Giant Tree

Here I am in late October 2007, in the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge with the Minnesota River behind me. I'm wearing my volunteer ranger shirt and also wearing a blaze orange cap--which means it was during a deer hunt. Behind me, is a gigantic cottonwood tree. These giants are impressive in so many ways. Not a tree that you would want in your yard, they tend to hollow out inside; and can host a variety of life. Trees like this one inspired my historical novel, "Cottonwood."