Flowering acacia, harbinger of Spring
Springtime, and the acacias are bloomin’
Southern California will see one more day
Dreamland, and business is boomin’
Birds are a-singin’, as I drift away.
- from “The Hollywood Waltz” by The Eagles
One Of These Nights, 1975
When I first heard the opening lines of this bittersweet Eagles’ ballad back in the Spring of 1976, I didn’t yet know what an acacia was. At the time, I was into my second college semester pursuing a Biology degree and had already enjoyed a botany course the previous semester. I was therefore compelled to know more about nearby plant species such as the acacia. Not only did I learn that acacia trees also grow in Northern California, they also serve as a bellwether of Spring.
Flowering acacia branch detail.
Fast-forward to the second week of February, 2008: While commuting to my job through the lush and velvety green hillsides above Los Altos, Palo Alto, and Stanford University (an area that makes up a moderate chunk of the San Francisco midpeninsula greenbelt), I am exulting at the sight of roadside acacia trees showcasing their bright yellow clusters in a profusion of blossoms that, day by day, grows steadily more prolific.
Funny how, when you’re tuned to it, you begin to notice things you either didn’t notice before or which never seemed to matter at other times. Indeed, when the acacia isn’t blooming, it can be a rather unremarkable tree when viewed from a speeding automobile.
But early Thursday evening after work, I headed over to Picchetti Winery to pick up my latest wine club selections and was hard-pressed not to notice the healthy glow of a magnificent acacia in the waning twilight.
A blooming acacia tree at Picchetti Winery.
So is Spring right around the corner? Well the birds, they are a-singin’, and they’re making it all too easy for outdoors junkies like myself to simply just drift away, heart full with the promise of Spring.
Another sure sign that Spring is on its way: it’s peacock mating season!
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March 31st, 2008 12:29
Some nice pics … I hadn’t quite realised before how very similar some California regions and our own Stellenbosch / Franschoek wine regions are. Must be a really laid-back life you lead. Enjoy!
Greetings from Cape Town,
Pierre