Mickey and Elaine Raine write: "Just outside DeKorte Park, on the other
side of the railroad tracks, we recently came across trees that had a number of strange cocoon-like pods suspended by these very thin, almost vine like, extensions that were wrapped several times around the branches before stretching out to hold the pods.
"They were swaying back and forth with the heavy winds, but appeared to be quite secure.
"Each cocoon/pod consisted of many spikes–perhaps as nature's plan for protecting these from possible predators.
"If anyone has ever seen similar and can assist in identifying them, we would appreciate it."
Most likely Wild Cucumber or Echinocystis lobata