A splash of brilliant colour

The Jacaranda tree is in full bloom in many parts of the sister cities, its blue-mauve making a splash of brilliant colour all along roads or nestled among a bunch of other trees. In the capital, the best display is on the two roads which are known as Ataturk Avenue and it is a pleasure to drive down them, especially the one along which private houses are to be found. Someone who used to live on this road used to refer to it as ‘Jacaranda Lane’ when the road was known as ‘Embassy Road’ and there was not much development around the area. Thank heaven, these trees still stand tall and have not been a victim of the development that has seen the cutting down of many such indigenous trees.
When the Jacaranda flowers fall and cover this road it provides a beautiful vista from one end of the road to the other and tempts you to drive slowly, soaking in the lovely view. It makes for a beautiful memory! The tree starts flowering in April and the flowers last for about ten weeks or so therefore we still have time to enjoy their beauty. In my opinion, they should be planted in as many green areas as is possible!
In Rawalpindi, the trees can be seen in the green areas near the Chaklala roundabout; the Ayub National Park and a few other green areas which have old trees. In Chaklala, many of them have been cut and replaced with palms — the Dubai syndrome having taken over the civic authorities in charge of horticulture!
Around the world, the Jacaranda has been eulogised in books and song. In Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa is popularly and poetically known as Jacaranda City or Jakarandastad in Afrikaans because of the huge number of the trees which turn the city blue when they flower in the spring. The name is frequently used in Afrikaans songs.
People in Australia sing a Christmas song about Jacaranda trees, as the blooms are only seen there in summer time. As the song explains, “When the bloom of the Jacaranda tree is here, Christmas time is near.”
In Argentina, writer Alejandro Dolina, in his book ‘Chronicles of the Gray Angel’, tells the legend of a massive Jacarandá tree planted in Plaza Flores Square in Buenos Aires, which was able to whistle tango songs on demand. María Elena Walsh dedicated her song to the tree. Also Miguel Brascó’s folk song mentions the aroma of Jacarandá as a defining feature of the littoral Santa Fe Province along with the willows growing by the rivers.
British singer songwriter Steve Tilston eulogises the beautiful blue tree he encounters in Australia with his wonderful song, ‘Jacaranda.’