Tacoma in blossom season

The tacoma tree outside my house is in bloom again, and this year the flowering is unusually heavier than normal. Over the past two days I’ve swept up quite a pile of fallen blossoms and dried leaves from my compound and even from the stretch of road outside. There are lots more on the tree! Still, I’m not complaining. It’s all good exercise, actually!

This tree is one of the last tacomas left in the neighbourhood. When we first moved here about 25 years ago, they were everywhere. But one by one they were cut down as residents grew weary of sweeping up the constant fall of leaves and flowers. Along my street, I’m probably the only one still happily doing that yearly chore. The flowers are a delight to look at but the leaves, not so much. But what to do? You can’t have the best of everything. 🌼🍃