruits. I have never eaten one. Never seen one ripen, here under the London plane at No. 9. They disappear, mysteriously. Tasting the Central American fruit is one of my (few) life's ambitions.

They are left to their own devices in this garden. The shade is almost complete in summer, and the water erratic. In winter and spring the tree loses its leaves, and there is weak sun on brilliant Cape winter days, inbetween sheets (and feet) of rain. I have no doubt that they have invasive potential, especially in subtropical parts of their non native range. But here they remain well behaved, curfewed by occasional drought and temperatures a little lower than they might like, on some winter nights.

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