As a former Horticultural Agent, and having a degree in Landscape Architecture, nothing bugs me more than the awful practice of topping crape myrtles. Volcano mulching might be a close second, but that’s for another post. And like most other Southern women, I subscribe to Southern Living. I also follow them on most social media outlets, as well as Steve Bender better known as the Grumpy Gardener. I saw a post about the 2013 Grumpy Gardener Crape Murder Contest, and thought I can find a “good” example of that. So driving around one day, I found the perfect example see Exhibit A
Exhibit A
And the sad thing, there is a matching brutally pruned Crape Myrtle next to this one. On a whim, I entered it the contest. This was taken at a rural post office, so I entitled the entry “Gone Postal”.
I never dreamed that my entry would be selected as a winner of the Crape Murder Contest, but it WAS! I was slightly giddy over having been chosen, I just noticed it on Facebook, before getting official notification from the Grumpy Gardener himself.
Check out the entry here.
Crape myrtles and most any tree are meant to have tapered branches, you know starting big and ending smaller, but for some reason people have this myth that the crape myrtles will perform better if just carelessly hacked back, sometimes in the middle of the branch. Making them look hideous! Instead of the graceful trees they are intended to be. Please know how to prune before pruning! Contact your local Extension service for details. Here is the fact sheet from the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service Home and Garden Information Center on properly pruning crape myrtles.
Some of my favorite Crape Myrtles at Clemson University
This is what Crape Myrtles should look like in the winter! Beautiful structure and long graceful branches,
NOT THIS!
Crape myrtles are a four season plant, meaning that they are interesting to look at through all the seasons, and those limbs are the main reason they look so great in the winter! Think before you prune!
I found this idea on Pinterest and it originally came from Giver’s Log Happy Mail. So this Easter I decided to try it. I sent eggs to several young children, and students studying at college, because who doesn’t love happy mail?
All the stuff! I bought the jumbo eggs, and then stocked up on party favors to put in them. I also sent necklaces to the baby girls along with hair clips, and socks for the college girls. I stuffed the eggs, and taped them to make sure they didn’t pop open in delivery.
Top Left: Eggs labeled Top Right: Stamped and Ready to go
*Note: Anything that weighs 13 oz or less can be mailed without being in a box, be sure to measure and calculate postage based on the PARCEL rate, not letter rate
Bottom Left: In the drop box Bottom Right: Two eggs made safely to their destination
All but two of the eggs were delivered, and I know that the post office delivered them (perks of knowing the Postmaster) so the college must have decided to keep the eggs which is sad
What crazy things have you mailed?
Carrie
I needed last minute gifts, what better place to get ideas and tutorials than Pinterest! And it didn’t fail me, I made up some Mud Scrub and Citrus Salt Scrub I found on Pinterest.
Citrus Salt Scrub from Paula Deen
I didn’t look for Almond Oil at my local stores, my sister got me two bottles that made about 8 scrubs, I added a little olive oil in the last batch. I started tweaking the amounts, I didn’t want an oily scrub so I put in less oil than the directions. I loved used the Micro Planer from Pampered Chef for the lemon and orange zest, and I added more than the directions called for.
Mud Scrub from adelynSTONE
For the people that love coffee this is a great sugar scrub, due to the coffee, click the link for more information. *Note this recipe is double the Citrus
I used 8 oz quilted jelly jars from Ball to put the scrubs in.
Final product
I gave these as gifts to friends, I kept one for myself, and they are easy to whip up, taking about twenty to thirty minutes start to finish. I haven’t tried it yet. Will let you know how it works.
Wreaths
My grandmother recently moved to live near us, she loves decorating for each season, so I got two wreaths for her French doors, and have changed them out for Christmas and now winter. Will have to figure something out for Valentine’s Day.
I got candle making supplies for Christmas, I haven’t broken out the wax and melting yet, but I got crystals to make candles, so using the left over jelly jars, I made a quick little candle. In the best colors ever!
My New Year started off right with a nerve wracking football game, the Chick-fil-a Bowl. It came down to the last 2 seconds of the game, when our kicker scored the winning field goal to beat LSU 25-24. I love my Clemson Tigers!
I hope to stitch more and update the blog more this year!
Hope your 2013 is a great year!
Carrie
