I Can See Clearly Now .... Platanus occidentalis

Near the entrance to the trail at Clear Creek stands this magnificent Sycamore.
Platanus occidentalis

We walked closer to admire her beauty. Sycamore trees are a common, yet distinctive sight in Northern Arizona.

The bark is a “camouflage” pattern of peeling patches of tan, gray and brown, which resembles puzzle pieces.

When the tree is fully mature the bark turns smooth and white. Sycamores grow massively in the sandy soils along streams and rivers. They tower high above all the other types of vegetation, being visible from afar. The largest of the species have been measured to 167 feet tall and nearly 13 feet in diameter. Many Sycamores have been measured over ten feet in diameter at only four feet above the ground.

This crazy kid loves to explore every nook and cranny, swimming, shaking himself off next to me, marking his territory and just being a dog.

Named exactly for what it is ..... a Clear Creek.

Beautiful spring flowers blooming along the way.

More spring time beauty.

Time to put our feet in the cold water. It's quite refreshing once you get used to it.

The Sycamore stands out brightly in the leafless winter landscape. Sycamores grow quickly and can live for hundreds of years. Their leaves resemble the shape of a maple and they make excellent shade trees.

Here's some trivia . . . The sycamore tree is mentioned in the song "Dream a Little Dream of Me", made popular by Mama Cass, "Birds singing in the sycamore tree." And now that song will be singing in your head for the rest of the day.

Taken with my Nikon D40X
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