Colchicum bivonae

Well a relatively brief statement this month just to catch up for Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day.  We are just returned from almost three weeks in South Africa and I can assure you that of the many flowers we saw there, Colchicum are non-existent.  It’s their Springtime, not their Fall.  We got home to find that Colchicum are happily flowering away (which is what to expect in mid-September).

Colchicum (of unknown variety)

Colchicum x byzantium ‘Innocence’

At the same time the usual winners for September were happily flowering despite the terrible dryness Maryland has been experiencing.

Cestrum ‘Orange Peel’

I was happy to see that the Dahlias were spreading their usual joy.  Not only the Bishop in the perennial bed but also several other varieties in the vegetable garden courtesy of Swan Island Dahlias.

Dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaff’

Dahlia from Swan Island

Dahlia from Swan Island

I’ll have to research the names when I get time.  And we have a lot sunflowers and other annuals in the vegetable garden.

Annual Flowers in the Veg garden

But I do want to share that our exposure to South African Flowers was wonderful.  This was all via a trip arranged by the American Horticultural Society.  We’ve been a member since forever but this was our first travel experience with AHS and it was memorable.  The arrangements were excellent and breadth of exposure to South African culture and plant life will stay with us for a long time.  I’ll try to see if I can put together a more detailed summary at some point but here is just a glimpse of what we saw.

Candelabra aloe atop Table Mountain in Cape Town

An absolute must for Cape Town visitors is Kirstenbosch, one of the world’s outstanding Botanic Gardens.Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Looking at the mountains that are part of Kirstenbosch

We happened to be there for the first annual flowering of the Crimson King Protea which was a celebration for even the curators.

Protea cyanoides (King Protea)

Driving through the countryside there were lovely vistas of wildflowers and wonderful opportunities to explore.

Dimorphotheca sinuata (African Daisy)

And although horticulture was a major interest it turned out that I spent a lot of time photographing birds which are every bit as beautiful as the plants.

Orange-breasted Sunbird on Table Mountain