Ghost ranches, buried old cars, coyote packs, a former free range Ankole Watusi bull, The Holler is definitely an odd place, which is why we fit in so well!
Take this thorny tree for example. It is a Silk Floss tree and is about 50 feet tall.
This time of year it is covered in plate sized cotton poofs.
The poofs develop from large seed pods.
In the fall, the tree drops its leaves and devotes all its energy to producing masses of beautiful blooms.
The Holler abuts a large nature preserve and is built on very old orchards. Back in the day, orchard workers lived on site and indulged in their love of exotic plants and trees, many of which are still thriving and producing today.
I often wish I could tell them how much we appreciate living with the beautiful results of their talent and effort.
Cheers to you from the very odd Holler~
cindyknoke.com 
Just the Holler’s location next to all that protected land makes it a wonderful place, and trees like this make it all the more wonderful. Do the orchards still produce any exotic fruit?
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Yes. We have all sorts of producing plants that are very old, from the actual orchards (avocados, lemons, grapefruits and pomegranates) to the exotics, all sorts of nuts, passion fruit and flowers, palms, camellias, wild roses, coral trees, grapes that are wild now, all kinds of exotic cacti, even old watermelons that reseed and sow. I should make a list. I don’t know all that grows here. We have beautiful white flowering trees and I don’t know what they are. It took me almost a decade to identify the soap plants and flowers that grow all over here in the spring. You can make soap from the plant α
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The plate sized cotton poofs are quite amazing. I have never seen those before – they do not look real. Thank you for sharing.
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They look like big balls of cotton puffs, that you could pluck and use. They grow way to high for me to test this though! π
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Incredible! I am familiar with cotton, given that the crop is one of Arizona’s five C’s (climate, cotton, citrus, cattle, and copper), but I have never seen puffs of cotton imposters like those in your photo. π
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They look like something you would put on your vanity in a pretty bowl, cotton puffs to pick! Take good care Michele α
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Love that! You too. Thank you.
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Wow, cool tree! I see that it is related to kapok, a wonderful natural and durable stuffing for pillows (they used kapok for life preservers before synthetics were developed). Of course, with all those thorns and being so high up, harvesting would be problematic!
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Yes, remarkable isn’t it. The fiber is “hydrophobic,” floats and is water resistant. α
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A beautiful and unusual tree, Cindy! I have never heard of it. Thank you for the introduction! Does anyone spin thread from the cotton-like fiber?
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Good question. I know that the cottony fibers have many uses, but I don’t know if it can be spun into thread. Maybe someone more knowledgeable will see this and tell us α
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Wild looks it does look like cotton batting…amazing flora Cindy ~ happy weekending βΊοΈπ« smiles hedy
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Happy weekending flying back to you Hedy & cheers my friend α
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Very odd indeed. I’ve never seen or imagined such a tree! Did people ever use the cotton poofs for anything?
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It is used for pillow stuffing, insulation in cold weather clothing, and life preservers, because it floats and is water resistant! Odder and odder, I know….. How did we live all our lives Liz, without knowing this!!! π π
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I thought there had to be some utility there! π
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You lucky thing! Wonderful!
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Thank you Bruce. The Holler is a good place to be in a pandemic, lots of plants and critters, and very few people α
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I’m in a similar situation (although not in lock down!) with the landlord’s and neighbours farms coming to a thousand acres or so with glades and lakes and lots of birds!
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It sounds heavenly to me α
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Those are beautiful! We have similar, not as fancy trees that do that — cottonwood trees. I seldom see the trees doing the cotton, but for weeks in the spring, the cotton snows through the air. Thank you for sharing your odd holler!
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You are most welcome Joey. I have seen cottonwood trees. They have sort of more flowy, amorphous, wispy, angel-hair like cotton. Very pretty and delicate looking. α
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Maybe I should look for the source π
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I have never seen anything like this. Like gigantic cotton balls hanging in the trees. I just learned something. Thank you.
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You are most welcome. I had no idea what they were either. They are still plants and trees I can’t identify at The Holler. It took me about a decade to find out what soap plants were. They cover The Holler in the spring α
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This was a nice pleasant read thank you. Never seen one of those trees
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Very pleased you enjoyed & thank you for letting me know α
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My pleasure. Everyone like to hear a job well done
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Like the Signers of the Declaration of Independence all lost their wigs in a tree. “Thomas! Get down from there.”
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Cracking up…..Definitely could have happened!! Or maybe British jurists lost their wigs in a stiff breeze and they blew over here. I heard of a bald eagle once who blew all the way to Britain in a storm. He was sent back to the states in first class on an airline. I bet he didn’t enjoy either flight… π
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There is much to discover in this mysterious world. No need to go toMars. Thankyou for so often finding hidden treasures!
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Ahhh, you are most welcome Dor. Hope you and your family are all doing well α
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Cindy, thank you so much for these beautiful and unusual photographs!
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Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
Here are beautiful and unusual photographs from Cindy Knoke!
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You are so welcome Charles. Thank you for being you! I hope you are staying safe and well my friend α
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Wow! That is an incredible plant that I’ve never seen or heard of before. Is there anything edible inside the pods?
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I don’t think any part of the tree is edible, although the bark floats and was used for canoes and paper. The cotton was used for insulation. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the spines were used too… α
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What a strange tree! I noticed that its thorny branches is a warning to keep one’s distance.
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Yes, the spines are continuous on the trunks and branches and definitely daunting. α
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I have never heard of this tree before. Those big cotton balls are amazing! How great that all these plants and trees are there. Do you do much harvesting in the original orchards?
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Yes, we harvest old growth grapefruit, lemons, avocados, pomegranates, oranges, almonds, even watermelon. We used to harvest passion fruit. There are edible grapes, but I have never eaten them. Many of the trees are self sustaining α
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What a glorious bounty!
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I’ve never heard of it either! This is really an amazing tree. Thanks for sharing this with us.
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I am so glad you found it interesting and thank you for letting me know α
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I have never seen such in person. Very cool
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Happy you enjoyed and thank you! α
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I love your Holler! So many treasures and brilliant oddities!
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Awww, thank you Rebecca. I tend to distrust normal. Odd is a comfortable fit! π π
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I love coming across plants I had no prior knowledge of – most of my questions have been answered in the comments, so I am left saying think you for another adventure from your Holler.
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So happy you came over for a visit Anne and thank you my friend α
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Truly amazing tree
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It is really big too. At least 50 feet α
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Wow!
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Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Oddities of the Holler.
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You are a kind and thoughtful friend Patricia. You are most appreciated. Stay safe and well α
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Incredible tree! I have never seen anything like it!
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Wouldn’t it be fun to do an odd tree post, and have people from all over the world submit their examples… I bet we would see some amazing oddities! π
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I am not sure I could compete with this one!!
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If I ran it, there would be no competition just entries….. I don’t like creating winners and losers. α
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What a lovely idea!
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Pingback: Holler Oddities~ | In the Net! – Pictures and Stories of Life
Thank you thoughtful friend αα
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They look like puffs of cotton. How cool!
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Thanks much and I think they are cool too! α
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Liebe Cindy, wieder sehr schΓΆn, alles Gute wΓΌnsche ich dir, Klaus
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Danke lieber Freund. Bleib sicher, gut und warm! α
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Sounds like my kind of place:)
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Then, you are my kinda person! π α
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Yes:)
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Our hollows in West Virginia were settled by small homesteading farms. Many had fruit trees near the homes. Most of the old homes became abandoned, deteriorated and decayed back to earth. But, if you drive around in the Spring, you can find old apple trees here and there suggesting where past generations lived.
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Are any of the old trees still producing? They are at The Holler. α
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Can’t say I have gone back in harvest season to check on the crop. The apples are much easier to spot when they are in bloom.
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I’ve never seen a plant anything like that. Very cool.
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So happy to make the introduction & pleased you enjoyed. Cheers my friend α
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The cotton poofs look amazing like some fairy land.β€
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Yes, they would look right at home in fairy land! α
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Those trees with silk floss look awesome. Thank you Cindy. π
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Thank you for your always kind appreciation my friend α
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Cindy how fragrant are they? both with the big poofs or just the flowers?
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There is a faint fragrance, but no strong scent that I can detect α
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What an unusual tree! I had never heard of this tree and was fascinated to see its pod, the floss and the beautiful flowers. Thanks for sharing this!
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I am so happy you were interested, and appreciate you letting me know! α
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A work of art of nature!
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Mother Nature is the planet’s best artist by far! α
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Thatβs the prettiest tree Iβve ever seen!
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It is truly gorgeous when in full bloom! α
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Another example of nature’s mysterious ways< Cindy! How much we could learn by focusing on the essential things in life.
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I think we would be much happier too! α
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Probably all of us – wherever we live – pass by something odd. The oddity is the natural. Or perhaps we never even look.
Your posts always make us be more observant of what is around us.
Will be looking for odd things. (bypassing the mirror)
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Smiling…. Yes I avoid the oddities presented to me by the mirror as well!!! I am so happy you are being more observant. It definitely makes life more enjoyable and interesting. Thank you and take good care my friend α
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Love those oddities and you had fun with the camera. Wonderful shots. A bit of vicarious living for us through your pictures Cindy, Thanks
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So happy you enjoyed our very odd abode Gary & thank you for taking a look around! α
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Very interesting. The poofs look very fibrous. I wonder if they could be used to make cloth or rope? The flower is so pretty.
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I know they use the cotton to make stuffing in pillows and things, for insulation in clothes, and for life preservers since the fibers are water resistant and float. They use the bard to make canoes and paper. α
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Reblogged this on Ed;s Site..
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I am touched by your thoughtfulness Ed. Thank you my friend & be well α
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I love these photos. I’ve never seen anything like this cotton poofs so wow. The closest we have are little dandelions gone to seed!
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Dandelions are similar in shape and purpose, in that hold carry seeds for dissemination. α
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How interesting, great pictures!
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Thanks much & happy you enjoyed! Cheers to you my friend α
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The tree looks very strange and I could mistakenly think the wooly balls are parasites not knowing they are not parts of the tree.
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Like witches hair which is a parasite. These are actually seed balls that will scatter in the wind. Take good care my friend & thanks for stopping by! α
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I love your images and post! I had no idea about these trees. Nature is such a miracle, isnβt it? The fact that these βpuffsβ float, are water resistant, etc., reinforces the truth that nature really can take of life needs, if we will only care for nature with reverence… and harmonize our needs π. Hmmm, probably the original plan once upon a time….lol!
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“Hmmm, probably the original plan once upon a time⦔ Exactly. Why don’t more people see and know this! So grateful that you do Liza and thank you α
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Incredible. Your photographs are wonderful and that, is the most amazing tree.
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You are a lovely friend Gigi α
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The things I would never know or see if you weren’t teaching me Cindy. Thank you!
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I was well versed in completely useless information!;)
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Ah…..but interesting! And fascinating!
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You are kind αα
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Those balls almost look like they could be spun into thread?
Leslie xoxo
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Someone asked me about this and I don’t know the answer. I do know it was used for insulation, stuffing and life preservers because it floats and is water resistant. Stay safe and well Leslie α
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Never heard of a Silk Floss Tree before, dear Cindy! Thank you for showing this amazing creation of mother nature!
Stay safe!
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You are most welcome Martha. I didn’t know what it was at first either. Take good care my friend and you stay safe too α
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Thanks for the freaky fun Cindy! I love the puff balls, exotic plants, and trees. How wonderful that you can enjoy the fruits of their love from long ago. I want to see photos of the cars, ghosts, and bull! π
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You are most welcome Brad and I am happy you enjoyed the oddities. I did posts on all of these strange things. If you google my name along with the subject (aka cindy knoke ankole watusi) you should be able to see the posts if you wish. Good luck & cheers to you my friend α
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Thanks for the tips. I’ll explore them!
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Very interesting post Cindy! Thanks for allowing us some insights to ‘The Holler.’
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How wonderful to hear from you Wally! Happy you enjoyed and hope all is going well with you my friend α
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