A little purple thing called Jacaranda

Have you ever walked under a canopy of purple blooms, feeling like you've stepped into a dream?

That was how Asha felt the first time she saw jacaranda trees in full bloom. It was her first spring in Sydney and she hadn’t known what to expect. She was still adjusting to the rhythm of the city when, almost out of nowhere, the streets began to turn purple.

One moment, she was lost in her thoughts while she was surrounded by bursts of violet blossoms. It was as if nature had decided to throw a lavender party, inviting everyone to join in. The delicate petals fell softly, creating a soft carpet under her feet. She couldn’t help but stop, tilt her head up and captured it with her phone.

Jacaranda, a South American tree that had found a home in Sydney.

Asha had heard about them, but nothing prepared her for how it felt to see them. It wasn’t just the way they looked. But it was something deeper, something calming. She had spent the past few weeks feeling out of place, like she hadn’t quite figured out how to fit into this new city, but here, under these trees, she felt… still. Like everything was slowing down, just for a moment, allowing her to breathe.

She stood there for a while, watching the petals fall one by one, as if they carried secrets she couldn’t quite understand. People passed by and she noticed how they softened too. Two friends stopped to take a photo together, laughing as the petals brushed against their faces. In that small pocket of time, it felt like Sydney wasn’t just a big, overwhelming city—it was something softer, something almost familiar.

She knew she would carry the memory of this first spring with her for a long time. It was the season that showed her that beauty can surprise you. That peace can find you in the most unexpected places. And maybe, just maybe, this city could start to feel like home.

As she walked away, Asha felt like she wasn’t in a rush to figure everything out. The jacarandas would bloom again next year and she would be there to enjoy it all over again. For now, that was enough.