Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow...

...with a little sprig of jasmine. These flowers emerge from their buds a rich purple, then fade to a paler mauve and finally to pure white, hence their name 'Yesterday, today and tomorrow' - quite a mouthful! I wish I could paint the scents of these, and the jasmine and sweetpeas and wisteria that are billowing forth around the city - for a while, Joburg smells quite heavenly.
It's a good day to post this little study - Spring, new life and a precious new baby grand (or is it great?)-nephew in London, born just the day before the anniversary of his grandmother, our eldest sister's, passing away 7 years ago. A time of joy and celebration to replace a time of loss. Welcome little fellow (we don't know his name yet)!!
I've just looked up the proper name - brunfelsia pausiflora - does this grow in other places in such abundance? I associate it so much with Johannesburg - when I first came here as a 22 year old I had one outside my new bedroom window in a communal house, and it smelled fantastic, but I missed home - the Fairest Cape, so badly!

6 comments:

Unknown said...

This looks very sweet and delicate and very springy. I've never heard of those flowers, but I'm not a garden expert. I love the way you handle those watercolors!

Vivienne said...

Lovely Spring flowers to celebrate a Spring Baby.
I sent the pics on to Ingie and Marge, but forgot to mention Jesse is a boy.
I have one successful, wonderfully scented bush of yt&t here, and keep trying for more. Nothing like the Johannesburg ones; but that goes for most plants! Spring flowers in the bush are spectacular. Gardens a bit behind, and it is distressingly DRY already.

Cathy Gatland said...

Hi Deborah - it is extremely springy here - wish I could really capture it all, but I suppose that's impossible!

Sorry to hear it's dry again over there, Vivienne, it's a struggle to keep a garden going when water is scarce. We haven't had rain yet, but too much last year!
This is the second boy Jesse I know - isn't he beautiful!? - I didn't mention you & fam. were my life-raft in those early days in Joey's - that I clung to tenaciously!

Gillian said...

I've seen ONE little yt&t bush in a neighbour's front garden here. But they did very well in East London and cause me much nostalgia for the gardens of that little city. Thanks for your touch of spring, CPG. A good day to contemplate the past, present and future in Hilary's memory and the arrival of her first grandson! We're still holing up in our homes due to Texas heat. Gustav's gone, but Hanna, Ike and Josephine are all twirling off shore!

Cathy Gatland said...

ugh...that must be an extremely uncomfortable feeling - may they all fizzle out and be rendered harmless. And may your autumn start soon so you can go outside again. Take care of yourselves!

laura said...

Welcome to your grand new baby boy. Lucky fellow, already loved near and far.
I've never heard of these--but they look beautiful in your painting, which is so light-filled.