The jacaranda trees are in bloom here in Southern California. They’re quite pretty — grand and purple-bloomed — but are generally despised. The flowers, apparently, are messy — sticky and stainy when they plop to the ground. I suggest you bring up the jacaranda when you visit here. It’s pretty funny to hear the passion with which people hate this tree.

But how often do you see riotously blooming purple trees all over the place? Here, enjoy a jacaranda-lined street, with a little bit of Manfred Mann soundtrack. You can’t really get the full gist of the purpliness in this video (seriously: purple!)

By the way, we pronounce it “hawk-a-rahnda”.