Green Austin Texas » flowers http://www.texasorganichome.com Green events & information for the Austin, Texas Metroplex Thu, 03 Nov 2011 23:29:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Crepe Murder in Cedar Park, Texas http://www.texasorganichome.com/crepe-murder-in-cedar-park-texas http://www.texasorganichome.com/crepe-murder-in-cedar-park-texas#comments Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:19:29 +0000 Betty Saenz http://www.texasorganichome.com/?p=447 Cedar Park TX Crepe Myrtles

Crepe Myrtles in Cedar Park, TXButchered Crepe Myrtles

I love to garden and I love to see plantings that are well nurtured, well taken care of. These photos, taken today in Cedar Park, Texas are the opposite of what I like to see. I, like so many others call this ”Crepe Murder”. The butchering of Crepe Myrtles is also called topping and is not the correct way to prune and nurture this beautiful botanical species. Crepe Myrtles bloom all summer long, providing shade and beauty to our Central Texas landscapes. Crepe Myrtle varieties are available with many different colors of flowers. White, pink, lavender and red are some of the most popular bloom colors. In the winter, their deciduous leaves fall and they allow the sun to shine in. The least we can do is provide them the minimal care they need to live long and healthy lives. Committing Crepe Murder leaves the poor plants in a weakened state, more susceptible to disease, drought and other life threatening and life shortening events. This bad practice not only makes them look like an ugly stump but also makes them bloom less. There are dwarf and semi-dwarf varieties if you want them to stay small. I like to allow the big ones to stretch out their limbs an provide abundant shade for my yard and home. Let’s reward Crepe Myrtles for their hard work and not make them ugly, heart broken and forlorn.

Properly Pruning Crepe Myrtles

To properly prune crepe myrtles, wait until just after the winter freezes are over and before they leaf out in the spring. Do not trim them back to the knuckles. Instead, remove only the weak, twiggy inside branches pruning them naturally. Remove any defective or dead branches as well as branches that rub up against your home or its roof shingles. Remember, crepe myrtles are a low maintenance shrub or tree, don’t make it hard on yourself or the tree. There are many great diagrams and even videos available on line to show you just how to trim crepe myrtles.
Crepe Murder! There Oughta Be a Law!!!

Crepe Murder in Cedar Park, Texas

Crepe Murder in Cedar Park, Texas

]]> http://www.texasorganichome.com/crepe-murder-in-cedar-park-texas/feed 5 Making Jamaica Tea http://www.texasorganichome.com/making-jamaica-tea http://www.texasorganichome.com/making-jamaica-tea#comments Mon, 16 Feb 2009 20:59:23 +0000 Betty Saenz http://texasorganichome.com/?p=16 Just steeped & poured- see the deep claret red color

Jamaica Tea packaging paper

Jamaica Tea- dry tea

I buy my Jamaica tea at HEB Plus in Leander in the Mexican products section with the tamale husks, dried shrimp, & spices. At only $1.29 for a 3 oz. packet- it’s an amazing [...]]]> Just steeped & poured- see the deep clart red color

Just steeped & poured- see the deep claret red color

Jamaica Tea in packaging

Jamaica Tea packaging paper

Jamaica Tea

Jamaica Tea- dry tea

I buy my Jamaica tea at HEB Plus in Leander in the Mexican products section with the tamale husks, dried shrimp, & spices. At only $1.29 for a 3 oz. packet- it’s an amazing buy. Just bring some water to a boil. While the water is coming to a boil, rinse your Jamaica flowers. Next, take the water off the burner, add the Jamaica tea, let steep 30 minutes to 2 hours. Sweeten to taste or drink as is. Can be served hot on a cold day or iced in Summer. It is a tart, red tea, high in Vitamin C.

Prononunced ha-mike-uh, Jamaica is made from a special variety of hibiscus flowers H. sabdariffa var. sabdariffa

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