29 September 2007

Pod Fest



We have lived in two houses, both on boulevards and both with female locust trees in the yard. Don't get me wrong...they are beautiful most of the time, but occasionally they go into distress and release a huge number of pods. The pods are fine (actually, quite decorative) when they are hanging up in the trees, but you can see what a mess they make when they fall.

Today was Pod Fest day. As soon as the wind kicked in this morning, pods began flying through the air. SMACK! They hit the house and windows, alarming Tinsel and Lily. They blew from our yard into our neighbor's yard (nice). And as bad as it looks right now, not even half of the pods have fallen.

A couple of years ago, I came up with an idea for a Pod Catcher. This device would fit around the tree and catch the pods as they drop. It would look sort of like a large trampoline with sides and a hole in the center for the tree trunk. When the pods finish dropping, you'd simply lower the sides, cinch the top and haul the whole mess to the local composting area. Don't you think it's a fabulous idea?

While I'm trying to locate a manufacturer for my Pod Catcher, I'm also open to craft ideas.

Anything to avoid raking.


6 comments:

Maureen said...

Wow...wierd. I thought those were snakes at first! Yikes, I have never seen those before.

Love your catcher idea! As for crafts, heck, I'm at a loss...

Janet said...

Maureen -- Dude, if those were snakes, I'd have to be hauled away...I'm deathly afraid of them! Ya know, since you're not familiar with them, I could send you a large box of them...free shipping! How 'bout it?? :-) Janet

Maureen said...

Hah! Not on yer life... altho, I could use the same box to send you back a bunch of straws for Lily ;)

Janet said...

OK, now we're talking...I hear you have connections at Starbucks! :-)

Jill said...

I've seen them before, I just had no idea they dropped en masse like that! I feel bad for the trees going "into distress". :-( No chance it's just a normal fall occurence?

Rachael said...

I had no idea there were males and females!! We must have a male in our backyard then! That is the dirtiest tree!! So messy!! LOL