Whilst we are watching the news, debating the winners and losers in the Spanish elections or in the US American Primaries, or generally contemplating our times with its good aspects as well as some bad ones, Nature is doing some real work out there, like making babies.

The wonderful Mediterranean Nerium Oleander plant, also known as Adelfa, Flourier Rose or Espirradeira, has an early start this year, like everything else in Mallorca, due to the mildest winter in a long time. Now, the shrubs or rather their fruit capsules, have split open and are releasing a largish number of downy seeds. More Oleander baby plants coming up soon.

Whilst the Oleander is a pretty shrub with a lovely flower, some of them with a sweet scent, one must not forget that this plant is rather toxic and, as such, a bit dangerous. All parts of the plant are potentially poisonous but really, it is the sap of a milky white-ish colour that is the carrier of its toxic properties. Mind out if you have young children. Look but don’t touch.

The photo was taken near Felanitx, Mallorca, Spain. The date: March 4th, 2008. The time was 11:28:30.