Southern Pruning
The Crepe Myrtle is one of my favorite trees/bushes. When everything else in the garden starts looking a little tired in the hot days of summer, the Crepe Myrtle still shines bright.
Pink Crepe Myrtle
Unfortunately, the beautiful Crepe Myrtle is also one of the most abused of plants. I have seen such abuse in my own neighborhood just this week. It makes me very sad. Cutting the poor tree down to the knuckles or “topping” them by cutting off all the beautiful arms is just wrong. It has even been referred to as “Crepe Murder.”
Crepe Murder
I am writing this post in an attempt to “stop the abuse.” If you want a short Crepe Myrtle, buy the dwarf variety. The natural form of the Crepe Myrtle is a lovely bottle shape that makes a wonderful addition to the landscape.
Southern Living wrote a great article on the proper care of Crepe Myrtle and included alibis for anyone who may have been guilty of abuse 🙂
Hope you are enjoying your Saturday – and feeling PINK!
Pink Saturday with Beverly at How Sweet the Sound
Today’s Lagniappe:Â Lemon Garlic Chicken Breast
Something light and delicious.
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 lg. cloves garlic, minced
Grated peel & juice of 1 lemon
1/2 tsp. coarse salt
4 lg. chicken breasts, skinned & boned
1/4 c. chicken broth
2 tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. coarse ground pepper
Heat small skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil. When oil is hot add garlic and saute 30 seconds. Stir in lemon juice, salt, pepper and bring to boil. Set aside. Arrange chicken in single layer in a lightly buttered shallow baking dish. Pour lemon garlic mixture over chicken. Sprinkle with lemon peel. Cover with foil. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
Remove foil and bake additional 10-15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Transfer chicken to individual dinner plates and keep warm. Pour liquid from baking dish into small skillet. Add chicken broth and bring to boil. Cook until reduced by half. Whisk in butter. Pour sauce over chicken and serve immediately.
Tags: Southern Gardening
March 6th, 2010 at 10:39 am
Hi Christi!
I always want to be the tree vigilante and get those bad folks that over prune!
Happy Pink Saturday!
March 6th, 2010 at 10:59 am
My husband commits crepe myrtle abuse every year much to my fussing at him. He just committed this horrible crime last weekend. I feel he should be severely punished for it! But in his defense our crepe myrtle grows right next to our house and and blocks the view out our bedroom window.
March 6th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Stop the murder! (Love your post!) Happy Pinks!
In Shoes We Trust,
Maggie Mae
“Do these shoes match this purse?”
March 6th, 2010 at 5:42 pm
I always wondered why they cut those back so much. Glad to know they shouldn’t! Happy Pink Saturday!
March 6th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
We have a couple of those murderers in our neighborhood too! On the other hand, my two sweet trees spread their branches and reach up to their hearts’ content. They add such pretty pinkness to our front yard. Cute post, Christi! Happy Pink Saturday!
Sherry @ A Happy Valentine
March 6th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
When we lived in Dallas we had a Crepe Myrtle “tree” actually two , Crepe Mrytle trees not bushes outside one of our bedroom windows and it was so nice to have the blinds open or up and let that beautiful tree decorate our bedroom! Here in AR we have a lilac that decorates one bedroom and a Red Bud that decorates the Master!
March 9th, 2010 at 8:44 am
Preach it, sister!!! Protect the Crepes!!!!