A Random Collection in Winter

Although it is winter we have many tree and bushes in bloom in Águas da Prata. The colour makes the bitter cold winter bearable. The temperature often plummets down to +15. *SMILE*




In winter they trim many trees back like this. It looks like the end for some.




They seem extreme in many cases but they come back in spring with the arrival of the rains




This large croton never fails to please. It is the largest croton I have ever seen.




Many trees have large seed pods like this.




This bush is across the stret from our house.




This beautiful tree grows in many places in Águas da Prata.




This is a large poinsettia over the wall beside our house.




This poinsettia is a very large tree near our house.




There are many pretty small tress around town like this. planted in the sidewalk.




These stately blue topped trees are all around town.




A telephoto lens helps when you peak into someones backyard to see beauty like this.



There are very many more Flowering Trees and Shrubs of all colours and sizes making Águas da Prata a beautiful town.



Photos by Urso Branco

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Crown-of-Thorns in Winter

Euphorbia milii (Crown-of-thorns or Christ Plant) is a species of Euphorbia native to Madagascar.

It is a succulent climbing shrub growing to 1.8 m tall, with densely spiny stems, the straight, slender spines up to 3 cm long, which help it scramble over other plants. The leaves are obovate, up to 3.5 cm long and 1.5 cm broad. The flowers are small, subtended by a pair of conspicuous petal-like bracts, variably red, pink or white, up to 12 mm broad.




This little shrub is a popular house plant. Many varieties and hybrids are available varying in flower size and color from red to yellow. It blooms freely most of the year. It normally becomes dormant in summer… don't throw it away if it loses its leaves. As with the other Euphorbias, its sap is poisonous, it irritates the skin, and can cause temporary blindness if it goes in the eyes. Each spine contains enough sap to do real harm to those who get stuck on it.

In Brasil it is grown beside or on walls to deter unwanted visitors. So don't climb over the wall.




This group of plants is growing against the wall next door to out house in Águas da Prata.




Look closely at the abundance of thorns on the stem.




The flowers are tiny but pretty.




You can see the long row of plants leading towards our house.




Here they are leading away from our house.




Here is a garden on the next street using Crown-of-Thorns as a decorative hedge.




It looks quite pretty in this setting.




I found there is a lot of Crown-of-Thorns around town. Here is a large hedge about two city blocks long.




It gives new meaning to the phrase "Keep Out"!




This section is particularlyt lethal looking.




It looks pretty from a distance. This entire property uses it as a privacy and security fence.




Here it is as a security hedge on top of a wall. I wouldn't want to try to get in there.



So be careful and never try to touch these shrubs without adequate protection.


Photos by Urso Branco

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Flamboyant Tree in Winter

This tree is exotic at any season in Águas da Prata. It's Botanical name is Delonix Regia.

The Royal Poinciana, Delonix regia (family Fabaceae), is a tropical or subtropical
flowering plant. It is also known by the names Gulmohar, Flamboyant Tree, Peacock Flower, Flame of the Forest, and Flame Tree. The tree is named after Phillipe de Longviliers de Poincy who is credited for introducing the plant to the Americas.

The Royal Poinciana has been described as the most colourful tree in the world. The tree's vivid red/vermilion/orange/yellow flowers and bright green foliage in any case make it an exceptionally striking sight.




It has gone to seed now and here are the large seed pods in profusion.




They are about 25cm long and very hard and dry now.





These large trees are in many places around town. These ones are near the Grande Hotel Prata.





They line the street beside the old railway station, across the street from the town Counsel Chambers.




They are large and something to be seen in summer.





This is a dried seed pod.





They fall all the time now in mid to late September.





You can see these pods everywhere around the trees.


When these trees are in bloom in summer the have hundreds of brilliant red - vermilion - orange or yellow flowers and bright green foliage. We will have many photos of them in bloom later.



Photos by Urso Branco

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Butterfly Palm in Winter

This is a Butterfly Palm or Areca Bambú Palm, or Golden Cane Palm, growing in our yard. Its botanical name is Dypsis lutescens and it originated in Madagascar

This is one of two lovely trees in our yard that have something extra to delight us besides their natural beauty at this time of year. I am including it here because we caught it just as it sprouted 4 seed stocks. These are photos of this Areca Bambú Palm in mid September in Águas da Prata.




It is a clustering palm, with up to about a dozen golden coloured trunks, but no main trunk. The trunks curve out from the base, while the feather leaves are quite recurved as well.

This is one of the most popular palms in the tropics and sub-tropics, due to its ease of growth, and attractiveness. Used for both landscaping duties, as well as an indoor plant. It is a very adaptable palm, but grows best in full sun, in a well drained, but moist spot. It is drought tolerant, but not very frost tolerant.

When the seed stock opens as it looks like this.

















Close up.




Very close up you can see the individual nuts. The birds love them. As soon as they mature we will have flocks of birds come to dine. They only take a day to eat all these nuts.




As you can see each little branch is loaded with nuts.




Here is a second stock not opened yet.





Here is the second stock from a different angle.




This is a third stock.




You can see a fourth stock just starting to grow.





This photo lets you see all four stocks.


Last year we only had one stock. So this year we expect to see a great parade of birds visiting us. It should be exciting to watch. However, we must keep the cats away while the birds feed. There are no stocks showing up in the other tree yet. The nuts are a favourite food for the Green Parrots.




This is another tree a few blocks awy from our house. It has very many seed stocks.




The tree has most of its stocks already open.




This will be a favourite spot for the parrots to visit soon.




References:

Palm & Cycad Societies of Australia
http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Dypsis/lutescens.html

K-Palms Nursery and Seeds
http://www.kpalms.com/



Photos by Urso Branco

Read More, See More Photos and Read the Comments . . . CLICK HERE

Hibiscus in Winter

You can find Hibiscus everywhere in Brasil. This is on our street in Águas da Prata. Hibiscus is a very popular and prolific flower. It is a favourite of artists and woodcarvers.

Hibiscus comes in Tree form and Bush form. These are just a few of them blooming in Winter.




There are few blossoms and leaves are thinning out too. These two photos were taken at Restaurante Arvorismo.





They are right at the Parking lot.


We have many colours of Hibiscus in Brasil.



Photos by Urso Branco

Read More, See More Photos and Read the Comments . . . CLICK HERE