Dressed in Purple – Sydney’s Jacaranda Season

[by Chris Haldane in Sydney]

When I was growing up, the first hint of jacaranda purple across the suburbs instilled dread in our hearts, because it signalled our end-of-year exams. But these days I look forward to one of Sydney’s most beautiful seasons. Funnily enough, I hear people say every year, ‘Aren’t the jacarandas gorgeous this year,’ as if somehow they’re better than ever before! But this year they truly seem to be, transforming the shores of Sydney Harbour into a view that Monet and his Impressionist mates would have loved!

In the suburb of Hunters Hill they’re particularly attractive against the warmth of the Sydney Sandstone that’s been used in so many of its buildings. Le Village café takes full advantage of this jacaranda’s beauty to sit its customers outside under its spreading boughs.

Not everyone is happy about them though. In one Sydney suburb, tourists drive the locals crazy by standing in the middle of the road and even lying down on it, blocking the traffic.  Lots of selfie-snappers are to blame as well as the area’s popularity with bridal photographers. While I was sketching this, several brides and grooms created congestion by standing in the middle of the road under the purple canopy, seemingly uncaring that they were obstructing traffic.

Sadly, especially after heavy rain, there are soon more petals on the ground than on the trees, and whilst the purple carpet looks so pretty, that’s only the case if you’re not the one who has to sweep it up!!