There is so much to do in the garden it is at times a little over whelming. Looking back over photos from the past four years last night, really drove home how out of control things have got. There is in most places two years of weeding to do. But I find it quiet rewarding to unclothe a planting of suffocating weeds. So many have survived the blanketing I am surprised. I have lost all Boronia which will need to be replaced as these are the best smelling of all flowers. It is a big call to make but so true. I can always find space for a Boronia or two, or three, or four ...... But the Boronia losses are all there has been so far. I have started work on the Hebe bank. 



Weedy Hebe



Freedom from the tyranny of weeds Hebe 'Wiri Spears'

 This is a Hebe from the Wiri series. The Wiri series are from the Auckland botanic gardens  breeding program overseen by the gardens curator Jack Hobbs. My 'Wiri Spears' plants have quickly grown to their (supposed) full height of one and half meters in four years. The mix of clay, top soil and stone in the soil that makes up this earth mound has been to all the Hebe's approval. The drainage is the key reason I suspect. 

Flower spikes attract bees Hebe  'Wiri Spears"

  The flowers are very large on Wiri Spears. About 15 to 20 cm long with a nice fragrance. I have read that this can get woody so pruning will help keep it tight. Flowers come straight out of the tips of new growth, which means a good prune at the right time will give more flowers next season as more growing tips are stimulated by the prune resulting in more flowers. I prune my Hebe's directly after flowering which removes a fair amound of seed heads as well. Don't worry about being too proper with pruning, just run some shears over the plant to a height and shape that pleases as they can recover well. I have a Hebe in an old chimney pot that I grew from a cutting 20 years ago and is still going strong after 20 years of pruning.