We took a "tree tour" at Descanso one afternoon, following an arborist around the park for at least 90 minutes before we had to move on (he was still going). It was actually very interesting, and I took the opportunity to exercise my new zoom lens for the first real outing. I accidentally fell in love with the tree in image 6699 (a Mexican Palo Verde, Parkinsonia aculeata, of the Pea family). It's a "California Native" plant which does not need much water, and stays green like that even in the driest of times (the branches photosynthesize!). Someday, I will have my own Palo Verde.