The Vine

Hailed as the world's largest flowering plant, the wisteria photographed above can be seen during the annual Sierra Madre festival held to celebrate it.

Thousands of people come from far and near one day of the year hoping that the plant has blossomed for the occasion and that rain has not knocked away the fragrant lavender and white flowers. Luckily that one day this year fell within the week allowed to shoot for the WWP event and caught the vine at peak appearance.

A few facts about The Vine:

• Purchased for 75 cents and planted in 1894

• Example of the Chinese lavender variety

• Weighs over 250 tons (226 metric tons) and covers one acre (.4 hectares)

• Branches grow to 500 feet (152 meters) at the rate of one inch (2.5 cm) per hour

Very few terrestrial plants on earth can survive without the gases in the atmosphere, either directly or indirectly. Water, of course, travels through the air to reach most plants, as do birds and bees who pollinate many of them. Pollen also travels through the air, much to the annoyance of those who have allergies to it.

The social atmosphere surrounding the wisteria festival varies from anticipation while waiting in the viewing line, to delight in finding the perfect gift or house decoration in one of the numerous arts and crafts booths in town.

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USA-Canada / USA-California

Lat: 34° 10' 15.46" N
Long: 119° 4' 26.41" W

→ maps.google.com [EXT]

Precision is: High. Pinpoints the exact spot.

Nikon D70 with 10.mm lens for six shots around and one up and one down on a 360Precision panorama rig. Photos stitched with PTMac, converted with CubicConverter, processed with Photoshop.