Running of the Elms

Surely you have heard of the ‘Running of the Elms”. An annual event throughout the nation, although not publicized as much as Spain’s Running of the Bulls. It happened here yesterday when the winds reached 30 mph+ with evidence all over in the streets today as if a parade had occurred. Piles of spectator seeds still lying in the gutter, too scared to be chased by the onslaught of bullish vehicles, chose to lie where they landed.

As I was planting and weeding in my front yard, it sounded like a healthy stream of water rushing down my street. Every time I looked all I could see was the round dried out Chinese elm seeds bouncing and racing down the street in an effort to be missed by the anything at its rear. They all wanted to get into the action after being pushed from their breezy home high in our neighbor’s trees. Not as colorful but just as exciting when I spied a pile on the mat by my front step vying to slip into the safety of my entryway, when I opened the door. A few quick ones made it.

Took me back to the spring we planted our front lawn. Breann recently reminded me of her assignment to scatter grass clippings on our newly seeded soil. Shortly thereafter, the ‘Running of the Elms’ made a beeline directly to the same area covering every single spot with their wax paper thin round bodies. When the blades of grass should have appeared weeks later, we were met with baby elms numbering more than the sands of the sea. Our neighbor apologized and we put the seedlings to work shading our new lawn (Breann refused to do it), until we could mow them down. Have you see the ‘Running of the Elms’ in your neighborhood yet?