Butterfly Bush

In the autumn eight years ago, when we bought this house, there was a large forsythia bush near the mailbox. The following April it surprised us with an explosion of yellow blossoms. But when summer came it was less pleasant. It grew to more than nine feet tall, blocking the view of the duck pond from the house. The post office and the utility companies complained that it was in their way as well. We trimmed it back every year, but it always outpaced us. Last year we moved back from England to find it was choked, infested and badly diseased. We cut it back almost to the very ground. In another few weeks we should know whether we’ve killed it or not. If not I suppose it’s here to stay. But if we have, I think I’d like to replace it with something less aggressive. Maybe something that will attract things with pretty wings.