Drastic Measures

It must have taken a lot of strength of mind to cut it all back when it was so lovely - you must have felt exhausted by the time you finished!

Thank you both. I didn't enjoy cutting away such lovely flowers but I was fed up with not being able to see my cacti, and I also wanted to put my tomatoes in there because it's too shady where they were. They're very slow this year.

I can quite understand why you had to cut the plants back but, my goodness, didn't they look beautiful?

It's sad you had to cut them back,but necessary..Your Cacti and Tomato's will appreciate some extra care now,and what a lovely view you have of your garden from the shelter...I don't think anyone can grow Fuchsia's like you Hywel..those are fantastic :o) x

Wow it looked beautiful Hywel.

that was a job well done, though having to cut back such pretty flowers is always a wrench. I bet the cacti are glad of a bit more light and water. lovely blog as usual Hywel.

I understand only too well how quickly some plants can get out of hand. You've done a marvellous job of sorting things out. I need to do something similar in my own garden very soon I hope I can be as ruthless as you were. ..I'll need to be!

I thought it was a most wonderful jungle, especially the first photo. Lovely fuchsias. Well, now you can get in there again, but it was a pity it all had to be chopped back. Nice place to sit in, to hide away with Bella & spy on the rest of your jungle!

What a shame you had to cut the plants back so drastically! nevertheless it's understandable as you needed to get inside your shelter. With the extra light your Cacti will appreciate the removal of the "jungle".

Those Fuchsias are really gorgeous! I would like mine to grow like that - especially dear 'Lady Boothby'!

Such a shared you had to cut down all those beautiful blooms it looked so pretty......needs must!!

Ha ha...what a shame to have to cut them back.....all that colour but, it's served the purpose.

You certainly have a way with fuchsias, Hywel. I think I would have been tempted to keep them all.

Lovely fun Hywel, bet Beryl had a laugh !

Thank you all for your comments.
I'm glad to have cut back the Fuchsia and Clematis. They were getting on my nerves, and I can now get into the shelter to water my tomatoes :)

Its nothing to worry about Hywel. I hate cutting back any plants unless its Autumn round the corner and they are naturally dying down for the winter.

I'm not worried. I'm glad to be able to get into the shelter again :)

Beautiful :o))
I think I would have made a crawl hole at the bottom of the greenery, mind you one would have to of been on the supple side LOL.
Looks pretty amazing with all your greenery :o))

Hywel you must be so strong-minded to be able to cut them back like that, it was an absolute picture, I fully understand why you needed to but I'm afraid I would have been crawling underneath as well, lol, I have a similar problem with my passionflower, its gone mad and is stopping me walking down the garden path, I keep telling myself that its got to go but then I look at the flowers and put off doing it, I have planted a new piece against the fence on the opposite side of the dogrun and keep using that as an excuse for leaving well alone, got to make sure the other one has took hold first, I not only have to cut the original one down, its got to come out completely because its sending up roots in my greenhouse, now that I cannot be doing with........

How did you get Foxgrove Wood to get as tall as that Hywel?

Thank you all.

If I crawled under the branches I don't think I'd be able to get up again lol :D

I hope your passionflower 'takes' Sue

It 'climbs' up the trellis Sue

Two Sues ... but you'll know which is which :o)

LOL, I feel as though I'm talking to myself if I say Sue, after all this time I don't think Stera minds, it used to confuse people in the earlier days Hywel, I know just what you mean and admit I have to pull myself up now as my knees refuse to work properly, gone are the days when kneeling and crawling around the garden was the easy option, my poor back has to suffer now because bending down is how I have to do my planting, really annoys me as jobs take twice as long these days, I still do the work and then ache afterwards but it keeps me happy at the time....

Ha! All the sign's of one getting older, I don't know what I would do without my kneeling pad frame in the garden, if I kneel down with out it I have to crawl to something to help me get up sometimes LOL but I do have good days LOL x

No I don't mind Lincs - you were there first! Perhaps I am Sue Two!

That's why you all have nick names :)
I don't have one on here but I do on other forums.

I can't bend. I am like Ladyessex - have to kneel down and have something to lean on to get up again. If I bend I get dizzy ... lol
but kneeling is better than giving up :D

Lovely blog Hywel. The corner looked very colourful, but the space you have created for your cacti and fuchias looks good. We are all getting older...I can't kneel after having both knees done but can bend and reach the plants that need it, also hoe...so a little bit of love for the plants goes a long way............

Thanks you Linda :)

Hywel have yo got one of those nifty kneeler things that is a stool one way up and a kneeler with handles when you turn it over? They are great for helping you up when needed. (as well as keeping the knees of your trousers clean(er)

Yes, I've had it many years. The seat lifts up and you can keep things in it - secateurs twine etc - very handy :)