Thursday, November 12, 2015

The Wild Tree: November

Parkinsonia florida, palo verde, blue palo verde, desert tree, wild tree, sonoran desert, small sunny garden
I have been very slow to go around and check on the wild Palo Verde tree (cluster of little trees, really) that I'm watching for the Tree Following meme.  I assumed that there would be little change from last month, which is true, but there are some things to notice in November.

First, of course, it does not lose its leaves for the winter, which is relatively mild here and generally a good time for the plants.
Parkinsonia florida, palo verde, blue palo verde, desert tree, wild tree, sonoran desert, small sunny garden
So it is still fairly well-foliaged, with the occasional yellow leaf here and there.
Parkinsonia florida, palo verde, blue palo verde, desert tree, wild tree, sonoran desert, small sunny garden
More surprisingly, I spotted a stray bloom as I looked up into the canopy.  At first I thought it was only another yellowed leaf, but, no...
Parkinsonia florida, palo verde, blue palo verde, desert tree, wild tree, sonoran desert, small sunny garden
Here it is, a little closer, with its bright yellow petals and brilliant russet stamens...
Parkinsonia florida, palo verde, blue palo verde, desert tree, wild tree, sonoran desert, small sunny garden
There have been other spare blooms over recent months - no doubt why I found a couple of immature seedpods as well as a fully ripe one still on the tree.
Parkinsonia florida, palo verde, blue palo verde, desert tree, wild tree, sonoran desert, small sunny garden
The beautiful grey-green bark from which the species derives its common name of Blue Palo Verde (which translates very roughly to "blue green pole..." - "palo" seems hard to translate!) remains largely unchanged across the months, with wonderfully smooth-skinned branches behind a loose veil of tiny leaves...
Parkinsonia florida, palo verde, blue palo verde, desert tree, wild tree, sonoran desert, small sunny garden
...a few of which showed signs of having been munched...
Parkinsonia florida, palo verde, blue palo verde, desert tree, wild tree, sonoran desert, small sunny garden
...and some were folded today.  I don't know why, as we're not getting extreme temperatures in either direction at present.   But perhaps the tree is like me and finds it difficult to adjust to nights in the forties (Fahrenheit this time!) after a summer's worth of heat?  
Parkinsonia florida, palo verde, blue palo verde, desert tree, wild tree, sonoran desert, small sunny garden
But it's certainly beautiful weather, and the trees are thriving.

I hope I can still link this post to the meme, now kindly hosted by Pat at Squirrelbasket.  Thank you, Pat, for carrying on this wonderful idea!
Parkinsonia florida, palo verde, blue palo verde, desert tree, wild tree, sonoran desert, small sunny garden

Weather Diary: Sunny; High: 71 F (22 C)/Low: 42 F (6 C)

10 comments:

  1. Thanks for your enthusiasm!
    Those tiny leaves (and flowers, and pods) are so cute and pretty.
    I'm amazed you have such greenery in November. Lovely!
    All the best :)

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    1. I've so enjoyed the meme, SB, so it was wonderful to know you would be continuing it! The little Palo Verde has been fun to follow as it is pretty in so many ways (thorns possibly excepted!). Thank you :)

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  2. What beautiful blue sky, looks like the high summer.

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    1. This is one of the most beautiful times of year here, Brian, with mild temperatures and - yes - plenty of blue skies :)

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  3. Interesting. How long does it take the leaves to fold?

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    1. I really don't know, Hollis; I should try to find out... I was over there in the middle of the day so it wasn't a night-to-morning phenomenon. We had a Senna that did the same every time it got too dry, and the leaves would expand again within a few hours after watering (if I remember rightly). But my June pics show the Palo Verde leaves all wide open, so I don't think it's drought...

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  4. You clearly have great eyesight and attention to detail - the beautiful blue sky behind the tiny yellow bloom makes a pretty photo. Your daytime peak temperature was actually lower than ours yesterday!

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    1. Thanks so much, Kris :) Following the tree on a monthly basis has certainly encouraged me to look more closely at it! I think we're finally starting in towards winter, now, though temps have gone back up a little since. We don't have coastal influence to keep the cold out so it will be interesting to see what happens this winter. Last winter was very mild with just one real frost, but I know that some years are sharper.

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  5. Your tree is quite beautiful. It would never survive in my cold climate (Quebec) but I look forward to seeing Palo Verde trees whenever I am in California -- which isn't nearly often enough! I enjoyed the photos very much.

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    1. It's been a wonderful little tree to watch; there's nothing quite like the Palo Verdes, is there? Thanks so much - so glad you enjoyed the post - hope it warms your November a little :)

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