Erythrina or Coral Tree

In sunny southern California we have several varieties of the coral tree. Some are very invasive and destructive yet all are amazingly beautiful. The two we put in the backyard are a less invasive variety and very ornamental. They are striking in the winter with their twisted branches, then in the spring before the leaves come it explodes in fiery red blossoms. They look like fat candles or pine cone blooms on the tips of naked thorned branches. In the middle of yard work I had to take a moment to stop and capture the magic.