Backyard Nature: A cottonwood storm and other joys, courtesy of Mother Nature

by Marlene Berlin

I first noticed the storm as I walked down Davenport Street toward Rock Creek Park. White balls of fluff were dancing and floating in the air all around me. The cottonwood storm overtook me again as I walked along the Broad Branch daylighted stream.

Any other time of year, the fluff might be mistaken for snowflakes. But this was Mother’s Day, and I recognized it as the cotton-coated seeds of cottonwood trees.

When they were not floating, the seeds were coating the ground, the leaves and the stream.

Mother Nature had other joys to reveal. From the Valley Trail, I was treated to stunning views of Rock Creek.

Under Broad Branch stream’s floating seeds, a large pollywog was hanging out. It was a clear sign that the frogs have been busy mating.

I then saw the water in one of the pools rippling in circular waves. It was my old friends, the water skimmers.