Bare bones of Winter

15 Jul '08 8:06 am

Yesterday we had 'weather', something we seldom have in winter. It was overcast and a chilly 8 degrees, but wind-free, and the mist was mostly closer to rain. The damp brought out the colour of the grass and the Swamp Cypress (except I really am thinking it's a Dawn Redwood!) across the water. Also, I've got back my Canon, so here is a pic celebrating winter - albeit from the house where I was working away in preparation for the new term which starts tomorrow. Wish me luck - it will be a busy time culminating in Romeo and Juliet in the second half of August...

15 Jul '08 10:54 am

... especially when viewed from indoors! Lovely outlook Jack.

Re the swamp cypress in your pic: I think you're meaning the smallish orangey tree on the edge of the water. The swamp cypress in NZ go a spectacular bright orange and then lose all their leaves (flat needle things). I have chosen not to have one by the pond, because during autumn they tend to look like dying pine trees. Why has yours still got leaves on Question

15 Jul '08 3:02 pm

Beautiful. Even winter can be colourful.

16 Jul '08 3:06 pm

Welcome back to both you and to Mark! I returned about a week ago from the trip north but couldn't get on the internet due to a software glitch with my computer. I should be posting some pictures soon on my thread as well.

Cheers, all!

gordonf

20 Jul '08 7:03 pm

About that swamp cypress in leaf, Kerole: I've finally done my homework, which included reading, talking to my dad and checking up with our neighbour from whom we sourced some trees...

Basically there is an unusual species, the Mexican Swamp Cypress or Taxodium mucronatum which tends to hold on to its leaves longer and in warm climates can even be evergreen. The neighbour, from whom we received several, had to wait years to confirm from the pollen sacs opening in autumn in stead of spring that it was in fact T.m. she had planted. This particular tree I bought from a nursery 50km away who no doubt sourced it from her.

As you can see from this morning's pic, it is now in full autumn colour and in fact already it has 'thinned' substantially. As for your comparison to dying pines, I must object most strongly: the cinnamon colour of a swamp cypress in autumn, especially when still combined with the fresh green, is one of the most subtle and beautiful you could find: very Kerole, I would have thought... In addition they are attractively shaped from a very young age and always retain a crisp outline and are totally free from problems and diseases. There are few trees I would as confidently recommend to you for your pond! We have, at a quick count, 14 around our dams and they give endless pleasure. I include a pic from early June to show you - with our two species and their natural variability in timing their turning, we have had close on 4 months of colour from them!

20 Jul '08 7:11 pm

Beautiful photos.

23 Jul '08 8:14 am

Well Jack you have certainly put the cat amongst the pigeons regarding swamp cypresses. You are right - from your description, they sound very Kerole indeed! I have heard of the semi-deciduous type but so far no one 'round here has any. I have a really good tree nursery up the road so I will get on the blower to them and see what they have to say. I feel a little ashamed at having dismissed them without doing further homework - very unKerole! Thanks for the heads up Jack.

Gorgeous wintery photos by the way Smile

We are having nothing but rain and wind. It is truly foul and not at all pretty.

3 Aug '08 8:10 pm

This morning, 1 degree Celsius, I was in the garden capturing the sunrise. Waiting for the light to shift, I had the chance to look closely at my plants. Buds are swelling, leaves even appearing. The first foolish blossoms are out and the azaleas are tempting the winter with their first blooms. I think we are over the cusp of winter...

4 Aug '08 12:45 am

Great excitement when the dogs chased a civet, a beautiful animal about the size of my bigger dogs, up a tree. We were on a midday walk when they suddenly got very rowdy and I went to investigate. You can see how energetically Taubie tried to get at the poor creature, who was safe in the top of the tree. However the stand-off continues, as she simply ignores my calls to come home, so she and Abi are still there. Poor civet will just have to bide his time...

For more info on the Civet from a part of SA where it is scarcer, and another pic, see www.kznwildlife.com/.../fauna/Civet

4 Aug '08 10:30 am

Hi, Jack;
What a beautiful creature the civet is! Reminds me a bit of our raccoons in appearance, although it sounds like it is quite a bit larger than raccoons are.

I've been so busy getting the place ready for the real estate tour this Wednesday that I've barely had time to look at the garden. Today, however, I finally did some pruning and weeding out there as the advertisement described the place as "A Gardener's Paradise"!! So I thought it had better look good when everyone visits! My fig trees (supposedly espaliered) were ready to surmount the roof and the sweet peas were covered with pods! The Cape Fuchsia is attempting to take over the raised bed but is having a royal battle of it with the Fuchsia magellanica which also wants to rule, and the slugs have been eating the leaves from the petunias. Oh my, oh my, oh my!!

Someday soon I really should take a few pictures of it all!

Cheers!

gordonf

Bare bones of Winter

Unusually wintery...

Winter can be lovely...

Welcome Back!

Full-on winter...

Swamp cypress

Sunrise on an August Sunday

Dogs chase a civet up a tree!

Civet