My buddleia had been hacked down.
This is the tall, lovely buddleia that my sparrows sat in a chirped outside my window while using it for feeding and nesting material, that a seven spot ladybird was hibernating in, that butterflies and bees visit in summer, and one day a glorious migrant hawker sat on the purple flowers like the lord of all.
And now it's gone, chopped down presumably by my Polish neighbours for reasons of overhanging their garden, or blocking their sun. It would have been as well, alas, but they could have asked me!
They've been there over a year now, we've never had a problem, and we've always been friendly. Maybe their landlord told them they could. I don't know.
They dumped the remains between their garage and my shed.
My mum and sister have reassured me that it will grow back quickly, with renewed vigour, but still! Where are my cheery little spuggies going to perch on their way up to their nests? I'm not going to be able to watch them in the morning any more.
All for a bit of bloody sun.
Si
All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 24.02.16
Now that is not very neighbourly BUT if its anything like mine it will grow back very quickly.
ReplyDeleteA sad sight, indeed. But it will grow back very quickly - thicker than ever, so take that, neighbors!
ReplyDeleteTrying not to say swear words...
ReplyDeleteLet's hope it grows back quickly! Would it be possible to transplant it now to a safer spot, further from those persons?
If the buddleia is on your side of the fence.. they have broken the law by 'trespassing' on your side to cut it down. They are only allowed to cut what is overhanging into their garden but only up to the boundary. But saying that it is good to cut down a buddleia as it will grow with renewed vigour and have more, bigger flower spikes.. I cut mine down every year to keep it looking good :o)
ReplyDeleteLike Sara, I'm trying not to swear! And as Julie says, they have broken the law by chopping beyond their boundary line. It defies belief that they thought it was ok?!? If I were you, I'd be hopping mad. Here's to it growing back and being even bigger and more attractive to wildlife!
ReplyDeleteI hack mine back every so often. The re-grow very quickly.
ReplyDeleteVery sad Simon and what a nerve - have had similar things happen here in he past and I can imagine how angry you feel.
ReplyDeleteIf its any compensation OH chops ours down in the Spring to encourage flowers later in the year and they do grow back stronger.
Well then, let us hope there was benign intent, and effect. Don't want to get into a mini war with the neighbours. Thank you for your support.
ReplyDeleteFear not, Si. They always say you should get your worst enemies to prune your roses. I think this applies to buddleias too. I prune mine each year almost back to ground level and it flowers beautifully later in the year.
ReplyDeleteThat's what people are telling me! I look forward to that if true!
DeleteIt is, you should prune your buddleia back hard while it's dormant - my gardening neighbours do it twice, once in autumn about half way (they say it's helpful for overwintering ladybirds) and then almost to the ground in spring.
ReplyDeleteIt's possible your neighbours may have thought they were helping you out.
PS When I say spring I mean about now :p
DeleteA sad sight indeed ...
ReplyDeleteBut I think it will grow back quite quickly.
All the best Jan
THank you all, let's see how it goes as summer develops.
ReplyDeleteI hope it'll grow back bigger and more beautiful than before!
ReplyDeleteOh heck. The Polish are a race of really nice, are you sure?
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ReplyDeleteThat's sad but most plants react well to a bit of pruning and as far as I know buddleia is pretty hardy. I hope the sparrows find somewhere else to hang out in the meantime
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