While combing Brand Library’s music collection we paused to click-off a half-dozen photos of the surrounding silk floss trees, equally resplendent and as exotic as the Morrocan-styled building itself. In fact, the well landscaped park grounds, isolated against the impressive backdrop of the eastern edge of Burbank’s mountains, offer the squat structure the perfect setting (don’t rely on my word, just watch an hour’s worth of wedding photographers jockey onea nother for the coveted spot on the library steps).

These tree’s spikes have always been a bit of an oddity to me — somehow never appearing menacing, but clearly one of the best defended plants around. Perhaps it’s because the thorns look like Hershey’s Kisses reimagined by HR Gieger. (maximize your browser, 6 dangerously oversized photos)

The silk floss tree, Chorisia speciosa (Family Bombacaceae), a South American tree with wicked thorns covering its trunk and branches (called a “bark emergence”) enjoys widespread popularity throughout LA and Pasadena due to its fast growth, height, and flowers — in sharp (no pun) contrast to its trunk, which one might suppose gives planters reasons to reconsider. Spikes reach 2″ in diameter, sharply contrasted against its soft pink flowers. The photos below are of a stand surrounding Glendale’s Brand Library, enhancing the structure’s exotic architecture (making it a favored wedding setting ). The library itself boast an extensive music collection.

Note: We're cleaning up the Photo Galleries; please excuse the messy layout it'll be better soon. - Mgmt.

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• Towards the tree's base thorns are split and most points have worn smooth. In color they resemble faded, silvery driftwood.
  

Monday, June 6th, 2005PhotographyBrand Library, Nature, Trees