Sunday, April 7, 2013

Crape Murder Contest

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

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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.

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Some of my favorite Crape Myrtles at Clemson University

Crepe myrtle allee w walkers

This is what Crape Myrtles should look like in the winter! Beautiful structure and long graceful branches,

crape myrtle photo NOT THIS!

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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!

Mailing Easter Eggs

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?

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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.

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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