Mellow Yellow Monday - Yellow Makes Me Sneeze !!

Well...at least this particular yellow bush does. It's called Scotch Broom and in California, the Pacific Northwest, Australia and New Zealand, it is classified as an invasive noxious species.

In NZ it is estimated to cost the farming industry around NZ$10 million a year and the Forestry industry around NZ$90 million. It competes with newly planted seedlings for room and destroys grasslands needed for feeding stock.

When the seed pods mature, they open with a loud crack. There was a hill, not far from the home I owned back in NZ, that was covered in the stuff. It could be quite noisy at seed pod opening time !

In dry, sandy soils, it doesn't spread, so people, here in Reno, use it as a landscaping plant.

As a result, the month or so that the broom is in bloom, I am afflicted with sneezing, headaches, itchy eyes and other allergy symptoms..

The temptation to roam the streets with a flamethrower is quite strong. :-)


This one sits alone by the wall of the building that used to house Circuit City, before they went under.

It's a little unusual, as usually they are planted in clusters. perhaps the landscaper also had an allergy and could only handle one at a time!!


The bees love the flowers, so they're obviously not allergic. This little fellow had pollen sacs on it's back legs, that were packed full.


I liked the way the sunlight was making this one's wing glisten. You can also see that it's pollen sacs are pretty full as well.

It amazes me that they can fly with that type of load on board, as they were all gorging themselves with the pollen..

Have a great week, all :-)