I am endlessly fascinated by the palm tree. Though it is pretty standard in warm climates, I originated from a very cold climate and rarely saw an actual palm other than on television. And come to think of it, since we didn’t get a TV until I was 14 and my brother refused to let anyone else watch without his permission (he kept a loaded BB gun on his lap to enforce this policy) I’m not sure I saw any there, either. Other than a couple of forays to Florida, which involved more theme parks and contrived attractions than actually exploring the landscape, I didn’t really get up close and personal with a palm until I arrived in New Zealand.
The first time I saw a bloom, it was laying on the ground and I could not figure out what it was or where it came from. Later I saw them sprouting from the sides of the trunk and made the connection. This here is a bud in the late afternoon sun. It’s rather enormous, at least half a metre (20 inches). I just love everything about it…
Titirangi Storyteller 
This is gorgeous. I had no idea that palms had blooms that looked like that.
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Yeah – they are alien-freaky when you first run into them. Come to think of it – they still are!
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Very Georgia O’Keeffe in its shape. I’ve never seen a palm bud before either.
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I guess the coconuts and bananas get all the glory… When I was younger I was intrigued by Georgia O’Keefe, and I recall seeing the play Alfred Stieglitz Loves O’Keefe and became rather fond of Stieglitz as well. But then, I’ve always been fascinated by great love stories… no wonder then I had to have one of my own 😉
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