I often wonder what our parkways would look like in winter if the crape myrtles planted there possessed colorful bark.

A tree's bark is an underused landscaping element that's often eclipsed in importance by foliage and blooms. Yet the color and texture of trees' bark makes a strong visual statement in any backyard.

In winter, when most flowering ceases and deciduous trees shed their leaves, the stuff that covers branches and tree trunks ... bark. It is the last tree to bloom in the fall with large silky ...