Humidity and Neglect

(along the picket fence)

In 1995 my brother and sister in-law took their two young children to a soccer game. My brother turned to take their 5 year old to the playground and my sister in-law collapsed. Despite the efforts of a fellow parent who was a doctor, the EMS, the ER and everyone else, she had died instantly. We later found out she had been born with heart defect which caused sudden cardiac arrest. 

(This is by my front door.)

My brother eventually sold their house, moved to another town, in a few years, married a girl he dated in high school and moved out of state. When he was getting ready to sell the house, my mom and I went and dug up some of the Rose o Sharon bushes that Peggy had planted. I am so glad we did this because whenever anyone remarks about them, I tell them about Peggy. 

(These are behind my shed, facing my neighbors.)

This year they not only survived an invasion of Japanese Beetles who ate the first round of blossoms but replenished themselves with extras! 

(This bush is only two years old - located in the play yard, he put a tomato cage around it last year)

I do nothing to these bushes except cut them back in the fall and pull out some starts. I don't water or fertilize and I barely weed around them.

Only a year ago my husband moved some starts to the side yard where we tried for years to establish a hedge. Unfortunately the elementary bus line was along the sidewalk and baby bushes would get trampled. Last year the bus switched direction and picks up on the opposite side of the street. He did fertilize these in the early spring and early summer and I was shocked they flowered too! 

(The new bushes along the former bus line)

These bushes thrive on the hot temperatures, high humidity and neglect of the Summer of 2024.