Chessboard shadows

I picked this photo today for no big reason other than I dig what the shadows were up to that afternoon.

We spotted this large wire chess set while wandering around the grounds of the Margaret Roberts Herbal Centre.

Plants that scream: don't touch me!

Here's a collections of plants and flowers I've spotted lately that, well, don't make me want to pick them and bring them home to mom...

Perspectives on succulents

 

The other day, my future mother in law took us to the Margaret Roberts Herbal Centre. I've been a fairly enthusiastic gardener in the US and the UK, so was eager to learn more about South African plant life. Truthfully, we all agreed the centre was a bit disappointing - we visited in early spring when things were still quite brown and dusty. Unfortunately, not many of the plants were labelled, so tracking them down will be rather tricky once I'm ready to start a garden of my own.

I'm originally from West Hartford, Connecticut where things are typically lush and green (when they're not buried under snow), so I'll admit I don't have a natural love of the succulents that are common here in the higher altitude and drier climate. That said, I do think their geometry is pretty cool, so maybe I can learn to love them?

More from the Margaret Roberts Centre likely to come...