Cottonwood Blizzard

Outside our apartment building stands a tall cottonwood tree. This year it has been showering us for days and weeks with a delicate rain of white fluffies. Some days when Sugar and I poke our noses out the door in the early dawn, the grass is so covered in the white tree seed that you would swear it had snowed. As Sugar trots across the grass, the whiteness swirls around her like glitter in a snow globe.

How could one single tree shed so much? I look up and tons of long dangling white pods grace the branches, clusters of albino grapes awaiting the plucking. It must be a banner year for cottonwoods.

Today our tree outdid itself. Chunks of white pelt us as we venture forth for our morning walk. The blizzard is so thick I can scarcely see a foot in front of me. We stand waiting for the cottonwood storm to abate, Sugar shivering a bit in the early morning chill. Suddenly, I can resist no longer. I pirouette out into the yard, my arms outstretched, my face to the sky (resisting the temptation to stick out my tongue as I would in a snowstorm). I swirl and waltz about, Sugar jumping excitedly alongside until I collapse on the stoop, laughing and gasping for air.

The cottonwood blizzard shows no sign of slowing down any time soon. Sugar snuffles in the white accumulation by the steps, tossing it in the air with her nose. There is at least a two inch pile on each side of the railing under the bushes. It's like being in a twisted dream or a weird sci-fi. We finally run out of time and head inside, glancing wistfully over our shoulders as we leave the scene. It wasn't this way last year. Not sure if we will see this sort of odd nature event anytime soon again.

At least I have experienced one cottonwood shower in my lifetime! How unique. What fun!