The heatwave may have claimed its first significant victim in my garden. This is causing me some upset. My Davidia tree is probably best described as a twig, it was not large and not very old at all, but it was thriving rather well. I was cherishing it as it is a tree I really want to have in my garden. As soon as I realised that it was starting to wilt I started to water it. I think the soil where it is planted is not the thick heavy clay that most of my garden has, but is actually quite a free-draining, almost shaley bit of ground. I think that this has contributed greatly to the problem as none of my other trees/shrubs, even ones planted earlier this year, are suffering in quite the same way.
There is a big problem with this tree dying, bigger than may first appear. I have a rule about plants that is designed to stop me throwing good money after bad. It is a strict rule and I do observe it rigidly. I can only try a maximum of three times to establish a plant. Of course I am talking perennials, trees, shrubs etc. It would not work if I applied this rule to annuals; except even with them if I know that last year they were pretty poor I will not bother again. So, a golden rule, no more than three attempts and then I give up on a plant and declare it not for my garden.
Decisions, decisions; but not a decision I need to make today. I have lots of time to think about this as it is not tree-planting time of year yet. I shall see how it goes, see if the Davidia retains any sparks of life and might yet survive. If it is dead I have to consider where-else in the garden I might try to plant one and I am not sure I can think of such a space at the moment. I have a Davidia-place, there is a (deadish) Davidia in it. I shall have to reassess.
ilest- ainsi il le quatrième temps chanceux ?