We gardeners bounce between one and the other, don't we? Between Dr. McCoy and Dr. Frankenstein: In this case, I'm with Dr. Frankenstein. I unwisely moved my unfortunate Ceonothus 'Snow Flurry' in late spring. It has survived the move. It's alive! Note the new growth (circled in red):
It let its outer branches die, preserving its main leader and its life. New growth has sprouted. Our cooler-than-average June and early July appear to have saved it. After I snipped off all the dead stuff, it looked fairly Frankenstein's Monsterish, but it lives. Dr. McCoy doesn't get a line in this drama.
Since 'Snow Flurry' looks so bad, I must add something better looking. Unlike the poor Ceanothus, 'Tamora' has been unmoved and untroubled. This season, she's produced wave after wave after wave of consistently beautiful flowers. They're crawling with Thrips, too--and show little or no damage.
Of all Mr. Austin's cultivars, more and more I think 'Tamora' may be the one that's still being sold 100 years from now. It's a consistently solid performer.
Now I know what those bugs were on my roses. Thrips! Love your photos...
ReplyDeleteI wish wish wish my Tamora had been even a fraction as good as yours. She's now living in a sunnier spot at my mom's garden. Maybe she'll bloom there.
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