Last year we had our two crepe myrtles pruned for the first time in the 11 years we've been in this house, and we were not expecting much in the way of flowers this year. So we are really happy to see so many blooms. The pruning allows more of the trunks to show (although not in my amateur photos), as well as the Japanese maple that is between them.The bamboo lying in the courtyard is the result of a small cull I did. It is growing so well this year I'm beginning to think we should get rid of it (?!?!?). I would get some opposition from my sons who love the look of it from their bedroom windows. Like our ginger plants, we have taken bamboo with us to all our gardens from the 1970s onwards, and it's been so wonderful for instant screening and beauty without being a nuisance. But it has obviously found something very much to its liking, despite the long drought and we never water it.
The pond in the foreground is also in need of care, as lately it has taken to growing what I can only describe as a dark green "carpet" of gunk. I have removed it with a sieve, Mel has put some chemicals in it but after a while it comes back. The gunk doesn't smell, but sure looks weird. We should put fish in again, but one of our cats is an excellent fisher and they don't last long.
9 comments:
What a lovely courtyard, Val. I love bamboo (although I don't have any, and aren't crepe myrtles such a beautiful small tree - both their flowers and their bark are superb. There is a photo of a cluster of crepe myrtle trunks in my posting about the Chinese Gardens at Darling Harbour, taken back in June. The bark is so smooth and interesting that you just want to stroke it.
Just a quick comment - from work and I havent got your email addie with me! - another On The Road snippet I came across while (legitimately) surfing the net http://sfpl.lib.ca.us/news/ontheroad.htm
We are having a new library management system and San Francisco uses the same system you see....
Still havent seen Memoirs of a Geisha, as I only have my old specs right now - new lenses on the way. So cant see further than the end of my nose! Going to wait until I can savour it. Ooh I feel a post coming on when I get home....
Very pretty your garden and courtyard!
And thank you so much for your visit and nice comment on my blog!
Me again, Val.
I just read your comment on Jude's blog and I have been doing the same: print out the profiles of each blogger, and then annotating them as I go along. I did also a notation on a map. It's so curious to see the friends' countries. I am just to close a professional of blogosphere! LOL!
My husband was also very impressed about how you created those wonderful photos of flowers with a scanner, Sonia. I think this has sped up our purchase of one of those multifunction ones (fax, photocopier, printer and scanner). Check out Sonia's blog for some stunning photos: http://leavesgrass.blogspot.com/2006/01/flowers-by-sonia.html#links
I love crepe myrtles. What a fascinating tree with their crepe like flowers. We have one in our garden though it is very young and hasn't flowered much yet. Yours has given me some extra inspiration to keep persevering with it.
Is your Crepe Myrtle OUT???? NOW????
Mine is just buds!
Lucky you Val, to have a crepe myrtle. How pretty it is. Love the color! I can't find it in my plant encyclopedia. Wonder if we grow it over here? Surely we must, somewhere.
I also looked at Sonia's beautiful scanned pictures. How clever she is!
Chloe, I see you live in Victoria, but you must be in a different part of the state, outside Melbourne? All the neighborhood crepe myrtles are flowering very well. (Must have been tree of the month about 40 years ago when these houses were built and gardens planted).
Kerri, I too love this particular color. As for where they'll grow, I did a quick google search and it appears you have to be careful about crepe and crape myrtles! The more I read, the more I'm confused. Better you find your trusty encyclopedia!
Post a Comment