In my yard I have several bougainvillea plants, a couple are giants. I love the flaming beauty of the bougainvillea when its blooming. Our semi-tropical climate is perfect for them and they grow into monsters. I have one that I lashed to the house years ago to direct its growth upward instead of outward, which would obstruct a lovely little winding path down the side of my house.
During the last couple of weeks we have experienced quite heavy rains. Key word here "heavy" rains. These rains caused my above mentioned bougainvillea to hang away from the house with a predictable result - the nylon cord broke and the Sasquatch plant sprawled awkwardly across my once pretty winding path. I had no choice but to cut it back - to the nub. But don't feel bad for the demise of this beautiful specimen. A bougainvillea has more lives than a cat and it will return very soon, stronger and healthier than ever. Especially since it fed happily and deliciously on my blood as I laboriously cut it back, one 3 ft section at a time.
For those of you who have never wrestled with a giant bougainvillea, I'm here to tell you that no one escapes unscathed from the experience. The thorns on that sucker are ENORMOUS and seek soft flesh like a moth seeks light, "the better to taste your blood, my little pretty." But just like roses (which I also foolishly grow) without some pruning, the beauty of the plant is withheld.
And pruning requires an encounter with thorns.
Pruning is always painful, but without such, the much desired growth and the accompanying beauty cannot take place. Just like our lives.
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