Back to the Yesler Swamp (part of the University of Washington’s Union Bay Natural Area, on the shore of Lake Washington). As I’ve mentioned before, this area is flooded in a foot or two of water all summer when the Army Corps of Engineers raises the level at the Ballard Locks. That keeps Seattle’s usually jungle-like undergrowth at bay, so in the winter these scraggly old trees lie on open ground instead of being buried in smaller plants. The ground level has to be just right for this to happen, and there aren’t many places around the lake like this. I keep looking for others, but so far this remains the best I know about.