A photographer captures a cascade of seeds dispersing
SUSPENDED BY A SILKY THREAD, a common milkweed seed—one of hundreds nestled in a single pod—seems poised to catch the next breeze in northeastern Pennsylvania’s Endless Mountains. While many nature photographers train their lenses on colorful leaves in fall, ’s favorite autumn images feature the milkweed pods that burst open at this time of year. “This one especially appealed to me,” she says, “because of the angle of the pod and how the seeds seem to be just spilling down.”
To submit images for consideration, please send to [email protected] with “Shared Moment” in the subject line.
More from National Wildlife magazine and NWF:
Catering to Butterfly Royalty
Habitat Highways: Roadsides Provide Vital Sanctuaries for Pollinators
Garden For Wildlife: Plant Milkweed
A new storymap connects the dots between extreme weather and climate change and illustrates the harm these disasters inflict on communities and wildlife.
Take the Clean Earth Challenge and help make the planet a happier, healthier place.
Get a list of highly impactful plants that are native to your area based on your zip code!
More than one-third of U.S. fish and wildlife species are at risk of extinction in the coming decades. We're on the ground in seven regions across the country, collaborating with 52 state and territory affiliates to reverse the crisis and ensure wildlife thrive.