What's The Attraction?

Last week, I mentioned our house was built in 1891.  With so many families over the past 100 plus years calling it home, many plants and trees have been added on nearly every side of the house. By the time we purchased it, the gardens had become overgrown and wild after years of being neglected.  As part of the renovation we did a few years ago, I took on the additional challenge of taming the gardens and trying to whip the grounds back into shape.

Last Fall, the old spindly rhododendron received a hell of a trimming so it wouldn't continue to overshadow and crowd the lush greenery around it.  I was worried that if it survived the butchering I gave it, it would be a long time before it bloomed again, after all, nearly half of it was carted away.

So imagine my surprise the other morning as I headed down the stairs in my pj's and noticed a woman with a big fancy camera out on the lawn.  I paused for a second and as I did, she looked up and saw me peering out the window at her.  She smiled and pointed to the gardens under the window so I just smiled and nodded "okay".

Later that morning I headed outside to see what the big attraction was.

And here's what I saw!

That old rhododendron now in full bloom, the healthiest and fullest I've seen it since we moved in!

What a beauty, no wonder she stopped to take a photo!