My wild sanctuary

 The grass is growing longer and the mower man is not allowed to come and trim the grass and weeds which are beginning to look unsightly.  I have used shears to trim the edges of the garden boxes, so the self-sown poppies can be seen when their flowers are ready to open.  This morning I took a picture of the first poppy to open.  

My outside garden is packed with colours.  The bluebells, echium and euphorbia in shades of blue and lime green are most prominent at the moment.

bluebells

blue echium and lime green euphorbia

pristine white of cherry blossoms

a tomato seedling

a chilli seedling

sparaxis and African daisy

lavender, azaleas and camellia underneath the jacaranda tree

azaleas, a brilliant show of colours

pink abutilon, a favourite with birds

low lying pink Geraldton wax flower

tiny but pretty mauve orchid

violets, tiny and beautiful

bushes and trees with new growths

tree fern

in a corner between the lemon tree and the protea, enough room for the compost bin

Chilli and Cape Gooseberry

 

Hot chillies, cape gooseberry and a stray violet which I accidentally picked while tidying up the sprawling cape gooseberry bush.  The ripe fruits I found on the ground, and the unripe, green gooseberries in their green lanterns were on a branch I accidentally cut.  They will not go to waste as I can use them in a fresh sambal.  They are quite tart.

This variety of very hot chilli ripens in winter.  They have to be protected from the frost or I would end up with burnt chillies fit only for the compost heap.

The Cape gooseberries do not ripen at the same time.  The ripe ones drop onto the ground and I have to remember to look for them.