Cottonwood Grove Canvas Print

I've always wondered what the pioneers saw as they crossed the Great Plains on the Santa Fe or the Oregon Trail. Most of the short grass prairie had few native trees so they often went for a long time without seeing any trees. The prairie was frequently seen as a very foreign and hostile environment to people from the forested east. No trees meant no wood for cooking. Dried bison dung was used for cooking fuel instead! No trees also meant no shade, which can be very precious on a hot day in summer. The cottonwood tree is found along river banks and were a welcome site to these pioneers for water, shade, and fuel. This image was taken at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado.

I am one of those non-award winning photographers. However, I do hope you take the time to read a little about me and check out of my work. A layoff in 2003 set me on a new path and a time to reevaluate what was important in my life. I spent a year just traveling, which included motorcycle touring. My working career has included electrical engineering, worked a few years as a flight attendant and a coffee barista. My days always include carrying my camera and seeing what life would bring into my viewfinder. I enjoy surprises! Over the past two years I've begun reading/writing haiku. Participating in Fine Art America is a new step for me, publicly sharing my images and selling them. My subjects of interest include landscapes, nature,...