Thanks, guys. You almost need to be a bonsai person to appreciate the fact there is a (bonsai) tree hiding in that mass of overgrowth. Since it was just repotted, it'll be a while before I'll do any pruning, but if I remember I'll come back to horrify you with what a hard pruning looks like on this plant. I'll follow that up with pictures of what it looks like by the end of summer. Man, I'm smelling great right now. I just repotted 4 rosemary bonsai and haven't washed my hands yet. It's a good thing I repotted the snow rose (Serissa foetida) first and washed my hands. 'Foetida' as a species epithet means "foul smelling" as (as in 'fetid') Rosa foetida, or the very fetid wild pumpkin - Cucurbita foetidissima, as well as the Iris foetidissima, commonly called the stinking Gladwin are other examples of stinkers. Anyway ........... the rosemary oil on my hands sure does smell nice. ;o) Al

re trimming Lavender - I will take Martha's experience and do it, but don't do the same with Sage. I cut my Sage way down, and then learned that Sage grows on old growth [sage officialus - the common sage], so now I will have a very little Sage. I would have done better to leave it. Re Lavender sprouts: Mine are growing, not so tiny any more. :) Re: random thot - boy I go away for 2 days from you guys and there is so much reading to catch up on! ell

Yes! Lots of things. I am changing the layo0uts of some areas and paths in some places and moving shrubs and perennials to new locations. It is slow going but looking good! Most of the roses are blooming again and the Salvias are in their summer glory, as are the morning glories. Had t cut back the Mums again as they had grown too tall and flopped over. I just cut them back in July! Still have some Phlox and Daylilies blooming. We are getting the outer bands of Tropical Storm Hermine today. They were not supposed to get here until tomorrow. I was out moving shrubs and it started pouring down on me. I was yelling, "Not yet!" I got drenched. But I am so glad to get the rain. It will make moving plants so much easier. Supposed to get a lot of rain tomorrow and on into Thursday. Just in time too, as we had been under a Fire Alert and were beginning to get grass fires around the OKC area again. The ground is so dry and as hard as concrete. In some areas, I can hardly dig in it with the Maddox! Can't dig with the shovel. And when I do finally chop it out, the soil is powdery. Blah! So, after all the rain is passed, it will be easier to dig the planting holes and dig out the shrubs I want to move too. And the cooler temps will help to prevent them from wilting. Yeah! I have been raking up leaves and piling them in several of the flower beds for the past month. They have been falling for the past month. Adding them and adding the composted wood chips in those beds is starting to show some signs of soil improvements. I keep digging it in and piling it on. The flowers are loving it. So, those flowers beds are easy to dig in, even now. I've moved quite a few things already and have more to get done before Fall's cold weather arrives. Am loving this early Fall weather. Feels and smells so good. Glad not to have to water for a change. Am enjoying sitting out on the patio in the mornings and evenings, watching the hummingbirds and chickens. (the hens started laying eggs - happy me) Love listening to the sounds of nature all around and the lovely cool breezes. Hope you are all doing fine and your gardens are thriving. ~Annie

I've been tending the garden for 5 years and I think the garden was unattended for 3 so it's over 8 years. I did have to replace several of the lavender after the first year because of my ignorance, but have learned. I pruned them back too much in the lte fall and the ones I replaced would have made it but I thought because it was a public garden I should replace them. No, I use the same pruning techniques on all of the plants. Because each year they get older they still keep producing new growth and I want to make room for that growth so I continue to cut out the old growth. I don't think the zone matters with regard to the pruning technique. I live in the mtns of PA so though my zone is 6 I go by zone 5 because of the altitude...though it is only 1500 ft above sea level there frequently is a significant difference in temperatures during the winter sometimes a 10 degrees (F) colder difference from the valley. Need to clarify my instructions "cut out oldest woody stems and dead growth to the ground then cut back the rest of the plant no more than a third." cut out the dead growth to the base of the plant not the ground and only prune off 1/3 of the plant leaving 2/3's. A rule of thumb when pruning anything...never remove more than a 1/3 of plant at one time. A good guide to determine what is a 1/3 is to lay the cuttings near the plant you are pruning and when the pile is 1/3 of the original size stop pruning. There is always next year to prune back more if necessary. That is why you should always prune out the dead and old growth first. Dead heading is not included in the one third rule, because you are removing spent flowers not branches/stems. When pruning lavender remember it is pretty forgiving so if you aren't sure either do or don't.