Another flowering tree 07-08-09

The mimosa trees are in bloom now. This is what we call Mimosa, although it also known as Silk Tree - not be be confused with the
Silk Floss Tree that blooms in the fall. http://delquilts.blogspot.com/2008/10/silk-floss-trees-10-10-08.html

Albizia julibrissin

This tree is an over sized member of the Pea Family (Fabaceae). Mimosa, a Japanese native introduced in 1745, was among the first plants brought to North America purely for ornamental reasons. They grow quite tall, up to 40 feet, for a "small to medium" tree. They have an umbrella like shape - growing up so far and then spread out.

The flowers appear as soon as the tree leafs out and blooms are continuous into late September or later - depending on the weather. This tree grows extensively in the Southeast (especially the Carolinas) where it has naturalized over the many years it has been growing there.

The two inch flowers are very delicate and individually don't last long. When they dry they pile up into the tangle you see at the bottom of the picture. They do have a light fragrance, so bees are constantly busy as are hummingbirds and butterflies. There is a great range in color from palest pink to quite a bright pink - almost a rosy red.

The seed pods are flat with two to six bumps indicating where the seeds are. My late husband was very fond of mimosa trees and didn't seem to mind the constant raking and sweeping required by something falling most of the year - flowers, leaves, pods, twigs. He viewed it as good exercise!

Reference: http://tinyurl.com/ntvmow [the original is eight lines long!]