The Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia) are in bloom all over New York City, just when most flowering trees and shrubs have lost their color and green foliage abounds. (above, the Conservatory Garden and below near the Boat House, both in Central Park)...
by the side of the General Theological Seminary in Chelsea, masquerading as a lilac...
and welcoming us to the New Leaf Cafe, Fort Tryon Park, Upper Manhattan.
I started my gardening life in Zones 5 and 6 and considered Crape myrtles as plants only for Southern Climes;now realize I must have one, two or three for 'my' NYC rooftop.
Flowers range in color from white to red, pink, coral, purple and all shades in between.
I've just seen pictures of a potentially interesting new introduction with
'black' leaves, 'Black Diamond' t.m.. growing only 10-12 feet tall and
8' wide for smaller garden spaces. This cultivar is being introduced in
five flower color choices. Hope to see it live at the Garden Writers symposium in Quebec starting this week.
Crape myrtles look great in winter as well as summer, with incredably smooth but exfoliating bark, seen here in two specimen trees at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
My last Crape myrtle sighting, just yesterday, on a terrace at the Time Warner Center, Columbus Circle, and me on the 31st floor of a nearby building caught without my telephoto lens. Look carefully for a splash of pink in the terrace garden.
1 comment:
The crepe myrtle in your photos (not counting the last one of course) are gorgeous. Thanks for teaching me what those shrubs are that are adding color around here this time of year. I'm looking forward to hearing more when you return from the Garden Writers Conference in Quebec.
Post a Comment