Every year during the dry season in Guanacaste, something remarkable happens across the landscape. Just as the rains have long disappeared and the hills turn golden, many of the region’s trees begin to bloom.
It might seem counterintuitive. While much of the vegetation sheds its leaves to conserve water, several native species choose this moment to produce some of the most vibrant displays of color of the entire year.
Among the most recognizable is the Corteza Amarillo, whose bright yellow flowers briefly transform hillsides and roadsides into waves of gold. The Roble Sabana appears in soft shades of pink and lavender, while the Malinche bursts into fiery tones of orange and red.
These blooms are not simply decorative. Flowering during the dry season offers an ecological advantage. With fewer leaves in the forest canopy, the flowers become easier for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds to spot. The trees also conserve energy by producing flowers when competition for sunlight is lower.
For those walking the trails or streets in Town this time of year, these blossoms fill Las Catalinas with color, showing that even in the driest months, nature here finds its own ways to flourish.