Hoovb, I would say if anything, the proportion of the bloom is too big for the shrub haha...look at the size of those blooms! It looks like a whole bunch of babies heads just peaking out of the shrub. I think the large and color varied blooms tend to fit the "grandeur" of Evelyn's foilage and does provide a backdrop to appreciate each bloom more as it contrasts the green. I just wish my Evelyn was that big as mine is stuck around 3.5ft tall x 3.5ft tall. I'd prefer it would be more around 5x5ft.

Jodik says: The coir might look dry on top, but down in the center of the pot, it could be quite moisture-laden! I have found it helpful to insert little wooden skewers carefully into the soil to about root level, and leave them there... I take them out and press them against my cheek to test for dampness... if they feel at all damp, I wait to water... but if the skewer comes out dry, it's time to water. My coir is 4" deep in a closed pot. I put the skewer to the bottom of the pot. When I take it out how many inches of bone dry top "soil" should there be before it's time to water again? Is it 1", 2" or 4"? I just went 10 days without water and only 1" of the top was dry so am I supposed to water this direct sun pot once every two weeks or so to avoid over watering, really? And how much water for my 6" closed pot? I had been watering 1 1/2 cup or so once a week and my plant was fine but I'm now worried that was too much so I'm re-evaluating. I know what conventional wisdom says (water deep, not shallow) but that advice doesn't seem to apply to my situation. Also how long should it be before I see new leaf growth in the summer time (first season outside)? My 18 month old Red Lion so far has only grown new leaves once a year. At potting and at dormancy end.

Maybe we can repost this with a note NOT to reply that way it stays at the top? Is there a way we can sticky this?

Love all your rooms inside and out! Here are mine. Our DIY kitchen that we are still working on( DH rather) and our front porch. I used the painters tarp and grommet ideas for curtains for the porch so now we can sit and watch the storm.I call it the "biggest little porch in town" You are looking at the whole thing in the photo, there ain't no more. But it is big enough for 3 to sit and the 2 dogs can lie on the porch with us. We have our morning coffee outside after our walks. I included photos from May when I had painted the free CL loveseat and made pillows so you could see the colors in a better light. I am just using grosgrain ribbon right now, I plan to make tiebacks out of the stripe canvas. Of course the roses arent blooming like that now.