One Beautiful Day in Panama

Who?  Jeff  Where?  Despite being only half the size of Florida, we have sixteen national parks in Panama.  This photo of palm fronds was taken in the Camino de Cruces National Park, just outside of Panama City.   In Panama, some of our most beautiful views are of the simple things that surround us every day.

Who?  Bob  Where?  People who have never lived in the tropics may think the only trees, especially along the beach, are palm trees.  Not so.  In truth, although palms certainly exist in large numbers on Panamanian beaches, there is a much greater variety.  Above, you see a very common example, but more importantly, you see more than a tree or a beach.  You see a sample of the warm tranquility that we so much love in Panama. This photo was taken near the little town of Pedasí on the Azueros peninsula of central Panama.

Who?  Jeff  Where?  In Boquete in the province of Chiriqui in western Panama, there is an annual “flower fair”.  Due to unusually heavy and destructive rains in November, there had been considerable concern that the fair would not be held this year.   But with great determination, the residents got the job done and this photo displays just one very tiny corner of a beautiful and successful event!

Photographer: Jeff  Where?  The world-famous Smithsonian Institution has only one facility outside the US and it’s their Tropical Research Center in Panama.  They have activities and centers in several locations, but they have an especially nice arboretum on the Amador Causeway on the bay outside of Panama City.  Here you see a photo of an excellent example of one of Panama’s most common trees, the Corotú.  As you can see, they get big!

Photographer: Bob Where:  Most northerners think of palm trees when they think of Panama, but that is far from the whole story.  And our trees can be as impressive as any “spreading oak” in North America, as is clearly demonstrated here at this home in Punta Barco Village near the Pacific coast of Coclé province in central Panama.

Photographer: Beth Where? Before they first visit Panama, many people think only in terms of tropical rain forests and ocean beaches. A scene like the one above near Volcan in the western province of Chiriqui just doesn’t “look like Panama”, but that’s exactly what it is, along with the rain forests and the ocean beaches.

Photographer: John Moses A. Where? Our birds and flowers are colorful, but our trees can be very impressive too. This fine example of the “flamboyant” is found in the front yard of a resident of Punta Barco just off the Pacific coast in Cocle province. The photo can only provide a hint of its beauty in real life.

Photographer: Sharon Where? All over Panama. When Sharon sent us this photo, she told us she didn’t have a name for it. We passed it around among both Panamanians and expatriates and found several who had seen it and admired it, but no one who had a name for it! If you do, let us know!

Photographer: Antonio Where? This is the Barrigón tree. You don’t see a lot of them, but when you do, they are hard to ignore. They drop their leaves in December, but regrow them when the rains arrive in April or May. Their white flower is shaped like a cheerleader’s pom-pom and is food for many local mammals.

Photographer: Bob Where? Awhile back, we showed you a photo of a ficus tree, one that was substantially larger than you might have expected. Today, we’re showing you a mango tree. Yes, the tree that produces those under-ripe, over-priced fruits you see at your market in North America or Europe. In Panama, they are very cheap or, better yet, they can be free if you have one in your yard. The mango tree above just off Lake Bayano is not unusually large, but it dwarfs the man and boat. You’ll never go hungry during mango season with a tree like this!