Identification Area

The link is very useful. The striped stems clinch it. Incidentally the Huauzontle behind it which is in the same family also has red striped stems. Neither seem to be bothered much with pests.

Thank you @BB3 and @Thevictorian I always remember the old names better

That does seem a very likely plant to be in this position, and a good match for what I am seeing. If I google them for sale, they are more like round blobs, but perhaps they are desiccated when sold. I feel more confident leaving them be and I’ll look forward to seeing them next year. Thanks.

Well if it looks healthy probably best left alone.

I was torn between box and one of the Euonymus @Silver surfer and @Pete8 , but yes - I agree it's the latter. I forget about all the various Euonymus varieties that are around!

It's wet cold that does for them, so as long as it's happy with your climate - which it seems to be, it'll be fine. You can easily propagate as described byI didn't know the 'myth' about the lightning! I love these old tales and legends though.

PRUNING Times have changed ....what was the advise years ago is no longer the case. I recommend following RHS advice.."Should I paint the pruning cut? There is no need to use wound paints, as they are unlikely to contribute to healing or prevent disease. The exception is plums and cherries,...

Ok, yes, it's next to a mature buddleja, but it's definitely not self seeded. It was found in a pot at a lockup, brought home and planted.The leaves, especially the new ones, do look like a buddleja, but they're much smaller and closer together. About 1/3 the size, if that, which is what was...

Most commercial compost has that slow release food added, so it's always likely you'll see evidence of it in plants you buy @tommyrot, as well as in any compost you buy .As others have said - we've all been there, so don't worry, and most of us still have a poke around at anythign we aren't...

That's gardening isn't it?

I have pretty much the same attitude to Spanish bluebells. Some of them, you can dig a hole elbow deep and still not reach the bulb. I slice them off at ground level and forget about them until next year. Celandine, I mostly leave. Pretty and harmless

Thank you so much! I love the big pink floppy flowers.

Ladybird eggs are oval and yellow as in @Ladybird4's photo, not round and white as in the original photo and @Loofah's photo.These are Shield bug eggs.

Mine have spread all around one side of my pond. I pull up a couple every now and then to keep down a bit- strange smell which isn’t unpleasant but isn’t captivating either.

Thank you @Plantminded!