NORFOLK, Va. — The hottest month of the year is also the prettiest in many neighborhoods. That’s because Crepe Myrtle trees are starting to bloom!
That inspired my walk this week. I asked friends on my Facebook page where we could walk to find the best display of the flowering trees. Several suggested the Poplar Halls neighborhood in Norfolk.
If you’re not familiar, Poplar Halls is a neighborhood bordered by Military Highway, Virginia Beach Boulevard and Interstate 264. The neighborhood is on land of the old Poplar Hall mansion that dates back to the 1700s.
After World War II, about 700 homes were built in the neighborhood, most with beautiful Crepe Myrtle trees in their front yards.
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Crepe Myrtles are not native to Virginia or even the United States; they were imports from hot humid parts of the world, like Asia. So, it’s easy to see why they do so well in our hot summer.
Poplar Halls is painted pink with all the blooms right now and we enjoyed our walk, especially dachshund Deanie who dressed in her pink harness for the occasion!
If you want to check them out, just know that some streets in Poplar Halls have sidewalks and others do not, so you may have to walk in the street at times. However, there’s usually not a lot of traffic in the quiet neighborhood
My Facebook friends also suggested some other spots to check out Crepe Myrtle trees, including Witchduck Woods in Virginia Beach, Chippokes State Park in Surry County and Larchmont, which is also in Norfolk.
