celebrating the ceanothus

First - I never knew that an alternative name for Ceanothus is Californian Lilac, so it makes a lot of sense that we have a great deal in magnificent bloom at the moment.  But we're lucky to have it in bloom at all.  At some point last year, it was looking miserable - wilting, covered in tiny bugs, sticky.  Spraying it with soapy water did nothing.  So we cut it right down to the ground, expecting that it had reached the end of its days.  But rapidly, over the last few months - and with all the rain - it's burst into blossom, and is really looking quite spectacular.