esrosedotblog

GOING GOING, NOT GONE

The beautiful white hibiscus out front is dying.

At first, we thought it had just lost leaves in the severe windstorms last spring. Maybe so. But they are not returning and new leaves are dying.

It is a very old bush. The trunk is 4-5 inches thick and has that barky look that old trees get.

To compound matters, I realized a few weeks ago that it wasn't getting enough water. I have, since, given it a boost with the hose.

There are some sections of the tree that are live and perhaps can be brought back with some rigorous pruning of the old limbs.

But, it will have to wait until the fall when things cool off. To do it now would be too stressful for its already frail condition. Actually, we don't prune much of anything now until it cools.

It is sad but unavoidable.

This kind of woody plant lives an accelerated life here in the desert. The temperatures (and fertilizer and constant irrigation) boost it along. It develops few resistances.

So we shall wait it out.

I miss the white flowers although it bloomed a lot of them before the heat hit.

The other thing is that a replacement would take away the branches that the birds use while they wait their turn in the fountain.

An ecological disaster in the making.

So we will not act rashly. Slowly and judiciously.

Labels: horticulture