Weekender April 26-27

[Dave]

o start a weekender; no reason it can't be me.

I've taken few photos lately, but here is one from yesterday (2025/04/25). It's some unidentified plant growing in the parkway (the area between the sidewalk and the street) in front of homes in my area. It's probably considered a nuisance invasive plant, but at least it yielded a photo whose colors I like...

   

Lot's of things going on in my life right now - that's why I've taken few photos. Why is it that after more than 10 years of retirement I find myself with less free time than when I was working 60+ hours a week?

[Rich]

Greetings Dave, my favorite colors too! Well composed and presented.

Here is the Condo's Flowering Crab tree. No fruit, just flowers. Right in front of my 2nd floor balcony! We are finally getting a taste of spring. Been real cold and windy.

[Man From Ironbark]

I'm always unimpressed when a flowering tree is said to have no fruit. Sure many ornamentals have litte fruit if any apparent but that doesn't mean they have no fruit. If planted out of their ecosystem they will still try to fruit. That's what they have flowers for. They may have alll of their fruit taken by birds or tree rats before it is noticed. Our attempts at breeding may produce plants that have less chance to have fruit. It is interesting to note for example if you plant every seed from a box of edible cherries, none will grow at all. It is because we have bred for bigger sweeter cherries, not for fertile seed. Roses lose their smell for the same reasons.

Anyway, enough horticuture.
Now for some Taxonomy.
Nice flower Dave. It belongs to Malva. Marshmallow family. Possibly this one? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malva_multiflora or maybe this? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malva_sylvestris

[Dave]

Hi Rich.

I remember seeing other photos you've taken of that magnificent tree. How lucky you are that you can see it everyday from your window. It certainly looks very well tended by the landscapers.

MFI, as always, thanks for the identification. I agree with your words suggesting that whenever we meddle with nature's creations we make things worse. Look no further than the rabbit infestation in you country that started somewhere around 1850.

And thank both of you gentlemen for your responses to my photo.

Here's a sot taken a few hours ago on my Sunday morning walk...

   

Have a good day or evening, everyone.

[Man From Ironbark]

Yes we had to eat so much rabbit that I could never look at another one.

Lovely sunrise.
I've taken so many sunrise and sunset photos of late that I can't seem to pick which ones to show without having to show them all.

Thing about trees being haughty and all that what with their heads always in the clouds.





   

[Dave]

"Trees being haughty... with their heads always in the clouds."

Very poetic observation.

[Man From Ironbark]

Thanks Dave.