Purple Trees

When I returned to Tanzania I remembered there was a time when all the trees on the road turned purple in Arusha. When I returned to Arusha in September I was afraid I had already missed that season. Everything had changed as well. It seemed that many of the trees had been cut down and all the roads were paved. There was much more traffic. Only a few trees had a scattering of purple blossoms.
Over the last few weeks the trees in my yard and around Moshi have started to bloom with beautiful flowers after a few rains came. I realized the season was just starting instead of finishing. To see an old tree in full bloom is quite an impressive sight. I recently returned to Arusha and was thrilled to see the enormous Jacaranda trees that were blooming along the road to Arusha. The trees were probably planted during the British rule before independence. The day or two it has rained very heavily here in Moshi and many of the flowers have fallen to the ground. The contrast between the purple/lavendar blossoms and the rich volcanic earth is striking. It looks as if someone has strewn my front path with flowers as if it was a wedding.