A Monkey's Puzzle?

It was a beautiful day with a clear blue sky and I liked the detail I could see in the upper branches of the tree. Once home I had to look up details about the tree and I share a few of the interesting facts about this tree:

Archibald Menzies, a botanist and naval surgeon, brought the first five monkey puzzle saplings to the UK in 1795.

Chile declared the monkey puzzle tree a national monument in 1990.

Scientific name: Araucaria araucana. This species was named after the Chilean province of Arauco where the tree was first discovered.

This tree gets its common name because gardeners thought its spiny branches would puzzle a climbing monkey.

The monkey would also be puzzled to find itself in Chile of course – there are no wild monkeys in this South American country.

More can be found at:

http://www.kew.org/visit-kew-gardens/garden-attractions-A-Z/monkey-puzzle.htm

Katharine

[Molly]

This makes a great composition, with the sharp green shapes of the branches against the blue sky.

[Pete Roberts]

Really nice shot against the blue sky

[Gill W]

Fab POV and colours!

[Pyrrhula]

A great and very wel detailed capture of what we call a: Slangen Den = ( Snake Pine) The biggest I`ve seen is in Antwerp BE for over 25 mtrs high. see; http://365project.org/pyrrhula/365/2012-03-26
This one if from origing from the Andes I `ve at home an Australian Araucaria see: http://365project.org/pyrrhula/365/2011-06-08

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Thanks for you nice comment and the fav

[Hazel A]

Great shot against that cloudless blue sky

[bkb in the city]

Love it against the blue sky

[Julie Ells]

The blue sky really makes the tree pops. Great job.

[Maria Ortega]

Very cool idea, lovely lighting. Love your title.

[Dianne]

Great shot - and love the explanation about the tree.

[Therese]

fabulous shot... and your narrative really made me laugh when I reached the "The monkey would also be puzzled to find itself in Chile of course – there are no wild monkeys in this South American country.!" :D

[Fisher Family]

@dolphin Thank you. It was a lovely day. katharine

[Fisher Family]

@pjr Thank you. It was nice to see blue sky. Katharine

[Fisher Family]

@gillg Thank you. A lucky find. katharine

[Fisher Family]

@pyrrhula Thanks for the info Ferry and the interesting links. Katharine

[Fisher Family]

@purplehaze12 Thank you. It was a lovely day all day. Katharine

[Fisher Family]

@bkbinthecity Thank you. It was nice to see the sun and sky. Katharine

[Fisher Family]

@crawest Thanks Julie. I liked the colours too. katharine

[Fisher Family]

@pokhy Thank you. One of my better inspirations. katharine

[Fisher Family]

@dide Thank you. I love the internet and reference books. Katharine

[Fisher Family]

@monkeykid Thanks. I always wondered where the common name here came from, and I found out! katharine

[Kathy A]

That's a very interesting plant!