"He-be or not He-be"!

How could we forget the tale of the Alemanchier Barbara! I'm pleased to see it in it's lovely setting. RIP poor Hebe but it's good to regenerate our borders from time to time. :o))

yes i remember that story too!!

If there's one thing I've learnt from gardening, and Goy friends, it's that when something negative happens, turn it into a positive! And you have made a great start, Spritz, are you going to keep us on tenterhooks, before you divulge the rest of your plans? Whatever you have in your head, I know it'll be beautiful!!

What a shame to lose such a beautiful specimen.

I hope your new Amelanchier gives many years pleasure like the Hebe did.
I wonder if you took some cuttings of the Hebe from the few live bits that were left.

I knew you'd remember the story about buying the tree! lol.

Hywel - yes! I put them in a 50-50 mix of grit and compost, and I do hope that some 'take'.

Thank you - I'm looking forward to enjoying the Amelanchier, especially the blossom.

I'll take photos of the new planting once it's complete. ;-)

You sound as though you will have the best of both now,Spritz..I love that tree,and I hope the Hebes take ok..:o)

Thank you. I should give them some bottom heat, I think. :-)

Somehow I thought you would. I hope they do 'take'.

So do I, Hywel. There are about a dozen all round a pot. I don't mind if I only get one out of that lot!

Do you remember my favourite Hebe? - I took cuttings from that before it had to go - and I have two nice little plants. :-) I'll grow them on a bit more before I find a suitable place for at least one of them.

Just like losing an old friend, Barbara. :(( Do you have Hebe Hidcote?? I'm told it's the hardiest(?).

But the Amelanchier is such a good choice . . . love 'em (we have two), and I know you will too. :))

Your story reminds me Spritz of my lovely Sisyrinchium striatum I bought at Wisley. I just loved it, but it didn't survive the winter. I had planted some of the seeds and I am now the proud owner of two young plants. I did send off for a new larger plant, but my Wisley babies are just great.
Wishing you good luck with the Hebes.

No Sheila, I don't think so. I'll check it out on the Hebe Society website. :-) It was hard chopping off live growth and flowers. I hated that bit, but it had to go, didn't it.

Thank you, Linda. I'm glad you got some seeds to germinate! They seed themselves in my gravel. OH doesn't like them, but I do!

some good hard work went into that spritz. well done to OH too for doing the digging out of the ain root. they are useful things arnt they? OH's that is :o)

Hope the hebe cuttings take too.

Lovely job B. That last pic is so sad though..what a lovely hebe...never mind...your cuttings will take and then you'll still have it. It's one thing removing a plant that's overgrown its space, or isn't doing well, but to lose an old favourite like that is tough....Amelanchier will be lovely though!

well done you for digging it out. must have been a tought one, i have broken picks trying in the past. :-)

Glad to hear the car is back "in the run to the tip business" LOL. Sometimes it is necessary to do what must be done. I know you will enjoy many years of pleasure from the new tree and with any luck you will have a new hebe to plant out if the cuttings take. This will give you lots of interest through the year. You can eat the berries if you can get to them before the birds.

Should I be worried about the mildew on the leaves? I know the Nursery said it would be fine, but I'm not very happy about it.

That rootball - I had a struggle to lift it into the barrow - it was very, very heavy!

I'm always grateful for OH and his pickaxe - I couldn't have got it out, that's for sure.

I missed seeing it before but it but it looks like powdery mildew. There is a homemade recipe for the fungus using bicarbonate of soda with water and liquid soap on this link. http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenproblems/a/PowderyMildew.htm
I am surprised that the nursery sold a plant with any disease on it but having it in crowded conditions like the nursery and maybe lack of water could have caused it. I had it on an Arabis and my daughter in law told me to cut off all the affected leaves etc and it would be allright. She was correct but I can't see how you can take all the leaves off a tree even a small one. Your site is quite open around the tree allowing good air circulation so it may not return next year. If you are still concerned I would ring the nursery and tell them so, especially if it has worsened since you bought it.

Thanks - I'll spray it, I think. I really don't want to cut off all the leaves! They'll fall soon enough anyway.

If you put it in as a question some of the tree and shrub growers might give different or more appropriate advice. It does spread and can affect other plants. You will be collecting up fallen leaves but I would not compost them in your own compost.