Purple rain

It's that time of year again, when the jacaranda blossoms turn neighborhoods into clouds of purple...and cars and sidewalks get stained with the same.

These trees were on my mind when I answered a recent Downey survey about trees. Which is more important to me, flowers or shade? I choose flowers, and I'm looking forward to the new flowering trees that will be planted in Downey over the next year.

Ivy tree

I saw this tree as I was driving by the other evening. I wonder how long it took for the ivy to cover it so completely.

I also wonder if the owner of the home noticed the ivy as it was growing and kept intending to trim it until it was too late.

Purple power

I always love when the jacaranda trees are in bloom. They look so glorious. They are this big, purple explosion of color. I find myself turning down 5th  St. or Harper Ave.in Orange Estates, just to see the colors. Today, as we walked to Furman Park, I couldn't resist snapping a picture of the color and the shadows.

Of course, as much as I love the incredible purple color, I am thankful I do not have any of these trees close to my house. As you can see, this homeowner is raking the blossoms off her grass, which I have on good authority she does often!

"Trees are the earth's endless effort to speak to the listening heaven."
~ Rabindranath Tagore

Always changes

The one constant about Downey is that it is always changing. I frequently pass by this house and noticed recently that they had added these driveway lights to their landscape. Downey residents are constantly changing how their property looks. Asphalt driveways turn into concrete. House colors change. New roofs are put on.

New trees are planted in the hope of growth. Even new rooms are added to the top or back of houses. I think these changes are planned to add functionality or to enhance the beauty of the property. But whatever the reason, I like it.

"When you forgive, you in no way change the past - but you sure do change the future." 
~ Bernard Meltzer

Wintry landscape

Although Downey is in moderate—normally sunny—southern California, here you can see the trees in the northeast corner of Furman Park looking very naked and wintry. All this fits with the cold, rainy weather we have had in the last couple of weeks.

These trees are part of the Memorial Grove planted here by the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). You can see more in this DDP post.

"Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky.”
~ Kahlil Gibran

Christmas around town #2

Here is another Christmas decoration around City Hall. It is the official Downey Christmas tree. Don't worry, even though it has lights on it, you haven't missed the official Lighting Ceremony. That takes place on Monday, December 4, starting at 6:00 pm and going until 8:30 pm. There will be entertainment from local schools, Santa photos, and a snow play area. The event is free and will be held at City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Ave. We'll be there (with cameras on).

Room with a view

This tree house comes with access to satellite TV.  Add a bunch of plump pillows, and what more could a tree climber ask for?

Trees and light

On our recent trip to Oregon, we spent some time driving through the beautiful redwoods. This was a favorite picture of mine because it shares a little of the magical feel of the redwood forests. The light and how it sort of glows through these tall trees adds to the beauty of the setting.

komorebi ~ Japanese for the sunlight that filters through the leaves of trees. 

Moon & palm

Not exactly in Downey. Tonight I'm in Beaumont celebrating my daughter's birthday. The moon has been incredible lately and I couldn't resist the way the moon lit up the sky with the palm tree in shadow.

"The moon will guide you through the night with her brightness, but she will always dwell in the darkness, in order to be seen." 
~ Shannon L. Alder

Planned seclusion

I liked how these owners planned the foliage in the front yard to make their house secluded from people on the street. Although, the people on the street get to enjoy a beautiful yard as they pass by. Both sides get to enjoy the view.

I feel the earth move...

I came across this scene recently. I imagine it's a result of the strong winds we had a few weeks ago. The tree didn't bend, or break—it just simply toppled, trapping the truck underneath it.

Purple clouds

It's that time of year again, when a glimpse down the street or over the rooftops shows a cloud of purple jacaranda blooms.

I won't grow up

For me, the best part of any park was always the trees. Which ones could be climbed? Which ones had the perfect seat for surveying my surroundings?

“If growing up means it would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree, I won’t grow up.” 
~ Peter Pan

Big and little

A big tree. A little boy. A study in contrast at Furman Park.

Covered in yellow

Spring isn't just the season for flowers. It's also the season for trees to blossom. I'm still waiting for the streets lined with jacarandas, but meanwhile, I'm enjoying the variously colored trees, such as this one covered with yellow, that are exploding around town.

Contrast

Once again, bright colors and sunset lighting combined to create a stunning effect. This tree, just like the one I saw six years ago in a different location, stopped me in my tracks (or at least the nearest parking spot), so that I could capture the bright yellow blossoms against the rusty red wall.

Storm print

The storm from last week left its mark on our city. In the picture above, you can see the big tree that was uprooted in Rio San Gabriel Park.

And, despite sewer drains all throughout the city, the water couldn't drain fast enough. On my way home from work last Friday, I was surprised to notice my phone navigation app warned me of a "flood" up ahead as I was exiting the 605 freeway. And, sure enough, it was flooded and completely overrunning the curb halfway across the street. I will say I drove more slowly than normal that night. It was a scary drive home.

"The wise man in the storm prays to God, not for safety from danger, but deliverance from fear." 
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Under the banyan tree

I'm back in Hawaii on business and found myself without a picture from Downey available, So, I thought I would share a little something from my walk back to the hotel after dinner last night.

We decided to walk along the beach, so we cut through an area I haven't walked through before and it had a bit of a magical feel to it. I loved the red lanterns that were hanging from an amazingly huge banyan tree taking up the open space between the buildings.

It was a beautiful way to end our day.

"Mahalo naku no keia nani la." (translation:  Thank you Lord for this beautiful day.) 

A tree in winter

We seem to have a bit of a theme going with trees in recent posts. I saw this white tree today and it just looked like winter to me:  white, stark looking, not even one leaf left on its branches.

"Sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter. Who would think that those branches would turn green again and blossom, but we hope it, we know it." 
~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Downey trees

The majority of fruit trees in Downey are of two varieties. They are either orange or avocado. Years ago, Downey was mostly populated with orange groves. As more people desired to move to the Los Angeles suburbs, land owners saw the opportunity to increase their wealth by subdividing their land into smaller lots and putting houses on each one. My wife and I live on such a lot. Now, there are only a handful of privately owned parcels of land in Downey that are larger than an acre. But many of the orange trees were left on the subdivided plots for the new owners.

Avocado trees have also been a popular tree in Downey. Their sturdy build (the trunks can grow to a diameter of two feet), their ease of care, and their delicious fruit make them a favorite of homeowners, although they can be messy for some of the year. This avocado tree is not a Hass variety, so the yield is from January to March each year as opposed to year-round for the Hass trees. See more about the Hass avocados here.

What is your favorite use for avocados or oranges?