[A year ago, after visiting San Miguel for the first time, we decided we wanted to return again in 2024. We checked out a few places, but the one we liked best had a third floor patio under a blossoming Jacaranda tree.
Jacarandas are not native to Mexico, but were a gift from the Emperor of Japan. The Mexican head of state was enthralled with Japan’s cherry blossoms and requested some trees, but was informed that they would not grow in Mexico’s climate. Instead, the Jacarandas were offered.
After visiting our prospective rental Silverbelle Sandy and I conducted the requisite post mortem. “What did you like the best?” “The Jacaranda tree, and you?” The Jacaranda tree.” It was settled.
The image of colorful sunsets with purple blossoms overhead has sustained us for the past year. For the past couple of months we bantered constantly about the countdown until the days beneath its joyful canopy. Spoiler alert …
The Jacaranda has become the tree from hell. It was not in blossom when we arrived, but it matured quickly, then kept maturing, and kept maturing. Sandy hasn’t been feeling well, and now we think the reason is the Jacaranda pollen, which affects many people adversely. The blossoms, which lilted down so gracefully when we first visited. are now pelting us as we try to watch the sunset. It’s astounding how many can make a direct hit on a glass of wine. You can sweep the patio twenty times a day, and there will never be one second when it is completely clean. Yesterday I took a picture of SB Sandy ankle-deep in toxic yellow blossoms. Be careful what you wish for. SB SM}
Callejon Guadiana #10A. That’s our house on the right.
Check out Delbert McClinton “San Miguel” on YouTube complete with jacarandas…
(from SB Steve, the Natural Curiosity guy: “As you know, I spent a huge amount of my career working in Sub-Saharan Africa, where jacarandas are absolutely everywhere. And yes—the pollen can be overwhelming for a lot of people, and so too can the tendency of the flowers to stain everything they touch! I actually took a bucket of the damn things during one of my trips and distilled it into ink, which I put in a fountain pen and used to write letters. Insane!”