What's a gumball? (O.T.--Sorry!)

[Guest guest]

Now what is the world is a gumball?

Donna

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I think what people here are calling " gumballs " (unless there's something

regional that's

different from what I know as a " gumball " is the seed-pod of the sweetgum

trees.  They

are round, prickly and look like a tiny, early-60's " Sputnik " kind of thing.. 

 

3 years ago, I was out walking on a nice, paved walking/bike trail and

accidentally stepped on a fallen " gum-ball " --and landed on my back, looking up

at the sky with a broken small bone in my left foot. Ever since then, I've

looked at these seed-bearing oddities as innocent-

looking booby-traps for unsuspecting walkers, runners, joggers, hikers...

 

Our across-the-street neighbors had 3 sweetgum trees in their yard a few years

ago and

had them ALL cut down, mainly because of all the balls they dropped every

autumn--the

wife had to get out in the yard and actually rake them all up or they would

cover the lawn!

 

On the plus side, sweetgum trees make some of the most BEAUTIFUL fall foliage

colors.

I'd say they even rival the gorgeous maples for brilliance, and often, a single

tree has leaves

of many colors at the same time.  They are so lovely to look at, but the fallen

pods are so

very, very nasty!  The only other tree that comes close to having really

annoying seeds/

fruit is the female ginko trees--which make the worst smell in the universe!

 

Here in Illinois, there are no trees with leaves or seed-pods right now.  I am

longing to

see some of the green come back in a month or two!  Right now, the only green

leaves

around are in my vegetable bin!

 

Sorry this is so off-topic!  Just took a notion here to ramble and break the

boredome of

late winter days!

 

--Laura B., in Illinois