Pacific Northwest Gardening: What's in full bloom now? MAY 16th - MAY 31st, 0 by mauryhillfarm

mauryhillfarm wrote:
I have fond childhood memories of Cottonwood snow. There was a tree across from my bedroom window that I could watch the squirrels chase up and down, and it was my bit of respite from the concrete jungle all around. The mid-west cottonwoods grow huge. I think I have posted this picture some other time, but I love it so here it is again...my son and niece hugging a tree in the park.This was quite a few years ago, and they were little then.

As an addendum, that park was created at least 15 years after I left home. It was an ugly, littered vacant lot when I was a kid. The city of Chicago did a good job rejuvenating the parks a little while back to make them inviting to all ages and family friendly. Just out of the cameras range in this picture is a small pool and fountain with benches around, some small shade trees and surrounded by a border of flowering shrubs. You see the older folk gathering there to talk. Further on is a well designed children's playground with play equipment for both toddlers and older kids and an umbrella shaped fountain they can run through in their bathing suits. That spot had been a scary place I ran to get past when I was little because it only had a few broken swing sets and a lot of broken glass along with some unmentionable other items. A big difference.

This message was edited May 17, 2010 8:09 PM