Judy Byykkonen was hiking along Gardener Creek and encountered what looked like snow covering the ground. It’s actually cottonwood seed, which seems to be quite abundant this year, as you can see the fluff floating through the air lately. Judy said she’s never seen so much of the fluff in the woods as this year. There’s so much of the white cottonwood seed there in the woods, that Judy’s white, fluffy dog, Zelda is almost invisible in the last photo.

You either love a cottonwood tree or you hate them, depending on whether you live next door to one. I’m sure there are good aspects of these trees, but my experience has been on the negative side of them. When we were living in town, our neighbors had two of them in their yard. Every year in May the mess starts with sticky pods that drop and then stick to the bottom of your shoes, your dogs paws and worst of all on your vehicles, leaving hardened pitch that is difficult to remove. Then in June/July the cotton starts. It blows around and sticks to everything, clothes on the line to dry, food when you open the grill, window screens... it even swirls around and comes in the house when you open the door. To top it all off, it’s highly flammable, so be careful lighting sparklers and firecrackers nearby the fluff. Yes, I’m definitely in the “hate them” category!

Let’s join Chad the Nature Dad to learn more about Cottonwood Seeds.

Very cool pictures. Thanks, Judy.

Since i was just outside working in the yard and ended up with cottonseed fluff in my water glass, i'm on the 'no' team! And thanks for the info Mary, i never knew it was that flammable!

I don't like them either. They're a
nuisance, very annoying.

I agree with the ladies.... They find their way into
my truck all the time it seems like, nasty.

Sounds like no one is happy about the fluff,
including me

HOLY WHA....I've not seen that, but I do remember a
few emails from Mary about them! She IS on the NO
side. That is amazing.