Lovely winter flowers

Sometimes we tend to think of winter as a dull month.  These plants are flowering in the garden at the moment and they are just lovely!  I am sure you will agree.

Bletilla striata is a lovely dainty orchid that cuts well and grows in dappled shade.

A Lavandula stoechas that looks lovely now.

A really beautiful Helleborus

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Cape Robin in our garden

While working in the garden today I was thrilled when Chris discovered that the Cape Robin had a nest just next to where we were working.  I thought she was just hanging around for the worms which we were exposing.  These she pounced on with glee!  I had forgotten that she had built a nest deep in the rosemary bush last year.

Rosemary and lavender bush used by robin for nesting.

Here is a photo of the rosemary bush where the nest is situated, and a not so good picture of the little ones in the nest.

Baby robins in nest

I took it rather hurriedly so as not to disturb them or distress the mother.  I noticed that when we went on working in the area, she would pick up a worm and disappear into the bush quite happily not being too bothered about our presence.  The Robin tends to make its nest fairly low down so is fairly easy to disturb while gardening.

The next day(23rd), when in the garden I decided to check on the robin’s nest and take a decent picture.  To my surprise after taking the pic the young robin flew off and landed on the ground close by, before disappearing under a shrub.  Here is the young robin before he took off!

Young robin in its nest.

Lobostemon fruticosus

I have just been away for 5 weeks.  When I got back one of the first things I did was wander around the garden to see what was flowering and what had changed during my absence.  I was thrilled to see the Lobostemon flowering, as it is the first time that I have grown it.  It is commonly called the ‘Agtdaegeneesbos’ because of its medicinal uses.  It grows wild on the farm and makes a lovely cut flower for posies.  More detailed plant information can be found on the Kirstenbosch website or the Fernkloof Nature Reserve (in Hermanus) website.

Lobostemon makes a lovely cut flower

Close up of the lobostemon fruticosus flower