Jacaranda, You've Stolen My Heart

My imagination was first captured by these majestic beings over a month ago.

As our car shuttled along lengthy, hot stretches of highway on the way to Zinkwasi, we entered a small town and I let my eyes drift towards the horizon. Down below sat clusters of houses and shops. A sea of normalcy.

It was among these ordinary sights that I first caught a fleeting glimpse of its violet vibrancy. Its regal head peeked through neighbouring greenery and coral roof tiles, reaching towards the sky in a flourish of purple splendour.

It was out of sight in only a handful of seconds. I had to ask myself if what I had just seen was, in fact, real.

Do colossal purple trees really exist??

Canada may maintain a inventory of stunning plant life, but trees boasting canopies of amethyst glory are not included.

Scenery rushed past my window as I furiously searched it for another purple tree. But at best, I was only offered slices of lavender branches through mazes of walls and other flora.

Suddenly the landscape took on a hilly incline and its undulating humps and bumps betrayed exactly what I had been waiting for.

Growing atop the apex of a hill was a perfect, thick-trunked tree that wore a dense crown of purple flowers. It took my breath away.

This tree’s name is as attractive as its appearance: Jacaranda.

No, I am not a closet botanist or even herb-enthusiast. The fact that a giant purple tree could so totally and utterly fill me with happiness and awe surprised even myself.

But they did. And do. Jacarandas continue to arouse a Dr.Suess-like wonder in me whenever I pass one by.

They are the reason why Houghton Drive is my favourite stretch of tar in the city. The entire street is lined on either side by its sturdy stems and lilac-coloured canopies.

Okay, not Houghton Drive -- stolen from Google to help illustrate my point

 One of the prettiest things to see is when the flowers cycle out and scatter its trunk’s feet with a large circumference of delicate purple petals. Stunning.

Again, stolen from Google ;)

A close second would be the passenger-side view from the M-1 Highway. It sits high and offers a birds-eye view of an area of Joburg that is blessed with a good smattering of Jacarandas. Looking out the car window, the eye is treated to a panoramic sea of electric purple blossoms that pepper the suburban region.

I wish there was a way to capture the vista with a camera, but a photograph simply doesn’t do it justice.

Nor does my tiny camera do the Jacaranda justice, but it at least gives you an idea of the beauty these trees offer.

 

I wonder what kind of judicial penalty I’d incur by bringing the seeds of these beauties back to Canada?...

Wouldn't your yard benefit from their inspiring colour and stature?