Monday, July 19, 2010

Manic Monday

This morning was a typical beginning to a hot summer's day. I got out early to pull weeds out front and lowandbehold I found the small crepe myrtle bush blooming. I was wondering what kind of bush it was. I had forgotten that I had it. I almost pulled it out early this spring. I am glad I didn't. A friend of mine gave me a couple of starts. I put one out front and one in back. This is the sole survivor.
I was so pleasantly surprised. I am probably the only person you know that could forget about a bush being planted.  I have had an Almond bush in this spot before. It didn't survive. I guess I just didn't expect much.
I have never had luck with crepe myrtles before. Looking at these blooms up close makes me appreciate it even more. So delicate. Almost like tissue paper. That lovely yellow center really pops.
I stayed out until it heated up then headed in to clean up and cool off. Unfortunately the day took a turn for the worse in the garden. A terrible thunder storm with high winds swept through. It doused the garden with a shot of water. It turned the daturas inside out. Quite a feat since they are so tough.
The worst part is that it broke a big limb off of the apple tree. The little family of House wrens had quite the ride no doubt. Their little abode was askew. They must have survived alright because I saw one of the parents taking a fecal sack out of the nest.
I know what I will be doing tomorrow. We will have to get that limb up off the plants all the while trying not to disturb the wrens too much.

Luna won't be able to make her usual rounds until we get the limb off the pathway. We are lucky though since it didn't damage the fence.  I hope you all are safe and sound after all the storms running across country.

34 comments:

  1. Oh YIKES! :-( Good luck with the cleanup tomorrow, Lisa... take trips out to the pretty crepe myrtle to put that smile back on your face!

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  2. A crepe myrtle ... very nice ... never seen one before!

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  3. The crepe myrtle is awesome--we're out of their zone. :( You know what starts tomorrow? Ann Arbor Art Fair! Always the hottest, most humid days in Ann Arbor... if you ever wanna walk at a snail's pace pressed into a crowd trying to look at art you can't afford, you will want to come here then, lol! ;-)

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  4. I have often thought that procrastination can be a gardener's best friend. I can't grow crape myrtle, and yours is beautiful

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  5. So sorry about your apple tree, Lisa. Sounds like you really had some storms--we had lightning and lots of rain, but no severe winds, thank goodness. My garden really is appreciating the moisture.

    The crepe myrtle is lovely! I've been envying all those Southern gardeners with their beautiful crepe myrtle trees; now you have a little bit of Southern charm in your own garden.

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  6. I am so sorry to see the storm damage to your apple tree. Good news that the little wren family survived though.

    What luck with your crepe myrtle! I am in love with them too. They are one plant that does well here in central Texas. It laughs at the heat--one tough cookie! I have a white one and a red one, but have since decided that the pale lavender is my absolute favorite.

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  7. Hi Lisa....firstly the crepe myrtle is beautiful....I have never seen one in bloom before.

    Oh my gosh.....poor tree, poor wrens......do hope everything is alright with all parties concerned.

    My garden really needs some rain.......but I would prefer it without the wind......

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  8. Wow, that sounds like quite a storm. We were supposed to get thunderstorms but actually got nothing.

    I was just reading Darla's blog and she commented that if you deadhead the crepe myrtle, it will rebloom. I thought that was interesting.
    Marnie

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  9. Oh yes, I have pulled out things I had planted a season before, completely forgetting not only that they were planted in that spot, but that I had ever purchased the plant, or ever even wanted one, or what it was named. And I keep a detailed database of everything I put in my gardens! So glad to hear you have also forgotten what you planted --- I'm glad you spared the crape myrtle.

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  10. Lisa, you are having the worst luck with trees! I am glad that the storm didn't do more damage. Seeing your lovely crepe myrtle reminds me of the ones Aunt Myrtle had on their farm. I always loved to see all the colors she had in bloom when we would visit.

    Don't work too hard cleaning up the tree limb. :)

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  11. How very, very cool! That myrtle is lovely.

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  12. Sort of a win-some/lose-some day for you, Lisa! I think May Dreams Carol was trying to grow a Crepe Myrtle, too - but you did it.

    Limbs from trees are a pain to saw & clean up, but if it didn't hit the fence, it should cost you time and effort - not the cost of new lumber. Take it slow!

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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  13. I am sorry to hear about this storm and the damages you had! But I also had to smile when reading, you are the only one to forget a plant you have planted. No, you are not the only one!!! I often forget what and where I've planted something as usually I buy several plants at the same time and put them on different places ;-) !!
    Your crepe myrtle is a beautiful and special plant....if I had this one I probably wouldn't forget it :-) !!
    Barbara

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  14. I am happy to hear the bird babies survived the crash. You are not the only one who has forgotten a plant. It is a pretty shrub but not hardy here in RI. I will enjoy yours.

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  15. Hello Lisa,
    I hope all are well after the storm too.
    The second picture captured my attention.
    Indeed, it's so unique and preety.
    I always love your garden' photos.

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  16. So glad the little birdies made it thru the storm ok. We have a crepe Myrtle tree in our yard. It doesnt do as well as the crepe Myrtle bush my neighbor planted. but I love the flowers when it does bloom. Lovely gardens here.

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  17. I'm so glad the wrens are okay. I didn't know you could grow crapemyrtles where you live. Wonders never cease. Your garden looks much happier than mine right now. It's the time of year when I'd like to live up north. It's hot here.~~Dee

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  18. Poor Luna. Get out the chain saw!

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  19. How did the cleanup go? I hope the sweet wren family was fine...Lisa, the crape myrtle is a perfect pink! gail

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  20. I learn so much here.

    Thank you for your supportive emails and comments. You are great.

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  21. We also have had wild storms. Lots of rain. Glad the wrens were ok. Gardening is full of ups and downs. I am just waiting for Autumn now...it is too humid even in the dawn to do anything outside. Perhaps I am getting to old for the heat?
    My husband doesn't mind the heat or the humidity. I just might turn the gardens over to him.
    I have a dwarf white crepe myrtle. Always a delight to see it in bloom. I love the colr of yours.
    Be sure and drink lots of water...stay cool.
    Sherry

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  22. We also have had wild storms. Lots of rain. Glad the wrens were ok. Gardening is full of ups and downs. I am just waiting for Autumn now...it is too humid even in the dawn to do anything outside. Perhaps I am getting to old for the heat?
    My husband doesn't mind the heat or the humidity. I just might turn the gardens over to him.
    I have a dwarf white crepe myrtle. Always a delight to see it in bloom. I love the colr of yours.
    Be sure and drink lots of water...stay cool.
    Sherry

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  23. Lisa girl I always wonder about Crepe Myrtle too .. I know it isn't hardy here .. well, as far as I know ? .. it is so pretty though .. wish I could have it in my garden too ! Hey .. sometimes random bushes get lost and we forget about them .. you are not alone ! LOL
    Yes .. these freaky pop up thunder storms are scary .. sorry about the branch coming off .. hope those wee birds are safe and sound .. I have been absent from my garden because of the severe heat/humidity thing .. too much to handle .. but hopefully today I will get out there and get some garden therapy !!!
    Joy : )

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  24. Joy, Crepe myrtles tend to die back to the ground here. At least they do until they get well established. We can lose them when it gets too cold during winter. It is a real treat to have one get established in the garden. I hope it cools down here too. UGH...

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  25. Hi there Lisa, gosh this was a change of pace! I thought I was going to see a selection of blooms and wham you’ve had wind damage again! BTW That myrtle is a wonderful colour :-D

    Hope the weather is kinder to you now and the damage wasn’t as bad as first feared. Wishing you a good week :-D

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  26. You're so lucky that you get to grow crape myrtles! There are some that are supposed to be hardy here, but you never see them in the nurseries and I have a feeling they're marginal anyway.

    You had quite the storm! I've been wishing for rain, but I sure wouldn't want it with storms like that! Hope the wrens will be okay!

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  27. We have been lucky in all these summer storms that nothing big has come down. But one of the main branches of our 50-year-old apple tree is clearly dying. Each time we have a storm, I think this is the end. It is unlikely to hit anything if it falls so we have not done anything with it, hoping maybe it will have a miraculous recovery!

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  28. Hope your clean up went well and the wrens were not too much disturbed. Beautiful shot of the Crepe myrtle.

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  29. Lisa! Love the crepe myrtles ...indeed like crepe paper..sort of like the texture of poppies..but prettier!
    Ouch the tree limb falling over!
    Good thing the birdies are ok!
    No storms here...we could use one!
    Life here is filled with packing boxes! smiles anna

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  30. I always hate when plants get beat down by rain and wind. They never seem to recover from it. It's so aggravating!-- Randy

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  31. Unfortunately we did not get any of that storm. Blew out before it got to me, I guess.
    All your plants look so lovely. Mine are beginning to dry out and look tired.

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  32. I saw some of this myrtle yesterday. So glad to have the name!

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  33. Crepe myrtles is truly a beauty, so elegant, yes..yes the centre yellow does popped up so well.

    I am having my best interest appreciating the best of it!
    Thanks Lisa:)

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