Californians are constantly being told by others that there are no seasons in California, but then comes May and the jacaranda trees burst into bloom. Is this not spring?
But typical of California and its residents, the jacaranda is a native of South America, and also widely grown, but considered invasive, in South Africa and Australia. In the U.S. we also see these trees in Florida and Hawaii.
These are beautiful trees, they line streets and roadways all over Southern California, but they also can create quite a mess. The trumpet flowers fall to the ground, and as they are rather moist, they can quickly mound into a sticky mess. You do not park a car under a jacaranda if you have any sense. You also have to check the bottoms of your shoes after walking the dog.
Going outside in the morning to gather newspapers, I swear I can even hear the soft "pop" as the flowers fall softly to the ground.
I took these pictures on the grounds of my high school; they have been catching my eye each morning and each afternoon for at least a month. It is indeed spring in California.
June 8 - update to post
On this beautiful spring morning, I am watching my neighbors across the street sweep up all the dropped blossoms from this beautiful tree - it is taking hours, and brooms, and a hose to get the sticky droppings off their sidewalk. This is the reason we no longer have one in our yard :).
Comments (7)
Marcia, I'm so glad you posted this about the lovely jacaranda. They do not line our street but just on the street that intersects with ours is a sight to behold in the spring. Lined with jacarandas in bloom it appears to be a fairy land, so beautiful and magical an arch of purple flowers. I often think of little children's drawings when they use odd colors instead of green to make lollypop trees. Some teachers might scold them and say, "There's no such thing as a purple tree!" but Marcia, we know better don't we? They are as beautiful as a child's imagination.
Posted by Barb Cabot | June 4, 2008 7:22 AM
Posted on June 4, 2008 07:22
Looks like summer to me! Great photos.
Posted by Jerry | June 4, 2008 3:17 PM
Posted on June 4, 2008 15:17
Thanks Eden, I've never seen jacaranda trees before. What a brilliant colour, I love it!
Posted by Anne | June 4, 2008 3:40 PM
Posted on June 4, 2008 15:40
What gorgeous trees! I've never seen one before either.
Posted by Annie | June 6, 2008 8:26 AM
Posted on June 6, 2008 08:26
I'm laughing at Barb's comment because my strongest memory of kindergarden is the crushed feeling I got when my teacher looked at my Fall Tree drawings and told me "leaves can't be purple."
I think that's one of the reasons I went into early education. *grin*
Posted by Amy | June 8, 2008 9:01 AM
Posted on June 8, 2008 09:01
I know this is a late reply but I wanted to comment on the jacaranda trees. I loved seeing this tree in full bloom when I was just out in Calif. visiting my mom. While we have gorgeous colorful trees here in New England, there is nothing more beautiful than a jacaranda tree! It's one of the few tree names I remember from a course I took a zillion years ago at CSUN (if it's still called CalState Northridge)!
Of course I failed to take any photos of the tree so I thank you for posting yours!!
Mindy
Posted by Mindy Smith | June 10, 2008 4:57 PM
Posted on June 10, 2008 16:57
As I seem to recall, from many years ago when I last welcomed spring in South Pasadena, that this sign of spring quickly turns into an annoyance of summer as the blossoms fall to the earth and muck up cars. Yuck.
Posted by Matt | June 23, 2008 12:24 PM
Posted on June 23, 2008 12:24