Roses - Durban July

Durban July is actually a horse racing event here in South Africa , in the City of Durban.

and it is the name given to this rose

it's beginings has lots of yellow

and then a little less

and then nothing

Pretty cool rose

happy blogging

strange looking flower

In one one of my previous post, I popped in a picture of this plant

I was hoping to add it's progress to each post but now it has already opened

and it is the strangest looking flower in my garden

close up it looks like the skin of an animal

and it feels soft and leathery

and it has the most disgusting smell

so sorry to dissappoint but this is no rose

it's fills the pot very nice and compact 

and even without the flower it's stems have a range of green to purple colours

it transplants easily with a stem

and is drought resistent

unfortunately I don't know what it is called ,

this is another plant from my neighbour

happy blogging

while I was away the arums have grown

I am very excited to annouce .. um display the wonderful changes in my yellow arums.

I have been away for the week and this is what happened to the yellow arums.

one has turned brilliant yellow

another is getting there

it's not as big as the first

and something took a nip out of it .. I wonder if it died ?

others are just peeping

My mom called to say her garden has an impressive 6 flowers
..
But I think I've counted 7 in mine
woo woo and a little dance

I didn't tell her though

I'm waiting for her to come visit

and see for herself

A garden fairy was captured on camera

I was taking pictures one afternoon

when behind the yesterday , today and tomorrow I spotted a tiny pink and white movement

it was is so many pictures , of my wild garlic

my petunias

even the ice berg roses

it wasn't alone . There was a fairy guard also  by the geraniums

they came riding on two white fairy beasts  by the orchids

she liked the blue salvias

she found something interesting

and went in for a closer look

she called her fairy guard to come see too

the white beasts were on watch.

the fairy guard gave them strict instructions, by the newly purchased varigated leave plant

he made sure the garden fairy was safe by the yellow flowers from the silver leaved plant

she could be seen even at the geraniums

and at an angle by the alysums

she peered in at the red salvias when she was finished with her garden magic

and claimed some flowers as a reward

Arums are coming

After the rain , especially this time of the year,

 I search the spots I have memorized where the yellow arums are planted.

 They used to be all on the east facing wall. Until last year when my husband and the neighbour decided it was time to redo the wall !

And in a frantic , furious frenzy I had to relocate the precious bulbs all over the garden.

 I must confess I left some behind and I also forgot some of the places I replanted them.

the first few flowers are starting to show

it's there , trust me. It's green now but soon I'll send you bright yellow pictures.

They are my favorite because it was my dad's favorite , that he got from his mom.

He passed on five years ago.

His theory was that if the second leaf is a flower then the bulb will flower

else it won't at all. So far it's held true in my garden.

this only has a yellow sun tinted color .. the white arums have been flowering already

and will continue long after the yellow have died off

if anyone knows how to make the yellow last that long ..

I'm all ears .

The Afrikaans people call Arums 'varkies oorer'  (mind my spelling)

which translated means pigs ears

And

every part of the arum if eaten is poisonous

I still love them ..

macro monday

It's still 8 o' clock here in South Africa . I haven't missed macro monday yet.

inside an ice berg rose

inside a johannesburger rose (a Ludwigs)

 marigold

I'm getting better at macro shots with my Nikon , you can see the pollen inside this arum

I cropped the top picture from this one

wild orchids .

These are a favorite for landscapers there is rarely a garden done at an office block that does not have these.

The marco really shows it;s true beauty.

The dark spots and the fluffy rich yellow

and the delicate blue

just perfect

a shy gloden oldie rose. I've had so many blooms on this rose already.

This lady loves the sun.

And the sun loves her.

looks like an orange bursting open.

the flower from the pomergrante

The articles on the internet says it should fruit after 3 years.. this is my third year

Sadly , some of the flowers have already fallen

but there is still hope for those hanging in.

I think it's a yellow wild orchid .. the plant's leaves look very similiar , but the yellow does not flower as abundantly as the white.

And it has these attractive dark spots on it

white Alysum .

When you find the right spot for this ground cover , then they will easily self seed.

Just be sure to shake the bush well when your pulling it out.

And to end .. this is a flower that will eventually open ..

Anyone ever seen this before ?

I will try and  pop a progressive picture of this guy in each post until it opens.

Did I say it was 8 ? It's now almost 9 .. blogging must be fun

the time is flying

happy blogging

Praveshree

towering pics

not all of these are very big plants , but I suppose that does not make a difference to the bugs , everything must tower

Spinach is not so towering

these are the dried stalks from a succulent

Yellow Iris leaves .. or rather the leaves of a Yellow Iris

Red Salvia .. I love the sky there

geranium underneath towering blue Salvia

from the opposite side you can see the low mint brightened by the flash ..

geraniums just behind and the blue Salvia stalks in the sky

towering wall ..

not really a plant

but I like the drop of water

so sparkling

TOWERING Pecan Nut

I wish

It is no higher than my knee

And has been that way for the last two years

Towering inquisitive investigator

couldn't resist putting in this fancy face

purple salvia

that little yello hook at the bottom is a yellow arum

..

they are coming

I must not be impatient

(repeat 5 times - to calm down)

this picture was the reason for this post

It's an Arcacia tree that is one of the two trees from the original garden

I ripped out everything else.

it just goes and goes.

this is a new Arcacia that has sprouted from the many seed pods that fell.

There are many that have popped

lets see how long it lasts

I'm daydreaming about bonsais