Old and stately if not as dignified as say, an oak, they are nevertheless impressive. But the old western adage of not sleeping under them is true - for they give out over time, and I've seen this personally, on a plein air outing not far from home, where I witnessed a massive old cottonwood cleave and drop it's uppermost half in a stunning display of violent force that was over with in mere seconds.
Old and stately if not as dignified as say, an oak, they are nevertheless impressive. But the old western adage of not sleeping under them is true - for they give out over time, and I've seen this personally, on a plein air outing not far from home, where I witnessed a massive old cottonwood cleave and drop it's uppermost half in a stunning display of violent force that was over with in mere seconds.