I had this thing when it came to landscaping my front and backyards. If I see something that’s in dire need of pruning or getting cut back, I will cut – alot.

This is a fault I’ve since learned to moderate but even then, I wonder if I’ve moderated it enough.

For instance, the Rose Of Sharon shrubs that line my front yard have been an annual favorite for both delivery people and the neighbors. They are a beautiful mainstay of the northeastern part of the United States, kind of like how another favorite plant of mine – The Bird Of Paradise – is common in the warmer parts of the country.

photo by: moderatelivingblog.wordpress.com

However, because I didn’t want to bother the plants they inadvertently served as an incubator for unwanted weeds and vines. So, in the dead of winter, I hesitantly decided to go forward with pruning the them down in the hopes that it would regrow in a less scattered manner.

I resigned myself to the possibility that I would not see any of the beautiful blooms this year – and for the first half of July (when they usually start blooming) – I was staring at an empty albeit green set of branches. But, this weekend, I was greeted with a beautiful sight. There were some pods that had managed to grow out.

photo by: moderatelivingblog.wordpress.com

Additionally, because the area has more than enough sunshine (something I’m keen to take advantage of solar wise in the future), a handful of them managed to grow out, flower and be part of this summer’s pollination cycle.

photo by: moderatelivingblog.wordpress.com

Flowers can teach us an important lesson in that respect. They know the most critical task being to nurture themselves, moving towards where the light and warmth is and flowering in order to get the sun’s energy.

Life really does find a way.

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33 responses to “Life Finds A Way”

  1. Elizabeth Avatar

    It does. And sometimes when you work in what feels like an unproductive garden with lots of rocks and weeds, and then walk away, but turn back in time to see a flower bloom, that’s how family can be sometimes, too. The Rose of Sharon is beautiful — the Chopin, too.

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      thank you Elizabeth! i was thinking it’ll probably be another two years before the patch grows to what it was before but i think i can reasonably hope it will return to good size, albeit more controllable, by next summer šŸ™‚

  2. ibarynt Avatar

    They are beautiful Mike and sad they had to be pruned but also needed.

    I love how you’ve related the plant/flower finding it’s way back, to life. There’s so much to ponder from a simple creation.

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      thank you Iba! isn’t it a powerful lesson? sometimes, the most simple things are the best reminders

      1. ibarynt Avatar

        I agree but typical humans, we look for complicated don’t we? šŸ˜€

        1. Michael Williams Avatar

          lol true!

  3. arlene Avatar

    Such beautiful blooms Mike.šŸ˜

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      thank you Arlene! šŸ™‚ it is a source of joy for me to see them every July

  4. Nancy Homlitas Avatar

    The pruning you did appears to have enhanced your blooms and the health of your shrubs. I have a sage bush I prune down to a round stump-like area. It comes back every year with beautiful healthy leaves and lavender clusters. šŸ™‚

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      that’s what I was thinking too Nancy. i figured if there was a time to do that then now should be it. although i will say that the vines are still around and it looks like they need to be dug out this upcoming winter.

      i can imagine the joy that sagebrush of yours brings when it blooms in the season! šŸ™‚

      1. Nancy Homlitas Avatar

        It does please me since I don’t know what I am doing. šŸ˜…

        1. Michael Williams Avatar

          hahaha! šŸ˜€

  5. CJ Antichow Avatar
    CJ Antichow

    They’re beautiful! But I’d have been worried too lol. I’m not a fan of pruning or shearing anything, Clint knows better and I’d murder if he touched any branches around here 🤨

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      thanks CJ! and yeah, i agree about the pruning because the thing is, you don’t know if it permanently damages the tree or brush. i have another post i was working with on draft but that was what i was talking about there

  6. Moongirl Avatar

    The flowers are lovely! Perfection. I love Chopin’s 4th Ballade. I performed his 3rd in college šŸ™‚

    1. Moongirl Avatar

      And Ashkenazy is one of my all time favorite pianists.

      1. Michael Williams Avatar

        thanks MJ! they really are nice i wish i had taken more pics of them when they were at their fullest but tbh they may end up growing back like that by the time next summer arrives.

        i just discovered chopin’s 3rd and 4th compositions 3 years ago and this is despite having a bunch of music files of his for years. such an amazing body of work and even more amazing that talented musicians like yourself can bring out its depth šŸ˜€ sometimes, i wonder if i’ll find another chopin composition that i just never realized existed lol.

        1. Moongirl Avatar

          Yes huge body of work! Are you familiar with his 2 piano concertos? Also Revolutionary Etude, Op 10, No 12.

          1. Michael Williams Avatar

            you know, there is a composition i’ve been searching for for YEARS. if i get the notes, i’ll message them over to you in the chance you may know the piece šŸ™‚ i’ll look up the ones you mentioned – watch it’s probably the one i’m searching for haha

  7. Ann Coleman Avatar

    Life usually does find a way! And I agree, it’s so important to take care of ourselves…because only then can we take care of others.

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      that’s right Ann! taking care of others when we’re compromised is a road to ruin for sure!

  8. Kate@athousandbitsofpaper Avatar

    What a beautiful shrub! Those flowers are spectacular Mike – I’m a hard pruner too mostly on bougainvilleas and they torture me with their sharp thorns as I go – talk about war. But then they reward me with increased flowers and a nicer shape.

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      oh my gosh, how could such beautiful flowers have those thorns! i would never assume that if i saw them – and yes, i’d probably end up pricking myself haha. but looking at it, that would be lovely to have here; for sure a reward to photograph! i’m pretty much done with any pruning i had to do this year but there are parasitic vines that i have to go out and cut. a garden is never really done lol.

  9. Mindful Mystic (MM) Avatar

    Lovely thoughts, photos, and musical accompaniment. Pruning can be scary but satisfying. 😁 Indeed, life finds a way.

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      i’m 50/50 on pruning because i’ve pruned other stuff and the branches never came back šŸ™ so it was nice to see that this one did! i’m glad you enjoyed the photos šŸ™‚

  10. majellalaws Avatar

    Another lovely post …

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      i’m glad you enjoyed it Majella!

  11. misifusa Avatar

    Your Rose of Sharon bush/tree? is beautiful! Wow! Isn’t nature amazing in how she surprises us with gifts like that? I am sure everyone loves to watch the blooms come alive! Sometimes I think we have to cut it down in order to refresh our lives…

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      i agree with you about cutting/pruning! there is that need to redirect energies. i felt like if i didn’t do it id probably have these dead zones in the bush where the weeds would grow!

      1. misifusa Avatar

        Obviously I think you have a green thumb and maybe even a hand full of green fingers because you’re so good at it!

        1. Michael Williams Avatar

          šŸ˜€ thank you!

  12. Danny*Fantod Avatar

    Nice pics. Great color.

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      thanks Danny – they have a nice color to the don’t they?

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