Lagerstromia indica —The ways of sculpting symbiotic relationships.
In January of 2021, I shaped the Crepe Myrtles. The living organisms impacted by this creative work are an assemblage of considerations. In holistically sculpting a regenerative site-specific sculpture of living organisms, I have to balance the hierarchy of the living creatures; with every cut, I ask how it will impact the whole?
Golden-eye Lichens - Teloschistes chrysophthalmus- Native to the United Kingdom these lichens survive in harsh environments where algae cannot normally survive. Lichens enable algae to live all over the world. They also provide a means to convert carbon dioxide in the atmosphere into oxygen. I found two small patches on one of the Lawndale Crepe Myrtle’s. I took this before the Texas freeze. It survived but is now struggling. Lichens only grow on Crepe Myrtle’s that are struggling, but they do not harm the Crepe Myrtle’s. I am hunting for more information about the relationship between the lichens and the Crepe Myrtle’s.
Cutting-clipping-chopping, I work to balance and enhance four features; make them aesthetically attractive, shape the Crepe Myrtle branches to benefit the birds, the neighboring community, pollinators and other metropolitan creatures underserved an unknown. I researched how landscapers recommend you prune Crepe Myrtles. I did not want to Crepe Murder them.
Extraction
LOCAL CRIME SCENES
EVIDENCE OF THE COPYCAT MURDERS PLAGUING HOUSTON’S WILDLIFE HABITATS.
I also questioned past practices developed without considering the impact on nature. Landscapers recommend cutting away all horizontal branches for human visual pleasure. That gave me pause—without any horizontal elements, how do birds and squirrels support their nests? I started looking around at birds' nests, something I do all of the time anyway. I observe birds building their nest in protected areas of trees where many cross branches stabilize their nests and protect from wind, sun, and predators.
BIRDS NESTS, PROTECTED FROM WIND, AND SUN BY A WEB OF TREE BRANCHES, AND
HIGH IN THE TREES, SAFE FROM PREDATORS ATTACKING FROM ABOVE.
BIRDS NESTS, PROTECTED FROM WIND, AND SUN BY A WEB OF TREE BRANCHES, AND
HIGH IN THE TREES, SAFE FROM PREDATORS ATTACKING FROM ABOVE.
Left- high in the neighboring Crepe Myrtle is a nest.. RIGHT- A close-up showing how much protection the web of limbs provides for the nest.
If I were only shaping the trees for the birds, I would not cut a twig. For the neighbors walking on the sidewalk, I used the sculpting method of extraction to remove all branches poking out of the fence under 6 feet.
A Neighbor walking along Travis Street. In the future, the white Crepe Myrtles will canopy the sidewalk and provide a shaded path.
On the fence's museum side, I pruned the trees high off the ground as the flowering natives we plant beneath them will need lots of sunshine to support various pollinators. I managed to create a few nooks and Ys where limbs came together. Next year, the trees should be tall enough to provide lots of safe branches for birds to perch on that will stretch high over the sidewalk and shade the neighbors.
I picture a row of clouds spun like cotton candy out of white Crepe Myrtles blooms arching over the fence protecting those strolling from their townhouses to the museums, hiding powerlines from view. — time will twll.
The trees limbs are the armature for several components of the assemblage.