New Year and Plant Miracles

Happy New Year all - there are so many possible updates but today is devoted to the miracle of the recovering Lemon verbena plant.

About a month ago as part of the garden improvements Michael headed out in the heat of the morning and dug up a lemon verbena tree that had been pruned badly and was growing on a corner edge of a bed where it looked odd. We had discussed ideas about what should happen with it that morning and to my surprise Michael dug it out. This was great but perhaps not the best thing as the poor plant sat out for a bit in the sun while its new garden home was cleared and prepared.

The following few days pronounced a very disturbed plant - branches of leaves withered, browned and just plain died all over. Being anxious about the plant's ability to cope - I responded with some heavy pruning. Not sure that was such a great idea either but I did it and as every gardener knows, once it's gone it's gone. Michael cautioned me to stop and just wait so I did. We watched it anxiously for at least two weeks and then realized that there was nothing to do but wait and see. Fortunately that time coincided with the holiday weeks so we were often distracted. The occasional check of the tree's status showed no change, just more withered and browning leaves. A few bends of the branches and a light tug at the trunk suggested it was solidly in the ground but, again, no visible external change.

Meanwhile the newer lemon verbena planted (below it in the longer shot photo) from last January was also looking a bit sad but fortunately for it, we had not tried to move it. And the third plant looking very green and full in is the newest Lemon verbena to join the garden.

So December came to a close with a sad looking almost dead plant. Now some of you may be wondering why the big deal but you would not should you ever smell this lovely shrub with its yellowy-green leaves and amazing gentle scent. The leaves can be used for teas and I'm sure lots of other wonderful things which I shall need to research.

The end of this story is obvious but thrilling nonetheless. Yesterday morning when I went out to the patio to sit and drink my coffee I saw to my amazement baby green leaves are sprouting all over the lemon verbena. I could not believe it. Every dead node has come to life. There must be over 100 new leaves all working to provide food for the plant. It is a New Year and this tree has decided to grow and thrive. I think it is a miracle and I think it is a foretelling of a prosperous year for all.

Watching this plant survive despite a rude uprooting and replanting is also a great metaphor for my own experience developing a new life in South Africa. Admittedly my uprooting was far from rude but it has been more change than I realized and the adjustments are big. But like the lemon verbena, I am committed to thrive.

The garden is a great learning place - watching how the sun moves through one's property so one can determine the best locations for plants - mulling over the myriad possibilities and then choosing a direction to go - finding out who's eating what (bugs I mean) -creating spaces for growing different things -noticing how the plants respond. There are many lessons if you pay attention and I learned one from the lemon verbena. Take hold, hold on and things will improve!

Now that I've got you all interested in this tree/shrub I'll take photos regularly so that we can enjoy its blossoming.