High Cotton

10 AM Sunday I returned to the Woods for one of my now infrequent summer visits. I wanted to see if there had been any major changes. From the NE Gate to the Tree Loop I dropped down to the western leg along the Wash. A large sugarberry branch had fallen across the trail and taken off the top of young persimmon 13.7. We'll see if the persimmon can produce new branches, buds, leaves and survive. This got me thinking about how the continuation of the life of a tree is more about the invisible roots than it is about the top. The purpose of the stem, branches and leaves is to feed and grow more roots.. and when times are good and the tree is ready - to reproduce. The top can be smashed or broken but the persistence of the tree - its existence, is centered in the invisible roots. I cleared some of the heavy branch from the trail but I'll need a saw to clear the rest.
I walked out the Pipeline Trail to Island Crossing. The soft sand around the pool there was full of tracks. Out the Northern Loop I did not see any surviving Ailanthus Tree of Heaven at the junction with the Rim trail; but I imagine there are some remaining.
At the East Pond there was cotton all over the pond. It looked about 60 percent full. We've had moderately good rains this month. The Woods looked to be 'in high cotton'. Trailside grasses and Elephantopus Elephant's foot were doing well. Tall slender white daisies were in bloom here and there. This will be a good growth year for the trees. Despite a dry spring, summer rains came when they had to, and trees were ready to use the rain.
Mosquitoes were moderately abundant even with DEET, but not outrageous. I found only 3-4 mid-sized ticks on me. No tiny ticks.
The green plums of the Prunus mexicanus were full but not ripening yet. By the Grandfather cottonwood, the Polygonum ladies thumb was larger and filling in but not as thick and overgrown as last summer. There was a solitary whitetail yearling there. I stopped and sang to it.. while it looked at me with curiosity.
The Woods feel like they are resting. Growing new roots, vines and leaves; regaining some of the density and cover lost in previous hot dry summers. I did not see turtles. Driving out, I stopped in to the SW Gate. Outside the gate, the weeds are rank. The Woods inside the gate along the Southern Boundary trail all looked good. Along the Chautauqua fence line the orange-yellow trumpet flower was in bloom here and there.