LATE POMPONS

Every summer we are treated to a delightful flush of fragrant, pinkish-mauve flowers that cover the many Pompon (Dais cotonifolia) trees in our garden. Some of these we planted, but most are self-seeded. They looked particularly lovely during December, when the trees were blanketed in pink blossoms.

Now the trees are covered with the more muted colours of the dried flowers and the swimming pool has to be regularly cleared of the petals as they are separated from the trees by the hot wind fanning through the garden. Their fairly brief period of glory is over. But wait … look at these bright spots poking through the foliage.

Here and there a branch, or even a whole tree, has brought forth a fresh range of flowers for us to enjoy.

Although these trees occur naturally along the eastern part of South Africa, from the Eastern Cape, through the Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and into Limpopo and Mpumalanga, the flowering season seems to vary slightly. Here it is usually between November and December, so to find such pretty flowers coming out near the end of January is a real bonus!

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