the banyan tree

While we were in North Palm Beach,

Erika, Amanda, and I did a lot of running around...

Quick stops to pick up things we needed for Eli's party.

In and out of the car.

It was hot...

much hotter than here.

We had one scary case of car sickness,

I won't reveal who,

But we thought for a minute that we were going to lose her,

She was an important source of success for all the work we had to do.

It wasn't me.

A stop at Walmart to pick up a few things, and she revived.

Being out of the car and in a cool place helped.

Later in the day, after lunch at the California Pizza Kitchen,

we went to tour the Burn Boot Camp,

Amanda's place of employment...

Burn Boot Camp is a fitness center.

When we parked, much to my astonishment,

there was a huge, gorgeous banyan tree

just standing there in the parking lot.

I've never seen a banyan tree except in a picture.

They are native to India,

 but I guess they thrive in the tropics of South Florida as well.

We gawked for a good long time at this beauty.

God is so creative, isn't He?

I took lots of pictures and then we left for our next stop.

Our next stop was home to rest for a while.

An Overview

Banyan, 

scientifically known as Ficus benghalensis,

 is a majestic tree native to the Indian subcontinent. 

It is also known as the Indian Banyan or banyan fig.

These trees are famous for their distinctive aerial roots, 

which develop into new trunks, 

allowing them to spread and create a sprawling thicket-like appearance.