autumn milkweed

autumn milkweed, originally uploaded by d_g_s.

This autumn the milkweed in our backyard managed to pass the six foot mark. Now, some of the strands arch-over in half circles, still flowering, still producing numerous seed pods. Each individual branch ends in five or more pods, more than I expected. Every-so-often a ripened husk bursts open revealing layers of feathery-down and countless grains. With the right wind gust, the yard fills with the parachuting seeds.