These were gigantic trees with deeply furrowed bark. They reminded me of eastern Cottonwoods but I've never seen that species here before. The leaf was taken from the ground, but there was little doubt the thousands I saw belonged to this tree. It doesn't look like a Big-Toothed Aspen, but it has to be some kind of poplar, right?
Thanks!
Other than the rather reluctant juvenile pistillate Homo sapiens participant in the first photo, I'd agree with your opinion that these are Populus deltoides - Eastern Cottonwood.
:) We had a great afternoon together. She's old enough now to tag along and keep up which is really fun. She even IDed 5 Mourning Cloak butterflies!
In this pic she was holding a giant reed with a whispy end to it. Kind of like a cattail in everything but the top. I tried to think of the name of it but I couldn't. I'd be impressed if you can ID what she's holding!
Phragmites, maybe
I think your impression goes to sallyg - for the pretty much invasive graminaceous species infesting northeast wetland sites.
Admittedly, it was a "hoofbeats, think horses" kind of ID
Sally Revere!
"The Common Reeds are coming! The Common Reeds are coming!"
That's it for certain. I never new they were invasive.
