Thursday, May 6, 2010

Snap, Crackle, Wisteria Pop

As Husband and I were lingering over our soup this evening, the sharp cracks began to interrupt our conversation. Our wisteria is at the peak of bloom, but some seed pods from last summer are hanging on. Just now, after a winter that was wetter and longer than usual, followed by several windy and warm days, they are exploding and shooting their seeds across the yard.

I went outside just before the sun went down and caught some pictures. Here is the evidence on the patio, along with fallen blossoms.


This picture shows two pods, one unopened, and one and seemingly just waiting for the wind to bring its seeds down.


At right, one seed sticking out from its pod, holding on by a thread.

It must be a complicated formula that tells the pods when to burst open, or a certain number of hot and cold contractions, combined with humidity, that determines why some shoot in the spring, and some in the fall.

One September our neighbor whose yard backs up to ours phoned us after dark and said, "I am really afraid; it sounds like someone is shooting at my house!"

We told her it was the wisteria. Hers always blooms way earlier than ours in the spring, being on the east side of her house, while ours is on the west, and in its own tardy micro-climate. They probably do their seed-scattering alternately as well.

We are kept busy pruning or sweeping, smelling or listening to this vine through all the seasons of the year. It's a great back yard resource!

6 comments:

Pom Pom said...

How interesting! Wisteria is so pretty, but I didn't know about the pods.

Martha said...

While living in Georgia, I admired the wisteria, but never had any nearby...I never knew about the popping seeds! What a neat thing!!!

Leslie said...

How funny! I would love to be able to hear what that sounds like. I planted a wysteria last year so I look forward to some seed popping of my own in a year or three. Do new plants come up from the seeds? I mean...I know that's the idea but things don't always work that way. Nothing smells quite so good!

GretchenJoanna said...

We have had several wisteria plants sprout from the seeds that land in a favorable place, but not as many as we might have expected, considering how many hit the earth.

magsmcc said...

I wonder would wisteria like this Northern clime? That would be a much more welcome garden noise than the intermittent drip of an errant and mysteriously temperamental overflow pipe. Plumber required, methinks! Do you have a fabulous scent from your symphony?

Gigi said...

Well, I never! I love love wisteria! Don't know why I've never planted one here -- must do so this year! They do smell so divine, don't they?
Blessings and angels,
G