Jacaranda Tree

By Olehile Thataone 

As children we spent our holidays on the farm, both summer and winter. Being farm boys, we helped around with farm chores, like working the cattle and goats. We spent our time during hot summer afternoons, swimming in the water pans or in the farm dam. It was a typical life of boys on the farm. At the time, our parents were hard at work creating a homely feel, building a garden that would grace the surrounding of the farm homestead. But, one particular activity was left entirely up to us, to care for particular trees. These young trees were susceptible to cold environments, as they are not endemic in this part of our country.

We could only care for these trees during our winter holidays, when the cold was unforgiving. Every morning, right after breakfast, we would climb on ladders and cover them with bags, used for keeping coarse salt, to fend off the winter cold and frost. The task was a very monotonous, we had to cut the bags open, and strung them together. As brothers we had our differences, we fought around these young trees, we played around these young trees, while our parents intervened when they had to. These young trees, were no good to us at the time, as they did not provide any significant shade or protection of any sort. We saw them grow taller and bigger, year after year, from strength to strength. Until such time we did not have to care for them anymore. Until, they could care for themselves.

A Jacaranda tree, even in lone appearance, stands out, during the summer, when in full blossom. It can stand 30m tall when fully grown, and is a true sight to behold.

Today, we bask in the shades of these trees as a family and sometimes friends, during special occassions. Our retired Mother, spends her summer afternoons under these trees, reading, crocheting or just taking an afternoon rest from the day’s hard work. Somehow, for some reason, the presence of these trees are taken for granted or not, as they stand tall and strong, and they graces us with their presence.

But, there is a lesson to be taught and learned here. This lesson tells a story of parents who taught their children that, there are certain things that unfortunately can only be done when it is hard, to enjoy the benefits later, when the times are less demanding. A very common lesson indeed, I hope. This tale teaches a lesson of adults who today can reap the benefits of their labour, no matter how small, and forget the relentless cold winters, as that was only temporary. The summer joys will forever overwhelm that brief moment of caring for young Jacaranda trees during the winter. Anyway, with caring comes appreciation for what you care for.

We literally grew up with these trees, they are almost as old as we are, in tree years. They are our soul mates, because we lived with them, we cared for them when they were young, vulnerable and cold. Now, they care for us when we are growing old and would eventually surrender, when the summer days are hot, because they can now withstand nature’s elements, when a mere mortal cannot.

I hope that not soon, the morose song, The Linden Tree, does not play. And I say this in protest to the lyric. We will play under these trees, and it will never end. Our eyes won’t be misty, we will always be there, our children will soon play under these trees. The trumpet won’t sound and love will always be there. The call of death or glory won’t take anyone away from us, we will live forever, and we will always meet beneath the linden tree. And I hope that we will never have to lay flowers under these trees, in remembrance of yesterday.

As Thabo Mbeki once said, “...we should never become despondent because the weather is bad, nor should we turn triumphalist because the sun shines.”