Mystery 3 Dan and Mary pretty much guessed that this was Cocao, the tree that has its flowers on its bark, branches (the emerge directly from the bark)- and gives us the famous delight- Chocolate.  This photo was taken from some formerly cultivated trees in Costa Rica, along a forest path.  The Costa Rican industry, like other...

Acer x 'Freemanii' 'Freemanii' with Grape Vine Color Depth, 'Freemanii' with Virgnia Creeper and Bittersweet Vine A Hybrid Leaf We were having breakfast this great fall day in the N.E. US, when my daughter looked out the window of the diner and said “Dad, check out how READ THAT tree is!” ...

Cottonwood Tree Bud and Leaf Scar This was Mystery 2.  Its a bud and leaf scar with corky ridges running down the stem (a feature of some young cottonwoods, unknown as to what this is for).  Populus deltoides was a common feature in the West as early settlers moved out.  It often was one of the only shade trees along rivers...