Purple Haze

30 October 2021 - Pretoria

At the end of September and early October, much of the city of Pretoria is covered in a purple flower show as the Jacaranda's come into bloom.

I have always intended to go and look, but somehow never made the time - well this year was an exception and although I should have gone earlier in the month, the flower show and fragrance was still spectacular. 

The best Jacaranda lined streets that I found were Pienaar, Murray and Marais Streets and you need to arrive early on a bright day, before the streets get busy. Also, bring a range of focal length's for your camera or just use your phone.

Not a bird to be seen or found in this post - enjoy, but unfortunately your olfactory senses wont be overwhelmed. There is a plaque in Celliers Street commemorating the first two Jacaranda's that were planted in 1888. These were imported from Brazil and although exotic are now part of Pretoria's culture, as well as a few other suburbs outside of Pretoria, like Kensington.

There are also white Jacaranda Tree's and these are found on Herbert Baker Street, Groenkloof - although pretty, they did not provide the same spectacle as the streets I visited earlier

So, next September I can highly recommend a trip to Pretoria to take in this spectacular purple haze