Salix babylonica (Weeping Willow)

.

Common name : Weeping Willow ( Chinese: 垂柳)

Salix babylonica is native to dry areas of northern China, but cultivated for millennia elsewhere in Asia. However, most  Weeping Willows outside China are hybrids between this cultivar with other willow species.

The scientific name babylonica derives from a misunderstanding by Linnaeus that it was the tree described in the Bible in Psalm 137, "By the rivers of Babylon, ... hung our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof ...". However, the tree named gharab in early Hebrew, is now known as Populus euphratica.(source : wikipedia).

This tree is very easy to adapt to various soil types, except very dry areas. Weeping Willow is a fast growing deciduous tree, which grow up to 25 m tall. Although these plants grow fast, but they were short-lived

Washingtonia filifera (California Fan Palm)

Wahingtonia Filifera 

Wahingtonia Filifera 

Wahingtonia Filifera 

Common name : California Fan Palm

Other names : Desert Fan Palm, American Cotton palm, Arizona Fan Palm,

Family : Arecaceae.

Genus : Washingtonia (the genus name honors the first President of the Unites States).

This palm is native to the desert oases of Central, southern and southwestern Arizona, southern Nevada, northwest Mexico and the inland deserts of Southern California.

Washingtonia filifera is very similar to Washingtonia robusta. Without seeing up close will be hard to distinguish them. Generaly, Washingtonia filifera has more thicker trunk than Robusta, and grows up to 23 m/60 feet(exceptionally 30 m) in height, while Robusta has a slender trunk and can reach 100 feet in height .  Also Washingtonia filifera  more hardy than Robusta, and will survive at temperatures of -10 °C with minor damage, and the leaf colour more dull than Robusta.Washingtonia filifera can live from 80 to 250 years or more.