I feel your pain. I hacked out a couple this spring and left the young shoots to take over, and I'm sure they will! Don't get me wrong though, it's one of my favorite, showiest, most reliable plants and I can't see myself ever getting rid of all of it.

I've been nursing a Westerland for 7 years now. Like brother cadfael I do nothing and it dies back to the ground each winter. Mine does send out longer canes but they only bloom once. As long as it lives I'll keep trying. I agree the burlap will not affect it going dormant as long as the space between the wire cage and the bush stays clear.

Julia, Thank you, and please send some of that cooler air this way.I would just love to have a 62 degree night.82 daytime would be like stepping into a fridge, compared to this week, here.Suppose to be 103 tomorrow with a heat index of 115..I can't handle this heat no more.Use to not bother me, but it does now,since I am older. DEBRA, Thank you for the nice comments. Jean

Nope...it's an ottoman. I think the seller might be Martyn Lawrence Bullard....he uses the word "delicious" in his description: This very cool rounded ottoman was a vintage purchase which I intended to fix up and use as the centerpiece of a walk-in closet, however construction plans have been delayed and the closet will not happen as quickly as hoped, and in the mean time we need to put windows in our garage, so I need to sell to gain storage space. This is a very cool shape (like pac-man) which could be used to go around the corner of a wall to be a banquette, or just left as is for a neat design. The velvet or velour fabric is like a golden vanilla color, very rich and regal looking, classic glam. You can use it as a coffee table/ottoman piece with a sofa, or like I was going to as a lounge seating piece in a fabulous closet, bedroom, family room, home theater room, humongous Moroccan style bathroom, etc. Pretty versatile and probably a great conversation piece wherever you put it. Instant style, and a forever classic. Measures 60" diameter (5' across!) -- Deliciously HUGE! Note that there is some staining and dirt on the upholstery. The lines across the top are just indentations in the velvet from what this was leaning against in our garage, those will fluff out. I tried to get good photos but since this is a velvety or velour type fabric it was hard to catch it right. There are some stains on the top, and the pointed edges have worn spots, and dirt. I have done a brush-off of the dirt, but I don't have the time or cleaning supplies to try to see if Oxy-clean or something will work on this. I would guess it would, but I need to leave that to the buyer, and my price reflects this. The upholestry is so pretty, and dramatic. I would think it would definitely be worth your while to try to salvage it. Even if some of the stains don't completely come out, they are hard to see with the velvet texture. It is up to you. Also, since this is an older item, the foam in the cushion feels a little on the hard side. It is not terrible, I mean it could still be used, but if you want a super-cushy seat I recommend reupholstering. Up to you. I try to think of all picky things to tell people. This is a really well-made piece and to get this custom made would be like $800+just for the frame and padding, then another few hundred for the upholstery fabric (depending on what you chose). Velvet is pretty pricey these days too, so if you can salvage it, you got a crazy good buy. Rare and unique custom item that you will not find elsewhere, and won't be able to make for such a low price. Here is a link that might be useful: And In Case You Can't Resist...