Perhaps when you see a tree, you think: "Look at this messy pile of lumber and twigs. I don't have anything in common with this thing." Always remember, however, that you and the tree share one thing: a will to live. This will is more apparent in fast growing trees that thrive in harsh, or seemingly impossible, conditions.
The following photos show us a black willow (Salix nigra) that has an ignominious history. Like a fairybook creature from some nursery rhyme, it grew up in a discarded boot. You can read about that in a previous post. The last time we checked in on this specimen, nearly a year ago, it was about nine feet tall.
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| Given the height of these two boys, I'd say this tree has grown to around twelve feet tall. Three extra feet is not bad for less than a year of new growth. |
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| Individuals from all walks of life (indeed, some vertical walks...) can enjoy a black willow. Here is a green anole (Anolis carolinensis) doing just that. |
Black willows can grow to be fifty feet tall or end up as a very large complex of shrub-like growth. If it keeps growing at this rate, we'll need to prune this fellow one day soon.
