[MelNM]

I was driving home, from a visit with family this weekend and saw a lone cottonwood tree with bark missing from the limb. I looked on the ground and low and behold there was some great peices of bark some up to 5 inches thick.

My question is does this rot after time, after being on the ground so long, I hope not, there was still some more there which I'll pick up on my next trip.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

LUCKY!!!

yes it will rot if sitting on the ground too long. Too long is a year or so not months so if it has only been there a short while it will be fine.
Colin

Congrats on your find. Free carving material is always a great deal. As for rotting, bark decomposes slowly. I have gathered some that was on downed trees that were dead for over a year and it carved just fine.

[MelNM]

I hope its good, its some thick stuff, it would be a shame if it was rotten. 8)

[MelNM]

Colin also its a dry climate here could that keep it from rotting as fast or would it speed it up?

Mel forgot where you were no it should be great in that climate I am thinking this climate where we get all the snow and rain we do. Dry climate would certainly slow down the rotting process. I envy your find but congatulations it is always nice to find free wood. Here in Ontario they charge $20.00 for a small piece about a foot long of cottonwood bark.
Colin

I have gone back to a tree I found three years earlier and ran out of room. The bark was just as good as it was the first time. Of course we have had a drought so can't tell you much otherwise. You sure can load up a truck fast when you find a good tree. carving.
Barb

[MelNM]

I put it in a brand spanking new car. I was my wifes idea, I plan on going back with the truck. I'm hoping the branch falls off, with all this wind.