I would really like an explanation for what was going on there. I have never seen pollen that looked like a low fog bank. Anyone know about this stuff?

That's one way to start a wildfire.

#1 Maybe you should get out more

#2. I get out a heck of a lot backpacking and camping...and I've never seen it before either.

it comes from Poplar trees

I have never seen that either, but that is because poplar trees doesn't grow here in Sweden. We only have aspen trees, Populus tremula. And they doesn't have pollen like this, I believe

Poplar pollen are *VERY* fluffy and so thin they're nearly non-existent. This is why they burn so well and so fast without setting anything else on fire. They're like 0.0001% of a matchstick's worth of kindle. They commonly clump together when they tumble along the ground, sort of like a cotton ball made of 99% air. Because these pollen are so light they get everywhere but they easily get stuck along bushes and walls like in the clip. Fire is an awesome idea!

Here are some pics of the pollen: http://www.google.com/search?q=poplar+pollen

(Hang on, how many of us are there?!) Flytta på dig, jag var här först!

This is no pollen, these are poplar seeds.
It's like calling the fetus a sperm.

#6 Hi old you from Kiribati. 112 years old? :-)

"Jeg er her også".

7# You are right, we have a huge parking lot full of it during May/June and adjacent street, flying everywhere, apartments full of it in case of no mosquito netting in the windows. I was thinking about setting it on fire to get rid of it but I didn't want to risk 30+ cars on the lot and the rest of the street... 95% chance that nothing would have happened but...

#8 It's actually 94.7% but then again 37.22%of all statistics are made up on the spot. Don't risk it

#7 Poplar are wind pollinated. This might be a video of the pollen or the seed pappus - it's not high enough resolution (or close enough) to be sure.

Common sense suggests pollen though. Otherwise he'd be leaving a trail of poplar seeds in the grass right in front of his house.

#11 Pollen is microscopic, that's why we breath it and people get allergic. Basically, the rule here is "If you see it, it's not pollen".

I used to like that stuff as a kid. They say it's good luck to catch one when it's in the air.... they also say black cats are bad luck...so yeah.