
I read somewhere, I think it was "Jitterbug Perfume" by Tom Robbins that flowering trees in bloom are in fact "having sex" most trees are hermaphroditic and can successfully have sex by themselves and reproduce usually with the help of insects for fertilization of the ova with pollen, all conveniently placed in the flower. Trees in bloom therefore are having the vegetable equivalent of an orgasm and it can be quite impressive for the observer of things natural.
Juan Ponce de Leon, a Spanish Navigator and explorer was the first westerner to sail around the coast of Florida and on April 2nd 1513 after crossing open waters from what is believed to be the Abacos he sighted land (thinking it was another Island) and called it La Florida after the lush verdant shores and I bet the flowering trees, also being Catholics, Spaniards celebrated the Easter season called Pascua Florida after the Judeo-Christian tradition of celebrating passover with palms and flowers.

So much for hist



Needless to say flowering trees (and other beans, yes including black beans as in "frijoles") are an incredibly important part of the ecosystem and our biodiversity. I find that most tourists and visitors to Izabal and the Caribbean part of Guatemala barely notice this wonderful yearly occurrence of this "Planetary Orgasm" which is such a beautiful life giving demonstration of Gaia at her best. Easter always occurs around March-April but the blooms will continue into May and June till the beginning of the heavy rains. Some old timers among the locals use the blooms of different trees to foretell how the weather will evolve. for example this year the San Juan Trees are beginning to flower now ( Late May early June) when in fact they are supposed to do so on Saint John's Day which is June 24th. The Matilisguate's flowered late. Orchids and other species will also bloom around this time of the year, so for the nature enthusiast it is a time to be on the lookout. Bring out your cameras and binoculars and enjoy!!! Click on pictures to enjoy full screen view.
For more information on Guatemala's Biodiversity please look at the Encyclopedic publication recently produced by CONAP you can download chapters or the whole book, some sections are translated to English and Quiche: www.chmguatemala.gob.gt/libro-biodiversidad-de-guatemala
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