You know, I think it might be Jackaranda filicifolia also known as 'The Fern Tree'! Both filicifolia and mimosafolia are similar except that mimosafolia has much paler and slightly smaller flowers. The depth of colour in your pictures look to be nearer a deep violet blue, which is the colour of filicifolia. Mimosafolia is grown widely here along the east coast of New South Wales, Australia, and in fact my old hort. teacher reckoned they grow better here than in their native Brazil. The village of Grafton here has a 'Jackaranda festival' every year - they have avenues of them. I have one in my front garden and while the gound and lawn looks lovely covered in blue flowers around November/December, I certainly don't park my car under it. Not only do their mimosa like leaves fall and get into every nook and cranny just before flowering, but the sky-blue flowers, while they look lovely as a ground carpet, can make a mess of your car. There is also a white variety. All 3 are indeed lovly trees.

Yeah, I'm still wondering about the avocados. I had trouble growing them in my back yard when I planted a tree in the ground because my soil does not drain properly, but there is an incredibly huge avocado tree just down the street from me. Anyway, I ended up planting one in a whiskey barrel planter so that I could control the drainage better, and it produces avocados. However, I noticed a few months ago that the soil level was lowered by about 6-8", and I thought the tree had used up all the soil. Last week we transplanted it to a new whiskey barrel planter, and what had happened was that the barrel had rotten at the bottom, and everything just sank down. The tree was not root-bound, but now it has a lot more new soil. Anyway, you can get avocados from trees in planters. Mine is a dwarf.

GREAT! your photos convince me that you don't need grass. i have a small plot of land like you; and I need to work on filling it out!! Keep the photos coming...here in MN; we are looking at SNOW again tonight. the tulips are saying - "we came out for this!!?"

Beautiful combinations! I really enjoyed looking at your photos, especially since your from the other side of the us. I hope to see more ! :)