that bloomed on the day of December's first snow ~
and needed a major February pruning before this year's growing season ~
which has begun ~
Yesterday I noticed the new growth on the hibiscus that I pruned two weeks ago. I have never cut the plant back this far, worried that I might somehow damage it. This time my feeling was 'oh well, it's time for a fresh start.' Sure enough, there are dozens of new sprouts all over the plant. It works to cut out what's not growing strong and full; it's hard to predict where the new growth will take hold. With my hibiscus plant, as in my life, there comes a time when it's necessary to cut out everything that isn't thriving to make room for new growth.
which has begun ~
Yesterday I noticed the new growth on the hibiscus that I pruned two weeks ago. I have never cut the plant back this far, worried that I might somehow damage it. This time my feeling was 'oh well, it's time for a fresh start.' Sure enough, there are dozens of new sprouts all over the plant. It works to cut out what's not growing strong and full; it's hard to predict where the new growth will take hold. With my hibiscus plant, as in my life, there comes a time when it's necessary to cut out everything that isn't thriving to make room for new growth. 
6 comments:
How cool is that?!? I envy you for being able to grow something like this indoors, Sharon! An apt metaphor for middle age, too ... don't you love it when you discover things are "blooming" again? And hey, I love the little gnome in the bottom of the pot! :-)
Good to see the new growth returning so quickly after a pruning! That's good to be good. I hope the same applies to people and work we do on ourselves to prune out what's just hanging on by a thread.
PS...I like the gnome in the flowerpot. He's cool.
There's a certain satisfaction in pruning, isn't there? Almost a take charge feeling, though what's to come afterward is anybody's guess, which is half the fun of it. But still, the plant is stronger for it, not having to support the weaker, unnecessary branches any longer.
Oh it takes courage to make those ruthless feeling cuts tho! Best to you Sharon! That Hibiscus looks darn happy now - they can be challenging.
Oh,,, LOVE this post! Hibby, rescued from a friend's porch two years ago, cleanses the air in our living room and adds life, bursts of coral color, and form to our home.
Great metaphor for writing...for life!
Love this blog!
Patti
beautiful analogy sharon. And we cannot at all predict what will grow and what direction the new growth will take...but it can only happen when we cut away the dead branches.
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