Pollen

Pollen season is on its way.  These Loblolly pines are ready to send out their yellow smoke.

 

Pines will grow anywhere

Pine trees will grow anywhere.  This one is growing in the crook of a crepe myrtle street tree.

 

Pine

Pine trees will try to grow anywhere they can.  This one is growing out of a stump in the middle of a pond.  

 

Red tail

This Red Tailed Hawk swooped high up in the loblolly pine and scanned for prey.  He flew off when the blue jays started to harass him.

 

Sunset

Sunset through the pines.

Pollen season

Every spring, the sidewalks, cars, and everything outside gets a layer of yellow pollen.  The trees each have a week or two when they send out clouds of yellow pollen.  Maples, Birch, Hickory (above) and most of all Loblolly Pines make the ground turn yellow.

Lone Surviver

These Loblolly Pines were growing tall under the powerlines.  Duke Energy must have come by and killed them because they all suddenly turned brown.  All except this little survivor.

A little bit early?

Merry Christmas.

I found this on a young tree beside the Neuse River Greenway.