Monkey see, monkey get pricked by sharp leaves

Check out these Monkey Puzzle trees on the patio at the new visitor center at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The matching of the bold, monolithic planters with the architectural tree shapes is very impressive. But don't touch! The little leaves are like sharp spines.

These prehistoric conifers originate from the southernmost regions of Chile and Argentina. They can live for several hundred years. A horticulturalist once mentioned how difficult it would be for a monkey to climb these trees due to their sharp spines, hence the name Monkey Puzzle Tree.

The hard spines have evolved to survive forest fires. The trees have this graceful, christmas-tree appearance in their youth and then grow into irregular shapes with a flattened top. I wonder how old these guys at the BBG are, and I salute whoever created this wonderful pairing of modern design with ancient foliage.