20 Comments
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Anna Moiseeva's avatar

Amy, love your lessons in botany! I see some of these plants every day but only today I've learnt their names! When I first saw a silk floss tree it was just in front of the Zoo and I thought there were artificial flowers put on the trees (my mind refused to believe that there were trees blooming in October ;)

Amy Redfield's avatar

I felt the same way with my first - in Praça da Alegria!

Maria Anderson's avatar

This was lovely. I have a lookalike, not the same leaf. It was one on the other…I’ll post in my notes and reference this post.

Cie Scattergood's avatar

“Bass-tree, linden, dicot”…not terribly helpful. But if you can get the “Seek” app there, it will likely give you a better classification in person!

Lisbon Diaries's avatar

A city of colors. Cant wait for the jakarandas!

Amy Redfield's avatar

I have a post on the jacarandas almost complete! It'll go out when they bloom, I think.

Lisbon Diaries's avatar

Cant wait for them to blossom and will read your article

Moira McKinnon's avatar

Just catching up on fun emails after November 15 college deadlines, and this was a delight! Love it start to finish!

Amy Redfield's avatar

Whoo! One more step in the cycle complete!

Barbara Grassey's avatar

I think the only time I miss New England is fall--the crisp air, impossibly blue sky and the colors! But winter? Glad to leave it behind after the Blizzard of '78. :-)

Amy Redfield's avatar

Much bigger in my mind was the ice storm of 1973. It only hit Southern New England, but was absolutely nuts.

I try to only go back to the States in fall.

Barbara Grassey's avatar

My class reunion next October is the perfect visit target. And yeah, the ice storm was amazing!

Keri's avatar

Wow, I love everything about that silk floss tree! Thank you for the pics and info - I'll keep a lookout for them whenever we visit southern TX. We're in north Dallas now (long story) and the hardiness zone here is just a bit too low... 8b.

Amy Redfield's avatar

I'd love to know if you find any!

Leslie Sisman's avatar

My plant ID app identifies it as large-leaved lime. Hmmm. That doesn't really help!

Amy Redfield's avatar

That's what I kept getting!

clare balkus's avatar

Autumn has not produced its usual vibrancy here this year. Our dry summer and warmer than usual fall temps have muted the colors. Sumac and burning bush are providing our best reds /orange while sasafrass provide bursts of yellow. Heavy rain and wind are due later today and will guarantee leafless trees for Halloween.

Amy Redfield's avatar

That is so too bad.

I hope it is a lovely Halloween, even without the color.