Back in mid-June, I reported that my red Crape Myrtle (cultivar unknown..was simply sold as "red Crape Myrtle", from Stark Brothers, many years ago), was JUST LEAFING-OUT. After an unusually cold winter (especially, in recent years, due to climate change), that brought a once or twice per decade, -10F low winter, late leafing has occurred with this crape, so I didn't rush to cut it back to the ground, in early spring. In previous cold winters, it has died back, almost to the ground, a few times. This caused me to begin caging it, in winter. After filling the cage with dry leaves, I covered the top of the cage, to keep the stems dry. It worked ! Since the cage was over 6 ft tall, I liked the fact that I was given a 6ft woody headstart on the season. Over the past 3 winters, the crape was not protected at all. Fortunately, in previous recent years, my lows were around zero, or just slightly below. There was no damage to the wood. So, subsequent seasons' growth only added to the existing wood. Notice that the main stem/trunk also got thicker, in recent years. I think this is key, to the wood surviving -10F, with little or no die-back. Northerners who could see -10F, should protect their crape myrtles, each winter, until the trunk(s) get over an inch thick in diameter. They may not get this thick after just one season's growth. Here's a pic of my late leaf-budder. It has begun blooming. Notice that it is now higher than the low end of my roof, and well over my head..



https://photos.app.goo.gl/RmpUDRs7YVj5TKAd7




Ahhh...My favorite Hosta species is blooming! It is one of the few FRAGRANT varieties, and is an heirloom, dating back to the 1890s. This is known as, Hosta plantaginea...


https://photos.app.goo.gl/3XF5T3zaoyZDmFVo8



The DWARF SWAMP TiTi or Cyrilla racemosa 'Graniteville', is blooming. For those unfamiliar with the plant, it is a shrub that is found in the South, in or near swampy land:


https://photos.app.goo.gl/VCqsjV4FPBWTcHkQ8




A pink variety of hardy UPRIGHT GARDEN PHLOX, or Phlox paniculata...


https://photos.app.goo.gl/iwzsZVwiNNFLB9RK9



A new frond has formed on this HARDY TASMANIAN TREE FERN, or Dicksonia antarctica...


https://photos.app.goo.gl/fjvTz8oVKw9XWWzz6



Here's a pic of a young JACARANDA TREE, or Jacaranda mimosifolia. Notice how Jacaranda fronds resemble those of a tree fern...


https://photos.app.goo.gl/cnFxMogertKEWS6T8



This blooming hardy perennial wildflower has a common name, that sounds like a physically abused person. The common name is BLACK-EYED SUSAN, and is known botanically as, Rudbeckia hirta..


https://photos.app.goo.gl/3P2Zgubk7ojUnb9v9



SUMMERSWEET or Clethra alnifolia, is blooming! For anyone unfamiliar with this hardy shrub should know that it produces fragrant, pink or white flowers, in summer...


https://photos.app.goo.gl/1RnPKUwNJQtdTKiz7



MAYPOP IS BLOOMING !!
For anyone unfamiliar with this plant, it is perhaps the cold-hardiest deciduous form of the mostly tropical PASSIONFRUIT vine. This plant is late to "pop out" of the ground. Usually as its name signifies, starts growing in late May, but grows quickly, once it starts regrowing from the roots. This year, though, it didn't begin growing, until June, like my Crape Myrtle. A good tidbit to know about passionflowers, is that they were given this name, because the odd-shaped pistil, in the flower's center, looks kind of like Christ on the Cross...


https://photos.app.goo.gl/EvzEo8a9Dy8B2WaJ7



Perhaps the cold-hardiest form of CASSIA, is blooming! The plant is known as the AMERICAN SENNA, or Senna hebecarpa...


https://photos.app.goo.gl/7EHX9XtfgVX3ZFER9