Tumbleweeds – tumble weeds being blown by storm winds

Tumbleweeds in Central California

This week, I came across this most unusual sight of an entire field of tumbleweeds being blown by wind from a storm front.

This is certainly nothing that can be planned for or even sought out. I just happened to be right where the drama was unfolding at the right time.

A tumbler stuck in a fence. In windy places this is where most of them end up.

Tumble weeds are a common prop in western movies as a useful device for showing emptiness, desolation and remoteness. Think of the western hero, walking through the streets of an abandoned town attempting to figure out what bad fate befell the inhabitants. The scene just isn’t complete without some wind and tumbling tumble weeds skittering through.

The funny thing about tumblers and how they stand in for all those feelings and emotions is that they aren’t even native to this continent. And they haven’t been around for all that long.

They originally came from Russia in the 1870’s when some flax seed (used for linen) was contaminated with this weed seed. Starting out in South Dakota and in less than 150 years they are everywhere in the central and western parts of the country.

It had most likely already spread to today’s extent 100 years ago. The Son’s of the Pioneers classic song “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” was released in 1934 and no one had to explain what that plant symbolized. It was already firmly entrenched in the nation’s psyche.

Native or not, this is a really noxious weed. Its tumbling characteristic is a superb adaptation for spreading its seeds everywhere it rolls. As the weed begins to dry out it essentially severs its connection to its roots so that the slightest wind will carry it away.

It ends up in huge drifts along fence lines and it is an economic drain on already hard-pressed farmers and ranchers to get rid of it.

If that weren’t bad enough, it is a master at drawing water from what seems to be parched earth and denying that precious resource to beneficial plants. The yellow star thistle is another terrible weed which out-competes crops for water.

Hard to get rid of

An old farmer’s saying goes like this: “One year seeds, seven years weeds”. Meaning, get the weeds before they go to seed or your battle is already lost.

I think we lost the tumble weed battle long ago.

If you come across a place in the desolate and forsaken parts of the country where tumbleweeds are being blown over the road, be careful. They conglomerate and join together and form huge balls. I don’t think they’ll damage your vehicle, but they do get stuck underneath and could ignite.