Mimosa blooming time 07-04-13

There is usually some kind of tree blooming in Southern California.  The Jacarandas are just finished, but the mimosa trees are in full flower now. 

 

We planted a tiny mimosa from a pot in the front yard of the townhouse in Fullerton and it quickly grew into a huge pile of pink blossoms in the summer.  Floyd didn't mind raking and sweeping, there is always something dropping from the tree - leaves, flowers, pods - but after we started renting it out the tenants were not interested in the job.  Before long the Homeowners Association had the tree removed because it was buckling the driveways.  I hate to drive by the house, but easily avoid it because I sold it about ten years ago. 

The flowers always make me think of little pink fairies.

 

They are very sturdy trees, growing up to 30 feet in a good location.

 

Very fine "hairs" about two inches long form the flowers.

 

 

The pods hang-on into the following year.  In the winter when the leaves have all fallen, when the wind blows the pods rattle.  The sound is like bamboo wind chimes.

 

I am not very hopeful that the crepe myrtles will have a good bloom this year - too dry and not many of them receive landscape watering.   There are at least two dead trees on our street where they were planted when the houses were built some 50 years ago.  And a number have been remove over the years.  I hope mine survives to bloom again.

 

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