Cottony things floating in the air today

[El Jefe]

I have a nice midtown view and the air is thick today with light, cottony thingums floating among the skyscrapers.

Does anyone know what they are? They look too big to be from dandelion clocks (as I just learned they're called). My lead suspect at the moment is the cottonwood tree.

When I was in Florence, years ago, the same seeds (or whatever) were floating around, and I had the worst allergies I've had in my life. So far, today is not so bad.

 

[Regan]

I don't know as I'm not near a window, but what I can say is that I think 'dandelion clocks' is my new favorite combination of words.

 

[Major Dude]

I've seen these things all day out my window in midtown. And I'm on the 16th floor.

 

[El Jefe]

I don't know as I'm not near a window, but what I can say is that I think 'dandelion clocks' is my new favorite combination of words.

Right? Dibs on a band or album name.

 

[goldfish boy]

What you may be referring to is clouds. Were little pieces of water falling out of them a few days ago?

 

[Regan]

Right? Dibs on a band or album name.

And I'll use it as a novel title or improv team name. Win-win.

 

[burns1]

I don't know as I'm not near a window, but what I can say is that I think 'dandelion clocks' is my new favorite combination of words.

Are you telling me none of you had heard of Dandelion Clocks before?

We used to use them to tell the time when we were kids over here. However many puffs of breath it took to blow all the bits off the stem, that's what time it was.

Of course that meant that it was nearly always one or two o'clock...

And yeah, they are a bitch for my hayfever too, so good luck today to all sufferers.

 

[El Jefe]

Are you telling me none of you had heard of Dandelion Clocks before?

We used to use them to tell the time when we were kids over here. However many puffs of breath it took to blow all the bits off the stem, that's what time it was.

In America, I think it's more about wishes. If you blow all the bits off in one blow, you get your wish. Which is why, I guess, Wikipedia offered the alternate name wishies, though I have never once heard them called that either.

I've also heard them mistakenly referred to as milkweed, which is an entirely different plant.

I wasn't sure until that article what the relation was between the yellow flower and the white clock. Apparently the former matures into the latter.

What you may be referring to is clouds. Were little pieces of water falling out of them a few days ago?

Why, I oughta...

 

[burns1]

Wishes is SO much better than time telling. We clearly lack imagination over here.

When I was a lad, if you rubbed a magic lamp, you expected a newsreader to pop out.

 

[ssw]

I saw these yesterday evening in Astor Place and thought it was dandelion spores. Then somebody told me it was fake snow for a Catherine Zeta-Jones movie.

Starr can back me up on this.

 

[El Jefe]

Wishes is SO much better than time telling. We clearly lack imagination over here.

When I was a lad, if you rubbed a magic lamp, you expected a newsreader to pop out.

If I had the authority, I would call this the post of the day.

 

[Sry An]

I have a nice midtown view and the air is thick today with light, cottony thingums floating among the skyscrapers.

Does anyone know what they are? They look too big to be from dandelion clocks (as I just learned they're called). My lead suspect at the moment is the cottonwood tree.

When I was in Florence, years ago, the same seeds (or whatever) were floating around, and I had the worst allergies I've had in my life. So far, today is not so bad.

I'm almost positive you're right in saying these are Cottonwood products. Cottonwoods grow really well in NYC, and their fluffy, white seed catkins hit the ground in the spring and are carried by the wind. If you can catch any bigger masses, look to see if little seeds are inside.

Willow, Sycamore, and Cattail trees also have slightly fuzzy seeds, but not to the same extent. I think Cottonwood is the best answer.

 

[Fortunado]

Careful is isn't the start of this!