Crape Myrtle

When we first moved to the Shire in the late 1970s, we lived in Norfolk. 

I was amazed by two things: 

the magnificence of the Chesapeake Bay across from our apartment

and the thousands of watermelon-colored crape myrtle trees 

that grew along the city's streets and boulevards.

www.thedailysouth.southernliving.com

Whether viewed from a distance or up close,

the blossoms are beautiful;

www.silversandservices.com

And they come in lots more colors than pink.

A deep vermilion red really fires up the landscape:

www.morguefile.com

The pale lilac color is especially pretty: 

www.worthingtonfarms.com

And of course, there are white ones:

www.tulsagardencenter.com

Here are some planted in an arch at the Dallas Arboretum:

photo copied from www.maybellinesgarden.blogspot.com

July is when crape myrtles come into full bloom in Virginia and other parts of the South.

One of the nicer results of heat and humidity.

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