Jacaranda Mimosaefolia...

It sounds like a disease, doesn't it? It's actually a tree. (pictured above) A very beautiful tree which blooms in October-November here in Australia.

There is a saying out here that you can tell that it is exam time when the Jacaranda's bloom. This is because our School year ends in November-December with three months off for summer vacation to follow. Most students breathe a sigh of relief when these lilac flowers start to blossom.

As for me, I just try to breathe at all.

I am allergic to Jacaranda pollen... oh what misery.

That something so beautiful could make one so miserable. From the moment that the first blooms appear, until they fall, my life becomes one long dreary struggle to breathe, to stop my nose from streaming, to relieve my itching skin, eyes, nose, throat and to dilate my airways sufficiently to take the cyanosis off my lips!

I love them, hate them, admire and berate them!

Still, I am stuck with them, unless I want to move somewhere that they don't bloom. So far I don't know of anywhere in Australia where they don't.

I'll just have to content myself with living with Jacaranda Mimosaefolia...

Bless you!