I featured a few shot this year already of what to me is the quintessential flower of Southern California in March…the Bird of Paradise. The orange flowers you have seen so far grow on plants that reach about 4 feet in height and grow in clumps. There is another common variety planted in and around San Diego…what we might call the Bird of Paradise tree. (I almost missed the obvious pun here: The BigBird of Paradise.) This is a big plant, a house story tall and more, with huge banana-like leaves. Its blooms are supersized too but they impress as being black and white. Only on close view to they reveal that same blue center spike and the delicacy of the pinks held in the mostly white petals.

Canon SX40HS in Program with iContrast and -1/3EV exposure compensation.

Processed in Lightroom for intensity, sharpness, and clarity.