Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Pods and Berries

No, the title of this post is not a reference to iPods and BlackBerries. Put those down, and go for a walk. Unless it's ridiculously cold where you are. Then make yourself some tea, and look at the pictures.


This looks like a good place to start. See, Mr. Duck thinks so. Okay, back to pods and berries. I noticed we have quite a variety in our neighborhood.


These Chinese golden rain trees line the streets where I live. In summer they provide showers of bright yellow flowers; in the fall, the papery seed cases resemble bougainvillas. The only downside is the seeds take root in my yard - they're tenacious little devils.


I wonder what ever happened to ball fringe. Didn't it hang from things like lamp shades and sombreros? I always think of it when I see these sycamore seed pods.


Here are crepe myrtle berries. The dried out cases (in the top left of the photo) are shaped like tiny sectioned oranges.


These butterfly iris seed pods are almost as delicate as the flowers. They look like they're ready to take flight.


Indian hawthorne berries.


Heavenly bamboo.


I have no idea what these are, but I think they're cool.


Not a pod or a berry. More like a nut.


Here's some desert broom - our version of snow. This kind can give you the sniffles, too.


A magnolia seed pod about to burst.


Jacaranda seed pods remind me of castanets.


Way up in the tree, some palm fruit. Those are awfully big berries...


...and last, some tiny birch cones, about the size of an almond. They look cute on small holiday ornaments.

I hope you have the chance to get out and explore - maybe somewhere other than the mall.

16 comments:

Kimbra Kasch said...

OMG you'd never have to buy flowers or wreaths not with that burst of blooms and berries all over the place. I'm soooo jealous. Those photos are stunning

ICQB said...

Oooh! I especially like the heavenly bamboo - I can see how it got its name. And the nut, of course. How could you not like a nut like that?

Mary Witzl said...

I love those, and they all make me feel so nostalgic! We have many of the same plants here (especially jacarandas, which flourish all over the campus where I work), but you have a few here I don't remember seeing around. We do have lot of carob trees here though, and the pods are everywhere. They always remind me of autumn and Christmas in Southern California, as do many of the ones you've photographed. (Sniff: they make me homesick!)

Brenda said...

Love your pods, berries...and nut pictures...Hugs...

Anonymous said...

I adore those little Chinese lanterns...we don't have any around here or I'd cut them like mad for in my house. I love the bare season for all the hidden suprises revealed--berries! Pods! But your nut is the cutest:)

Anonymous said...

I like the berries, but the nut is pretty darned cute!

Ara Burklund said...

Gorgeous photos, Adrienne! : )

Adrienne said...

Kim - That reminds me, I've been meaning to gather up some magnolia pods for decorating. They're everywhere, but I alays forget to bring a bag with me...

ICQB - The heavenly bamboo is a pretty plant. I have several in my yard that I got for free - some landscapers in the area were going to toss them!

Mary - That's the feeling I get this time of year when I see pictures of fall foliage on the east coast, or snow and holly in December - I guess it's the price of not staying put. :)

Lilfix - You can join us (me and Luna the nut) for a virtual stroll anytime!

Green Girl - The designs of nature fascinate me - such variety!

The Things We Carried - Thanks, we're kinda attached to that nut! And thanks for stopping by. :)

Ara - I guess you can step out and see much of the same. :)

Pseudo said...

Love the up close photo tour of the nature where you live. And great blog title.

Unknown said...

Lovely pods and berries - big meals for some birds!

LW said...

Wonderful pictures…
Looks like a bit of paradise to me.

Louise

Gutsy Living said...

Now that I've learned various berries and relaxed in front of some gorgeous photos, my heart rate has decreased and I feel relaxed. Beautiful.

Adrienne said...

Pseudo - It's a habit I learned from my mom...she loved to see what new things pop up every season.

Keats - Birds, yes! No wonder we have a variety of those around here, too. :)

Louise - I have a friend who just moved back here from the midwest - she keeps reminding me that this is paradise.

GutsyWriter - Glad you enjoyed the stroll! Amazing how relaxing it can be, even if only in pictures.

Rena Jones said...

Beautiful pictures!!

Unknown said...

My husband cut a huge bunch of Palm fruit off the tree and threw it in the green waste bin. Is there something we can do with this huge pod (just like in the picture! you showed) instead of throwing away? Hurry, I only have 2 days before the green waste trash truck comes!

Adrienne said...

Hi Natalie! I wish I knew...one thing I learned recently about that fruit is that the coyotes eat a lot of it in the fall. Here's a link I found to some info about palm trees and fruit:

http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/edible-palms.html

Good luck with the giant pod :)