Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Trees for Fun Friday: Palo Verde

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We are on our 3rd week of Trees for Fun Friday, hosted by Melissa, of Blogging For Fun. However, for me, my Fun Friday falls on a weekend :)
Blue Palo Verde ( tree with yellow blossom) and brittlebush
Palo verde is the Spanish word for "green wood" or "green stick", which alludes to the greenish branches and trunk of the tree.
Snowy Egret Perched on the Greenish Branch of Palo Verde
The palo verde is the herald of spring for many Southwestern United States, because of its huge display of yellow flowers.
Bumblebee Frolicking on Palo Verde's Yellow Flower
Palo verde trees are originally from the Sonoran and Mojave deserts of Southwest USA (Arizona and Eastern California) and Mexico and Baja California. This is a true desert tree and is extremely drought resistant. Because of its minimal water need, palo verde has become a popular landscape plantings as a shade tree along roadways and parks all across Southwest USA. 
There are two species of palo verde that are common in the Southwestern USA, the foothill palo verde and blue palo verde. Both species are spiny, multi-trunked trees.
An Egret Perched on the Spiny Branch of Blue Palo Verde
Palo verde photosynthesize through their green bark, which is a very important adaptation for a tree that lost its leaves during the warm season. Aside from dropping its leaves during the warm season, palo verde also drops its stems and branches to combat drought. There are numerous birds that forage, perch and/or nest in the abundant branches of palo verde.
Egrets Nesting on Palo Verde
♥♥
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23 comments:

  1. wow...photos of the big birds are really impressive.

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  2. That snow egret looks like something from another world!con

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  3. Its so amazing how those egrets nest on the tree, and there's a bunch of them!

    I have to check out this tree, I think I have seen it but don't know its name.

    Nice post Bets.

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  4. The snowy Egret which perching on the tree is really beautiful.

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  5. That's a huge Egret. You never fail to impressed me betchai :)

    Check out my post tomorrow for a game betchai, you are in! :D

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  6. Those egrets are really huge. I'd like to see their eggs. Enjoyed this post, Betchai!

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  7. I have difficulty in capturing small birds. These big one maybe easier for me. LOL.

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  8. Great info on the palo verde tree, betchai, and the snow egrets are very beautiful.

    Hope everything is going great for you!

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  9. Beautiful pictures of snow egret! Learning a new name of tree from you today..Thank you!

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  10. see that is why i really wanted to have a vacation there. lol. nice capture of the egret ms beth

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  11. The blooming Palo Verde is gorgeous. I am amazed that egrets would be attracted to such spiny trees. Your pictures are wonderful!

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  12. What a unique tree, and the wildlife that inhabit it. DJ sometimes has Fun Friday on the weekend too, depending on what else he has to get done.

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  13. A lovely post with some fascinating information. Love all your photos, all so beautiful!

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  14. Wow! Those are exceptional photos and captures.

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  15. We have that egret over here too. I remembered seeing a bird that looked like that in the bird park.

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  16. I know you where writing about the tree, but your Snowy Egret photo was adorable.

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  17. Wow, Betchai, those egret captures are spectacular. What a treat so see it so closeup. I love the bumblebee as well. Fantastic shots.

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  18. Snowy Egret - Very unusual bird! Isn't it?

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  19. i betchai!!

    love that egret, the shots are just so good!

    hope you'll have a great week ahead!

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  20. I really like that picture of the snowy egret. And all the others are exciting for me to see too.

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  21. Thanks Bets, I am glad you found your way to my new home.

    Catching up with my comments. will email you later.

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  22. wonderful photos.Birds are looking very nice on the tree.thanks for sharing this nice views.

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THANK YOU SO MUCH!!