One annual startling moment (which is especially startling the very first time) is the first time you spot a wildly, almost ridiculously purple Jacaranda tree in bloom. Each time, you are suddenly reminded:
- that Jacaranda trees exist
- that it is ridiculous that they are purple
- that they are all over the place, but will soon go right back to being invisible
- and that summer is around the corner
Today was that day when I first saw one. It was a rather unlikely spot: in the industrial section east of downtown LA, where I was looking for a pinata. (More on that another time.)
