A Virtuous Woman: July 2011

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Crepe Myrtles in Bloom

Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies

with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard

It's that time of the year, here in the South, that the crepe myrtles are blooming.

Right in the middle of the summer, when the heat is at it's worst, and the drought still has no end in sight; when the gardens have started dying and other flowers are drooping from heat exhaustion--suddenly, the crepe myrtles burst out in all of their array of colors.

The one in my mom's front yard always blooms at least a couple of weeks ahead of mine. (Hers gets full sun, and mine are really not planted at the optimum place in my yard, they get too much shade from the oak trees.) But just when I think mine are going to give me just a couple of measly little flowers, they show up--just a bit late, but beautiful, nevertheless.

Mine are the traditional "hot pink" fuchsia color...

but variety is the spice of life, and crepe myrtles come in a variety of colors, from lavender...

to white...

to light pink.

They come in different shapes, too, according to how they're pruned, from a loose, airy look...

to one that's more tightly shaped.

Which are your favorites? I think I like them all!

This post is linked to:

Tuesday Garden Party at An Oregon Cottage

Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer

Until next time...

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Garden Update, July 10th

Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies

...with the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard

I have not been very virtuous lately, even in the garden. Especially in the garden. Partly because of this...

I took this about 10:00 one morning, maybe even earlier. Already 90. Degrees. Fahrenheit.

Some days my air conditioner can't keep it cool even inside the house. On those days I'm miserable inside and out. And it shows, too.

Fortunately, most of my container plants are very forgiving. They droop, and shrivel, and close up leaves to preserve moisture, but all it takes a good drink from the water hose and they perk right back up.

I wish I were that resilient, don't you?

Some things, like this morning glory, have foliage but no blooms, but it hangs in there. (That's a periwinkle at the base, giving it at least a touch of color.)

Other things, like these lilies, come back up year after year. The top fell out of this tree six years ago with Hurricane Rita blew threw, but it continues to leaf and put out new branches, and the lilies--my husband even burns them over every couple of years, and they come right back and eventually give us the most brilliant, if short-lived, blooms.

And of course the garden....by far the star of this spring/summer garden are the cherry tomatoes.

The heat has made every one's tomatoes smaller than usual, and these are no exception, but they are by far the best tasting tomatoes I've ever had--I'll definitely plant these Sweet Cherry 100's again.