Dying bush?

I have two of these bushes (?) in my yard. The last few years they haven’t looked so good. This summer things are getting to the point I might just cut them down. Any ideas on what this is and how I might be able to salvage?

http://www.i-beams.net/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=6203

-g4g

 

Looks like a Ceanothus.
They can be short lived if conditions aren't to their liking.
http://www.laspilitas.com/groups/ceanothus/california_ceanothus.html

 

A search on the forums for [SEARCH]Ceanothus[/SEARCH] -- look at some of the results in the Gardening in the PNW forum for discussions about how these plants fared in the PNW in the past few years and what people are attempting to do to help them recover where possible.

 

Thanks for the info. Now that I know what it is, I'm finding several folks with similar issues.

Cheers

grep4garden