Pretty in Pink

My husband brought me flowers the other day. Some girls get a dozen red roses. I got Rose of Sharon bushes. I think I got the better deal.

This is our second attempt at a home landscaping beautification project. We tried to consult an expert, but, after an initial visit, the company never got back to us. (You don't want our money? Well, OK, I guess we'll figure it out ourselves. That's a scary thought if you know our aptitude for gardening!)

In September 2010, the Ninnescah Rural Electric Company hired tree trimmers to give "haircuts" to trees that could impact power lines. The trees bordering our north drive were old and straggly anyway, so we figured it would be an improvement. Besides, we are big fans of electricity! 
However, after the trees were removed, it quickly became a place for weeds to flourish. So much for beautification!

Last year, Randy planted crepe myrtle along the north drive. We saw it in my folks' yard and liked the look. Though they never got very big, they produced some beautiful flowers in the fall.

These photos of the crepe myrtle were taken in September 2013.

Then, this spring, we patiently waited for the shrubs to green up. We waited. And waited. And waited some more. We called my Mom to see if hers were alive and well. Finally, we faced facts: The crepe myrtles were dead.

Randy talked to Stutzman's Greenhouse, who said others had experienced similar winterkill with crepe myrtle after the extreme cold. They suggested Rose of Sharon to make a hedge barrier. So Randy planted two different varieties. Lavender Chiffon Rose of Sharon is blooming now.

The other variety - Helene Rose of Sharon - says it's summer flowering, so maybe it will hit its peak in a month or so.

Hopefully, they will take off and grow more than the crepe myrtle did. Eventually, they are supposed to grow into shrubs 8 to 12 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide. That's the goal. That will make our turn into the north drive a little more picturesque.

We'll see how it goes. Plan C may mean trying AGAIN to get a professional to come to the Never Never Land on the Stafford/Reno County line to give us some pointers. If it were up to me, we'd need to schedule that appointment now. Thankfully, Randy has some ability to grow things. That's a good quality in a farmer, don't you think?