The winner of the last giveaway is:
NATHALIE MORIN
To claim your winnings just send me an e-mail: olympicorchids at gmail dot com or leave a PM on the Olympic Orchids Facebook page.
As usual, when one giveaway ends another one begins. Right now I’m just trying to get through the last three weeks of spring quarter at the university, all the while keeping up with shipping out plants and perfumes.
This week the cottonwood trees are doing their thing, releasing flakes of white material that look just like snowflakes. The cottonwood snowstorm always reminds me of Fellini’s movie Amarcord, where the old man looks at the floating white particles from the trees and says, “vagano, vagano, vagano …” (they drift… and drift … and drift). Around where I live, there are so many cottonwood trees that the white fluff accumulates on the ground, just like snow.
Do you have any similar phenomenon where you live? Leave a comment about it, or just leave a random comment to be entered in the next drawing for 100 g of perfume samples and anything else that I decide to throw in.
[Photos of accumulated cottonwood "snow" in a local parking lot are mine]
Posts
For the past few weeks we have had a thin layer of neon green tree pollen over EVERYTHING; cars, fences, mailboxes, dogs, etc. It’s terrible for my seasonal allergies and an absolute mess when it rains and we get swirls or wet pollen. Fortunately, it should be over soon!
ReplyDeleteTriniti, I remember all those layers of pollen from when I lived back east. We even had a "pollen storm" once, when the whole sky turned yellow-green. Here it seems like pollen is released in smaller amounts all year round. You're entered in the drawing.
DeleteHow seemingly magical your cottonwoods are creating a bed of white.
ReplyDeleteLike Triniti's comment, for the past few days, I have been on my hand and knees scrubbing the dried pollen (mostly pine) off my Mother's huge patio tile floors. An annual event. Not magical.
Martin, I guess the cottonwood fluff is preferable to the dried pollen, especially if you have to scrub it. You're entered in the drawing.
DeleteWe get pollen like crazy here, but one strange one is the twice-annual invasion of love bugs. There are zillions of the harmless (except to your car paint), amorous black bugs around roadways and fields. Appearing in April and again in September, they mean 2-3 weeks of non-stop car washing and sweeping around your doorways.
ReplyDeleteThe love bugs sound awful I'll take cottonwood fluff and pollen any day! You're entered in the drawing.
DeleteOur cottonwood are also drifting. They are quickly mucking the water in the pond I've just cleaned out and when I look out my window it looks like it's snowing.
ReplyDeleteColoratura, the cottonwoods do make it look like it's snowing. I hadn't thought about it mucking up pond water, but I guess it would. You're in the drawing.
DeleteMaples, cottonwoods, pine trees, have them all, lol. I purchased an electric blower. No more sweeping! ;D
ReplyDeleteMary, speaking of maples, we have big leaf maple seedlings coming up everywhere. I've got to get rid of the ones in the flower beds. The last thing we need is more big leaf maple trees. You're in the drawing.
DeleteWe do, though it's not exactly the same nor is it anywhere near as pleasant. We get lovebugs, EVERYWHERE, and they similarly collect all over. Mostly on our cars, though.
ReplyDeleteParrot, The idea of bugs all over the place is just disgusting. I'm glad we don't have them here. The ants are bad enough. You're in the drawing.
DeleteOh yeah! In the big plane where I live in Italy there are lots of poplar trees that spread tons and tons of snowflakes!
ReplyDeleteLorenzo, cottonwoods are a type of poplar, so they have the same habits everywhere. You're in the drawing.
DeleteWe were walking our dogs the other day and my daughter said "Dad, it's snowing!" I had to remind her that it doesn't snow when it's 70° outside unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteChris, If you like the look of snow but don't like the cold, then cottonwoods at 70 degrees are definitely the way to go! You're entered in the drawing.
DeleteNothing fluffy around, but at this time of year my pulmonaria and borage are bristling with hairy spring life, covered in blue flowers and alive with bees, which is lovely to see...
ReplyDeleteLena, I'm so glad to hear that your flowers are attracting bees. Now that's an insect that's welcome in our garden, especially honeybees. You're in the drawing.
DeleteWow! That looks awesome
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that comes close is the petals from cherries and magnolias... But only right when they're falling.
We have many lovely fragrant experiences but nothing quite as soft and fuzzy as that. I think pollen is more grungy than fuzzy.
This year I got a broom plant and a couple carnations, and my Jasmine will be blooming soon--lots of great scents! Though I think my trader Joe's gardenia has kicked the watering can as it were.
Mim, our carnations survived the horrible snow and cold and are in bud right now. I love their fragrance. The jasmine was not so lucky, probably because it was so small. Our neighbor's big jasmine bushes came through the snow OK. You're entered in the drawing.
DeleteI live close to DC and we go to the Cherry Blossom.festival every spring. My favorite time is towards the end of the bloom when the petals are falling off the trees. It’s magical walking through the Tidal Basin when a breeze is blowing. Makes me feel like twirling!
ReplyDeleteAnne, We have beautiful Japanese cherry trees on campus, and they're a big tourist attraction when they bloom. One day when I was walking to class I saw what would normally be a small dust devil, but it was a cherry blossom devil. Amazing! You're entered in the drawing.
DeleteI've seen a bit of cottonwood fluff, but it's been so cold and rainy I think everything is behind in MN
ReplyDeleteUnknown, everything is about a month behind here, too. With luck, the peonies will escape the last late spring rain that usually beats them down. The first of them have just started to bloom. You're entered in the drawing.
DeleteJust yesterday I was mesmerized looking out the window at what looked like monster sized dandelion spoors - I wondered if that was from Cottonwood trees - still don't know. I love the Fellini quote! “vagano, vagano, vagano …” That sums it up!
ReplyDeleteLeah, What you saw probably was cottonwood fluff. You're entered in the drawing, winner to be posted any day now.
ReplyDelete