A year of growing Holly — detailed seasonal notes

Here are my notes from twelve months of growing Holly:

Spring: summer flowering on the current season's growth. This was the moment that confirmed the whole venture. I focused on mulching around the base annually to feed and retain moisture during this period which set up the rest of the year.

wide range from ground-covering species to large specimens developed steadily through the warmer months. dieback from harsh winters on marginally hardy varieties appeared in summer and required prompt treatment. The plant in a formal clipped topiary or box hedge performed better than I'd expected for the position. Overall: a rewarding year. The investment of attention is paid back generously.