The Mimosa Tree

Part of my series to learning to identify local flora and fauna.

A.K.A The Silk Tree - I've always wanted to know the name of this particular tree. There was a large specimen of this species growing behind the fence of the parking lot of my apartment building in Kearny when I was a little kid.

The flowers are incredibly fragrant and every time I see or smell one, it reminds me of those years.

This tree grows up to 40ft and blossoms in late spring and all summer. Its blooms are usually hot pink, and wispy. The leaves themselves are fern-like. In the fall, it drops pods. The tree is very hardy, resist even to drought. Some gardeners feel negatively towards the Mimosa tree because it is hard to control and spreads quickly.

But they're all jerks. This tree is awesome.

Learning about plants, the hard way

Poison Ivy.


Mother fucker. After an entire lifetime of not being allergic to poison ivy, my body has finally changed, and I now contract annoying lumps all over my body when I come in contact with this crap.

So there you have it. Local plant number 1. I've spent some time getting to know it.

Poison ivy has three leaves. They are generally three times as long as they are wide, but come in any size. The new leaves have a reddish sheen in the spring, turn green throughout the summer and start to yellow a bit at the end of summer and fall. Its edges are sometimes smooth and sometimes serrated but rarely lobed. The veining on the leaves is pinnate. (One prominent vein and small veins stemming off of it)

The easiest way to distinguish poison ivy from other three-leaf plants is that the middle of the three leaves has its own extended stem.

asshole plant.