Genus: Ceanothus

Try the scratch test before you give up on it. Use a knife and scratch away a small area of bark - about half-an-inch, and see if the wood underneath is green. If it is brown and also the twigs on the end of the branches are brittle, then I am afraid that it has died.

Jackie Mine has gone same way its about 4yrs bought as acuttign at th eQuarry Garden in Fife Scotland.

I think it must be to do with this very changeable weather.

I love old stone walling. Wish I had some where to build one in my garden. It sets off the planting perfectly.

In Great Britain, any building of 'special historic interest' can be listed - the top listing is grade 1, then 2* then 2. This is great, because we know that our home carries some historic value and if possible, we'd like to find out more about it. For example, we have some plaster work on the wall of one of the bedrooms which has a date,(1515) initials and tudor roses on it with a coat-of-arms. Who did it and why, we don 't know! However, being listed carries responsibilities as well. We have the heritage to care for, and we are bound up by rules and regulations - we have to get permission for anything to do with the building. People who take on grade 1 listed buildings have an impossible time should they want to alter anything! Basically, they can't! We had forms galore and site visits from Conservation Officers to approve every detail of our Garden room - it took months - but we were allowed to have it, with provisos e.g. reclaimed tiles for the roof the same as the ones on the house! We love our house and just cope with the bureaucracy. We did know before we bought it! So now you know....well, you did ask! P.S. Yes, he is a nice Lab - Henry - he's 3 and a wonderful dog.

1500's !!! What a gem you've got there. Fascinating about the stone too. What is Grade 2 listed? Does that have to do with the age of your house?
Nice Lab too !

It's called 'Blue Lias' stone and the Quantock Hills near us here in Somerset has a large seam of it through them. There are also quarries within travelling distance where they still 'blast' it out - we had to build the base of our new Garden room from it, to match the house as we are Grade 2 listed! I am always digging up huge chunks of it in the garden, possibly left over from when the house was built in the 1500s, or from long-gone outbuildings.

I wish I had some of that rock ! Very nice.

hehehe i thought it was an old dish ud put out2feed the birds on lol

I,d buy one Spritzhenry for my fairy tree lol

Thanks Lori - I don't know of any areas over here where it's a folk tradition! maybe I'd better strat one in Somerset. Do you think it'll catch on? Or else I could wear it myself.... :-D

These are commonly called "fairy stool" or "artists conk". They are sometimes dried, varnished and sold as ornament or jewellery. "The off white underside of dried specimens scratches a darker colour underneath, and artists sketch pictures on them. The fungus is then set on edge--where it had been fastened to the tree--to display the drawing. These fetch good prices." From Gene Logsdon's Practical Skills, A Revival of Forgotten Crafts, Techniques, and Traditions. It's a folk tradition in N.A. lol. They tell you where the dead wood is.

Good luck with your new Ceanothus I am sure in no time it will be as big as your last one

FABULOUS color...

Oooooh you lucky thing!! Enjoy

Thanks, we are moving next year to a house on the Isle of Wight, nice for growing more semi tropical stuff and being able to leave plants in rather than lift them. That will give me more opportunity to drive the little black car in the corner!!!!

Gets my vote Andrea! I don't have a front garden at all so this looks great : )

What a fantastic picture Spritz - just beautiful. Lovely flower too!