Umbrella Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) -- also known as a Silk Tree or Silky Acacia<br /><br />I first saw a Mimosa tree when I was stationed in Fort Polk, Louisiana. I didn't know what it was, but I did get a few pictures of it. I assumed, somewhat correctly, that it was a southern plant.<br /><br />Many years later, when we had just moved to the Cadillac area, I saw another in someone's yard that borders a small park in Reed City. I was pleased to see that it would grow in Michigan, and had intended to collect some of the seed pods in the fall. That never happened. Oh well.<br /><br />Finally, I saw one in the greenhouse at Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, Michigan.<br /><br />So now, some twenty-eight years after first seeing the plant, I googled on 'pink pom-pom legume tree' (it seemed like a reasonable choice,) and found it right off the bat. Gotta love the Internet.<br /><br />According to some of the sites I visited, it is a southern plant that will grow as far north as USDA zone 6. Since Reed City is at zone 5, bordering on zone 4, that particular specimen must be particularly hardy. Either that, or the owner has taken some special precautions to keep it alive.<br /><br />I still want to gather a few seeds.