The jacaranda is a large deciduous tree with fine-textured, fern-like pinnate leaves. Young trees are upright but assume an irregular branching pattern that produces beautifully asymmetric open crowns as the trees age. From April to June (depending on species and location) the tree covers itself with showy trumpet shaped flowers that are about 1.5 inches wide and are arranged in panicles (pyramid shaped clusters) that grow at the tips of branches.

The blooms of the Jacaranda tree in San Diego are a beautiful violet color. At this time of year, the Jacaranda trees that line the streets are dropping their blooms and creating purple pathways of our streets and side walks. Purple has been a favorite color of gay people from Oscar Wilde to Harvey Milk. There are stories of men who wore purple socks to discreetly signal to each other in the early 20th century. It seems only appropriate that the Jacaranda would break forth with purple blooms in San Diego this time of year while the Supreme Court makes its landmark decision upholding gay marriage in California. I can believe that everyone wants to get on the bandwagon (except Michele Bachmann) and celebrate the right to marry!