Exotic tree, Tenerife, northern shore, garachico, brilliant place to paddle as the beach is a lava flow where the sea has sculpted rock pools then the town has added walk ways over the pools and steps down into them - so that the atlantic swell flows in and old while you paddle (or swim - we didn't have cosssies so paddling with the fish grazing on our legs and then darting in to suck up the algae as you stepped away - really nice place - with an old fort on the harbour too). We stopped just for the hell of it paddled in the lava pools then went round the craft fair (buying a set of glass plates with stained glass of flowers - will photo and )put up the piccies next time I'm home) and the church. Tea and icecream at the cafe under the trees - ah magic days. Jiurie is the yellow jacketed one in the bottom centre of the last photo - I think she was negotiating for jewellry or for a witch doll- thing - made out of cocnut parts (or other palm tree - possibly date palm.
Anyhow I spotted the tree at the side of the church and, in my best hibiscus patterned holiday shirt - posed for photos. I have only posted the botanical photos - none of the rock pools or of the craft fair because this is a gardening blog (sometimes) but now that I think about it I I wish that I had brought the photos of the rock pools with me, or the fort.
Anyhow I was thinking hydrangea but it actually turns out that it is one of the Malvacae so is closely related to the hollyhocks and to the Hibiscus.
The description below is taken from http://tenerife.sun4free.com/island/exotic-flowering-trees.html but more about that article tomorrow.
"The Dombeya or Pink Snowball (Dombeya X cayeuxii) has large amounts of the most beautiful flowers, which hang down and look very much like hydrangea flowers, earning a related species the name Tropical Hydrangea. The Pink Snowball is often grown in parks and gardens and on city streets of Tenerife and flowers in the winter months."
