My boots crunch the snow on my timbered yard as I hike among the trees. I usually stop and say hello to each of them. But today, I am focused on a solitary tall cottonwood tree in the distance. I shuffle my way through the snow and greet my old friend with a soft gloved touch to its deep gray furrowed bark. I look up, and up and further to the distant fanning branches. My tree can grow to 170 feet tall and the crown can have a width of 60 to 100 feet.

This Field Note was written by Deb Mowry. Would you be interested in writing one? Contact Allison De Jong, Field Notes editor, at adejong [at] montananaturalist [dot] org or 406.327.0405. Please visit the Field Notes website at the Montana Natural History Center for more information.