Chinese Fringe Flower

Today was another beautiful sunny day.  Early afternoon it was 80 when I spent a little time outside with a nice slight breeze.  These evergreen shrubs line the front of our house and are springing to life with new growth as well as flowers blooming. 

Beautiful shrub even without the flowers due to the contrasting reddish/brown to burgundy new leaf growth against the older green leaves.  Leaves have a white fringe like edging and the flowers are little bundles of ribbon like petals.

Until today, we had no idea what shrubs these were.  After doing some research, we learned they are Loropetalum....also called Chinese Fringe Flowers.  They are in the family of Witchhazel and cold hardy in zones 7-10.

5.5 x 6 journal with Arches watercolor paper / Metropolitan with #41 Brown / W&N and DS watercolors.  Pink is Opera and the mix I used for the leaves was W&N Light Red mixed with DS Quin Rose.