Have you noticed all the white, fluffy stuff floating through the air the instant you step outside?  Same.

Whether you've been driving, hiking, running errands, or dining outside, you've probably been dodging all the white fluff in the air.  No, it's not dandelion fluff, that's for sure.

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I thought it was just from a tree in my neighborhood, but it's actually happening everywhere in Rockford.  Even areas that don't have a lot of trees like major intersections, I still see the fluff floating around.  So, I wanted to know what it was and why there's so much all over town.

Illinois Air: What's That Fluffy White Stuff Floating Thru The Air?

It turns out, seeds from trees like cottonwood, poplar, and willow trees tend to release soft, cottony tuffs that can float for miles at a time.  It's usually the female trees that'll do this around this time of year.

That's what's been getting stuck in your hair, your car doors, and cracks of your windshield lately.

"Many people mistake this “fluff” for dandelion fluff or pollen, but it is the seeds of the Cottonwood trees. Cottonwoods start producing seeds when the trees are 5 to 10 years old. They produce up to 48 million seeds per year and are dispersed through wind, but the conditions have to be just right in order for the seeds to germinate, not too hot, not too cold, not too wet, and not too dry. Seed dispersal usually occurs in June and July in our area, but with all of this warm weather we have been having the trees have gotten a head start!" [baltimorewoods]

 

Yup, I have a gigantic willow tree in my front yard, so this makes total sense.  It might be harmless to most people; others could have a serious allergy.  If you've felt like allergies have been worse with the cotton, you might want to get an allergy test done to see what you're really allergic to, it could be cottonwood!