Lake Superior's annual pollen "spill"
Yep, it’s the annual pollen spill here in Lake Superior country.
Yellow pollen swept in and out with the waves
Instead of an oil spill gushing up from beneath the sea, we have pollen gently blowing down in the lake from our blossoming trees.
Yellow closely hugs the shore
The edges of the lake turn yellow at this time of year. More pollen than one could imagine gathers to float on the waves, hug the rocks, and sometimes form surrealistic patterns against the blue waters.
Milky-yellow pollen water splashes on stones
Perhaps the pollen floats in patterned swills out further in the lake, as well. I don’t know. I walked photographing stones the other day and don’t know an extensive amount about the spring behavior of pollen as it drifts further from shore.
My husband says fishermen call the pollen line by the un-beautiful name of “the Scum Line”. He says fish often congregate at the scum line.
In some areas pollen lies murky
Don’t your prefer that we call it the pollen line? The pollen spill?
In other areas it forms patterns against a blue background
It’s been rumored that people who walk extensively amidst the watery pollen even exhibit hay fever or cold-like symptoms. Sneezing. Perhaps even full-blown allergies.
Sometimes the pollen plays in surrealistic patterns around the rocks...
I like how the pollen formed a circle around the orange rock in the above photo. How the other water looks so clear and blue. It almost looks like the pollen is alive, coming up to greet the rock. (At least that’s the story my imagination is concocting now…)
An apple blossom floats in the pollen sea
In a short while the pollen will be gone. Our yellow shores will turn blue or clear again. The trees, even now, wave their green palms in the breeze. Not until next spring will the pollen return on its annual cycle.
**sadly thinking of the Gulf Coast right now, and the challenges the environment and people are experiencing in that beautiful place**
Lake Superior Spirit 
Kathy – That’s beautiful to LOOK at (not knowing the other ramifications that may not be so nice). I wonder if people who have pollen allergies can/can’t eat the fish caugh at this time of year? I wonder if they would have any allergic-type reaction to something that wouldn’t otherwise bother them?
I especially enjoyed second to the last photograph, “Sometimes the pollen plays in surrealistic patterns around the rocks…”
Great post – enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!
Laurie, I haven’t heard of fish-pollen related allergies. That is a good question! Hopefully you are having a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. The weather certainly is beautiful around here!
Glorious photos of the pollen line at the lake as it greats the rocks. We will soon have pine pollen season in Breckenridge – it will sift into the house and create a yellow dust over everything. I don’t think it’s as picaresque as yours!
Barb, the yellow dust in the woods around our house isn’t as picturesque as the yellow on the lake, that’s for sure!
I love all the pictures, but especially the one with the apple blossom. Wonder why I don’t learn from you and add that little something whenI take pictures? Our pollen season will start some time in June – we gets lots and lots of it from the Ponderosa Pine trees, yellow all over everything. And yes, in the house too. It waits to come until it’s warm enough to open windows and doors, you know.
Carol, the apple blossom looked so pretty on the tree…I thought it would look even prettier on the rocks…and then of course you have to toss it out into the water as a blessing. From the pollen in the apple blossom to the pollen in the bay… By the way, do you always put up your screens and the minute you put them up they’re covered with pollen? Ours always are!
Interesting how you can make something that probably isn’t all that pretty into something interesting!
LOL, Dawn. Part of it didn’t look too pretty—but if you kept looking for the beauty it couldn’t hide itself forever!
Intersting. I remember the worst area I have seen for pollen was Atlanta. Being from Minesota I have experianced pollen season, but to a mild degree,
I too, espacially love the picture of the rock with the circle of pollen around it.
Being a Medical Reserve Corps Volunteer and SAfety Officer, I have been reading quite a bit about the spill in the Gulf and the Pre-Informationof the health ramifications. They also brief us onthe environmental ramifications as well, which does not appear to be a quick fix. I don’t think we will be deployed there, however now we just wait and see.
It is devastating to some areas, and our prayers are needed not more than ever. I also heard today about hthe volcano’s burst in Central America.
The earth, as always will let us know who is the boss….I even wonder if the oil spill somehow forcd the volcanos to blow?
Kim
Interesting question, Kim. I wonder…
It is all so sad. We were listening to the radio on our way home from Marquette today. Sounds like the latest efforts to contain the gusher are not working. You are right that our prayers are needed…
Kathy, maybe it’s just me, but the picture of the pollen forming a circle around the orange rock looks like a fried egg! We get yellow pollen sometimes, too, but I never made note of when on the calendar it happens… All I know is invariably the neighbor has left the roof of his convertible down when it starts and we never hear the end of his cursing when he discovers the blanket of pollen all over his seats and dashboard! (You’d think he’d make a note of pollen season on his calendar!)
Kim, I agree with you, the earth has a way of letting us know when she’s had enough of our carelessness…
A fried egg, Barbara! Is the rock in the middle the yolk? Laughing at your neighbor’s cursing when his convertible fills up with pollen. (Sorry…shouldn’t laugh at the misfortune of others…)
I keep hoping enough of us will create a big enough momentum to help the earth instead of continuing to create challenges instead…
This has nothing to do w/ this post, but I just read a comment by Amy about carrying on “Kathy-chatter” in my head while I walk – hmm….it’s a good thing to have conversations w/ you in my head!
Cindy Lou…how funny! Just think how many conversations we’re carrying on in our heads with our friends? Especially when we talk regularly on blogs? It’s a wonder we’re not dreaming about each other all the time!
I noticed this up on Tahquamenon Bay this past weekend. Made the beach look very strange!
Hi, Mark. Thanks for visiting my blog. Doesn’t it take one aback to notice this? Glad to hear you were visiting the Upper Peninsula. I checked out your blog…where are you from downstate?