Here I am, once more checking up on the Retama, Parkinsonia aculeata, for Tree Following, hosted by Lucy at Loose and Leafy. Truthfully, there’s not much change from last month. I took these photos a few days after June’s Tree Following virtual convocation.
There are sparkles of blooms, but most of the flowers that were on the tree, dropped. With heavy rains in May and early June, the tree flowered. But the flowers had quite enough at that rainfall party, thank you very much, and exited the tree like floral confetti. Most rain-battered blooms ended on the ground. Some,
…decorated the honeybees’ watering hole. Now in July, there are blooms on the tree, but fewer and toward the top. These hard-to-photograph, waving-in-the-breeze flowers are visited by a variety of bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies.
The tree remains a resting spot for birds eyeballing the sunflower seed feeder in the adjacent Shumard Oak, or chastising the cats and the gardener who stroll along the pathway. Sometimes, the birds are just hanging out,
…like this Black-crested Titmouse, a juvenile I think.
Not as many blooms, but the foliage remains lush and leafy for mid-summer.
Thanks to Lucy at Loose and Leafy for hosting Tree Following. Pop over to her site to learn about trees from many places and situations.
My Gardener Says... 
You know … I kind of think the retama looks a bit like a truffula tree in that last shot!
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That’s so funny because I’d thought the same thing just before I hit “publish”!! great minds, eh? 🙂
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You say not much has changed – then the flowers fall! And the titmouse. And until I read this I had no idea that a titmouse is a bird. I only knew of Tom Titmouse in the Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and had always assumed him to be some kind of . . . mouse!
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I guess you’re right, I suppose things changed, but not really for the better. I was hoping for a massive bloom-show all summer–don’t know what I was thinking with that, because this tree always has a huge bloom in May-June, then, it’s a smattering after that. As for the titmouse, aren’t they the cutest birds? Here’s a link for more info: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-crested_Titmouse/id They’re quite fun to observe and I’ll have photos later of the parent feeding that lazy teen.
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Hello!
Love those blooms!
My tree is not showing much (not any, really) change from last month. I really had to hunt for something to post about.
Happy Tree Following!
Lea
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The flowers are pretty, aren’t they? It’s that time of the summer, when most trees are just raking in the sunshine and remaining green and lush.
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Interesting that in spite of such small leaflets the foliage looks so dense and lush.
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It is interesting. The foliage is so beautiful, but not really dense, even though it gives that impression.
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A beautiful tree
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It is beautiful, isn’t it? I’m glad it’s in my garden!
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what an amazing tree; it’s not one I know but it is very beautiful.
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It is both an amazing and beautiful tree!
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One of the things I am coming to appreciate through you “following” this tree is how nice it is to be able to observe the wildlife activity through that loose canopy. Once anything disappears up into the dense middle of a live oak (for instance) you’ll have to be right up under that tree to find them much less observe them further. With your retama, you can at least get glimpses through those waving garlands. Or so it seems. Plus, that color! It really stands out this time of year. I love it.
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It’s much easier to see the critters through the loose foliage of the Retama. But with the wind we’ve experienced, the tree is always in motion. I’m working on Retama-photo skillset, but with limited success so far.
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Retama is now on my ‘most beautiful’ trees now! I think it flowered for quite a long time, comparing with other trees and then the foliage is so fabulous in itself and provides cover to so many birds that even without the flowers would be worth growing.
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It’s a gorgeous tree, I agree. I suppose you’re right that it’s blooming time is quite long. Mine is not in the full Texas sun that this tree loves, so mine doesn’t bloom with abandon. Still, it’s a lovely tree and great for wildlife.
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The tree is still pretty and I love that dear little Titmouse.
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I couldn’t agree more–with both points.
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Love this frothy tree Tina and it flowered again…wow…mine is still waiting to flower.
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Frothy! That’s a wonderfully descriptive word for this tree. Thank you for that, Donna! Looking forward to seeing yours bloom.
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If it’s a truffula tree, I hope there is a Lorax in residence. Or maybe that’s you?
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I’m not telling, but maybe this truffula tree/retama tree thing is its own meme?
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You mean like “Tree that looks like something from a children’s book Thursday”?
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What a beautiful tree! So feathery … and I love the flowers as well as the foliage.
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It’s a pretty one, indeed!!
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Your Retama looks more beautiful every time I see it! 🙂 It’s a shame the earlier flowers all met their demise. I decided several weeks ago to blame everything that’s gone wrong in my garden this year on the rain! So far it’s received quite a lot of of gnashing of teeth. I like the bee and the Titmouse is very cute! I like the thought of birds just enjoying “hanging out” in our trees. I wonder what tree I’d hang out in…
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It’s really in its glory now, dropped blooms notwithstanding. I agree that all that’s lost this year in the garden is because of the rain, the buckets and buckets of rain. I just wacked back a lavender. It had grown in an okay fashion for a couple of years, bloom like crazy during the rains (much to the delight of my honeybees) and has died. I’m pretty sure it’s a goner. So, what to replace it with?? And when, given that the Death Star has made its appearance and there’s no rain in sight!!
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