"Jacaranda is a genus of 49 species of flowering plants in the family Bignoniaceae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of Mexico, Central America, South America, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica and the Bahamas." -- Wikipedia
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| A jacaranda tree, Santa Barbara, May 3, 2014. |
I've heard that the jacarandas are especially beautiful in Brazil, but I have never been there. I assume they bloom in October or November, in that hemisphere. Because their blossoming time is rather short, I've only seen them in a few places; I have not traveled much during the short blooming season of this beautiful tree. Here are a few more photos from those trips:
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| Santa Barbara, May, 2009 |
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| Rehovot, Israel, May, 2006. |
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| Rehovot, Israel, May, 2006 |
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| Rehovot, Israel, May, 2006. |
I thought poets might also like the word jacaranda so I searched for poetry that included the word. I found quite a few poems. Some only mentioned jacarandas, and some were quite detailed about the way they were characteristic of springtime in specific places -- Australia, South Africa, California, Mexico. I think most of the poets were more captivated by the beauty and color of the trees than by their name.
Here's my favorite poem, from the Poetry Foundation:
because it has no pure products
because the Pacific Ocean sweeps along the coastline
because the water of the ocean is cold
and because land is better than ocean
because I say we rather than they
because I live in California
I have eaten fresh artichokes
and jacaranda bloom in April and May
because my senses have caught up with my body
my breath with the air it swallows
my hunger with my mouth
because I walk barefoot in my house
because I have nursed my son at my breast
because he is a strong American boy
because I have seen his eyes redden when he is asked who he is
because he answers I don’t know
because to have a son is to have a country
because my son will bury me here
because countries are in our blood and we bleed them
because it is late and too late to change my mind
because it is time.
Lovely post. And you're right -- jacaranda is a terrific word. Rolls off your tongue, doesn't it? Really fun read -- thanks.
ReplyDeleteThose are lovely blossoms, such a delicate coloring. I have never seen a tree like this.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever seen these trees. It's gorgeous. Wonder if it is a "j" sound or the Spanish "h" sound for the j?
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