Feathers on paloverde
Click for better clarity.
A different sort of “fur” that I noticed at the Arbor Walk Pond on December 4, 2013, was a small clump of feathers caught on a young paloverde tree, Parkinsonia aculeata. The feathers presumably came from one of the ducks or other waterfowl that frequent the pond.
If you’re not familiar with how colorful a paloverde can be when it’s covered with flowers, I invite you to check out a post from 2012. As for the word paloverde, which means green branch in Spanish, you’re welcome to look back at what inspired that name; the thorns in that picture are yours at no extra charge.
© 2014 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
Great catch–it shows how you really “see” your surroundings. The feathers are even dancing in their new temporary home.
lensandpensbysally
January 14, 2014 at 8:07 AM
I like the double entendre of your “catch,” which applies equally well to the paloverde and to me. Thanks to the magic of the digital world, my catch has lasted a lot longer than the tree’s.
Steve Schwartzman
January 14, 2014 at 9:02 AM
That’s so beautiful. Everyday it’s a joy to see what you have found. Thanks.
Nancy
January 14, 2014 at 11:55 AM
And thanks for letting me know that you enjoy these things.
Steve Schwartzman
January 14, 2014 at 12:56 PM
The tonal contrast between the feathers and all else is quite attractive, Steve.
Steve Gingold
January 15, 2014 at 4:05 AM
That’s how I felt, Steve. It seems I seldom show pictures that are this dark, but the tonality here seemed just right.
Steve Schwartzman
January 15, 2014 at 6:00 AM
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January 15, 2014 at 6:09 AM
I’d bet on these being egret feathers. I’m not sure the backstory on how such a large clump came to be on the paloverde tree is necessarily good, but it’s a wonderful photo.
shoreacres
January 15, 2014 at 9:16 AM
Thanks for your suggestion about the kind of feathers these might be. The paloverdes were saplings, so these feathers weren’t all that far above the ground.
Steve Schwartzman
January 15, 2014 at 10:38 AM
If you hadn’t said, I might well have mistaken the feathers for part of the plant!
Susan Scheid
January 17, 2014 at 9:55 AM
I guess my pointing it out is what people have taken to calling disambiguation. The surrounding land had lots of fluff from poverty weed and cattails, and the wind was blowing, so there were places where I couldn’t tell what came from what.
Steve Schwartzman
January 17, 2014 at 10:38 AM
Ha! I thought the title was promising a plant with feathery growths, not actual feathers. Silly me. Cool shot. Love the intense contrast.
kathryningrid
January 20, 2014 at 6:18 PM
The other day I saw the old movie The Paper Chase, in one scene of which a law professor asked students to explain (if I remember right) the difference between a contract and a promise on a contract. Maybe that’s like the difference between a plant with feathery growths and a plant with feathers.
Steve Schwartzman
January 20, 2014 at 8:39 PM
After all, we know it’s *hope* that’s the thing with feathers.
kathryningrid
January 21, 2014 at 2:46 PM
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