"I hate cats. They're an appalling waste of good fur." (Rita Rudner, Comedienne).

I'm actually not too keen on them either - just had to cover my newly-dug-and-planted borders with dead pyracantha sprigs and twigs, which I have to say, has to be the best deterrent yet... They made a real mess of my herb garden - and when I say mess, I mean S**t. So more pyracantha. I was going to remove the two huge shrubs dominating my long border, (left of photo, about to bloom) but I've a mind to keep one of them for repeated supply.

We moved into our flat around 8 months ago, but did nothing to the garden (advice I learnt and took to heart) until I knew what had been planted in it and saw it grow. The long border is ALWAYS but always shady, there's lily-of-the-valley, in abundance, ditto with cyclamen coum and paper white narcissi...there's also a good crown of Solomon's seal and a pretty fuschia bush that needs TLC and pruning... So planting is going to consist of shade-loving plants such as bird's nest ferns, hellebores, dicentras, peonies and maybe the odd hosta, if I can think of a way to stop the slugs and snails feasting.... we have ducks that regularly visit the garden (from the local park) so they would eat the slugs, and pellets therefore, would not be a good idea.

I found, in the undergrowth, tell-tale sprigs of Hydrangea Petiolaris, and it's really struggling to survive.. it's in a very sad and sorry state, having been completely swamped by the pyracantha, ivy, grass that's grown far too high to do any good, and nettles. But the location (if conditions were right) is ideal. So that might be a salvage project....

Tragically, the splendid Kilmarnock willow is going to have to come out. It has suffered a massive neglect, and has never been pruned until our arrival. Consequently, the crown is excessively heavy for the trunk it's on, and the trunk is leaning perilously to the left - although with the lush and abundant foliage, it's impossible to tell, but I'm talking at nearly a 30-degree angle... couple with it's leaning to the left, the trunk is splitting under the weight. So I shall have to take the bull by the horns, and remove it, but I plan to replace it with a 'newer model'. The pampas grass behind also needs total removal.

Why?

Because I absolutely can't stand the bloody thing. I hate grasses - always have. Don't know why, just don't like them.

Good for you getting your dahlia cuttings out. Agree with Cynthia to take care of your hands. Cat scratches can get infected.

(Waving at Cynthia, "Hey, Girl.")

I haven't gotten my dahlias in the ground yet. I start them inside so they are already growing. Need to prepare a bed but still too wet from a week of off and on again rain each day. More rain expected tonight and Tuesday.

No garden work for me today as had friends from out of state visiting. They took us out for dinner so no cooking for me either. Great relaxing day with plenty of reminiscing and laughing.

Worked in the gardens yesterday mulching tomatoes and fertilizing clematis. Also moving some plants and adding others throughout a gentle on and off rain. Was surprised when DH called me in for dinner. Expect to do more planting out and some weeding tomorrow.

Isn't that a climbing Hydrangea, not H. paniculata?

(It's the same thing, isn't it? I think there are different varieties....)

Laceyvail, I was thinking the same thing based on the flower panicle shape being slightly domed instead of cone or ball-shaped as well as the asymmetrical growth pattern.

Alexandra Parker Climbing hydrangea is a woody vine that gets 50' tall (H. anomala subsp petiolaris) while H. paniculata is a shrub that maxes out below 20' depending on variety. Both are hydrangeas, but they like different circumstances for growth and have different growth patterns.

Doofus-brain here got her Petiolaris mixed up with her Paniculata... The climbing hydrangea is H. Petiolaris. Not H. Paniculata. Silly me. Clothbrain that I am, I even mentioned it in my first post. Pay attention, Parker!! :D

Here is my cat story. Last fall my neighbor across the street cut down an old dead cottonwood.(Thank goodness) They ground the stump and left the sawdust and wood chips in a gigantic pile. I think every cat in this end of town uses it for a litter box. One day I saw 4 cats over there at the same time. I wish they would hurry up and haul it away. They came over and offered it to me for my yard. UGH!!

I knew it was petiolaris but brain burp brought out paniculata-thanks for the correction.

Sadly (and it's something I have written to Houzz about), a member may not edit the first post or even the title, of their own thread!!

Hi, mnws! I have missed you and the gang! I will need to trundle over here more often.

I have been completely worthless today. What a waste. Sigh. I am so pleased to see that the hydrangea was a petiolaris. I thought it was, but I am just so terrible at remembering names, I just figured I was wrong as usual. Yippee, some few brain cells are intact. Ha.

Lucky you, you still HAVE braincells.... *LOL!!*