The Chionathus virginicus

There are moments that suddenly take me back to a time and recent events have taken me right back to one.  Regular readers know that I grow plants that remind of people and places and cats.  The Chionathus virginicus in my garden was planted in memory of my dear departed cat Chesney.

As I started to write this piece I was shocked to realise it is twelve years since he died.  Twelve years and yet I still think of him and his fluffy silliness.  The planting of this fringe tree was important for me.  I don't need a plant to remember Chesney, I do that without thinking, but to see it grow is still having a living moment in the garden that is just his.  I want to say 'seeing it grow and thrive', but the truth is it is struggling and up until the other day, I thought this year it had died.

I was really quite upset about this.  I had relocated this shrub a few years ago when I nearly moved house but didn't (don't ask) and when I replanted it I put it somewhere new.  A mistake I now think when looking back.  It just has not thrived in the new spot and, to all intents and purposes, I thought it  was dead.

I had done that 'scraping away a tiny bit of bark to see if there was green underneath or 'wick' as Dickon in the Secret Garden would say; and it was.  There was that gleam of green that spells hope; but nothing was happening.

Then the other day I went to look at it again and lo and behold there is growth.  Actual green, healthy looking growth.  Maybe it had just got too dry and needed the recent rain to kickstart it.

What a relief!

So I have rechecked the conditions that it likes:  clay - check!  loam - check!  Full sun ...... ah ..... it was in full sun but trees are now overshadowing it.  This could (is I am sure), the issue.  Sigh.  So this I will fix; there will be pruning, there will be some thinning back to let in the light.  It will thrive whether it wants to or not!

Time, of course, will tell....

Take care and be kind.

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