February 6, 2009
Cottonwood, Populus deltoides
The light-colored bark of these tall native trees seems to glow in the sunlight. In a few weeks these trees will be creating a "snowstorm" of white cottony material that catches the wind to helps carry the seeds away from the parent plants, where they have a better chance of survival. Cottonwoods like to grow in lowland areas where there is plenty of moisture: These are growing near the Reservoir.