Marching Forward...

 

 Pruning The Shrubs....

While I am Madly constructing the Rhododendron blossoms, Dear Readers, the progress on the Shrub skeletons is much slower and more deliberate. But if I am to reach my desired goal of a blooming shrub by the end of May (only about ten weeks away!) then I need to be making good progress every weekend at least! So as I was attaching yet another round of branches to the Shrub#1 skeleton, I thought I had better make sure the shrub was not going to overwhelm the path to the garden bench by the little brook that runs along the side of The Folly Garden (or will when we get it built)! So I asked Joanna (who is a small adult only 5" tall) to come over and help me test the shrub by walking the short path. She was happy to oblige, and Will was also willing to help (he is a tall 6" adult size). He is warning Joanna to be careful on the very narrow little path....

Which takes off from the steep front steps to The Folly porch.

The path past the lilacs where Will is standing

 is a bit wider and more traveled,

 and the lilacs naturally arch above the heads of anyone who passes.

While the path past the Rhododendron

 has always been wilder and a bit neglected.

As you can see, it would be very easy

 for this shrub to overwhelm the path entirely!

It made clear to me the need to "prune" the shrub

 just a little bit where it stands by the porch!

As you can see, Will is a good bit taller than Joanna,

 and he needs to be able to navigate this path too!

After all, the bench overlooking the brook is in such a sweet spot!

I know it is hard to see the difference, Dear Readers,

 but here is the Shrub#1 with a whole batch

 of new little short branches!

I will continue to shape the branches

 as I begin to add the blossoms to them,

 but first they need to be painted... 

a whole other adventure!

And lest you think I have been slacking... 

here is Shrub#2 getting the same little short branches added and glued...

And Shrub#3....!

And if I stand back far enough you can see all three in a row!

And last week ended with a count of seventy blossoms clusters!

Wowee!

I am Marching Forward, Dear Readers,

Even if I did have to Prune the bushes back a little bit!