#dncsucks

[listen-to-the-unheard]

Cherokee Reservation near Watts, OK.

The gnarled branches and roots of an Eastern Red Cedar cling tenuously to life on a rugged hillside. As a non-native species, it is considered an invasive nuisance. Eastern red cedar trees compete with native grasses and trees for nutrients and water, inhibiting the growth of some prairie species. This leads to reduced diversity and abundance of birds and small mammals. Nevertheless, the colors and textures are lovely. I have special affection for trees. These are in my top 5.