Proof Positive! It's a ... !

Yesterday was a day 
of glowering clouds
and pounding rain.

I went on a hunt 
for a new camera
to no avail,
and I got to drive
home in lashing rain. 


Before the sky
opened up.
<<<




So this morning I dashed
down to Piney Creek 
to check on the water levels
with my trusty old camera.

You should have seen 
the look 
on the camera store 
clerk's face
when he saw 
how beaten up
my little 
Canon PowerShot was.

All the settings 
have worn off!

It's had a hard life 
tossed into stuffed purses and backpacks 
and working in all kinds of weather.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Scream.jpg 

I'm always insecure
walking under this old cottonwood
after a storm.

The second tree, 
in the middle foreground,
came crashing down ~
over the path ~
during a storm 
some years ago.

Park rangers had to cut away
big branches
blocking
the path.

I always think
Will I be able 
to run,
if it starts to fall?

This massive
cottonwood,
(of which you
see only
the center portion)
would flatten me like 
a train
running over 
a penny on a 
railroad track.

Do you see
how the
corrugated bark
soaks up 
the rain.
Some areas,
less wet and
more sheltered,
are light grey.

You can see
the fallen
cottonwood 
in the background.




Splat!
This tree keeled over last night!

When you get a good rain,
temporary ponds form in low areas.

There are berms and catchment basins
along Piney Creek
to control runoff from sudden rains.

I was standing on a large berm
when I took this next picture.

Normally this area is dry.
I have seen much bigger flood ponds
impounded behind this berm.

Yes!

The male cottonwoods are beginning to flaunt their catkins!

Cottonwoods are dioecious,

meaning either male or female.

Both sexes flower in the spring

before they produce leaves.

The males flower somewhat before the females.

Both sexes form clusters of flowers in catkins.

These are male catkins.  

See their flashy burgundy flowers starting to bloom.

Male Catkins

These are female catkins.

Their green flowers are larger than the male flowers.

  Female Catkins

Soon it will be time for cottonwood sex in the park!

More to come!!!

Meanwhile I thought of that cottonwood

I posted on last fall.

Male?  Female?

Time to check it out!

I hummock hopped 

across the soggy ground

to that tree 

I had photographed thoroughly

months ago.

It had toppled over

long before I ever turned up

in this neighborhood.

    Sweet little robin      

singing its heart out!

Boy or girl?

Can you tell?

The tree ~ not the robin!

This old giant has acquired a vibrant coat of green since I stopped by last November!   

Proof positive!

It's a ... !

Boy!

If you wish to see more 

of this venerable male 

check out my post

November Cottonwood.

I'll keep you posted on

cottonwood shenanigans

in the park!

Proof Positive!

It's a Squirrel!

(on a better squirrel day in the park)

It's my story,

and I'm sticking to it!