It is such a pleasure to be able to greet the flowering of old friends that have suffered a setback or damage, been drastically cut back, and emerged again, returning to their old form. The three Hebes on our terrace were all disappointing last year, the first one flowering fitfully and continuously but very little, the middle one losing a side of itself, spoiling its shape completely, and the third one dying back in several branches and calling for its skirts to be lifted above the paving. This last action removed a favoured spot for blackbirds to rehearse quietly their spring songs, but also its use as a hide for our black cat.
The first and second of these photographs is the biggest Hebe, last year, and now. What a difference!
The smaller hebe is shown in the third and fourth photograph, with the extensive dieback and the gradual recovery from the base. This Autumn I may take out the other bigger branches altogether, so that the whole plant can re-form its original bun-shape.
The last two pictures are of the westward one, the first before the dieback of its bottom branches, and the second now, following its drastic treatment. I see there are two or three minor branches waiting to be cut out, but on the whole it is doing really well.
