Above is a picture of our crepe myrtle tree after severe pruning due to damage from Hurricane Gustav. It couldn't be helped. Below is the tree today. I see many unopened buds, so the tree is still not in full bloom. It's made a rather nice recovery, don't you think?
Of course, it's nothing like it was. At least, it hides the electric box.
Oh, dear! I just looked at this picture. I had forgotten its glory before Gustav. This picture makes me want to cry - for my tree!
I also cry for trees.
ReplyDeleteSusanKay, I'm so glad there's one other who cries for trees.
ReplyDeleteWill it return back in time? It is so hard when a beloved tree falls.
ReplyDeleteDo you have a time machine I can borrow, Caminante?
ReplyDeleteIt will grow back. Not to its previous glory for our generation, but for our children and grandchildren. Yesterday is gone. Today is a gift. Tomorrow is promised to no one. Let's enjoy and celebrate what we have - what this incredible, resilient tree and it's lovely blossoms represent - new life and hope. End of sermon. Promise.
ReplyDeleteOh, I remember the photo from last year. So beautiful. But at least it didn't die.
ReplyDeleteI think your tree looks beautiful! We are in such a drought here in my area of Florida that the ground water is low and my trees are literally dying. We can only water once a week, not enough for the big trees in record breaking heat. I don't think my magnolia tree will make it through the summer and my grapefruit tree, which we usually have to thin early in the season, has about twelve little pathetic fruits. My crepe myrtles aren't fairing well either. All the rain they talked about on the news a few weeks back — not at my house. So, I will look at your beautiful tree's recovery and hope the same will happen with mine.
ReplyDeleteGrandmere --I weep with you for what was. But it sure looks like your tree may surprise you yet --It's recovery is spectacular in such a short time. We should all aspire to new growth like that!!!
ReplyDeleteI rejoice that the tree has come so far, so quickly, but I mourn for the loss of what it was. I think it's fine to mourn, so long as we don't get stuck in mourning mode.
ReplyDeleteWe are in drought conditions here, too. We had a brief shower today after a long spell with no rain at all, but it was not nearly enough. Maybe tomorrow....
It's reestablishing its glory. It can be a reminder of hope each day...
ReplyDeleteCrepe Myrtles seem to be amazingly resilient. I suspect it will, someday, return to its former glory.
ReplyDeleteI was thrilled with the tree's blooms this year, until I looked at the old photo. I was sad for a bit, but now I am, once again, thrilled at the beautiful signs of new life.
ReplyDeleteRachel thinks it looks pretty good now, but then I scrolled down. "No wonder she feels like crying."
ReplyDeleteI'm good now. We had a perfect rain today, just what we and all the trees and plants needed.
ReplyDeleteWhoever pruned it did a good job in giving it direction. It has a lovely shape for having so little foliage. And the blooms are lovely.
ReplyDeleteWell, it's not it's former self... who among us are? But, it's making a strong showing. Keep loving the old tree, I am sure it makes a difference. She'll get there... like the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about your crepe myrtle, Mimi. I think the best consolation is to remember that they come back from severe pruning very quickly when they have good established roots. I have always let my crepe myrtles take their natural size and form while laughing at those who try to control the size of them with severe pruning each year. The crepe myrtles always win.
ReplyDeleteYour sadness reminded me of the time I had to remove a huge old mesquite tree from the garden of our previous house. I called it my Buzzard Tree. It was about 30 feet tall, which is a bit unusual for mesquite, I think. It had one leafless vertical branch that ended in a T shape at the very top where red-tailed hawks and great horned owls would perch and survey the back alley for rodents.
As mesquite trees sometimes do, it started leaning towards the house. The arborist said he could prop it up to keep it from falling on the house, but it wouldn't live more than a few more years, so he recommended just removing it. I was depressed for a month because I loved that tree so much as well as the wildlife it attracted.
Susan, Grandpère pruned the tree. He did the best he could with what was left undamaged after the storm.
ReplyDeleteI've seen the trees topped off by some of our neighbors, and they come back after even that draconian cutting, so I was fairly sure it would thrive again. Before the storm, it was 20-plus years old.
Well, it's not it's former self... who among us are?
Indeed, Lindy!
Mike, how sad about your mesquite tree. We've had to remove three large sycamore trees, which were diseased, unsightly, and unsalvageable, but I didn't mind those, because we had too many trees in the back yard, anyway. When you plant the little saplings, it's hard to remember that they will become large trees. And they made a terrible mess with their leaves.
My former home in Hercules, CA, was chosen by me largely for the beautiful alder trees in front. Before a year had gone by the condo association cut them down and pulled out the roots. My lovely treehouse life ended. I commiserate with you - and rejoice that the life and beauty of your crepe myrtle continue after a setback.
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