February 4, 2025
Box Elder (Acer negundo), a species of Maple that is native to much of eastern North America and in many scattered areas throughout the rest of the continent, all the way south to Guatemala. There is even a Box Elder County in Utah.
These are seeds of Box Elder, called helicopters or samaras. Perhaps you recall, from your childhood, why they are called helicopters. They twirl to the ground as they fall.
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4 responses to “Box Elder Samaras”
Not relevant but I can’t resist telling you that this afternoon’s sunshine brought a horde of tiny wasps to a clump of snowdrops in the sun. They buzzed very noisily as they got into all the flowers- which I hope pollinated them as I have promised bulbs to friends. So springlike!!
Jackie
Hi Jackie!
How wonderful to hear! You, being down in the warmer low lands are getting your Sundrops earlier than up here. I so look forward to seeing them. I wonder what sort of wasps were visiting your beautiful flowers.
And good news here. We have power again. Just within the last few minutes. Hallelujah!
Thanks so much for reading my posts! HUGS!!
Bren
I don’t know my wasps very well. They were small, busy, about ?20 of them. And very happy to have found a source of energy. If its sunny today maybe I will see if I can catch one and photograph it – a worthy endeavor, much better than reading the news….. Hugs, J
Oh Jackie ANYTHING is better than reading the news. I was born in Washington DC, which I’ve always explained as the reason I’ve been addicted to news – all the time. But with this horrendous situation, I’ve dropped the Washington Post and the NYTimes sending me emails. NOT listening to WTOP all day long. Listening to music all day. Not really helping yet. GROSS! I’m so embarrassed how things are turning.
Jackie, thank you so much for reading my posts!
Bren