The morning routine in October is now two-fisted, coffee in one hand, fly swatter in the other to dispatch the spider webs that proliferate overnight. I appreciate their predatory contributions and only knock down webs directly across paths, which seems fair. And their webslinging brings undeniably sublime effects.
Dodging spider webs in October brought home the realization that the small paths had shrunk even more as a result of OEP (overly exuberant planting).
Two beloved shrubs were sacrificed to widen the main path, casualties of OEP. Admittedly, there wasn’t even space for one 3×3′ shrub, let alone two, and the bupleurum seemed to be aiming more for 5×5′.
I’ve rooted cuttings of Senecio monroi and have it growing in the front garden, so no real loss there. And though I’ll only have memories of the bupleurum, at least I got a long-anticipated opportunity to grow this fine evergreen and make it somewhat happy. Pruning it to fit was in no way doing it justice.
A rinse of autumn has washed over the garden. No frost yet and none predicted until possibly the end of the month. We had a few days of rain early last week. A very different October from our first in 2021, when it rained every day.
OEP seems to be a problem for virtually every gardener I’ve ever met. Narrow paths are worth dealing with, though! – at least to a point. Your garden is looking great in any case. My spider population seems smaller this year, although I’ve still walked into a couple webs – and claiming that has probably just jinxed me. I love that Hebe.