GARDEN of JOY: Hardenbergia

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PURPLE HARDENBERGIA
In the Garden of Joy

This month (and still in process) I've had to cut back cut to the core of three important fantastic vine trunks; my vines lining entire long length of my hilly property. Too much dead vine within the new growth includes beloved purple Hardenbergia, and beautiful purple Passion flower* (again had nasty bug/barnacle scale), and another vine, Honeysuckle with yellow flower... They will again grow! About a dozen years ago I planted the Passion and also the Hardenbergia.

I had trained the Hardenbergia vine to grow on the house side of the long fence, but then also on the other slope side, and then on top, and it grew down to the ground. The Passion vine grew so long it grew into the Hardenbergia. The Honeysuckle attached itself everywhere, even where not wanted. It is the strongest of all three.

But I am sooooo sad because sweet Hardenbergia just sprouted it's annual PURPLE flower tight buds like teensy orchids. Gardener said it had 'to go' because of inner dry wood... Was it dead because I didn't hand water enough by hose or manual sprinkler? (The sprinkler is on the slope side.)

We do have drought, and water cost is very high. I don't shower every day. In summer I use a hose in garden to wash off after swimming in friend's pool, and the run off water goes onto grass. Oh no, how will I hose off now with no vines covering fence to hide me?????

- Joy Krauthammer 2014