User: | Open Learning Faculty Member:
I chose to observe the cottonwood trees in the backyard of my childhood home. Our yard is 100×30′, located in the suburbs of South Surrey British Columbia. There are two cottonwood trees among the fauna in our backyard that I chose to observe. There are also two Douglas fir trees, that surround the largest cottonwood and smaller shrub plants that line the floor of the tree dominated area. The tallest cottonwood is approximately 80′ high, and has recently began to sprout a younger tree 5m from its trunk. Both cottonwood trees have been spreading their roots throughout the yard, with many of the roots emerging from the soil. We first witnessed the roots emerging about three years ago, and now they have taken spread throughout the majority of the yard.
I began my observations on June 1st, 2019 at 3:00pm. The temperature was 22 degrees celsius, with very few clouds interrupting the sun. I have split the yard in two 50’x10′ sections as the cottonwood trees are conveniently located on opposite ends of the yard.
The three questions that came to mind during my observations were:
- Are the surrounding plants of each cottonwood tree affecting access to nutrients?
- Is the younger trees growth success due to its nearness to what was an old vegetable garden?
- Which cottonwood tree supports the most wildlife?
