Southern Defense
Yes, today I am defending the oft maligned – mimosa tree!
The beautiful, fragrant, puffy pink clouds in the Mimosa Tree (sometimes called a silken tree) have gotten a bad reputation for some! Not me, I love those pink puffs. Some call it a “dirty” tree. What kind of silly name is that? Yes, it re-seeds prolifically. Yes it sheds a bit, but how can you resist those pretty pink puffs?
They remind me of my childhood and I look forward to seeing them every year! Those palm-like leaves just look so luscious amidst the pink fluff.
If you have them around, you know you can’t get rid of them (even if you are so misguided as to want to!). They attract butterflies and hummingbirds galore!
Okay, so the fluff falls off and does make a bit of a mess. I have even read that some neighborhood associations ban these beauties! What do you think? I love them and always will.
Hope you are having a wonderful Saturday and hope you are enjoying a
Pink Saturday with Beverly at How Sweet the Sound
Today’s Lagniappe: Mimosas
You had to see this one coming 🙂
Today’s Lagniappe: Mimosas
Don’t forget the drinks. What fun to have champagne for breakfast!
Champagne
Orange Juice
Grand Marnier (or other orange liqueur)
Sugar
Strawberries for garnish
Pour a little Grand Marnier in a shallow saucer. Put a little sugar in another shallow saucer. Dip the rims of champagne flutes in the Grand Marnier and then in the sugar. Fill the champagne flutes halfway with champagne and the fill the rest of the way with orange juice, add a splash of Grand Marnier. Cut a slit in a strawberry and place on the rim of the flute if desired for garnish.
Enjoy!
Tags: Souhern Gardening
June 26th, 2010 at 12:14 am
Christi ~ I agree, I think they are beautiful. Is it the pink puffs that make a mess when they fall to the ground? Do they only grown in the south? Thanks for sharing with us. Happy Pink Saturday!
June 26th, 2010 at 4:03 am
HAPPY PINK SATURDAY,
I LOVE THE MIMOSAS TREE. MY HUSBAND HATES THEM. THEY REMIND ME OF MY CHILDHOOD. WE USE TO MAKE DOLLS OUT OF THEM AND PUT THE FLOWERS IN OUR HAIR. I LIVE IN OKLAHOMA AND YOU USE TO COULD SEE THEM ALL OVER TOWN IN THE 60’S AND 70’S BUT NOT SO MUCH ANY MORE.
HUGS AND BLESSINGS
SIMPLY DEBBIE
June 26th, 2010 at 4:48 am
I love these trees! Growing up in Puerto Rico, we have them year around. I’ve always loved the pink fluppy flowers. Thanks for bringing back a childhood memory!
June 26th, 2010 at 8:12 am
Hi Christi, came over here from Beverly’s..love the mimosa tree, we used to have one at our old house, I loved to sit unde that umbrella of shade, and yes it made a mess, but a good mess. We live in Southern CA so they do grow in the west also!
Have a wonderful week and stop by if you get a chance!
Barb
June 26th, 2010 at 8:35 am
Just looking at photos of Mom’s mimosa! Love them! Off to sip mimosas and visit more Pink Saturday blogs! CheerS!!!!
June 26th, 2010 at 8:59 am
Hi Christi,
Those trees are so pretty. We don’t have them here where I live. Makes a pretty pink post for Pink Saturday. Thanks for sharing.
Blessings,
Sandi
June 26th, 2010 at 9:11 am
Yes, I love them, in someone else’s yard. 🙂 We do have them in the woods surrounding our yard and they are lovely there too, but we try to keep them out of our yard. Beautiful but very messy.
Sherry @ A Happy Valentine
June 26th, 2010 at 10:37 am
Hi there cutie– what a fun post!
I have never had the opportunity to see one of these trees out west… but i would imagine they would be held in the same catagorie that our “cotton” wood trees are… while yours are beautiful to look at …our cotton woods just shed the white fluffy stuff and what a mess!
At least yours is gorgeous to look at at some point. 🙂
Nice to be featured with you this week on Pink Saturday… stop by and say hi and join us on Fridays as we celebrate the beauty around us.
Claudia
June 26th, 2010 at 11:23 am
Mimosas? Count me in my friend!
Thanks for the recipe!
Leann
June 26th, 2010 at 11:43 am
Happy ps, I love mimosa trees! I have three now around my house. They are just teenagers – about that height. They are a lot of fun to watch, and provide excellent shade. Did you know the leaves close up at night? How special is that?
June 26th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Man, you don’t have to defend them with me! I love them. Don’t have one, but I love the feeling they give me! Happy Pink SAT!
June 26th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
I think they are beautiful! Beautiful pics too!
June 26th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Happy PiNk, Christi,
I’m in the Smokies of Tennessee near Gatlinburg. After living on the coast off and on and then seeing the size of the beautiful Mimosa here in the mountains there is no comparison to the sizes. Here in the mountains there are areas that almost like Mimosa orchards….and TALL and huge around like I’ve never seen. They obviously love growing out of rock! :0) Anyhow, I’ve always loved them and yes…lots of southern folks hate the site of them..funny how people just decide to dislike things..:0)
Have fun at your festival this weekend.
From one southern lady to another….
Have a wonderful day,
Stephanie ?
June 26th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Happy Pink Saturday, Christi. I hope you are enjoying being one of today’s featured blogs.
I love mimosa trees, and I have always loved them. It is just not right to dislike something so pretty.
June 26th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
I am afraid that I am one of the guilty ones that calls these trees “dirty” Christi. So sorry for that. We had one before and it seems I was always cleaning up after it. I do admit that they are gorgeous tho. My husband loves them and would have one if we could grow them here. Happy Pink Saturday sweetie and I will think twice before using the dirty word again. ha ha Char
It was nice to be featured sisters.
June 26th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Christi, I don’t think I’ve ever been here, sugar, but I DO know I’ve never seen a tree like that! It’s gorgeous. Looks like a fan. Nice to meet you, chickee, and happy pink saturday.
xoxo,
Connie
June 26th, 2010 at 7:54 pm
Happy Pink Saturday. Beautiful mimosas!
June 26th, 2010 at 9:56 pm
What a pretty, fluffy tree. And I support mimosas whole heartedly… yummy!
June 26th, 2010 at 11:44 pm
Your Mimosa is beautiful. It always makes me sad when someone refers to a tree as being “dirty”. Trees are such a delight in so many ways. They cool in the summer, protect us in the cold months. The add beauty and live many years in our gardens. If one wants a “clean tree” then buy an artificial one. For me, my trees are like old friends and I consider it an honor to clean up after them.
Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo
June 27th, 2010 at 12:44 am
I’ve always loved those trees! They are so beautiful, but a bit messy too. Happy Late Pink Saturday, Marcia
June 27th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Hi Christi….
I hope I have the right Pink Saturday post..and it’s a lovely one.
I also love the pretty pink of the Mimosa.. I can’t imagine those that don’t. Anything that pink and that fluffy has to be a good thing. Happy Pinks and wishing tou a lovely week.
June 27th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Happy Pink Saturday!
Thanks for that recipe, I’ve copied it into my word processing files for a taste test later! Love your pictures. And the ones in the posts with the deer and the spider webs too.
Best –
CailinMarie
http://cailinyates.blogspot.com
June 27th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Happy Pink Saturday!