Memories of the South…

The beautiful mimosa tree became my favorite playmate as a small child. One stood on the corner of my yard in Aiken, South Carolina, and the ferny-leafed tree fueled my childish imagination. When the spidery blossoms were in bloom, I imagined the tree to be a castle in the sky filled with fairies. When the long, leathery seed pods appeared, the tree became a fortress on a faraway planet where I fought aliens side-by-side with Buck Rogers (loved those re-runs).
As a grown-up, I recognize the mimosa as a gorgeous addition to the Southern landscape. Nevertheless, I can’t help but think I see a fairy hiding among the blossoms.