Cottonwoods, Willow and Birch

The tangle between
the Rivers Trail and river
holds winter colours

The cottonwoods we have are a blessing and a curse. They provide habitat for many birds and animals. The green space they create gives shade and a lovely view. The city allows them to proliferate because they hold tight to the river bank during high water. That protects the area from erosion. 

On the flip side, cottonwoods can rot from the inside. A tree that appears healthy and strong can suddenly suffer broken branches or topple over in a high wind. They can grow to more than 60' in height. I know people who have cottonwoods looming over their homes who live in fear each day of falling cottonwoods. Their root systems often interfere with sidewalks and paved pathways as they push up from underneath. I see this on the Rivers Trail. 

I pinned my quilted heart to a cottonwood trunk as I walked down to the North Thompson River from the Rivers Trail at noon. The heart was swaying a little in the cold wind that had come up. It doesn't really feel like spring yet.