That is what Wes said last year when the cotton started to fly - it's like living in a snow globe! There are two drawbacks to having tons of cottonwood trees in our backyard. The first is the colossal amount of leaves we have to rake each fall as I described in
this post. The second happens in the spring with seed dispersal. The seeds are surrounded by fluffy white cotton that floats through the air and looks like snow. And not just a little cotton - there is a lot of cotton! I grew up with cottonwoods so I was fully prepared for this annual event. Some people (like most of our neighbors) think it is quite a nuisance - which in some ways it is. It gets into every nook and cranny of our yard and garage and even in our house each time someone opens the door. It is also a major pain for anybody with allergies. And can be hazardous to your health! Yesterday Addie was running around outside, inhaled some cotton and had a coughing fit that lasted about 10 minutes.
But shhhhh, don't tell! And don't laugh! Even as I sit here sneezing I have to admit that I love the cotton. I think it is magical. I always have - even as a child. There is something so neat about looking outside and seeing the "snow" fall in May when it is 80 degrees outside! I love to watch my children run around with little clouds of cotton at their heels as they gather the fluff convinced they are going to make pillows (just like I used to do). Take a look at these photos to get an idea of how much cotton we get...
Can you see the big cloud of cotton in the background of this picture?
You can't see it too well - but these next two pictures are of the cotton falling.
Normally, the cotton lasts about 10 days and we are only on about day 5 so we would expect a bunch more. However it is scheduled to rain over the next few days and I think that will pretty much end the cotton season. Until next year!
Can you see the big cloud of cotton in the background of this picture?
You can't see it too well - but these next two pictures are of the cotton falling.
11 comments:
Unbelievable! I had no idea that the cotton could accumulate so thickly. It definitely has that quality of magic about it, especially the way that you've described it....but the clean-up might make me a little irritated.
And,gorgeous yard!
Ho-ly COW. I've never seen so much of it! I'm glad you can keep a positive attitude about all that. I guess from my angle (the one that just gets to experience from afar) it is really pretty.
Oh my goodness. It looked more like your kids had filled the hot tub with soap and it overflowed bubbles.
Last night at Lucy's soccer game we sat in a cotton "blizzard". The field was next to these enormous, gorgeous cotton trees, but the wind really picked up last night and we were all sneezing and itchy eyed/nosed. So crazy.
But it is pretty cool.
Great photos! I think it's wonderful that you love the cotton. You really do have much more than I expected. We have a lot, but not anywhere near what you have. It's too bad that it is an allergen.
Wow--before I read the post, I saw the pictures and wondered when it snowed in Utah. That is amazing! I had no idea cottonwood trees could do that.
That's funny you kind of like the cotton. I also think its awesome. It remind me of a carefree, falling in love moment in highschool. Pauls parents has the cotton trees all around there yard. My friends and I would go over to his house and just hang out in the snow. I agree that it is magical. Thanks for remind me. Ammie
I have never been around cottonwoods in the spring. It is gorgeous, almost unbelievable - I thought it was from one of those major bubble machines!
Cool. I had no idea it looked so much like snow. That is my kind of "snow," actually -- in 80 degrees! :)
WOW I do not got that much cotton.
But I am wondering if there is enything to do with the cotton?
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