Fork in the path

This post is the continuation of our walk down the garden path. We ended last time at the fork in the road. I cannot let that pass without offering you something to meditate on while we stroll. ”Sometimes it's necessary to go a long distance out of the way in order to come back a short distance correctly.”  Edward Albee

Oh, look! Bonny is first up to greet us today...

Anyone care for a ball game first???

NO? Well then, let's not waste anymore time and head on back home so we can enjoy the next part of our garden path stroll. Here is where we got to last time...

 

Looking left, towards the house (above) and looking right, towards the continuation of the path we're taking (below). The sturdy trunk visible in the centre of the photo below, belongs to our swamp cypress. There is a story about that tree but I'll save it for a future post. The yesterday,today & tomorrow still has flowers but the sweet violets have finished their showing for this year.

Same spot, but looking right - this is where we're headed!

We once again approach & pass the water feature to our right, as reflected in the mirror hanging on the wall behind...

I love using mirrors in the garden

Looking behind one last time at the section of path we'd completed in the previous post, we can admire the gorgeous yellow clivia that has pride of place beneath the overhanging viburnum. I've pruned all the undergrowth of the viburnum so it makes a lovely canopy for my shade loving plants in that spot (essential during our long, hot summer months!).

Looking back towards the way we're heading with the same clivia now viewed from behind.

A few more steps along the path and this time, looking across towards our left is one of several bird cages displayed in the garden – this one hangs from a brunsfelsia (yesterday-today-tomorrow) and has some old man's beard hanging above it (this is a bought piece as it does not grow naturally here).

Now, please do take a moment to look down at your feet to the right hand side of the path.

I placed all these rocks myself - both bought and found

This is one of many collections of river pebbles and rocks (some bought, some found).  These are at the base of and off to the side of the water feature . The ghekos and spiders absolutely love this spot. I need to brush gheko poop off the wall regularly and hardly a pebble can be turned without disturbing a spider or finding a nest. All signs of a healthy eco system establishing itself.

 

The small fence visible in the photo above is there to discourage our dogs from continually damaging the young ophiopogon (mondo) grasses. The neighbours have two dogs and ours and theirs regularly try to break through the wall to prove who's strongest. No chance, as the wall is high and rigid, but they try anyway! My plants suffer!

Enough downward gazing now...you're missing the brass butterflies perched on the Cape willow branch to your left. You'll need to look up a bit higher to see them clearly, especially if you're fairly short.

My brass butterflies

These were a surprise junk shop find and I was lucky to get all three! I seldom look for specific things for specific places. When I see something that appeals to me I buy it (or acquire it, if it's a log or stone discovered on country rambles), bring it back home and then set about finding it the perfect spot. I even do this with buying plants at times, although obviously not always! 

The picture above shows you a slightly wider view across the garden to the left of the path. If you turn around at this point, here's the view looking directly behind you. 

Three of eight water tanks we have in our garden are just visible top left

Again, continuing down the path just a few steps further along, you have a slightly better perspective (photo below) and can see the trunk of the swamp cypress on your immediate left.

Love the way the light catches the sphere suspended in this part of the garden

The hanging sphere (above) catches the late afternoon sun perfectly in this spot and, when it's twirling in the breeze, creates the most exquisite little flecks of mobile light. These resembles fireflies dancing in a gently flowing arc across the garden. The effect is truly captivating!

The arums were planted last year as were the ferns and they've settled well. This area was smothered in rampant ivy before we cleared it to have the path laid. I need to keep the last remaining strands ruthlessly in check lest they throttle my new plantings. 

 

You need to turn around again now in the direction we were headed and step down the single step on to the lower terraced area in this part of the garden.

Pumba the warthog guards this section of garden

The little metal warthog seems happy to remain partially hidden beneath the arums. To his right, are the thin, sculptural trunks of two camelias, one pink, the other, a deep crimson. They were beautiful this year.

My pink camelia

We are now standing on the lower terraced area.  

Behind us (but not shown for now!) is a second seating area ideal for enjoying a cup of tea whilst gardening here. The path itself ends a few steps ahead, as it slopes gently to meet the level, bricked platform on which my greenhouse stands. Beyond this, a new curved section of path begins and loops around the back of the garden pond to join the wider path adjacent to the front length of the house...but I'll show you these next time! 

In his garden, every man may be his own artist
without apology or explanation.
Louise Beebe Wilder