The parcity of flowers on the congested clump of Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ should be no surprise, but with diminishing flowers in recent years, I did nothing. Now, there are two flowers and two buds. No more, from many dozens of plants. Clearly, the time to split the clump is overdue.

Of course, many chores in the garden are delayed, neglected, and some are never started, but dividing the crocosmia clump should be quite simple. I must wait for plants to go dormant, but then the entire clump will be dug, split into smaller chunks, and replanted. Finding spaces for the smaller clumps will be easy, though ‘Lucifer’ is prone to flopping, so I must be aware of whatever it flops over. While the foliage is pleasant enough, there is no need for crocosmia without flowers.

I do not look forward to the early winter months, but I am curious to see what becomes of the heavy set of buds on the Australian shrub Grevillea (Grevillea victorae ‘Murray Valley Queen’, above). While the very marginally cold hardy shrub has survived three relatively mild winters with no sign of damage, the winter flowers are readily set back by temperatures below ten degrees (Fahrenheit). Rather than enjoying flowers through the winter, I must be content with a few days. Thus, grevillea’s presence in the garden is subject to change if another jewel catches my eye.

I am occasionally surprised when deer nibble some plants I’ve left unprotected by the repellent. Succulent foliage is rarely bothered, but in recent months both manfeda (above) and related mangaves have been damaged. These will recover, but after two weeks of traveling, I was quite surprised that the nibbling had been covered over by new growth. The new foliage of the young manfreda has not become spotted yet, but the small plant has doubled in size.