It just has to come back - what a beautiful color

And the memories

I'm adding this shrub to my prayer list

Fight the good fight little rhodie!!!!!

Sad looking, isn't it Vic. I've been watching it for almost a week now.
But I'm going to cut it back, it would have been tonight but I can't find my saw. Since it's had water, maybe the stress is just on the above the ground part. I'm hoping something will decide to come back from the roots.
I'll try anyway.

I'll tell it tonight that it has a cheering squad all the way across the country, from both coasts!!
That should help, don't you all think so?

I DO!

Yep, I think the roots are probably still alive, it just went into survival mode and sacrificed the leaves. You'll see.

Hoping so, Mary.
Y'all over there just keep cheering it on. OK?

Rhody's are used to really HOT temps so with you watering it - and all the nurturing you've given it I think it's just gone into hibernation.

Oh but it looks so bad this morning.
Tonight when it's cooler, I'll start cutting it back, a little at a time. It's those wilted, draggy leaves that are so painful to see. With them gone, it will look like a brand new shrub just waiting to grow!

Mine looks like this every summer, Sharon. So far, it's always made a healthy return. I don't cut it; I just try not to look at it until next spring.

I'll add my positive thoughts of returning rhody health to all the other well-wishes.

My whole plant looked like this prior to our first good soaking of the season on the 20th.



One week later and it already has new leaves.

Talk about "HOPEFUL"

That's the point, Chelle. Mine has never done this. Plus I've kept it watered.

Nice to see yours though, there is hope, but only if we get rain.

I'm cheering your Rhody on too!! You gave it so much pamering, probably wants to stay with you.

I bet next spring it perks right up ! I sure hope so, it would be so sad to see you lose that beautiful plant with all the memories attached to it.

They say we are getting a better rainy season right now because of the high heat and drought in your area. I had an inch of rain this week. Our summer has been a little cooler but way, way more humid. Praying that rain comes your way with cooling temps soon.

Hi Linda, thank you so much.

I didn't get to cut it back tonight as I'd planned. It got dark and looked for sure like it would rain. Thunder was rolling all around us, but only about 15 seconds of light raindrops fell here. So no rain but a lot of thunder and lightning as well as high winds.

I've learned the hard way to not expect much when that happens.

But I am so glad you are having a rainy season.
And maybe tomorrow I can work on the rhody. Chelle has given me some hope, but mine has never in nearly 40 years lost its leaves. Maybe hers is supposed to, but mine never ever looked like that or the way it looks now. It's always been evergreen, even during the ice storm in '09. How weird.

I guess we'll see, won't we?