January 16, 2019

MJ and I caught a three hour window between two storm systems today.  At midday the sky was overcast but the temperature was mild.  We pruned the dwarf oleander severely, and it is on its way back to being a dwarf oleander, consistent with the limited space it has to grow.  I applied pruning seal as directed to all cuts more than a half inch wide.  Cutting back the oleander will leave more light, air and water for the neighboring penstemon which, against all odds, survived the summer heat and appears to be on its way to being well-established.   For good measure, we also trimmed back the two cotoneasters on the upper level and the slope.  The cotoneaster on the slope no longer threatens to take over the world.  My goal is not to have bigger plants but to have fuller plants.