Decision needs to be made

It seems that last winter’s casualties are multiplying. So far, I have had to replace my thyme and rosemary. They were fairly inexpensive plants and I didn’t expect them to live as long as they did, so I wasn’t too upset to realize that they didn’t survive the harsh weather we had this past year.
My Daphne is another matter entirely. She was a scrawny stick when she first arrived in the mail. In the subsequent years she has turned into a dowager princess of a shrub. She reigns over the corner of the house where her intoxicating spring fragrance complements the sweetness of the lilacs in the backyard.
She is early to leaf out in the spring. As soon as the tulips start to wane she covers herself in clusters of white flowers that evolve to a dainty pink. When she is done blooming, the petals disappear and her variegated leaves last well into early winter.
I have read that she doesn’t like to be watered, fertilized or trimmed. Warnings abound that pruning will kill her. Subsequently, I have left her alone for much of her life. In return she has expanded her territory and is twice as wide as she should be (as am I).
Now she has a problem. Her middle didn’t leaf out. She has flouncy white petticoats surrounding ugly brown sticks. Last winter has taken its toll.
In searching for a solution to her bare branches I found that she can, indeed, be pruned without causing her death. I also read that she is poisonous. Hmm. Maybe I can get the evil black squirrels to stop digging holes in the yard and instead nibble on her branches?
One source, Davis Landscape Architecture, states, “It is highly poisonous if ingested (especially the sap or fruit) and it will cause a burning sensation in the mouth, stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. A large dose will cause serious damage to the internal passages and may be lethal. Historically women used the sap as a rouge inducing cosmetic product, but this stopped once it was discovered that this effect was achieved through damage to the blood vessels.” However, pollinating insects and thrushes are immune to its poison. So maybe I should train some insects or birds to remove the dead branches?
The article goes on to warn that hard pruning should be avoided if possible. It reiterates that the sap is toxic and could be a skin irritant. Plus, other authors tell of Daphnes that just up and die for no apparent reason.
Great. I have to do something. I can’t just let her die without trying to save her. Nor can I do nothing. What to do, what to do?
Sometimes the shrub reminds me of my mother. Both have lived long, eventful lives. Both are in need of care. I have no idea how to help either of them. Some days I think it is better to leave them both alone, that their inner strength will see them through. Other days I ask opinions of everybody I know. I weigh the conflicting information and make the best decisions I can, all the while doubting myself. There are no absolutes in the world of health care, be it for plants or humans.
For now, I am preparing to prune the shrub. I’ll also spend as much time with my mom as I can, while I can. I will continue to gather as much data as possible, then I will make my choices. I hope I make the right decisions, but even if I choose wrong, I will have done the best I know how.
I pray that Daphne and Mom will survive for many more seasons despite my hesitation and indecision.[[In-content Ad]]