They are buds Larry......
The common name for them here is Silk Tree, though you are right it is in fact Mimosa, I had put that in the tags but not in the notes....sorry!
I love the flowers but they make me sneeze terribly which is something I have to cope with when we go to the coast, the road we leave on is lined on both sides with these for over half a mile. :-0
As usual, I did not read the tag. I have these trees on my property....many people here refer to them as 'powder puff' trees, but I grew up in Kentucky where they are Mimosa's. I've never noticed buds on them before. I should be more observant !
Some people here also call them powder puff trees, a name I think fits them very well. They look very pretty here, they are used as shade in many of the coastal towns where they line the streets with them.
i love them !!
there are a few trees like this in my town too ( latin name : Albizzia Julibrissin ) .. and we don't have any other kind of mimosas over here ... just this species is winter friendly :-)