A confusion of seasons

We arrived at Towerwater on a rainy Friday afternoon. The wintery evening called for a nice curry with homemade apricot chutney and a good red wine. After-dinner refreshments called for a good peated whiskey and a period drama all from the comfort of the chesterfield.

A rainy Saturday was spent indoors, apart from inspecting the newly reconstructed citrus terrace at Hooggelegen. With a healthy 18mm of rain that fell from Friday morning, the garden was refreshed and the roses could be observed vibrantly getting ready for spring.

On Sunday morning we were greeted by a hot summer day. Gone were the rain and clouds. With the lawn covered in oak leaves and bright yellow dandelion flowers, it looked like autumn and felt like summer while we are supposed to be in spring.

We learned that the pin-oaks do not lose all their leaves in autumn. This is to protect them during the cold northern winter in the areas from which they originate. They keep their dry tasteless leaves to protect the soft juicy branches from being eaten by deer looking for food in the snow.

After years in Africa, they are still using their inborn survival skills, holding onto their dead leaves for dear life, although they have not seen a deer in their lives. The hot day gave the garden a new energy with birds ‘going wild’ and the bees working on every available flower.

Being able to enjoy four seasons in two days we could relax on Saturday but had to use the dry hot Sunday to tend to some pressing maintenance on the property. Keith had to fix some pebble plaster that came off the façade of the house during a winter storm, while I tended to the pests and other gardening issues.

With autumn leaves, winter rain, spring flowers and summer heat, we were spoilt for choice in a confusion of seasons over one weekend.