As those who've read my posts for some time know, I have a love-hate relationship with
Albizia julibrissin (aka the mimosa or silk tree). I inherited one of these trees with the garden and it occupies a prominent place in my backyard border. For a brief period in late June or early July, it's a gorgeous confection of lacy green foliage and pink powder-puff flowers. We're approaching that moment now.
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| The pretty pink blooms shine against the delicate green foliage |
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| And the blue afternoon skies provide a perfect backdrop |
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| The tree itself lends structure to my backyard border |
The tree's allure is temporary, ending almost as soon as it begins, with both foliage and flowers dropping to produce a massive amount of litter. Although the flowers aren't sticky like those of the Jacaranda, the dying flowers form ugly brown clumps as the flowers age. And, beginning in late July, seedpods begin to fall, a process that continues until new flowers form the following year. The brittle pods deposit seeds everywhere. I have no statistics to demonstrate the viability of those seeds but I wouldn't be surprised if half of them produce seedlings. I find them everywhere and live in fear of waking up one morning in a dense mimosa forest.
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| With trees like this looming above me (photo taken on my back slope looking upward toward the backyard border) |
I pull the seedlings as soon as I see them but it wouldn't be hard to miss one, would it?
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| Nope! This one is already 2 feet tall - and it's planted itself near the property line, on my neighbor's side... |
This post is my contribution to the Wednesday Vignette hosted by Anna at
Flutter & Hum. Visit Anna to see what images she's found to capture your attention this week.
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© 2012-2015 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
