Autumn Sunday

Sunday lived up to its name today, with warm, sunny weather - a typical June day in Cape Town. A little potter in the garden was the order of the day, and dead plants from the scorching summer have been replaced with something new to brighten a dull patch. I've been lucky to find a few shrubs I have been looking for over the years - the beautiful red and cream rose, Ice Cream, and the gorgeously hued apricot pink hibiscus.

An unseasonal clivia has added some life to the dense greenery in the shade, and the bougainvillea that has been in a tub for about 15 years has sprouted 'flowers' at long last.

Rejuvenation of the rest of the garden will have to wait for Spring, except for continual weeding, otherwise it will become a jungle should the promised floods of rain ever materialise. We still have a little autumn left, with winter officially beginning on 20 June, so the balmy days will continue. Winters are short and sharp here on the south-western tip of Africa and are soon forgotten as the daisies of Spring seem to open earlier each year. Confusion in nature is apparent with some white daisies already peeking out. They are in for a shock! Or maybe we are, and winter has been cancelled.

In the meantime, we will enjoy basking in the gentle sunshine on this windless day.