Crape myrtles beautify Shelbyville's landscape

Scott Cocanougher and Walt Wood admire the crape myrtles outside the Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce.
(T-G Photo by Sadie Fowler) [Order this photo]

But there's another marker, a little more subtle, that adds charm as well as beauty to this small Southern city and county.

Crape myrtles, shrubs or small trees chiefly famous for their colorful and long-lasting flowers, are prevalent in Shelbyville, thanks to a project that began almost 15 years ago.

"There are probably about 10,000 of these in the county," said Walt Wood, CEO of the Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce. "Right now, they're as pretty as I've ever seen them."

The Chamber has a committee that focuses on making Shelbyville more attractive. Through the efforts of the Beautification Committee, a program began 14 years ago that brought crape myrtles to the area. This went on for about 10 years.

The ornamental shrubs are native to eastern India and, in the United States, they're commonly planted in the South.

"I'm real proud of our crape myrtles," Wood said. "They show off well in the middle of a dry summer."

There are several of the trees decorating the Chamber's landscape; the trees behind the Chamber parking lot are 20 years old, and still have a lot of maturing to do, Wood said.

"They were about 10 years old when we got them," he said.

Luckily, they remain as vibrant as ever during their aging process.