March and April were unexpectedly hot in Bangalore. All the trees around the city suddenly came into bloom. The Tabebuia, Jacaranda and Gulmohar trees all flowered at once. They made a stunning show – as you can see from this gulmohar, which I photographed on 30 April.
But this may not be a good sign. The Bangalore Mirror, a local English-language paper, carried the headline “It is a climatic bloomer that all trees are blooming now.” The theory is that the early flowering predicts a water shortage. The trees are feeling threatened, because their roots struggle to find water after the intense heat and lack of rain. So the trees stop growing and move into the reproductive state of flowering.
Now we just wait and see what May will bring – more heat, or summer rains?
Here is a closer look at the gulmohar.
And a closer look at one branch. My driver told me that he remembers eating gulmohar leaves when he was a young boy, growing up in Chennai. He doesn’t eat them now, and I wonder if anyone does?
Gorgeous! I used to travel to Bangalore for work and remember seeing some of these lovely blooming trees.
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lovely…one of my fav trees,but i didnt know about the fact that if they bloom early it indicates an impending water shortage..hope may has been good for you…
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I was interested to see that you are thinking about water too – I like the photos of the dry earth on your blog.
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These look like what we called Poinciana in Florida. Jacarandas have blue flowers. Probably these are all related – warm climates and all! ;->
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Lovely pictures.
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The Gulmohar is one of my favorites. The photos are stunning!
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Thank you!
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Love the gulmohar tree! I saw the picture and I had to read this post. Lovely!
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Thank you!
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