not indigenous, it is a very striking tree. Around the end of September / beginning of October, the city becomes dotted with splashes of the lilac flowers, and even the ground becomes more colourful as the flowers start to drop. Jacaranda seems to be one of the few flowering trees here where the flowers come before the leaves. And it’s meant to be a sign of rain. I’m not sure if that’s because the tree ‘knows’ that rain is coming, or just because their flowering time precedes that of the rains. The tree here is just along the road from where I live. The area under it used to be full of dukas (small stalls) selling a variety of goods. These were torn down last October by Nairobi City Council. Some enterprising duka owners however have continued to set up shop each day and continue their business, just laying the fruit and vegetables on the ground around the stools that they sit on. They seem to be there from first thing in the morning, drinking cups of chai (sweet milky tea), keeping their businesses open until into the evening.Sunday 11 October 2009
Nairobi in Bloom
I always like this time of year in Nairobi as it’s when the jacaranda blooms. Whilst 
not indigenous, it is a very striking tree. Around the end of September / beginning of October, the city becomes dotted with splashes of the lilac flowers, and even the ground becomes more colourful as the flowers start to drop. Jacaranda seems to be one of the few flowering trees here where the flowers come before the leaves. And it’s meant to be a sign of rain. I’m not sure if that’s because the tree ‘knows’ that rain is coming, or just because their flowering time precedes that of the rains. The tree here is just along the road from where I live. The area under it used to be full of dukas (small stalls) selling a variety of goods. These were torn down last October by Nairobi City Council. Some enterprising duka owners however have continued to set up shop each day and continue their business, just laying the fruit and vegetables on the ground around the stools that they sit on. They seem to be there from first thing in the morning, drinking cups of chai (sweet milky tea), keeping their businesses open until into the evening.
not indigenous, it is a very striking tree. Around the end of September / beginning of October, the city becomes dotted with splashes of the lilac flowers, and even the ground becomes more colourful as the flowers start to drop. Jacaranda seems to be one of the few flowering trees here where the flowers come before the leaves. And it’s meant to be a sign of rain. I’m not sure if that’s because the tree ‘knows’ that rain is coming, or just because their flowering time precedes that of the rains. The tree here is just along the road from where I live. The area under it used to be full of dukas (small stalls) selling a variety of goods. These were torn down last October by Nairobi City Council. Some enterprising duka owners however have continued to set up shop each day and continue their business, just laying the fruit and vegetables on the ground around the stools that they sit on. They seem to be there from first thing in the morning, drinking cups of chai (sweet milky tea), keeping their businesses open until into the evening.
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With the overcast sky today, the jacarandas were especially pretty. Something about the diffuse light really brings out the colour. And, it's kinda' cool running on a lavender carpet each morning, though the flowers can be a bit slick on damp mornings like today.
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