hanami

It's palo verde blossom season here in Tucson, and everywhere trees are erupting in brilliant yellow. It seems to me that this occasion should be celebrated, as the cherry blossoms are celebrated in Japan. But no picnickers spread out beneath the golden trees, and no one strolls through the parks admiring their beauty. In fact this would be quite impossible, as the city of Tucson prefers to plant palm and olive trees in parks. Instead, the palo verdes line road medians, parking lots, and yards. People seem to go about their business oblivious to the beautiful trees, their perfume, and the carpet of yellow petals on the ground.