Members of the Faboideae (Pea Family), Sub-Family Mimosa (Mimosoideae) and a further distinguished as the Genus Calliandra, our Baja Fairy Dusters or Powder Puffs are truly a delight to encounter.
Callinadra is a genus containing  about 200 species that are native to tropical and subtropical regions of southern Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas. However, three of these species are endemic to Baja California and most are common, right here in the Cape region.
The Red Fairy Duster, Calliandra californica (see photo) is also called Tabardillo, Zapotillo or Cabello de Angel in Spanish. It is probably the most common Fairy Duster variety and is found from the Southern Sierra de San Pedro Martir mountains, located east of San Quentin to the tip of the Baja and our Cape.  It grows to about 1-2 meters tall in gravely flats, washes, hillsides and on several gulf islands. It is extremely drought and salt air tolerant.  It is characterized by fine double pinnate leaves and a rather shaggy looking, multi-branched growth with gray twigs.  

THE NEW GLOBAL ECONOMIC REALITY

This insightful article was written by Charles Simpson and is reprinted here with his permission. He can be reached  at
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First: A reality check on Mexico

Mexico is in a unique position to reap many of the benefits of the decline of the US economy. In order to not violate NAFTA and
other agreements the U.S.A. cannot use direct protectionism, so it is content to allow the media to play this protectionist role.
The U.S. media – over the last year – has portrayed Mexico as being on the brink of economic collapse and civil war. The
Mexican people are either beheaded, kidnapped, poor, corrupt, or narco-traffickers.  The American news media was particularly
aggressive in the weeks leading up to spring break. The main reason for this is money. During that two-week period, over
120,000 young American citizens poured into Mexico and left behind hundreds of millions of dollars.