suppressing pollen panic, plus pretty posies

11 a.m. today, this was the scene:

Honda lid. DARK BLUE Honda lid. 

Normally barely visible orb web in window rendered BRIGHT by pollen coat. 

Bank o' pollen bashing against Honda weather stripping. It wants to be everywhere. 

Pollack-y pollenart on white Mazda pickup. Plus random tiny bug.

So, I hosed down our cars, the narrow walk around the house, some of the house walls, and the nearest grasses to get the EXUBERANTLY abundant pollen wet and DOWN.

Make it be still.

And not hover around my face.

And I felt better. =)

And cooler... ah....

6 hours later, I see this.

Note pollen donors reflecting, mocking...

SIX HOURS and there's a brand NEW layer upon everything.

Looking out earlier I thought there was a dust storm blowing between the trees.

Nope. This dust is a greenish yellow.

These trees are determined to GET IT DONE!

Man.

So, the original reason I went out was to examine an oak gall

Bear told me about, so I'll post about that, and the other things I found, next.

Meanwhile, however, two flowering plants I saw while out this a.m.,

including one of my faves, Sisyrinchium bellum, blue-eyed grass.

Shining with newness.

Profile:

hubba. hubba.

Gasp. 

These 2 were only 3 inches tall, max. SO CUTE!

Lilliputian, if you'll forgive the flowery pun.

Based on this post, it could be 1 of several yellow violets native to the area,

and I'm too hungry right now to figure out which

(pardon, but still-warm banana bread beckons).

And, by the way, actually WATERED my FEW remaining irises

(the gopher keeps eating them) this a.m.,

and this afternoon, one bloomed!

Now, that's a nice thank you!

Will post on oak gall, and serendipitous bugs, next.

xoxobb