The Spring Song of the Cottonwood trees!!
- Linda Crider
- Apr 16
- 4 min read
Every year around April or May I've come to expect a warm weather snow storm...courtesy of the local Cottonwood trees. There's nothing cold, wet or flaky about it, and I guess it's best described using words like silky, airy, or fluffy. In past years I've complained about what a nuisance it can be to control or clean up. Open the door and these puffy intruders drift in, uninvited! The cats love it, and the fairy like fibers defy attempts to gather them up.
However, if you do look at them from a feline's point of view, it's actually fascinating to watch as the slightest breeze sends these cottony puffs into swirling clusters. This year I decided to re-frame the inevitable by thinking of it as spring snow and one of nature's ways of calling attention to herself. After all, this tree has for centuries offered so much to sustain the native peoples who continue to recognize its value.
At a recent Spring Equinox gathering, I learned that Cottonwoods have been appreciated for so many things by the Navajo nation (Diné Bikéyah), a people native to the American Southwest. Other tribes also found this tree useful in so many ways for medicine and materials. The Hopi use the soft wood of the Cottonwood to make their Kachina dolls. You might say this tree (as well as many others) would be considered their versions of Walgreens and Home Depot.
The spiritual significance of the Cottonwood tree is also recognized by the Native American tribes mentioned in the above video. They consider the seeds that are birthed and scattered enclosed in those airy fibers to be like magical stars, reminding them of their human origins as star seed. The Lakota tribe shows respect for the majestic Cottonwood by making it the central pole of their Sun Dance healing ceremony. This annual community gathering of North American and Canadian tribes is meant to honor the natural world and renew the sacred connection between people and their ancestors. According to the Tree Spirit Wisdom website the spiritual message this tree brings is that Cottonwood:
...is asking us to reconnect with the ancient wisdom teachings based in nature and to remember that we all belong to each other. To move forward we must have hope in the future and embrace our community by including all our “relations.” Now is a time to count our blessings as we dream a new world into being. This may require some sacrifice but the peace we create within our self is necessary for the healing and regeneration of our spirit and our world.
I'm happy to say that there is a very famous Cottonwood tree right here in my home state of Arizona, and to my surprise it's located not too far away in the town of Skull Valley (I've been there and it's not as creepy as the name suggests).
This particular Cottonwood tree has been Cited as the largest tree in AZ.
Cottonwoods can grow as tall as 125 feet and live to be 100-400 years old. This AZ Freemont Cottonwood pictured to the right was planted in 1917. It is 102 feet tall with an amazing circumference of over 46 feet and a crown spread of 160 feet. The photo is included among those trees featured by the Arizona Magnificent Trees Program.
This program was developed by the Arizona Department of Forestry & Fire Management to create awareness of this impressive Cottonwood along with other unique Arizona trees and to encourage residents and tourists to increase their connection to and reverence for the natural world.
Of course this kind of program is right in my wheelhouse, and while looking into the AZ Freemont Cottonwood, I also discovered another resource on the national website, American Forests. This 150 year old non-profit organization offers a wealth of information and opportunities for all of us tree lovers and huggers in the Official Register of Champion Trees.
Organizations and programs like these are becoming increasingly popular. Heightened awareness of how discovering and appreciating the presence and the medicine offered by the botanical world of trees and plants is a key factor in healing the earth and all who live on it. As I learn more about how to listen to the wisdom that plants are willing and anxious to share, I've become more conscious of much needed efforts that promote a stronger relationship to nature.
It's heartening to know that I'm not alone in this.
As always, thanks for letting me share my thoughts and journey with you. I welcome your input, so if you want to submit a comment, scroll down to the bottom of this post. If you are interested in booking a personal session, you can do this here:
You can also contact me via email at: my.plant.allies@gmail.com
For now, here's wishing you wellness, wisdom and bloomin' vibes!
This year's spring snow adorning my Oregano & Rosemary...and a handful I managed to scoop up for a closer look!
know that a fellow tree lover, herbalist in new river has read and appreciated your written offering about the cottonwood. it is heartfelt and resourceful. may you continue your good work for a long time to come. with gratitude and kind regards.