These are the fallen flowers of a black locust tree in my neighborhood. These trees appear as towering long limbed arabesque dancers. This makes it clear I am not a science writer.
Anyway, it is native to northeastern latitudes and grows well on degraded soil contributing to soil fertility by partnering with a bacteria to fix nitrogen. What a relationship.
It's sweet flowers are sought after by pollinators.
Its timber can remain rot free for a century.
In my neighborhood. Have walked by this grove of trees for literally 40 years.
Thank you Anne Madden, for opening my eyes and mind to these complex microbial relationships right before my eyes.