Jack time

It is that time of year again. When the lilac blooms flutter increasingly from onhigh. When driveways are strewn with honey-traps. When those who frolic bare-footed, take their life into their own hands. Yes, our Jacaranda tree is in bloom, and whist it may not be the shapeliest tree in all Christendom, nor the most bountiful tree even on the lower north-shore of Sydney, it is OUR tree!

Awash with lilac time

Sydney is gorgeous in late Spring: the Jacaranda is full and blousy; the firm heads of the Agapanthus are erect, ready to spurt their beauty; and, the scarlet/crimson of the thorny Bougainvillea lies spent on the sandstone paving. All is lush and bountiful, when a summer storm sweeps in across the mountains, leaving a bouquet of decay to invade the nostrils.

Looking both ways along Oxford Street, Paddington, beside the 1840 sandstone surrounds of Victoria Barracks, a thriving Defence (Army) establishment.

From little things big things grow!

In case you are carried away by the beauty of colour, and form, and style, permit me to direct your attention to the solitary, basic Jacaranda pod on the left.

A frenchified eastern wall of a terrace in Elizabeth Street, close to its intersection with Sutherland Street.

Purple haze

The city is sluicing in a purple wash. Each year, my assessment is that it is late, that the bloom is anaemic - and then! Poof ... it is everywhere.


Yes, Mr & Mrs Pedant are writing letters to the editor and complaining that the tree is of South American origin, not native, therefore should be eradicated.

G.e.t. a. l.i.f.e.

The good, the bad, and the ugly

Are you whistling, I do hope so. Do you have visions of Mr Eastwood, spitting the end of his cigar, and squinting into the sun, astride his steed?

Ready for a chuckle? This is Mansion Lane, Kings Cross. I kid you not!

Purple finale

Glorious, isn't it? I fluked upon this by happenstance, wandering back from the Opera House. It is all on The Rocks side of Sydney Cove, on the walkway up past the Museum of Contemporary Art.

This is the last of my jacaranda binge - unless - unless - I happen to see one with a bunch of open aggies beneath.

Gurner Lane, Paddington

Gurner Lane is off Glenmore, just down from Five Ways. This was hanging over a fence into the lane. The sky is full of a most angry storm.

Purple lane

Looking across Cascade Street into Hargreave Lane, and this glorious shower of ... colour ... it is not mauve ... it is not lavender ... it could be lilac ... but I have settled on purple.

I am discovering that some of the more eye-filling examples of Jacaranda are to be found in the hidden nooks and crannies of the Paddington hillside. I have a few more to show you over the coming days, as I gallivant down to Melbourne to experience the totally awesome Mr Leonard Cohen!

Sydney in lilac

Row 1 Victoria Barracks Row 2 Central Station Row 3 St Andrews Cathedral Row 4 Sydney Town Hall

Two views of four separate Jacaranda trees blooming in Sydney. What do you think?

Rain sodden Jacarandah trees along Victoria Barracks, Oxford Street, Paddington

Deep purple falls over sleepy garden walls

Jacaranda trees, although supposedly native to Central and South America, are grown extensively in sub-tropical areas of the world. In Australia, there are extensive plantings in Brisbane and in Grafton on the far north coast of the state of NSW. In Sydney, there are extensive plantings over the North Shore and in the Eastern Suburbs.

My first item this season on this delightful tree was posted on my home and garden blog, Dolwendee.

When the deep purple falls over sleepy garden walls And the stars begin to twinkle in the sky In the mist of a memory you wander back to me Breathing my name with a sigh.

Zest with a zing

Guilfoyle Park, Double Bay