Friday, 7 June 2024
at home
When we got home from the hooked rug show, I tackled a big project in the front garden: cutting the rampant Euonymus ‘Wolong Ghost’ from the north wall of the house. I liked the privacy, darkness, and secrecy it provided but Allan wanted more light, and as soon as I began trimming it, I realized it would be better for the house to have access to light and air.
Before, the view from inside the living room (and I liked it that way; for one thing, it blocked most of the security lights that blare at us from across the street).
![](https://tanglycottage.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dsc03416.jpg?w=640)
The descriptions of it on Plant Lust remind me that the leaves started out more variegated, so I assume it has reverted to green, perhaps. In fact, I have to wonder if it is a completely different plant altogether whose identity I have forgotten. If so, what is it? I would welcome enlightenment.
Outside, it had gone all the way to the roof, was twined in the arbor, and was blooming with non-fragrant flowers.
![](https://tanglycottage.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dsc03460.jpg?w=640)
I got rather disconcerted when I saw the size of a stem that had wedged itself beside the window screen.
![](https://tanglycottage.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dsc03461.jpg?w=640)
A clematis was getting swamped.
![](https://tanglycottage.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dsc03462.jpg?w=640)
The stems were enormous but easy to cut with secateurs. I remembered putting the bamboo poles to help it climb when I hopefully and tenderly planted one tiny little plant of it, from Heronswood Nursery or maybe Windcliff Nursery, maybe ten years ago?
![](https://tanglycottage.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dsc03466.jpg?w=640)
Zinc watched as I went to the other window and pulled vines out of the catio run.
![](https://tanglycottage.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dsc03463.jpg?w=640)
![](https://tanglycottage.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dsc03465.jpg?w=360)
The rest of my audience was spiders, dozens, I swear, some very large. I am not particularly arachnophobic but did wish I was wearing gloves. I completely changed clothes afterwards because I felt one might be in a fold of clothing.
Because I cannot look up without getting dizzy, I was unable to get the upper part of the vine, but I knew Allan would be eager to finish the job since he was the one who wanted light and air for the house and himself. Here is the view from inside after I was done.
![](https://tanglycottage.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dsc03467.jpg?w=640)
The strips of paper across the windows are at just the height to block the security lights from blasting my eyes and giving me a migraine…if I move around the room with good posture. On cloudy days, when the half-length cafe-style curtains are open, the lights are on and almost as hurtful as migraine triggers as they are at night. (When we first moved here, the bright lights were not there, just one pleasant amber cottage-y light. We had to raise the curtains two inches when the lights were installed!)
Saturday, 8 June 2024
Allan finished the pruning job. There was still lots of eunymous climbing behind my variegated Japanese maple and Davidia involucrata ‘Lady Sunshine’, the variegated dove tree.
![](https://tanglycottage.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dsc04746.jpg?w=640)
![](https://tanglycottage.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dsc04747.jpg?w=640)
I had cut some stems that I had been unable to bring down, and Allan cut and removed the rest, although the base and roots are still there and will have to be monitored. If we let it put on ten years of growth again, we’d likely be too old to deal with it!
![](https://tanglycottage.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dsc07736.jpg?w=640)
![](https://tanglycottage.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dsc07739.jpg?w=565)
Allan also found many, many spiders.
Looking down at the stems he had dropped:
![](https://tanglycottage.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dsc07740.jpg?w=640)
![](https://tanglycottage.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dsc07741.jpg?w=480)
In progress: The centre arbor trellis was revealed again. Now the clematis will have a chance.
His audience at the east window:
![](https://tanglycottage.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dsc04749.jpg?w=640)
![](https://tanglycottage.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dsc04752.jpg?w=640)
I actually haven’t looked at it; I think some more could be cut down. I must confess I have slightly gone off this plant after its wild behaviour and rampant growth all the way to and upon the roof.
From inside after Allan’s pruning:
![](https://tanglycottage.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/img_5281.jpg?w=640)
It’s kind of nice to see Lady Sunshine. The house plants will be much happier, and so is Allan. It’s a north window, so doesn’t admit sunshine, and it’s too bad that most of the windows are “blown”, obscuring the garden view. I do miss my green cave.
Dear Skyler, I have been wanting to visit you with a gardening friend who is also an avid reader. I have been following your blogs and want to see the changes since my visit almost 2 years ago. Would it be okay if we drove down on Tuesday the 24th? I think we could find a place to stay overnight and then drive back to Seattle. What do you think?
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That would be great, yes! I’ll send you a message later today.
>
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P.S. I hope you saw the text I sent you on messages (the green bubble 🙂
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I am desperate for indoor light so that euonymus would have been long gone. But security lights are absolutely the WORST. Might it be possible to somehow screen it that glare from the window with a cleverly designed outdoor screen of louvered wood or an awning arrangement?
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Next time you come over, I might “pick your brain” about that. 🙂
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I am definitely with Allan on this matter. The improved light and space is well worth the effort.
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