Daphne
There were already three Daphne bushes in the garden when I first came to Mooseys Country Garden - in a small area by the washing line, with lavenders and some herbs. These early plantings were obviously designed to make hanging the clothes on the line more enjoyable!
Daphne Shrub in Flower
For a month the Daphne fragrance is really strong, and it is indeed a pleasure to be working in the nearby gardens. I 'prune' the bushes for the flower vases in the house. What a beautiful scent!
Daphne Flower
Then, suddenly, the flowers are fully open, and the perfume lessens. Later in the year these Daphne shrubs start to look a little unloved, and sometimes I get alarming numbers of yellow leaves - definitely not a good look!
White Flowering Daphne
One year I treated myself to a standard white flowering Daphne. It was - ahem - quite expensive, and after a few months in my windy garden it fell over sideways. Oops. I didn't actually notice this had happened for quite a while.
White Daphne
But there was good garden sense in letting sleeping Daphnes lie. The shrub has flourished, grown bushy and strong, and never looked back. I've since bought a cheaper smaller one to plant in the Laundry Garden.
