The Myrtles

Yes, there is a “haunted” plantation called the Myrtles somewhere in Louisiana. We visited there many, many years ago. There was something uncomfortable about it. When we moved to DC fifteen years ago, it was obvious that the flowering trees called Myrtles loved this area. They must - in order to survive the dreadful heat and humidity. I think DC is as hot and humid as Florida. The Library of Congress is surrounded by Myrtles as are many others buildings on Capitol Hill. Since we moved to northern Virginia two years ago there is also an abundance of Myrtles in our neighborhood. So today - on a stifling hot morning walk along the concrete jungle path - we looked for as many different color Myrtles along the way. They were white, pink, purple, and red in various shades. I’ve never seen yellow, but they are all very pretty. They do remind me of some hydrangea. It must be getting towards the end of the blooming season because the flowers are starting to shed. Living in a tropical environment has its benefits - the plants and flowers always seem to do well. It’s nice that they like the outside conditions more than most humans could ever tolerate. 

Capitol Hill Crape Myrtles

It’s the time of year for crape myrtles. They are like the cherry blossoms of summer. I was reminded of it when we took a walk the other day in our northern Virginia neighborhood. The extreme weather created carpets of spent blossoms all along the sidewalks. So we thought a ride to our old neighborhood on Capitol Hill was in order to see the trees against the lovely architectural backdrop of townhouses and rowhouses. We weren’t disappointed when we started the “tour” at our old building, then drove around all the familiar places. All the colors were represented - red, white, purple and pink. There are several myrtles planted along the house office buildings and the Library of Congress - where I worked for ten years. The city is still quiet and more and more people are wearing face coverings since it is required in the district. In some respects we do miss the area, but in many others we are glad we moved when we did. I think street parking was the worst if it, along with all the issues associated with living in an 1890’s building. It’s nice to drive in to town if the mood strikes since it’s only a few miles away. Unfortunately we can’t do the things we liked to do - like attend Library events and programs. I’m not sure when we will be doing it again. So we use this as an excuse to see how things are going. If we knew then what we know now I’m not sure if it would have affected our choice of neighborhood. All I know is we are glad we left the city. 

Myrtles Season

You know you are in or near a southern state when you see all the Myrtles blooming. We have two small “trees” in our patio garden, but I cut them down to keep them in check so they don’t really have an opportunity to show off. But all around the neighborhood - including our backyard - it’s the time of year for these lovely blooms. They come in a variety of colors from red to purple to pink to white. I don’t recall seeing yellow? So as we walked the Capitol Hill neighborhood last week when the humidity was unusually low, the myrtles were everywhere. In between were some pretty Capitol Hill gardens. I’m not sure some of them ever see the light of day given the three story connected row houses and the direction of the front door. These views definitely beat the inside of union station where we usually walk in the heat of summer. Who knows if we will have a chance to do it again soon? At least once a year is worthwhile. 

Myrtles Galore

With all the rain we have had lately, I haven't been paying much attention to the scenery - just keeping the umbrella in check takes more than enough concentration. And it is very difficult to take photos in the wet, damp drizzle and raindrops. But as the temperatures rise, we don't walk along the concrete jungle of the national mall; rather, we stay in the neighborhood under the shade as much as we can. Because of all the rain, the flowers and vegetables are looking lush and ripe in all directions.  One of the more notable plants, bushes and trees are the myrtles that are coming out in full blossom. They usually come in pinks and purples and some whites and are a staple here in DC. They usually last for quite some time. We have two tiny trees in our patio garden, but we trim them down so low that they rarely even bloom! In the Midwest we had lovely and fragrant lilacs, and peonies, but no myrtles. So as we walked along the sidewalks this morning we came across more myrtles than you could imagine. Lucky for us the sun was not shining and there was a cool breeze all along the way - a rare thing in July. We ended up walking much more than usual too. Was it the scenery? It may have had something to do with it.

The Myrtles Are In Bloom!

It's that time of year again. One can't help but notice the beautiful myrtles all over town. They must be a southern tree flower, as I don't remember them in Wisconsin. But every year at this time I can't help but pay attention to the white, red, pink, purple, and various shades in between of myrtles in front of government buildings and all around the neighborhood. Some are tiny and just starting out, while others are clumped together in huge bunches. Others are evenly spread in front of a very long white structures. When we walked this morning we passed by the Library of Congress, the Senate Office Buildings, parks, and neighborhood homes big and small. The tress really look magnificent against the traditional Capitol Hill architecture. We once visited the Myrtles "haunted" plantation in Louisiana a long time ago. It gave me the creeps. So there remains some mystery behind the name - for me anyway! Nevertheless, with or without the ghosts the myrtles looked lovely on a day like today. I'm not sure how I would feel if we took this same walk at 3 AM. But who would?