What color is Brasília in the springtime?

Or rather, what color isn't it? Just a few photos from walks in the couple of months or so.

 

In the Neighborhood

The human mind is a miraculously curious organ, isn't it? Every single day on my drive to or from work I follow blindly the GPS through "Avenida das Jaqueiras." Severely mispronounced by a computer-automated English speaker, the street is part of my neighborhood. I can locate it and successfully navigate its dangerous roundabouts and even get gas or a car wash nearby. Without blinking, I know this street. What never occurred to me was to investigate the meaning of "jaqueiras." So much for curiosity. 

Last weekend, we were out with a friend and turned onto the famed "Avenida das Jaqueiras" when I noticed large fruits protruding from the trees along the route. Every tree had tons of spiky, enormous jack fruit protruding from its branches. Suspicious that every tree on the road seemed to be producing jack fruit. I said as much to our Brazilian friend, who replied, "of course, that is why it is called Jack Fruit Avenue."

Really, what could be more obvious to decode? 

Bursts of color

The Ipê is a type of tree native to this area of Brazil and when it flowers, there is an explosion of brightly colored blossoms. There are few around my building that pop out at you and then are suddenly blown from the branch to the ground, leaving behind tie-dyed streaks of color on the red soil at their base. It's stunning (although my photography might not be...).

Post #27: Candelabra Trees

According to Wikipedia:

Araucaria angustifolia, the Paraná pine, Brazilian pine or candelabra tree (pinheiro-do-paraná, araucária or pinheiro brasileiro), is a critically endangered species in the conifer genus Araucaria.

According to me, they are just fun-looking trees dotting the (cold) sky of Caxias!