I have recently been alerted to the power and spread of this blog. It has amazed me and I feel rather humble as a result. The fact that people from all over the globe read my words is simply wonderful.
So, I wondered if those who read this would do me the enormous favour of joining in with a few lines of comment on a subject of my choice. Just a few words, that’s all. Unless you want to let rip in which case, be my guest.
Today’s subject is my neighbour’s contention that “Life is too short for dead heading Cosmos”. I think I may have already provided a clue as to how I feel about that!
I look forward to hearing your opinions!
Davids Garden Diary 
I am very happy to comment on your choice of today’s subject! Deadheading is one of life’s simple joys and when the Cosmos is as pretty as your’s, it says it all! I love using my ‘Herbies’ (a gift from a gardening friend) to make those satisfying little snips. I am not surprised your blog is so popular, your garden and the photos you take of it are a delight and inspiration.
When my neighbour saw me standing for several minutes dead heading Cosmos plants she rather dismissively said “life’s too short for that” which took me by surprise as she is quite a good gardener. To me, dead heading Cosmos defines my love of gardening. You sow the tiny seeds, nurture the seedlings, prick them out, pot them on, plant them out, watch them grow, water them, feed them, dead head them, save some seed and start again! If you don’t dead head, the plant and garden look untidy and the plant stops or reduces flowering. Dead heading freshens things up, encourages more flowers, gets you up close to really look at the plant and its flowers. It is one of the most rewarding things you can do in the garden. Life is too short not to!
I agree with you completely – deadheading certainly does do all those things. It’s my daily fix. I’m ashamed to admit I’ve yet to discover the world of sowing seeds but hope to rectify that this year, inspired by your description above! Further evidence of the power of your super blog.
I have to agree with Alison, great garden, great photographs and great prose wrapped around it! I know what dead-heading is, though I thought Cosmos was a vacation tour company of the “This is Tuesday, it must be Belgium” variety :)! Deadheading should be treated as a pastime rather than a chore, so my vote has to go with your neighbour – with the proviso that it’s ok to do it for the pure satisfaction of it!
We don’t have cosmos but I deadhead other flowers. It’s not a task I mind. I find the results worth it. (And it is not too onerous when the garden is small, as ours is.) I enjoy your blog!
Life may be too short for dead heading but life will be short for the Cosmos if it is not dead headed…..do not grow annuals if you are not willing to dead head since the beauty is lost with the dying flowers.
I would agree with previous comments, excellent blog.
An inspiration in colour and words. Looking forward to your help in the Autumn and Spring next year …… dead heading or not.
deadheading is a lovely job and a way to get right up close to the flowers..wonderful blog and photos…great to see what other gardens and plants are out there.
I agree with North Wales Titchmarsh! The life of your cosmos will be short if you do not deadhead. It only takes a few minutes and the flowers can be kept going until the first frost. The only seedheads I leave are those as the weather gets cooler so that they can self-seed. Similarly, dahlias must be deadheaded otherwise all flowers are lost.
Love your blog and the pix!
Reblogged this on David's Garden Diary and commented:
Thank you all for your kind comments, it’s good to know my little blog is appreciated. Another topic for debate next week!
I don’t deadhead many plants because I collect the seeds, the same with Cosmos, the ones with the best colours are the ones I collect the seeds from.
Well, it depends…if you have a little baby you are often too busy to, or if you are writing a thesis that turns difficult, you will simply be happy you have the flowers at all, for example. So, a shaggy garden is OK a times and the shaggy gardener will love visiting a well tended garden from time to time (or the photos in a blog of the WTG). Thanks for your blog!
Nice blog thaanks for posting