Luckily, I do not carry my pruners as I stroll the garden. If I did, I could have prematurely butchered the large Chaste tree (really a bush, Vitex agnus- castus) beside the garden’s shed that appeared mostly dead after a chilly winter. The few parts that appeared alive, near the base, were damaged in a late freeze. Only a few sprouts of green remained, confirming from a distance that the only remedy was to hack back the dead branches.

So, it appeared the large shrub would have to start over, a foot from the ground. But, as is often the case, I didn’t get around to the task. Several times, I was on the way but a few or several distractions led me astray. Of course, there was no hurry. It was dead, or mostly dead, but as we know, mostly dead is also slightly alive.

And so, my eye began to ignore the seemingly dead shrub. A group toured the garden and I didn’t give a thought about getting rid of the unsightly Chaste tree that is only partially obscured by a beautyberry. But then, miraculously it began to leaf out. I supposed that dead branch tips would still need to be pruned, but then those disappeared under leafy growth. Today, it is fully in bud and beginning to flower. I did nothing.

Admittedly, it’s likely I would have scratched the bark before chopping, but how far wrong could I be? There is no need, of course, to mention my lengthy history of mistakes and near misses. Every gardener must make a few, and me? More than a few.

The neighboring Beautyberry (Callicarpa Purple Pearls) suffered similar dieback, but this is typical of beautyberries that require annual pruning of dead branch tips (that I also failed to do). I am reminded that the large shrub is past due to be reduced in size as it begins to obstruct the narrow path to the lower rear garden. This is a quick project to be done in early spring, and instead of only removing dead tips, branches will be cut by a foot or more. If I get around to it.