Archive for November 21st, 2007
Those bloomin’ trees
November 21, 2007I’ve been discussing trees and flowers with a couple of folks who read messages at a Google-group site for Aussie expatriates in the United States, ozinamerica.com.
One was born in Brisbane and the other has visited here. All three of us admire the flowers on the ground and on bushes, but especially the trees that flower. There is almost always some sort of tree in bloom here.
Just ending now is the Jacaranda season. This large tree covers itself with purple blossoms and then lets them fall off to become a purple carpet underneath its limbs. I first became aware of this spectacular tree when I was visiting in Mexico many years ago.
It was a pleasant surprised to discover that the same tree grows prolifically here. They burst into flower each November, as we near the end of springtime. I’m sure they’re imports, but everyone seems to love them.
The beginning of this tree’s name is pronounced “Jack,” here, as in “Jack and Jill.” In conversation with a Brisbane woman last year, I noted that in Latin America, where these trees seem to be native, people call them “Hock-ah-randas.”
“Well,” she said with great disdain in her voice, “they would!” — Bob