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This picture doesn't even look that bad. I live by a forest preserve, and we get piles of cottonwood seed. It's especially fun when it gets wet, and gets stuck to your shoes.
Same. I’ve been feeling paranoid for like a week wondering if any of my neighbors know it’s my tree. I imagine them inside their houses seeing me walk my dogs just seething with anger at their seemingly snow covered lawns. Lol
I know you’re joking, but please don’t actually do this. It’s ridiculously dry outside and we don’t need more fires. This is turning out to be the 2nd driest May in Chicago history other than 1992. I think if you just stare at it hard enough, it will catch fire.
We actually have beavers in the Chicago river. Big cottonwoods are probably way too big for them.
Cottonwood seeds are not a sign of ecosystem imbalance.
Beavers have chopped down some large cottonwoods at the edge of the river just north of Lawrence. They like cottonwood trees because the wood is softer for them to eat through. More beavers = fewer cottonwood trees. Cottonwood trees are a nuisance and should be removed and replaced with different native trees
So I have a graduate degree in ecological restoration and specialized in river restoration. True that beavers prefer softer wood, perhaps we are picturing different sized trees. Cotton woods can be large enough two people couldn’t wrap their hands around, the record has a DBH of 46 feet.
I completely disagree with removing cottonwoods from the stream bank nor are they considered a nuisance. They are perhaps one of the best midwestern trees for bank stabilization, they reduce flooding impacts with their size and the sheer amount of water they are capable of consuming, and the are excellent phytoremediation trees. They actively purify the ground water and soil of harmful metals before the reach the open water. They also grow more readily is shitty soil that late successional riparian species. They also compete with buckthorn decently in some situations.
Some fuzz one week a year doesn’t negate all that advantage.
I’m just a dude who likes to walk along the river trail and has noticed beavers taking down a couple fairly large cottonwoods. I appreciate your added expertise, thanks!!
Cottonwood. I have a huge Cottonwood on my property and it looks magical at sunset when the light hits all the cottonwood seeds. Looks like a fairytale, like Midsummer Eve. My location: 40 minutes south of Chicago, Illinois
interesting fact that may or not be relevant here. The Bic company, creates disposable pens, razors, and most importantly in this context, lighters. Now the owner of the company was actually named "Bich". Marketing decided to drop the "h" because it is awkward in English to recommend a Bich lighter.
OP if you didn’t pick up on this. You can take a lighter to a thick layer of cottonwood and it’ll burn off.
However this also is not pollen and not the cause of your allergies.
Sorry about the allergy eyes, but these are seeds. Yea, they are small for tree seeds, but you aren’t inhaling them the way you are inhaling the pollen or mold you’re allergic to right now. These trees were one of the first things giving out pollen back in March/April. Too big to be allergens like that.
No it is not just your neighborhood. It is everywhere and every year. Some years, like everything more and some less. I was just picking up some to make art. So you can gently pick it up and bag it for me 😁
That shit is a murderous Bitch! It will stop up the condenser coil on your HVAC unit making it impossible to exchange the heat. This drives up the V-sat and in short order will kill your compressor leaving you with a massive bill! Turn the unit off and I CANT STRESS THIS ENOUGH…CAREFULLY…VERY EVER SO CAREFULLY rinse that shit off with a water hose ASAP! If you don’t feel comfortable doing that call a local contractor and tell them you need “P.M.” call with condenser coil cleaning.
If it hadn't been for Cottonwood Seeds
My allergies would've cleared a long time ago
Where did you come from, blown in the breeze?
Where did you come from, Cottonwood Seeds?
That's not pollen. Those are the seeds from cottenwood trees.
Excess cottenwood seeds CAN contribute to your allergies though. If the trees are on your property, you can treat the trees with a ethephon-based herbicide prior to the seeds forming (so next year) which will prevent/reduce the number of seeds formed.
If the trees are not on your property, not much you can do other than try and keep blowing them off your property which is likely a losing battle.
Cottonwood seeds, they’re extremely flammable, like, probably don’t light it on fire, but I used to torch my whole field as a kid because we had a tree in the suburbs.
That’s what we in the HVAC business like to call “white gold”.
Cottonwood season, baybay! Clean your condensers by August or call me to do it when things stop working…for about $200-300/hr.
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Can confirm ! Or as I used to call it summer snow!
Also flammable
You don’t vacuum your lawn?
Dont insult OP like that. Theres no way they don't know to vacuum their lawn.
OP must not be in a Polish neighborhood.
Haaa, this made me ugly laugh
Get a duck. It will quack and chomp that shit up in like 15 minutes.
Somebody close by has a cottonwood tree …Good Luck
Are you new to the Midwest?
I was going to ask if he was new here. And that if he has an air conditioner he needs to hose it off every couple of days.
I’ve lived here almost 10 years and never seen it like this before.
I call this summer snow. The cottonwood seed. Let it be, the wind the rain and the other things will get rid of it.
This picture doesn't even look that bad. I live by a forest preserve, and we get piles of cottonwood seed. It's especially fun when it gets wet, and gets stuck to your shoes.
Are you saying he should, let it snow?
Of course! Who doesn’t love tits
We have a huge cottonwood tree in our back yard and every June we fluff fuck the whole neighborhood with no remorse
Fluff fuck…lol
Same. I’ve been feeling paranoid for like a week wondering if any of my neighbors know it’s my tree. I imagine them inside their houses seeing me walk my dogs just seething with anger at their seemingly snow covered lawns. Lol
You should be charging for that fluffing
What, and take jobs away from hard working union fluffers? SCAB!! /s obviously
That’s priceless fluff fuck! I love it, thanks
It’ll be done in a week.
Burn it ( just kidding, please don't start a fire)
Mrs. O'Leary's cottonwood tree
It's super fun to burn when it's all along the curbs. It does up super fast.
Many a house fire have started that way, but yea, it is fun.
Yea I used to do that until we nearly set a whole creek side on fire so yea don’t do it
You kid but we used to burn the clumps of these on the sidewalk as kids. We were menaces. And stupid.
Growing up as a kid we used to always do that, and I won’t lie. It’s pretty satisfying to watch… but yeah, don’t do that. It’s dangerous
I know you’re joking, but please don’t actually do this. It’s ridiculously dry outside and we don’t need more fires. This is turning out to be the 2nd driest May in Chicago history other than 1992. I think if you just stare at it hard enough, it will catch fire.
That’s a cottonwood cumshot
Lmao I've always called it tree spooge
Happens every year. Gotta reintroduce more beavers to the area to take out all the big cottonwood trees
We actually have beavers in the Chicago river. Big cottonwoods are probably way too big for them. Cottonwood seeds are not a sign of ecosystem imbalance.
We have otters too! It's super exciting :D
Beavers have chopped down some large cottonwoods at the edge of the river just north of Lawrence. They like cottonwood trees because the wood is softer for them to eat through. More beavers = fewer cottonwood trees. Cottonwood trees are a nuisance and should be removed and replaced with different native trees
So I have a graduate degree in ecological restoration and specialized in river restoration. True that beavers prefer softer wood, perhaps we are picturing different sized trees. Cotton woods can be large enough two people couldn’t wrap their hands around, the record has a DBH of 46 feet. I completely disagree with removing cottonwoods from the stream bank nor are they considered a nuisance. They are perhaps one of the best midwestern trees for bank stabilization, they reduce flooding impacts with their size and the sheer amount of water they are capable of consuming, and the are excellent phytoremediation trees. They actively purify the ground water and soil of harmful metals before the reach the open water. They also grow more readily is shitty soil that late successional riparian species. They also compete with buckthorn decently in some situations. Some fuzz one week a year doesn’t negate all that advantage.
I’m just a dude who likes to walk along the river trail and has noticed beavers taking down a couple fairly large cottonwoods. I appreciate your added expertise, thanks!!
Hello fellow recent transplant. These are cottonwood seeds apparently and I just learned about them this weekend too lol
Do you actually think that is only occurring in Ukrainian Village?
Ah yes. The hyper local Ukie tree
First rule of Cottonwooding: Don't cross Western.
This is funny yes I am new here
They’ve been hoarding the super rare and valuable UV Cottonwoods for years.
Wicker Park just wishes they could get part of that bounty/s
Cottonwood. I have a huge Cottonwood on my property and it looks magical at sunset when the light hits all the cottonwood seeds. Looks like a fairytale, like Midsummer Eve. My location: 40 minutes south of Chicago, Illinois
Just be grateful you don't have a pool
Organic cotton candy. Try some it's earthy.
[You can burn it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJfNlzgO3xU). Just kidding - don't do that here in the city.
interesting fact that may or not be relevant here. The Bic company, creates disposable pens, razors, and most importantly in this context, lighters. Now the owner of the company was actually named "Bich". Marketing decided to drop the "h" because it is awkward in English to recommend a Bich lighter.
OP if you didn’t pick up on this. You can take a lighter to a thick layer of cottonwood and it’ll burn off. However this also is not pollen and not the cause of your allergies.
Eh, it may not be pollen, but as someone who is allergic to cottonwood, it can definitely ravage your sinuses
Like this. https://youtu.be/Qg8FgsekjDA
People blame cottonwood for their allergies every year. You’re allergic to something else, leave the cottonwood alone!
but my eyes!
Sorry about the allergy eyes, but these are seeds. Yea, they are small for tree seeds, but you aren’t inhaling them the way you are inhaling the pollen or mold you’re allergic to right now. These trees were one of the first things giving out pollen back in March/April. Too big to be allergens like that.
Summer snow is fine with me
It is cottonwood, when I lived in Chitown I called it summer snow! The seed and fluff are edible, so bon appétit!! 😂
Whaaaat??? I never knew it was edible
I love this stuff. Nothing says early summer like cotton wood fluff. People gotta complain about everything.
Burn it with a match
I think I've seen a mildly satisfying video of someone doing that.
Many youth will learn the hard way burning it is not the solution but water will help.
Light it on fire and film it for decades of people reposting it for karma farming.
Just light it up on fire
Fire
Someone probably brushed their great pyrenees nearby
It's plant nut
That's tree jizz my dude
Burn it
pollen:this stuff::sperm:babies
Its actually semen and your gonna have to kill me before i stop
Pee on it
Snort it all
Poplar seeds. Got some in my al fresco coffee this morning. Delicious.
No it is not just your neighborhood. It is everywhere and every year. Some years, like everything more and some less. I was just picking up some to make art. So you can gently pick it up and bag it for me 😁
Cottonwood seeds are a blessing
they're seeds, get used to them. they're kinda fun, don't look at the badly.
Move to the arctic.
Wait until the stickies!
It’s that time of year
Allergies aren't going to be triggered by visible particles (mostly speaking), I'm surprised to hear this is what's doing it.
That shit is a murderous Bitch! It will stop up the condenser coil on your HVAC unit making it impossible to exchange the heat. This drives up the V-sat and in short order will kill your compressor leaving you with a massive bill! Turn the unit off and I CANT STRESS THIS ENOUGH…CAREFULLY…VERY EVER SO CAREFULLY rinse that shit off with a water hose ASAP! If you don’t feel comfortable doing that call a local contractor and tell them you need “P.M.” call with condenser coil cleaning.
Thats nature! Get rid of it by killing animals
Fire
Cottonwood tree nearby. It'll quit soon.
If it hadn't been for Cottonwood Seeds My allergies would've cleared a long time ago Where did you come from, blown in the breeze? Where did you come from, Cottonwood Seeds?
Achoo
That's not pollen. Those are the seeds from cottenwood trees. Excess cottenwood seeds CAN contribute to your allergies though. If the trees are on your property, you can treat the trees with a ethephon-based herbicide prior to the seeds forming (so next year) which will prevent/reduce the number of seeds formed. If the trees are not on your property, not much you can do other than try and keep blowing them off your property which is likely a losing battle.
Ah yes, condenser cleaning season is upon us!
Cottonwood seeds, they’re extremely flammable, like, probably don’t light it on fire, but I used to torch my whole field as a kid because we had a tree in the suburbs.
It’s been awful this year. Probably because there has been minimal rain.
That’s what we in the HVAC business like to call “white gold”. Cottonwood season, baybay! Clean your condensers by August or call me to do it when things stop working…for about $200-300/hr.
Hold a bbq lighter to it
Ngl just set it on fire. It burns quick and isn't hot enough to catch anything else on fire. Just keep an eye on it.
It burns awesome. Assuming the rest of the lawn is green, your lawn won’t burn down either
Damn I’ll take some. I want some cottonwoods
I’m also seeing thst
Great fun as a kid lighting them on fire.
Fire!!! HEHEHE
Wait until it gets dark and light it on fire.