Pride Of Madeira Sunset Grandstanding

Every spring thousands of Pride of Madeira flowery plumes rise from the ashes of winter along the southern coast of California, especially at The Montage Resort in south Laguna Beach.

Native to Madeira, a Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean about 250 miles north of the Canary Islands, this plant is considered an invasive species in the State of California and is actively removed from native plant gardens in California State coastal parks. It is popular however as an ornamental plant in private gardens and coastal plantings all along the coast. It is drought tolerant and is much visited by bees and butterflies for its nectar.

This sunset, as spectacular as it is, takes second place in backdrop to the grandstanding of these Pride of Madeira plantings. To the left of the setting sun in the distant background is Catalina Island.