Whirl·y·bird : (h)wərlēˌbərd : [noun] : a helicopter.
: : :
These are not really whirlybirds,
nor helicopters,
but as kids that’s what we called them.
Watching them flutter to the ground in the thin autumn sunshine,
was a delight to the senses of childhood.
Sometimes we would pick them up and fling them into the air
as far as possible only to watch them flutter
earthward again,
and again.
: : :
These are from the maple native to the Pacific Northwest,
the Broad Leaf Maple, and it’s ‘keys’
(as these little fluttering seeds are actually called)
are about an 1 1/2″ inches long and 7/16″ inch at the widest.
The key heads contain the actual seed and are surprisingly edible,
if one needed to survive in the woods.
I’m no Euell Gibbons,
so I will continue let them delight the senses of the child within me,
when the maple trees release them
into the wind
each fall.
: : :
~Blessings Always~
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‘WEEKLY TOP SHOT’ #154
Welcome to Weekly Top Shot, a weekly photo meme!
It’s your turn to share your top shot of the week.
The linky will open every Saturday morning around 09:00 Pacific Time.
Thank you for visiting and sharing!
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I love those whirlybirds – our youngest daughter called them hoptacopters when she was 3. I’m glad this meme is back – I love it. Thanks
Great photo and: I’m glad, that Weekly Top Shot is back :-)
In German they are called “acer noses” and the children open the seed pods and stick them on teire noses. There is something inside adhesive.
Have a nice sunday
We always called them pollynoses, especially in the spring when they are fresh and green.