JACARANDA mimosifolia

The Jacaranda trees are blooming all over our city, including near our library.  (SEE EXTRA)  Someone in our park district must have loved them in years past, because they are planted all along main streets & in our parks.

They are so common in Southern California, that you might think they are native, but they are from Bolivia & Argentina, originally.  They are well loved in many parts of the world where there is no danger of frost, including Australia, South Africa, Spain, southern Italy & Spain.

They can grow to 66 feet tall  (20 meters) & often bloom for 
2 months.  A park is the best place for them, because when all those flowers are shed, it can be a sticky mess on sidewalks & driveways.  

Our yard is too small for such a stately tree, so I enjoy them when I visit the library, our parks or driving along the main thoroughfares.  
I never tire of seeing them.