Dyngus Day is still weeks away, but pussy willows will be past their prime for picking by then. Commence Polonia panic.

Turns out, the recent string of warm, sunny days has coaxed pussy willow trees into producing fuzzy buds earlier than usual. On some trees, the grayish buds have already begun to bloom into full-blown yellow-green flowers.

“Unfortunately, because of this spectacular weather we’ve had, we’re facing a Dyngus disaster. The pussy willows have popped prematurely putting all of Polonia’s celebration in peril,” Dyngus Day Buffalo co-founder “Airborne” Eddie Dobosiewicz told WIVB.

In a Buffalo News article, co-founder Martin Biniasz said, “We are at a crisis period right now.”

May not seems like a big deal, but for Dyngus Day celebrants in the Buffalo area, picking up a bunch of pussy willow branches at the local market or florist is part of an annual tradition.

“On Dyngus Day, men and boys flirtatiously swat women and girls with pussy willows and douse them with water to attract their attention and affection,” Jackie Schmid, organizer of the popular Leonard Post VFW #6251 Dyngus Day party, said in a WGRZ story. “Without mass quantities of pussy willows for romancing, there might not be as many positive outcomes.”

The Buffalo News article suggests cutting branches early—while the fuzzy buds are present—and storing them in a cool place to halt growth. But for Dyngus Day participants who depend on buying branches, expect pussy willow problems.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do,” Dobosiewicz told the News. “Maybe we’ll have to import them from some colder climate.”

Yeah, you read that right, national media outlets. It’s too hot to handle in Buffalo. So stick that in your back pocket where you keep your arsenal of snow jokes.

Dyngus Day has pussy willow emergency: wivb.com

Photo courtesy of Flickr / kiuko.