In our region, Poinciana trees bloom in November and December. This year's blooms are the best I can remember. It may be a combination of a dry spring followed by a lot of rain in November that caused the wonderful display.
Poincianas are native to Madagascar and have been planted in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide.
The trees give welcome shade in the summer.
In the background are the former nurses' quarters at the Maryborough Base Hospital. The building was constructed in 1928. This is where I go for my infusions, entering on the ground floor to the left. I like to sit in a seat that has a view of the tree which was probably planted in the same year that the building was constructed.
When I was in school, the Jacaranda trees started to bloom in late September or early October. Somebody would pin a bloom to the class blackboard which indicated it was time to really get serious about studying for the end-of-year exams. In November, a Poinciana bloom would appear which indicated it was too late to start studying.
