Season: Seasonal transformation of trees..coral, cottonwood, willow, pear.........

As I navigate the nature trails,  marvel at its transforming power....
Coral tree
 in spring...

in winter....

Cottonwoods

in summer...

in winter....

Sandbar willow

has been metamorphosed under the influence of changing seasons...

Callery pear

Place: Fun at Lake Murray...

Today, we visited the lake Murray for the umpteenth time.....a part of Mission trails regional park, it provides scope for hiking, bike riding, birding, boating, dog walking and feeding the birds...

Got to see some gorgeous water fowls....this goose gave a satisfactory shot against the willow...

This coral tree was stealing the show for sure...while other trees were bare or shedding, this tree with zillions of ruby-red blossoms was eye-catching...

...and was worthy of backdrop for family photography...

Pre-Christmas party revelers had gathered in the picnic area...clad in funny animal costumes, they were emanating cheer into the ambiance...

Someone had put this poinsettia pot on a table...it further was heralding that festive season was upon us..

This Brazil pepper tree sporting numeous red bunches of berry drew our attention as always...

In front of the senescent foliage of a willow tree....

Enjoyed the stroll there...

Plant: Coral tree blooms....

I was virtually drawn to this spectacular tree like a moth to the flame....got to know it is the coral tree (Erythrina lysistemon), a native of Africa. 

They create  a nice contrast against the green pine and sycamore and the blue sky...carpet the ground with myriad petals..and its a sight to watch the crows foraging on the buds and bugs on them...

A cluster of flower from up close..

The blazing blossoms in perfect sync with spring ambiance around..

A pair of crows spend spring afternoon among the blazing coral flowers..

Autumn in coral tree..not any shades of red, orange, purple..yet the golden leaves are pleasantly distinct from the regular green ones...

To my pleasant surprise, I find these coral blossoms reminiscent of flame-of-the-forest. 

The genus Erythrina has myriad species........many of them can be seen around South California.......some of which I have come across......

Coast coral tree (E. caffra)...........a common street-side tree in Orange and San Diego County......

Pipal (E. chiapasana)...........Mexican variety...very pretty...planted in my University campus in San Diego..

Cockspur coral tree (E. crista-galli)...........pretty with bigger petals.......

Dwarf coral tree (E. humeana).....

Not sure of this species...but it looks like ripe chillis ....

A green pod..........

The pod with exposed seeds.........