The Flowering Jacaranda

[CaliforniaPeggy]

[Sanity Claws]

1. One of the most beautiful trees in the world

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I so agree!

This tree is right outside my study window and I can see it blooming and changing through the year.

[CrispyQ]

3. Gorgeous shot!

I have never heard of or seen one of those.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. Thank you so much, my dear CrispyQ!

I'm glad you got your first look at a jacaranda with my photos!

[mnhtnbb]

4. I loved seeing those trees in bloom when I lived in California.

Marvelous pix, CA Peggy.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. Thanks so much, my dear mnhtnbb!

Seeing it bloom just makes my day!

[procon]

5. Those trees are so beautiful.

There are areas in Los Angeles where the trees sweep up a hillside, turning it that particular shade of lovely purple that almost seems to glow.

My grandma used to live in Tajunga Canyon and the road to her house was lined with Jacaranda trees. It was a spectacular view and the abundance of purple blue flowers seemed to tint everything.

They are a messy tree though, my grandpa was always complaint about the piles of dead flowers that would stink up the neighborhood, followed by seed pods that he had to clean up.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. Thanks for your lovely comments, my dear procon!

They are absolutely stunning when seen in groups or in a row.

And yes, they are messy! Luckily (on purpose, actually) ours grows over our divided driveways, so all the flowers and seed pods fall on the concrete!

[procon]

10. And let's not forget all the birds, bugs and bees

that are attracted to those trees. For all their showy splendor, whatever varietal they had on their street, the beautiful flowers had no smell to match and they wilted the minute you picked a spray for display.

My grandma used a walker, but when tree roots began ripping up the sidewalks she couldn't get to her mailbox, and everyone worried about a fall. They sold that house at a good price when the jacaranda trees were in full bloom.

Not long after, when the tree roots got into the city's pipes, the city said the trees had to go. The neighbors were of mixed opinion to the loss of all those showy trees, but with so many of them they really were more trouble than they were worth.

I still like to see them when we drive the 205 freeway, swathes of purple flowering trees stand out amidst the palm trees and white stucco bungalows. Maybe a single tree would be doable but they probably would not grow in the desert. Oh, well.

[mopinko]

9. ooo000ooo

so, much of my art collection could be qualified as pity purchases- silent auction pieces by folks w serious chops that got zero bids. occasional live auction item that i bid on hoping to be beat, but happy to own.

one of them is a dress by a woman by the name of anne elizabeth. it's a dress, based on a vintage black lace slip, w the top adorned w jacaranda seed pods painted black and red w shiny paint.
forget what i paid. it wasnt a lot, but it wasnt a steal either. one of the better pieces in my collection.

more of her stuff here- https://womanmade.org/artwork/anne-elizabeth/

[CaliforniaPeggy]

11. Thanks for the oooOOO000 and the link, my dear mopinko!

[mopinko]

12. xo honey.

i was very active w this org when i was a studio artist. great bunch, started by an art shero.
raised a pretty penny for them i did. the joke, tho- they only accepted my offers of artwork twice, and even then only in the silent auction. neither piece sold.

she was my shero but also a bit my nemesis, lol. love each other to death, tho.
just had to drop her a fb message, cuz i couldnt remember the artist's last name. turned out that's cuz she says she doesnt have one. hadnt chatted in a while, so it's all your fault we had a lovely chat this morning.
damn you woman.

xo dear friend.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

13. Ah, it's all my fault!

OK!

xo back atcha, dear friend!

[Talitha]

14. Now that's something you don't see in Wisconsin - WOW!!!

Absolutely beautiful !!

I never heard of them either, so that's a doube-thanks from me, Peggy. Thanks for sharing their beauty, and thanks for teaching me something else about this beautiful world we live in.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

15. Thank YOU, my dear Talitha! I'm thrilled that you like my photos.

You will certainly never see these in Wisconsin......they are a tropical tree.

I'll have to find my photo of this tree that shows the whole thing. It's amazing when it's covered in flowers.

[Talitha]

16. Please post it, ok? In the meantime I looked up some online photos. What an eye-popper!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

17. Coming right up! I had to search my extensive archives and I found 2 that show my tree very well.

It's the same tree, 2 slightly different views, out in front of my house.

[Talitha]

18. Thank you Peggy, it's beautiful!

[Adsos Letter]

19. My wife's favorite tree.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

20. And mine too, my dear Adsos Letter!

Thanks for coming by.