Well, of course it's not really MY poplar tree — but it IS part of my daily scene, since it's right outside my apartment window and I watch it through the seasons.

Not much going on, except collecting snow on its empty branches.

And along with everything else out there, just waiting for spring ...

First action — Before any leaves, the catkins appear.  

Next — The famous twirling leaves join the catkins.

... even the little skinny ones over on the right.

Marked for removal! 

(Along with its crooked twin)

ALL the poplars 

are marked 

This tiny seed can fit in Lincoln's ear, but produces the same size tree as an acorn!

Those drifting seeds have landed everywhere — including the potted pansies on my balcony ...

... and all the pots have a little green army of sprouted poplar seeds!

The fluffy catkins and the "seed-snow" are done. 

All summer long, poplars are the masters of motion among trees — the foliage equivalent of sparkling water on a summer lake.

But wait!

They grew for a few weeks, some faster than others ... but then mysteriously withered.

I saved a few handfuls of seeds in a Ziploc bag — for possible future growing experiments!

Early May 

Mid-May 

Then — Seeds!  The catkins produce teeny-tiny seeds that have an array

of white hairs attached, which makes the catkins look like they're covered  with white fluff. The seeds float away in clumps that drift and fall like snow.

Mid-June 

Oh-no ... I don't have any pictures of the autumn leaf color! 

(I didn't think of doing this website until many years after I started watching the tree.) I'll put autumn shots on the list for NEXT year.

BUT ... there are enough leaves left to keep that

"dancing leaves" thing going with shadows on the ground.