“Plant kindness and gather love”

"The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit." Isn't that a beautiful quote? This past weekend we bought 3 trees to plant in the backyard of our home - but we actually did plant them in hopes that in future years they will grow tall enough to give us shade. I've been noticing these pretty, colorful trees since we moved here to central Texas. You see them every where! I notice them in neighborhood entrances, in the parking lot at our grocery store, they are even out front of my work. My parents noticed them when they came out a few weeks ago. They liked them so much it prompted them to buy 2 trees when they returned home to California. They are called Crape Myrtles - crape myrtles are chiefly famous for their colorful and long-lasting flowers, have fluted stems and branches. Flowers are born in summer and autumn in panicles of crinkled flowers with a crepe-like texture. Colors vary from deep purple to red to white, with almost every shade in between. They do well in mild climates that are not overly humid such as inland California and Texas. In some parts of Texas, the Crape myrtle is also known as a Cuddle Tree

We just finished planting the trees and making tree wells for them late last night. I will have to share some pictures in my next post but we planted a Country Red (dark pink flowers), Tuscarora (light pink flowers), and a Natchez (white flowers). Our trees are only approx. 3-4' now (they look more like flowery bushes) but hopefully in time they will grow to be as tall and beautiful as these!