Ooh! Aah! Jacarandas!

You know how it takes your breath away to see swaths of yellow of the Aspens changing color in the Rocky Mountains? Or how the vibrant reds and golds of the autumn leaves changing in the midwest or New England stimulates that same feeling? Or the cherry blossoms in the spring in DC? Well, I have had that very same feeling witnessing the beginning of Jacaranda tree blooming season. I was in Arusha region all week, doing some work in Monduli district, and wao. Jacarandas blooming EVERYWHERE. Hard to describe the flowers' color. Too dark to be lavender, too light to be purple. Its amazing what color in nature can do to the psyche. My photos here are all from Arusha town (I happened to be staying at the Jacaranda Hotel!), and as always, my photos don't fully capture the beauty. But at least you can get a glimpse. I'm told they will continue to bloom until Christmas! What a delight to have one's breath taken away for three months!