How about a Knockout Rose? It will bloom from spring to frost, and is completely carefree. The foliage is gorgeous and you don't have to deadhead it. I resisted them for a long time because I thought a rose is a rose, and I was sure they would be a hassle and end up looking like hell. Quite the contrary -- they are the most carefree shrubs in my gardens, and they never fail to please. My favorite is "Blushing" -- a light pink. I just got "Rainbow" and I especially like the foliage color: dark glossy green with red veins and burgundy stems. I skipped the 'Pink" and the original "Red" because they are a fuschia type of color and I'm not a big fan of those shades. Now I am looking for the new one "Sunny", a white/yellow beauty, but they say they are not releasing it until '09. Oh and by the way, I don't know if it will get 5x5 for you, but I planted a 1ft gallon last year and it is already 3x3. I think most agree that they top out around 4x4. Yank out that forsythia monster and upgrade to a classy shrub that will make you smile every time.

flowering shrubs are renovated by removing 1/3 of the largest branches.. as close to the ground as possible.. and that is done right after bloom is done.. or about right now ... check out the link .... they are not sheared ... and i speculate that you somehow did it too late.. and shaved off all the buds .... ken Here is a link that might be useful: link

I wondered the same thing, Jeff. Usually, they don't appear in large enough numbers to do that much damage. I normally have tons of them, but they barely make a dent in my honeysuckle. They don't consume large amounts of food, unlike many of the sphinx. I would also think, though, that by this time, in Texas, it would have recovered significantly. I never even prune my honeysuckle, but it is a different species, Lonicera flava. Every spring it leafs out heavily and is covered in blooms. It has already bloomed and they are now beginning to drop off the vine. But maybe L. sempervivens has a different bloom time???? Have you checked on the vines forum, or the Texas Gardening forum? I'm not sure we have the answer for you. Susan

I live quite close to The Garden in the Woods, so maybe I'll wander over soon. Our house was owned by a man who lived there for 90 years! The property had mostly trees, but he used to feed the squirrels peanuts in the shell. We're still finding them in the yard. I mentioned to my neighbor that we were always finding peanuts and she told us all about the previous owner. I wish we'd known him. At any rate, I love old things. My house has many antiques and we have plants MIL gave us from her childhood home. They're quite special to us. We have pachysandra that came from the house DH grew up in, and they got it from MIL's father, long deceased. Who knows where he got it? I've given some to my friends. Gardening creates quite a community, doesn't it! -Donna