The previous owner actually rented my house out for the 5 years, which explains to a large degree the state of the gardens (and the house). College kids are not known for their neat and appreciative style of living. I am still cleaning up the college compost of cigarette butts and bottle caps all over the place, after nearly 4 months! That said, some things are indeed alive and well despite absolutely no care.
In October, while moving in, my green thumb Mom looked on in horror when she saw one of the vines living on the back fence (and trees, and into the lirope, up the light pole etc). Passion flower! It too is very invasive here, which was somewhat self evident, BUT the flowers, which I had never seen before that I could remember, were so pretty and purple and well, pretty and purple. I did end up ripping all of it out I could find with a heavy heart.
One day I was making up the guest bedroom and I looked out of the window towards the back garden at one of the evergreen trees which I don't know the name of, and what did I see? A canopy of purple flowers intermixed with the dense leaves! It was stunning!
So I am keeping it. Every time I walk out to the car, I rip any of it down that I see has overstepped its bounds (the tree), as it has climbed back down onto the fence and into the lirope and can do so overnight even in the dead of winter, but I love it just the same. I know the lantana is jealous. It helps that it doesn't smell like cat pee.
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