It's the time of the Jacarandas in the San Gabriel Valley. Adele at
Seeing Sierra Madre has already posted more than one "purple picture" and she has more up her sleeve (or in her camera bag). Everyone in southern California with access to a camera is aiming it at the nearest
Jacaranda right about now.
If you don't live around here you might not be familiar with these stunning trees, and I don't use that word lightly ("stunning," not "trees," silly).
Click on the links to see how gorgeous the jacarandas are.
They're messy, though. And am I the only one who thinks they stink?
25 comments:
That is simply gorgeous, Petrea. Stunning indeed.
At school we were taught to use purple in painting shadows but this takes it to a whole new level.
Who cares if they stink? (certainly not me; I'm anosmic).
Oh my, Petrea, this is lovely! The blossoms on the shadow of the tree ~ so effective. We have jacarandas here in a big way, too. I hadn't noticed the smell, but I do love the flowers, both on the trees and when they make a carpet. A little perilous to walk on, but pretty.
Super image.
Thank you for the Jacaranda show 'n tell! I'd never heard of them.
Maybe you could do one next year entitled Jacaranda Bozima.
: )
Oh yeeeesssss! what a heavenly shot. Bravo!
Oh my! All of the best adjectives have been taken, so I'll just say LOVELY! And I have to recycle "stunning." Thank you for the link, and for your creativity. It's inspiring.
I'm sorry to be missing this time there. Any thing that can make a street like Del Mar (for example) magical, truly is magical.
Until I saw Adele's photos, I was not familiar with this lovely tree. The street lined in purple on your link is just amazing. I want to live there.
Great interplay of texture and perceived texture - the shadows and the blossoms play well together. I have to admit my first thought was, "Ugh" for the idea of clean up leapt to my mind. And I agree, the tree is prettier than sweet smelling.
What a terrific photo! Before the windstorm, we had a young jacaranda in our garden, and I never noticed any smell/perfume. Now I'm going to have to have a good sniff around the neighborhood.
Apparently the smell is subtle; I'm not the only one who smells it but many people never get a whiff. I can say one of my more outstanding traits (good or bad) is my sense of smell is over-sensitive.
Thank you all for the compliments on the photo. I knew the shot was in there. I walked around in circles until I found it. It's just east of the post office on Hammond near Fair Oaks.
I haven't been on Del Mar yet this year. That, as far as I know, is Pasadena's Jacaranda showcase street.
I can smell a white azalea outside my front door (azaleas are not supposed to be fragrant except for the yellow ones that are ubiquitous in England), sweet and clean just after dark.
I have never ever smelled jacarands.
The differences between people and their senses are endlessly fascinating.
Some believe they are messy but to me the lavendar carpet under them is quite lovely.
Many of our jacarandas were decimated - or at least seriously thinned out - by the November 30 winds, but they are still lovely. Wait until next year for the show.
I have to replace a front yard tree. My choice will probably be a jacaranda.
Betsy
PS. The 1800 block of Wagner Street, one block below Villa Street, running east off of Allen Avenue, has mature jacarandas as street trees that almost turn the street into an allee. The street is carpeted in lavendar petals. A wonderful view from the west side....
Betsy
Ooh, thanks for the Wagner tip, Betsy.
True, our Jacarandas are not having their most spectacular year ever. But they're still a visual feast.
If you come into land at Burbank at this time of year, the San Fernando valley roads are thick purple lines. You can get the same view from the outlooks over the Valley on Mulholland. It's utterly beautiful.
Oh, I was so hoping to read about jacarandas without someone saying they're messy. It's not mess - it's jewelry for the sidewalks and streets and lawns. And it doesn't last that long, anyway. I'd rather have purple blossoms blanket the land for a few weeks than a tree that doesn't do anything but stand there and be green. We can grow so many flowering trees here, but we seem not to have the imagination to do it much. My hat is off the City fathers who long ago decreed a designated street tree for each of Pasadena's streets and the genius who decided to make jacarandas the street tree on Del Mar!
I'd love to check that bird's eye view, Bellis. I was in South Pasadena today and the purple is spilling over.
I like your interpretation, Diana--jewelry for the streets! I agree that those who thought of designated trees (and those who perpetuate this design) deserve thanks. I'm partial to the vista down a street lined with Camphors, too.
I never know when the season is. I usually trod on the petal, which remind me to look up.
Sounds like a metaphor to me--
It is raining petals near me. Stick to your shoes, but so pretty.
Gorgeous shades of purple and lavender! We don't have Jacarandas here; probably too far north.
Another great one, Petrea.
It seems the height of luxury to walk on jacaranda petals. Better than roses.
Thanks, Cliff.
Ohhh...you are a cruel woman Petrea!!! Jacaranda season is my favorite in Glendale!!! Jacarandas line Canada Blvd...and are gorgeous this time of year...and on top of that, our street has Jacaranda's on the median that runs down our street...then there's the one in our back yard in Glendale!!!
I'm going to miss Jacaranda season completely this year...
I'm late getting to this one but, WOW! What a brilliant shot. Excellent.
Chieftess, I'm sorry you'll miss it. Stick with the SGV bloggers, we'll do what we can.
Hi Ben! You're right on time. I'm glad you like it.
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