Crepe (with an “e” in the middle) is a light, crinkly fabric, the texture of which serves as the inspiration for crepe paper, the stuff of crinkly party streamers (also with an “e” in the middle), and crape myrtles, deciduous trees with crinkly flower petals (with an “a” in the middle). However, crepe (the fabric) can also be spelled with an “a” in the middle; additionally, if you Google “crepe myrtle” with an “e” you’ll get the exact same results as Googling “crape myrtle” with an “a”. Crepe paper, however, is pretty much always spelled with an “e”.
OK – not really the point of this post; I just found all that interesting, being the word nerd I am, and thought I would share.
The crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) was introduced in the U.S. in the late 18th century. Available in a variety of colors and sizes, this hardy and fast growing tree (or shrub, depending on which cultivar you choose) has fast become one of the most-used plants in Southern (zone 7-9) commercial and home landscaping. Crape myrtles also have one of the longest blooming periods, flowering from 2-4 months (or until a hurricane blows through, taking all the blooms with it).
The crape myrtles here at the Lizard Lounge (pictured) are particularly full and beautiful this year. (As you may recall from a previous post, these are all freebies.) However, there is a caveat to all this voluptuous beauty: I came home the other day and found that one particularly zaftig flower cluster had actually broken the branch on which it perched.
It’s not easy being beautiful.
November 15, 2010 at 5:01 am
Dusty, I love your blog. and after reading about your Crepe Mytrle, I just wanted you to know. Jerry tried to make Our yard the Crepe Myrtle capital of Pleasant Valley. I have Crepte Myrtles lining my driveway, lining the road before and after my driveway. And he had to put 40 more all over the yard. It is a pain to mow. But he loved them and I won’t let Taylor cut one leaf off any of them.
July 25, 2011 at 10:46 pm
[...] year’s crape myrtle post isn’t devoted to clever wordplays or boasts about bargain-basement horticulture, but to the beauty of God’s creation gracing [...]