#ThursdayTreeLove | Summer’s Crepe Myrtle

Crepe myrtles come in bloom
In the sunny summertime.
They beautify the landscape,
And we enjoy them so sublime.

from “Lovely Crepe Myrtles” by Margaret Cagle

One of the things I miss most about our home in New Orleans is the gorgeous trees that surrounded the property. Since our current neighborhood is fairly “young,” the trees have not grown to their full potential. There are no shady oaks or grand magnolias gracing lawns and gardens.

A tree that gave me a lot of pleasure was the crepe myrtle that grew near the curb leading to our driveway. I’ll have to do a deep dive into my photo files to see if I have any photos of that particular tree, but here are some snaps of crepe myrtles found in the [relatively] more recent files–shot since our move to Northern Alabama–including a tree I shot last weekend near Chattanooga, Tennessee.

One of the gorgeous sights I beheld when I looked through my office window [a few years ago] is a pair of crepe myrtles. They greeted me each time I left the building and headed out for a campus walk or an errand.

Imagine my chagrin when I exited the building one afternoon and met tree movers extracting  the trees. [Images above]. Initially, I was horrified, but since our campus is clearly a tree haven, I assumed–because I’ve never asked–there was a problem with the trees.

Even though I lost the couple, there are many other crepe myrtles all over campus for me to enjoy. They are a sight to behold during the mid-summer when all the other blooms are resting till spring.

Whenever I travel in the South (USA), I encounter the trees with blooms of various colors–white, pink, purple, and red. So far, I’ve managed to capture the tree in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and now, Tennessee.

The crepe myrtle is a pretty tree, but I find it difficult to adequately convey the prettiness through photos.

I am joining Parul Thakur for #ThursdayTreeLove every second and fourth Thursday of the month. If you would like to play along, post a picture of a tree on your blog and link it back to her latest #treelove post.

33 thoughts on “#ThursdayTreeLove | Summer’s Crepe Myrtle”

    • Chandra Lynn says:
      Reply

      They are certainly a lovely sight, especially when they’re planted in rows and they line a walking path or driveway. I’m wondering if it would be too much to post MORE crepe myrtles. LOL!

      Like

    • Chandra Lynn says:
      Reply

      Thank you, Rosaliene! Today, I saw more! A group of purple ones that I’ll have to retrace my steps and photograph. They’re at the edge of someone’s property, so I think I’ll ask permission. And my cousin has an interesting one in her front garden–it had pink AND white blossoms. I’d never seen a crepe myrtle with two colors on the same tree. I did take a snap of that one.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Parul Thakur says:
    Reply

    The colors are so beautiful. I am not sure if this tree grows in the part of India I live. You are right Chandra that the beauty is so hard to capture. You did a great job. Thank you for joining and sharing these pictures.
    Looking forward to seeing you on the 11th.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Alana Mautone (@RamblinGarden) says:
    Reply

    I love crepe myrtles and there are none hardy enough to grow where I live (zone 5b, southern tier of New York State) although I have seen them (small and not looking that happy) in the New York City area. How I miss them (I have lived in Florida, Texas and Arkansas) and wish we had them. I haven’t seen one in person (during their blooming season) since visiting South Carolina for the eclipse in 2017. Thank you for sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Chandra Lynn says:
      Reply

      Aww…I wish you could enjoy them in NY. I’m glad, at least, you can enjoy the photographs. I’ve been meaning to capture some purple crepe myrtles, but I always see them at inopportune times. Hopefully, I’ll get them before summer is over!

      Like

  13. Pingback: #ThursdayTreeLove – 67 - happiness and food
  14. April Garcia, BA says:
    Reply

    I love this. Crape Myrtle’s are my absolute favorite because they remind me of my grandmother (my mom’s mom). ❤

    Oh, and speaking of trees. 🙂 A couple of weeks ago I did a post about a trip we took for the day to Utopia Park. I made sure to get photos while there of the surrounds (practicing my limited photography "skills") and I made sure to snap some tree photos just for you because I know how much you love trees. 🙂 I made sure to tag your blog in said post.

    Liked by 1 person

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