Waiting for Wardrobe
Classic, Dahling. (1940. Lana Turner/ MGM/USPD:pub.date/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Throwbacks from an era of reserved grace, dignity, and elegance.
Patient without thought.
They stand.
Waiting for wardrobe.
While the world whirls around them at warp speed, they line up quietly like society ladies in fancy hats waiting to be seated for luncheon. Nodding. Quietly murmuring. Discreet glances out of corners of the eyes. Picture perfect smiles. Graceful long limbs suggesting a history with ballet. White gloves would not be out of place.
Aloof. Mysterious. Untouchable. (Lana Turner. 1951/USPD:pub.date/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Poised. Grace Kelly would approve.
Kelly, Bacall, Gabor, Hepburn, Tierney, Turner, Russell, Mansfield, Bergman, Swanson. Is that the style they desire to emulate?
Craving the old Hollywood Studio Star System that groomed, crafted, and guarded image?
Public image to be preserved at all cost. Skeletons firmly shackled in the closet. Camera flashes by the paparazzi always showing their best angle.
A wistful moment at the loss of spontaneity, perhaps. Oh, but what gained.
No wish to struggle with despair from missteps like modern celebs. No desire for the rawness of “let it all hang out” like Kardashians. Waving off the short life of reality shows.
Mystery intrigues. Sustains over time. Becomes classic, like Garbo.
Their choice made. They stand firm.
Posed.
Unhurried.
They wait wardrobe.
Ready to bloom when it is time.
Not as reclusive as Garbo, this chorus line is eager to take their bows on stage. ©
Crepe Myrtles are local beauties which bloom all summer. Dormant in winter, these graceful trunks are being shaped into trees by trimming the tops to create forked branches. This particular variety will grow about 2 stories tall.
These pictures taken Monday show the chorus line waiting to sprout their spring greenery to like false eyelashes. By Tuesday morning some frilly bright green growth was already appearing. Soon to be on the Best Dressed list. Entrance stage left!
Getting ready for the grand show,
Phil, the Philosopher of the Hedge.
Ziegfeld girls waiting for their fans to dance. ©
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Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge 
So jealous! Our tree buds haven’t yet swelled. Will be late this year. All are wintering in the Bahamas!
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Today there’s about 4-6 inches of new growth on each branch. Plants seem to be saying “Enough. It’s our turn now. Winter no more.” (But a front tonight. Cool nights, warm days, low humidity. I’ll take that!) Thanks for collecting a flowery comment
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Ah, yes. Sometimes I wonder if all of the tree trimmers work off a master schedule. It seems as though the trees wait, and wait, and wait — and then one day: snicker-snack! They’re all trimmed up. Well, except for a few beauties that have been allowed to turn into real trees.
Is it just me, or are the azaleas late this year, too? I’ve been seeing some beautiful displays recently, and I somehow thought they all were gone for the year. This weather has everyone confused, it seems.
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The landscape guys may check with the county agent? We’ve been shaping our crepe myrtles into trees and the 2 in the back yard are now done – no more massive chops – just thinning as needed. They make really beautiful trees – like the old ones over in front of South Shore Conf. Center hotel parking lot/vacant lot. Everything is 2-3 weeks behind normal schedule with the lingering cool. Not complaining about cool nights with the bright warm days and low humidity.
Hey – part of the bulkhead on the SE island across from the fuel dock collapsed last night. That’s probably going to cause a problem if that guy was going to showcase “Marina/Lake Lifestyle Living” during the boat show. Might be a concern for potential buyers seeing lack of important maintenance. Maybe the island is taking matters into her own lands and protecting herself herself?
Thanks for sending a blooming response
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Beautiful analogy :-). I am a fan of the 40’s and 50’s screen goddesses’ wardrobe, as well as the stars you mentioned. I’m also a fan of the spontaneity in which the trees seem to bloom around here (GA). At the first hint of warmer weather it seems certain trees burst into bloom over night. Ahhh…CHOO! sorry. damn allergies
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An age of elegance, style, and charm. Wouldn’t hurt to return to a bit of that.
The Myrtles (name also seems to recall that era) are sporting emerald bangs now – such a bright new green would make the Emerald City jealous…not such a fan of the green pollen all over the ground, cars, and just about everything. Rough allergy season ahead. (I’ll pass the Kleenex/Puffs with lotion.) Thanks for filming a comment
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Crepe myrtles are the subtext of my day! Talking with neighbor, both lamenting that ours both died over the winter. Can’t help but be a tad jealous of yours.
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Your myrtles died? I thought they were indestructible – other than that grey guck/white flies some varieties get. Maybe they will come up from the roots? (They do here – can’t get rid of them if you tried. Might as well grow them into shade trees.)
I shall go out and speak nicely to mine now. Losing crepes would be a very sad thing. Wafting flowering tropical orange tree perfume your way in sympathy. (Hope you don’t mind a bit of pollen with it. Sneezy green here)
Thanks fort climbing over to chat
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Great analogy… it fits perfectly. I hope all our trees are on the best dressed list soon too :o)
…and this post encouraged my momma to bug my dad for some stuff for the “grand show” LOL :o)
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One thing about trees is most listen to their moms and stand straight and tall. And they like dogs. Unlike flower beds who are always underfoot and then they blame the dog! Blooming annoying according to Molly and the German. Thanks for sitting and staying to chat today!
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Your ladies have brush cuts. ha! It is absolutely amazing how fats they bud and grow once they decide to start. The difference can be clearly seen even with only one day of growth. May the ladies rule!
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Today some of them are sporting 1920’s Flapper bobs while there’s still a few Our Gang’s Alfalfa sprigs poking everywhere. What crowd. The plants are being firm that Spring is here…despite a front trying one last time tonight/tomorrow. As long as it doesn’t storm and flood, no complaining about cool nights and sunny days. Will have to catch the Myrtles in full bloom later…such show offs! Thanks for staging a comment
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Oh Phil, you tease me with your Spring festivities. Being a fan of old Hollywood stars, your analogy was perfect! Nary a bud in sight yet here but I have seen my deck for the first time in months and the birds are happily singing “Enough is Enough!!”
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Those Mrytles as such dolls. Can see them as Las Vegas Show girls with the big headdresses. Hey, today a deck, maybe tomorrow some green there. It’s definitely time to sweep winter out. Sing louder birds! Thanks for strutting along
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Love the “false eyelashes” image! Our spring is here but that that beautiful.
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It looks today that some of the Myrtles may have hire some hair weavers. Some 1920’s Flapper bobs being tossed showily. One they start to unwrapping, they don’t waste any time. But that’s show biz. Thanks for wandering this way
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The old fashioned gals, crepe myrtles are one of my favourites 🙂 I love going for country drives and seeing them dotted through the hills guarding the places where homes once were but no longer, and in their pink hues in yards both on the branches and carpeting the ground beneath.
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They are very old fashioned. So glad they seem to be popular again. (They have lavender ones now! I love the dark watermelon color best right now – and the smooth barks over the dark brown rough ones. New varieties seem to be more resistant to diseases and bugs)
You really can spot old homesteads by the sturdy plants that live long after sign s of the people disappear. Thanks for painting that lovely picture
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Classic beauties indeed! We’ve been away for a while so it will be interesting to see if spring has reached our little nest when we get home later today.
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Each species has its’ stylish ones. After today’s grim rainy chill, we’ll be back to summer shortly. Meanwhile the Myrtles remind me of those college girls who head to the beaches at spring break despite cold fronts and bitter winds, and insist on getting a sun tan.
Myrtle and Mabel – used to be common names, now old fashioned antiques and oddities. (Wonder if they are most interesting because of their era or just because they are now unusual? How much fun writers have stirring up thoughts and creating worlds.)
Safe travels. Thanks for trimming up a comment to leave
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Beautiful chorus line. I love the antique treatment. Your crepe myrtles are way ahead of ours (which are still sleeping, waiting on their casting call).
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Those graceful trunks and limbs are sculptural with and without dressing. The ones here always seem to notice if someone’s got a camera I think. (I could bore people to death with pictures of them) No shy late bloomers, they. No doubt yours will be hearing their cues soon. Thanks for waiting at the stage door with a comment
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Grace, dignity, and elegance. Qualities I fear the younger generation knows nothing about.
I miss my crepe myrtles from OKC. And the redbuds that bloom in the spring. Neither is big here in Denver, as nearly as I can tell. I’ve seen some variety of pear, however, with the fluffy white blossoms.
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Crepe myrtles somehow are summer. Must be too cold for myrtles and redbuds there. You have aspens though – nothing is as lovely as aspens chattering. If only people stopped and listened to the whispers maybe a bit of old elegance and syle would return. Thanks for wrapping up a comment to leave
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Poised, aloof elegance is not a quality readily found these days. More’s the pity.
The myrtles do seem to be the opening set of a ballet!
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What else could a Myrtle do but ballet? OK maybe a flirty can-can. Thanks for strolling by to chat
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Yes, they look rather bare now, but I bet it won’t be long until they show all their glory.
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By now most are sporting a emerald flapper hair style…or is that punk? Depends on the wind and whim, I guess. Thanks for wafting a wisp of a comment over
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