there is a massive cottonwood tree near the entrance of the rice creek trail i walk on most days.  over the past year and four months of doing STILL blog, this single tree has provided me with more material than any other single subject; the early spring buds, the sturdy waxy heart shaped leaves, the cottton-fluff released in fall.  all of it wonderfully photogenic.  and yet after 16 months of almost daily observation, today is the first time i noticed that the catkins in may are red.  ruby red.  sometimes it is hardest to see what is right in front of us.

cottonwood catkins in may

rice creek regional trail, saint paul, minnesota