Sometimes, the best finds are the ones everyone else passes by. I recently scored a crepe myrtle bush for just $1 on clearance. It looked dead—brown, brittle, and lifeless. But I decided to take a chance on it anyway. Why? Because here’s what I know: many plants, when stressed, go dormant as a survival strategy. They hold on tight to life, conserving energy until the conditions are right to grow again.
Stress can cause plants to temporarily stop growing, shed leaves, or even appear dead, but it doesn’t mean they’re beyond saving. Often, they’re just waiting for the right moment, the right care, to bounce back. A little love, a little encouragement, and they can surprise you with their resilience.
Let me show you this little “dead bush” now—full of fresh green shoots! It’s a reminder that plants are a lot like people—when we get stressed, we tend to turn inward, too. But with some care and a bit of patience, we can flourish again.
Grow, baby, grow! 🌿 And that’s BombDiggity! 💚
While you’re here, take a look at The Complete Mum Guide: Which Mums Come Back Every Year and The Complete Berry Guide.
#PlantRescue #GardeningTips #CrepeMyrtle #DormantPlants #PlantCare #ClearancePlants #GardenTransformation #DollarPlantFind #ResilientPlants #Bombdiggity #PlantLove #GardeningJourney #GreenThumb #FarmingAfter50 #CountryLivingConnoisseur
Written by
Lane and Jules Morris
Authors and University of Tennessee faculty writing from our farm in East Tennessee about gardening, the farm kitchen, faith and designing a flourishing life at any age. More about us
