Carve! Champion Cottonwood Art and Sapling Project

About the Program

Category: Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

For over 120 years, a national champion tree made its home in an irrigation ditch running through property owned by Boulder County Parks and Open Space in Hygiene, Colorado. In 1967, it was designated as the largest of its species by the American Forests organization. The Hygiene champion cottonwood tree was nominated by Alegra Collister, a Longmont Audubon member. At its apex, it measured 112 feet tall with a 36-foot circumference. Most champion trees are lucky to have a continuous run of more than five years; the “gentle giant” remained a champion for 45 years. In 2010, staff noticed the tree’s steady decline and in 2011, the last growth was observed on the great tree. The department will let the tree stand for as long as it will, harvesting fallen wood when possible. In 2012, our forestry team harvested a fallen branch measuring the same size as an average, fully-grown cottonwood tree. This wood was offered to select Colorado woodworkers to create art pieces. In 2013, artisans displayed functional art, turned bowls, vases, furniture and folk art at the Longmont Museum in an exhibit titled “Carve! Selected Works from the Champion Cottonwood.” In addition, Boulder County municipalities and school districts were offered a champion cottonwood sapling, grown from nearby sprouts determined to be genetically identical to the champion, to plant in their communities.