@Leftwood ......
You are a wonderful teacher. I can actually see in my mind what I need to do to my star magnolia to create a plant than will shine and call my name every time I work in that part of the garden. Thank you. I am also beginning to understand how to prune other plants so that they can be their best. That's a fine gift you have given to me.
If we were talking about roses, I understand the botany of the plants and grow several different classes and have grown them in very different climates. I can walk by a rose a know exactly what it needs just by glancing at it because I have handled so many different cultivars over the years. During the winter months, I even plan which rose to prune first and what the pruning cuts will be. (They've lost their leaves and I can see the architecture of the plant.) I try to learn from the rose.
To me, this was a situation where I was having difficulty learning from the plant which created an incredible amount of uncertainty in me in how to proceed. However, this was a totally new experience for me as I work to include other plants into my plant pallet.
I actually feel comfortable, now, about how to address the awkward growth and still keep the plant healthy.
Thank you for all of the time you have invested in sharing your knowledge and experience to give me the sense of confidence that I needed to go forward.
Smiles,
Lyn
