Sorry to hear your bush clover did not do well. This past winter must have been tough on them. Mine did not come back as full as other years. It has not grown as big this year either. But still looks respectable Actually more the size I prefer compared to the monster it usually was other years.

Attractive piece of stone, and I like how you've positioned it. It will provide good year-round interest.

Thanks nhbabs.

mary lu, I remember your beautiful Bush Clover. Mine grew well and bloomed well too but had that flopping habit that I didn't care for. Possibly if I had planted the shrub in a more open area with direct sun it may not have done so; in fact I should have shoveled it in somewhere after I dug it out until I found a better spot for it. Like I said above, I couldn't believe the root system it had developed. I wonder if next Spring I will see pieces of it come up around the stone?

I like how your hedge surrounds the stone. It is a beautiful piece.
My bush clover is in quite a bit of shade and also tends to flop. I have put a peony ring around it and then some stakes further up. So far this year it wasn't that bad to stake it and keep a fountain shape. But, it is one of those plants that I wonder if I'll be able to "put up with it" year after year with its unruly habit. Maybe when I expand the garden into another area I'll have a spot where I can give it more sun. I'm actually surprised how profusely it blooms even in the shade. Wondering now with what you guys are saying if it is a bit of a short-lived shrub.

I could be wrong, but isn't there a more upright lespedeza? Lespedeza bicolor, I think. If you're growing L. thunbergii then it's floppy by nature. I've loved Mary_Lu's pictures of hers for years, so this year I started a few from seed. I can only hope they get to be as beautiful as those pics!

I noticed the nursery where I bought mine hasn't had them for sale for awhile. Perhaps other people haven't had luck with them in this area either or grew annoyed with its habit. I thought the bloom was beautiful and unusual.

newskye, I just checked my plant diary and mine was indeed a "thunbergii", planted in 2008. Didn't realize it had been that long ago already.

The more I thought about it, the more I knew it had to be turned around. MUCH better. After all, when I build a wall the straight edge is always on the outside. Now it even looks like an obelisk.

Your stone post reminds me of all the stone fence posts in western Kansas.The early settlers out here used the post rocks for fence posts, as there weren't many trees. Can you imagine building miles of fence with those post rocks? Most weighed at least 400 lbs apiece. I have one turned sideways in my front yard with my house number painted on it.

That would have been grueling work for sure flowergirl70ks. Very interesting, any photos of those early fences?

I also want a large sandstone block with the name of my school positioned at the very point of my property down front. Right now there is a large stump from a pine tree taken down three years ago in the spot I want the stone. Plus I have my heart set on the letters being carved, not painted, ect. I even bought some stone carving tools off Ebay but haven't attempted anything yet. After reading books and watching Utube videos on the subject I'm afraid I may not have the talent or patience for stone carving. First things first, to get the stump ground out. Best bid was $260. Something else always crops up when I have that $260! this time it will be a new hot water heater. ugh.

I used to work with real stone blocks but over the years I've discovered I just can't move them about as well as I used too. So I've gone to the faux sandstone foundation blocks made by a local Amishman, for some of my garden projects. They look ok. The above stone is real though. I guess I should say "Luxor" instead of "Stonehenge". :)