The Jacaranda in January

 Today was a mild, breezy day after a day of hard rain, thunder, and wind.  We needed the rain and the garden was thankful.  So in the sun of this afternoon I took the first 2011 pictures of my tree.  She is multi-trunked and gnarled.  Her green fern like leaves are shiny green after the rain and seed pods stick up like cowlicks. Seedpods litter the sidewalk below as well.  Here are some pics of my Jacaranda on a mild January day in Florida.

 The seed pod is a very hard disc that has lots of little flat seeds inside.

 I think they look like little sting rays in this picture.

My Tree for the Year: Jacaranda

I've joined the Tree Year Community where I have pledged to observe, research, write about, photograph, and live around, under, and with one tree for a year.  I've chosen the big, mature Jacaranda that graces the front of our home in St Petersburg, Florida.  Here it is:

That's the tree on the right of the photo...its sibling is off to the left on the south side of the house.  The tree had a rough couple of years with an extended drought and little irrigation due to a two year construction project involving our home.  But in the last year, selective pruning, a decent amount of rain, a regular watering schedule, and a bit of fertilizing has brought her back to good health.

I grew up in Southern California where the Jacaranda was a popular street year planted in many of the parkways along the growing suburbs of So Cal developed in the 1950s.  I used to love to drive down streets in Whittier filled with huge old Jacarandas vividly purple in spring when they bloomed.  And where the streets had a dusting of lavender from falling petals.  I then spent nearly 20 years away from a "Mediterranean" climate which the Jacaranda so loves.  In moving to Florida last year, I've come back into the climate zone loved by one of my favorite trees.  I look forward to seeing its beauty throughout the year.

A few facts about the Jacaranda:

There are over 50 different types of Jacaranda.  J. mimosifilia is the type most common in Florida and for now I assume is the type I have growing in my front yard.  It will usually bloom twice a year. It likes sandy, well drained soils.It is hardy in zones 9 - 11.  It is usually propagated from seed.  Selected varieties are grafted.

And one lovely legend:

If a jacaranda petal falls on your head, you'll be blessed with good luck.