Much to my astonishment we are almost half way into the month of June already, and half of the year 2009 is on the back side of the calendar. So it came upon me slowly that this is the month that poinciana trees choose to bloom. You would have to be oblivious to life itself not to spot these bright orange flowers glowing all over town:
In the Keys they are known as Royal Poinciana,
Delonix regia to give them their latin name, but who gave them the regal appellation I don't know I'm sure. The size and quantity of the blooms varies from tree to tree though the clusters of flowers always make an impression:
Even though I live in a corner of the United States which overflows with fantastic flora, I am no botanist, so you can take my word that you can't miss the poincianas anywhere around town, Old Town:
Or in New Town:
The poincianas, known in the Caribbean islands as "flamboyants" create a backdrop all their own:
In parts of Asia and Africa they are known as Flame Trees (Australian flame trees are I think something a little different):
The picture above is Eaton Street at Elizabeth, this is William Street from Eaton looking towards the Schooner Wharf area at the waterfront:
Look up and there are flame trees burning overhead:
Look down and the petals become so much debris, littering driveways, sidewalks and parked cars:
There are trees at the post office on Whitehead Street:
And the green and orange of the tree contrast nicely with the classic white wood of Key West homes:
The flowers themselves look like orchids to me, seen close up:
In New Town the Poinciana Public Housing complex is converted Navy Housing which is now affordable rental apartments for city residents, in the the sort of spacious tree lined tract that one doesn't generally associate with public housing. Personally I think public housing could use fewer high rises and more poincianas:
And across the street is a Key West version of a strip mall:
And just up the street Smurf Village has its own flaming poincianas to brighten up the street:
Call it what you will, royal poinciana, flamboyant or flame tree, its a bloom worth celebrating.
8 comments:
Ah, a post about one of my favorite fauna. Cheers!
When I lived there, St. Mary’s, down
the street, always had a good stand,
and was in many photo's of tourists,
and many commercial/historic shots.
Ralph
I did try to go looking for trees that were perhaps a little out of the way. I'll be the ones behind Poinciana Housing don't mae it into many tourist's albums!
Dear Conch:
I had never heard of these things before reading your post. They are remarkable indeed. And I also would have thought they were orchids, or of that genus, after lloking at them up close.
You should consider a Key West Flame Tree festival, in which the Flame Tree Queen (a woman hopefully) rides a Triumph wearing only blloms from these trees.
The roses and the peonies have exploded in the garden here... But they are taking a beating from the rain. I saw it will be 95 degrees in the Keys today. Y'all stay cool now, hear!
Thank you for reading my coments and for incorporating my recommendations into your life philosophy.
Fondest regards,
Jack "r"
Bloody hell- riding motorcycles is good for you. riepe rides, discovers new seating positions, throws away the key, and comes home feeling kindly disposed to the world. Celia sent me a talking dog card telling me to get my shit together. Now Giovanni's sent me an e-mail telling me there will be a motorcycle waiting for me minutes after I land in Rome next Sunday. By the way if anyone has found my wife's cell phone could they return it? She's lost it and is going crazy which doesn't help me much.
All of which is nothing compared to the troubles facing our school's superintendent who was arrested today for complicity in his wife's alleged shenanigans.Oh dear, shit storm closing in.
Dear Sir:
So you'll be riding a bike in Rome, eh? This should be good. Try hard not to fall on your ass over there, will you?
Fondest regqrds,
Toad
Got my new jacket and pants and managed to get them upstairs into the house without falling and wrecking the armor. so far so good.
Oh my, how beautiful the poincianas are! When last I was in Key West, a kind soul gave me a small sprig which had rooted. I brought it back to southeast Texas where it thrived in my back yard. When it grew too large and I transplanted it further out, the deer ate it! Thanks for your beautiful photos.
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