Exploding Seed Pods

Up in the East Bay Hills there are these shrubberies that about this time of year grow furry seed pods. Last time I was up there running I heard a series of loud pops and snaps that I thought were some kind of insect feeding in the bushes.

I looked for whatever enthusiastic bugs were having a good time in the bushes and found none… and just by luck brushed a seed pod and set it off. It exploded with a loud snap and sprayed my hand with small black seeds.

I noted the trail was peppered (sort of literally) with tiny black seeds and pods were exploding all around.