Where the Cottonwoods Blow

Ever since I got back to Bellingham, there's been puffy white seeds floating everywhere. When I saw my good friend Betty (Mud Creek Mama), I asked if it was cattails. She said no, it's Cottonwood Trees.

Cottonwoods are a type of poplar, with the same quivering leaves. They grow in moist areas, so the wetlands behind our Bellingham condo is a prime spot. Male and female flowers are in separate catkins (long, slim clusters) that appear before the leaves each spring. The female catkin produces the cottony seeds that are blown long distances. It's these fluffy white masses that give the tree its name.



The seeds are very small (1X4 mm) which is remarkable considering they can grow into one of the largest trees in North America, up to 100 feet (30+ metres) high.

Not only are Cottonwoods large, but fast growing, reaching maturity in 10-30 years. As a commercial product, their course wood is best suited for making pallets and shipping crates. As summer changes to fall, the leaves of turn bright yellow and orange, making a warm contrast to the cooling blue skies. -- Margy