Do You Deadhead your Butterfly Bushes?

I do.  I didn't get to them as soon as they faded like I usually do, but a couple days ago, decided to take some before and after photos.  If you look it up, there are detailed instructions on how to do this.  I just go fairly close to where a new stem starts, taking the stems back as far as the faded growth, or a little farther if I want to shape them a bit.

I sometimes tie up this bush so that the branches don't droop, but haven't done that this year.

Here's a close up view of the faded blooms.

You can see that the stems were cut at different lengths, depending on how far back the blooms were faded.

The after photos don't look as different from the before ones than the bush does in "person".  It's not perfectly shaped, but looks much better.

I took the next photo this evening, since I didn't have a close up to compare to the faded blooms one.

I am almost caught up with visiting those who left comments on my critter post a week ago, and ready to visit this past Saturday's commenters' blogs.  When I hear about hurricanes and fires, I think of and pray for the bloggers in those areas.

Work is going well, but I come home tired.  We have some new students who need lots of attention, and I work with one of them from 11:30 to 2:40 most days.  It's fun getting into a routine, and seeing him do more and more things independently. 

I have been helping my grown daughter clean her place, which she has gotten very far behind in due to depression.  I told her I am seeing light at the end of the tunnel, but she said she doesn't yet.  Any prayers would be appreciated.