Whether you call them Floss Silk Trees, Silk Floss Trees or Ceiba Speciosa - They are in bloom all over Southern California right now.
These trees are in bloom all around town. If you take a second look, you'll notice the trunk is covered with thorny protrusions giving the bright green sapling a prehistoric look. You can't tell from this photo, but the next time you notice a tree full of crazy pink blossoms, you'll remember to take a peak at the trunk. Like other fine things in life, the trunk mellows with age. The bright green yields to a tone of grey and the protrusions, once threatening and menacing looking melt into the mature surface of the trunk. I'm not sure what that says about aging, but I also read earlier today that certain jelly fish are actually biological immortal. I'm going with that.
