MY AUNT JEANETTE has been duly informed.
The ancient cottonwood stands on the north edge of Vesta.
If she ever attempts to have the massive/towering/gigantic cottonwood in her yard cut down, I will be right there hugging that tree.
Now I am not a tree hugger in the true definition of a tree hugger. I would not scamper onto the limb of a tree to prevent its removal. For one thing, I am not agile like a squirrel. Secondly, I am not an outspoken, protesting type person, at least not in public.
But I did protest privately to my aunt when she mentioned cutting down that beautiful sprawling cottonwood gracing her yard.
The tree is messy, she explained, wondering then if I’d like to clean up the cottony seeds and sticky bud capsules dropped onto her lawn.
Point taken.
Yet, this cottonwood deserves special consideration given it’s likely the oldest tree in my southwestern Minnesota prairie hometown. It’s certainly the biggest in girth and the tallest tree in this community of some 320.
I can imagine the early settlers arriving in this mostly treeless land, wind-bent prairie grasses stretching for miles before them. And then, in the distance, the shimmering leaves of a cottonwood.
Or perhaps one of them brought a cottonwood seedling here, planted it on the north edge of this new prairie town.
Decades later, a tire swing looped by a rope to a limb, the sturdy cottonwood still stands strong against the vast prairie sky in my beloved hometown.
© Copyright 2014 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
I concur with the messy tree designation. They do grow to be impressively massive though. Cottonwood tree line many of the waterways in our area. The seeds can plug up the A/C fins or a window screen in short order.
I never thought of those issues. Obviously, I don’t have cottonwoods in my yard. I have only one tree, a maple, on my property. But our back and side yards are banked by woods. Plenty of nasty buckthorn therein.
I love that tree and that picture is stunning. I can understand you wanting to preserve it. Your aunt’s suggestion that you come and help keep things neat and tidy after it “sheds” makes me laugh. We had a cottonwood in the yard of our house in Ohio and yes—they are a constant mess of fluff but still—lovely . I would be right there with you joining hands in protest if something was done to cut it down.
Road trip to sw MN then if that ever happens.
I had a little fun with photo editing.
🙂 I will suit up!!! I did like the photo editing!
Ha, ha. No special attire required.
We had Cottonwood trees on our farm where my brother lives now. They were big like this one.
One day he was having breakfast and the tree fell down. It looked perfect on the outside but
had rotted on the inside. The person that came and took the tree away said they are noted for
that. We have 2 more that he hasn’t taken down and I do agree they are messy and
beautiful at the same time.
I loved them like you and especially when there was a breeze and it rustled in the leaves. It made a nice rustling sound like a symphony. Every year too, the Baltimore Orioles built their nest in the one big tree on the lawn.
DeLores
Duh, I did not think of that rotten on the inside.
I’ve always loved that sound of wind in the trees.
Beautiful tree. Hope it stays healthy! We had a cottonwood in our back yard when we moved into the house where we now live; it dropped a huge limb between our house and our neighbor’s during a storm not too long after we moved in. We were so lucky that it landed exactly between the two houses or it would have done some damage. It dropped other limbs and we were worried it would eventually drop something massive on our house or our neighbor’s because it seemed to be really brittle. We had it taken out, but it was not without some sadness. It made quite a thud when the final part of the trunk was knocked down so it could be sawed up. We ended up planting many other trees around the yard after that. None are cottonwoods, though.
Fortunately this particular cottonwood grows a distance from my aunt’s house. Still, it could be worrisome if it’s rotted inside.
I agree that losing a tree is always tough. But great that you planted many to replace your cottonwood.
Beautiful Tree, but have to agree those trees are messy 🙂
Just like walnut trees…
The majority of trees coming bearing gifts right – leaves, seeds, nuts, fruits – can get messy!
So true.
When we moved into our new house, I NEVER thought the beautiful shade trees were dangerous. OMG, they were 75 feet tall and HOLLOW. The wood was only at the most 6 inches thick, but 20 feet around at the base and like I said 75 feet tall. They could have fallen on the house at ANY time, we didn’t find out for over 6 months. I’m surprised insurance companies let you buy houses with trees like this so close. NOT TO MENTION THE SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IT COSTS TO REMOVE THEM.
Good point, Vicki. I know how costly it is to remove trees. We had some removed for that very reason, fear of falling on our garage.
Now that’s a big old tree, beautiful, but yes, messy. We have some near by and the cottony seeds love to attach to my screens…not fun to clean.
The cottonwood doesn’t seem to be a favorite tree based on reader comments.
I agree it would be a shame to cut it down just because it’s messy. We don’t have cottonwood trees here and I think that’s a stunning tree and long may it live xx
I think it’s beautiful, too, obviously. But lots of readers are telling me about how cottonwoods can be rotting away inside, thus posing a risk. I have not idea whether that’s the case with my aunt’s cottonwood.
The family farm in west central MN was recognizable from miles away by the two giant cottonwoods on the southwest corner of the grove. Growing up there, we would try to find out how many people it took to reach around the base of the trees – I don’t think we ever figured it out!
But time goes by. The trees have become old and have come down in the storms, in the same way the house and other farm buildings built by my pioneering great- grandfather in 1878 are slowly coming down…..
Phil
Just mentioning the word grove ignites so many wonderful memories for me of years playing among the prairie trees.
That must have been some giant cottonwood. And you are correct. Time passes and things change.
We have neighbors who each have huge cottonwood trees…. One behind us and one beside us. As an allergy sufferer I really wish they would cut those trees down. The other reason I would like to see them gone is if we ever have a really heavy wind storm, the one behind us will most likely fall on our home.
I understand the historical value of that tree in your aunt’s yard, but she’s right. They are very messy! And anyone with allergies to it will thank her.
I’m sorry to hear you are an allergy sufferer. My husband has some allergies, too. Is it all trees or just cottonwoods that affect you?
Hopefully those cottonwoods will never fall on your house, but I understand your concern. There’s a tree in the boulevard just up the street that is leaning over the street at such an angle that I fear it will fall upon a motorist or pedestrian some day. I’ve even been tempted to phone the city and mention my concerns.
For some reason your post reminded me of this, the Hiawatha Corridor encampment. http://www.cpinternet.com/~mbayly/facesofresistance7.htm My wife, not yet my wife lived very close to that when it was going on.
I vaguely remember this, Ryan. Thanks for sharing the link.
Beautiful tree. Every tree near our house seems to be messy. We have walnuts and sycamores mostly. At least no mulberries at this house like our last one.
No tree is perfect, I suppose. Except maybe a majestic oak.
Here are a couple of my favorites I’ve ever run across.