Help!! I’m walking in a nightmare and can’t wake up!
Haha, that was my first reaction years ago when I first experienced this very strange, actually quite common occurrence.
The Eastern Red Cedar (the Tree of Tennessee) grows throughout the eastern US states.
The small brown growths that are normal and expected on all the Eastern Red Cedars can become alarming in the right conditions.
In the spring, when temps, rain, and other elements are just right, it causes the spore/growth to open up and sprout the orange tentacles that form these creepy little things!! ( I really think they are quite cute…in a strange kind of way! (If it happened at Halloween they would be a huge hit!)
I have seen this many years ago but never in my own trees…you can imagine my surprise when I go out to walk the grounds early AM after a stormy early morning.
Some folks freak and want to cut and burn the trees…however, that would not be the end of the story…the occurrence is caused by the rust in the cedar and is also common to apple and crabapple trees, it can and does transfer among the 3. So, before you start destroying one, be prepared to destroy all…Best advice…chill and let nature take her course. She always has, always will..
~~
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/cedar_apple_rust_in_eastern_redcedar_trees_attracts_attention_every_spring