I read a blog article on the garden here at Hotel Palazzo Murat which gave me the name of a glorious tree that I have not yet encountered on my travels, the Chorisia speciosa. Lynda of the New Zealand Garderner describes it as 'armour-plated with fat spines.. in summer it produces pink flowers like Oriental lilies'. Its in full bloom above us at breakfast and Fred has been taking lots of photos in the garden this morning.