Today is the Winter solstice 2020 in the Southern Hemisphere at 23:43, (Saturday 20 June). So many think this is the end of winter, in my opinion it is just starting, the months of July and August are much colder on average. The sun is shining with no breeze to speak of, 22 deg C a wonderful day to be outside.
Many winter flowers come to life when the grass is brown and drab, here now sharing flowers around my garden currently blooming keeping the bees busy pollinating and growing their hive.
In full display enjoying the Crassula ovata that comes with many names, Jade plant, Money tree, Dollar plant, Dwarf rubber, Friendship tree, Lucky plant, Pink joy,. No matter the name you know it by, it is native to South Africa and Mozambique.
Growing in a pot enjoying the hot afternoon sun, heavy with star shaped small flowers during winter, this succulent is a keeper for it's bonsai baobab form, not growing much bigger than the one in the photo.
Other side of verandah pillar is the aloe arborescens in full bloom, considered a health plant offering substantial benefits, used in various medicinal ways around the world.
South Africa boasts a hundred and thirty different species native to the region, this particular one is easy to grow. I literally had to ask permission to get a photo with a the bees around both these plants, bees will display on another day, today it is about flowers!
Golden shower hanging onto the precast wall, climbing up cactus and other plants available, this plant originates from Brazil and does need to be cut back and watched it does not take too much control in a garden.
In Brazil the leaves are used in traditional medicine, I have not heard of it being used over here where I live.
Jatropha podagrica or bottle stem - native to tropical Americas very happy in our region.
Crown of Thorns - Euphorbia milii - native to Madagascar another succulent plant. This is one of about 5 different crown of thorns in the garden, color range from yellows to reds each delightful.
Pincushion cactus - Mammillaria - native to Americas mostly Mexico
Euphorbia trigona - Friendship tree or African Milk Tree - native to Central Africa
Faucaria tigrina - Tiger jaws succulents - Native to Eastern Cape, South Africa
For safe measure some plants I really do not remember what they are or where they blew in from, yellow wild flowers behind our wall liven the area up for a couple of weeks during winter.
Red hanging flowers that do have spines on the swaying branches also twisted into the wall of color.
All photography is my own, any queries or requests please drop a comment below, have a wonderful day! Photography without tripod go with the flow wherever life takes you.
Thought for Today: "There are many colourful flowers on the path of life, but the prettiest have the sharpest thorns." - African Proverb
Places to Enjoy On Hive: #powerhousecreatives hive-114105, #qurator hive-102880, #featheredfriends 
!pinmapple -30.0836005 lat 30.8678566 long Sapphire Coast South Africa D3SCR
