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Crape Myrtle - Peppermint
The Peppermint Crape Myrtle, 'Lagerstroemia indica "Nana", is a semi-dwarf shrub with peppermint pink blossoms. Large clusters of pink flowers appear on the tips of new branches beginning in early summer and continue into fall. After flowers fade and fall from the tree, fruit remains in the form of small brown capsules. These fruits remain throughout the winter providing winter interest along with the attractive, exfoliating bark which peels away to expose a trunk which ranges in color from many handsome shades of brown to gray. The Peppermint Crape Myrtle is ideally suited for formal or informal design in the home landscape, street plantings and community plantings. It can be planted as a specimen or in groups, and looks attractive when underplanted with a ground cover. Crape myrtle leaves are oval and 1 to 2 inches long; they are bronze-colored when they first unfold in the spring and become yellow before falling late in autumn. Crape Myrtle are easy to grow and if they are used for hedges, plant them 4 ot 5 feet apart. Use it by driveways, walkways and especially below high decks and balconies for a view of the spectacular flower show that appears over the crown of this plant. ... additional info
Box Elder Maple The Box Elder Maple tree, Acer negundo, is also commonly known as ashleaf maple, Manitoba maple, box-elder maple, and western box-elder. This deciduous maple tree is a small-to-medium-sized tree, reaching heights of 50 to 75 feet, with a trunk diameter up to 4 feet. It has a thick trunk and upright branching habit, but is more often seen as a smaller tree with cane-like, bright green branches. These shade trees have brittle wood. Boxelder bugs eat seeds on female trees. Although it grows best on moist soils, box-elder is drought and cold resistant. It can also tolerate flooding for extended periods (up to a month). The seeds are a source of food for birds and mammals, and are important because they stay on the tree through winter, when other food resources are scarce. |
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